मोक्षधर्म पर्व — उशना (शुक्राचार्य) की कथा

Yudhishthira said This curiosity, O sire, is always living in my mind. O grandfather to the Kurus, I wish to hear everything about it form you!

Why was the celestial Rishi, the great Ushanas, called also Kavi, engaged in doing what was agreeable to the Asuras and disagreeable to the gods.

Why was he engaged in diminishing the energy of the gods? Why the Danavas always fought with the foremost of the gods.

Endued with the effulgence of an immortal, why did Ushanas obtain the name of Shukra? How also did he acquire such superior excellence? Tell me all about these things.

Though highly energetic, why can he not go to the centre of the sky? I wish, O grandfather, to learn everything about all these matters.

Bhishma said Listen, O king, attentively to all this as it actually took place, O sinless one, I shall describe these masters to you as I have heard and understood them.

O firm vows and respected by all, Ushanas, that descendant of Bhrigu's race, became engaged in doing what was disagreeable to the gods for some good cause.

The royal Kuvera, the chief of the Yakshas and the Rakshas, is the lord of the wealth of Indra, that master of the universe.

The great ascetic Ushanas, crowned with Yoga-success, entered the person of Kuvera, and depriving the lord of wealth of his liberty by means of Yoga, robbed him of all his riches.

Seeing his riches taken away from him, the lord of wealth became highly displeased. Filled anxiety, and his anger also being worked up, he want to that foremost of god, viz., Mahadeva.

Kuvera reported the matter to Shiva of great energy, that first of gods, fierce and amiable, and endued with various forms.

He said Ushanas, having spiritualised himself by Yoga, entered my body and depriving myself of liberty, has taken away all my riches. Having by Yoga entered my body he has again left it.

Hearing these words, Maheshvara of Supreme Yoga-powers became filled with ire. His eyes, O king, became blood-red, and taking up his lance he waited.

Having taken up that foremost of weapons, the great god began to say, Where is he? Where is he?—Meanwhile, Ushanas, having learnt the purpose of Mahadeva from a distance, waited silently.

Having learnt the fact of the anger of the great Maheshvara of superior Yoga-power, the powerful Ushanas began to think as to whether he should go to Maheshvara or fly away or remain where he was.

Thinking, with the help of his severe penances, of the great Mahadeva, Ushanas, of soul crowned with Yoga-success, put himself on the point of Mahadeva's lance.

Understanding that Ushanas, whose penances had been crowned with success and who had converted himself into the from of pure Knowledge, was staying at the point of his lance, the bow-armed Rudra, bent that weapon with his hand.

When the fierce-armed and powerful Mahadeva of great energy had thus bent his lance that weapon came to be called from that time by the name of Pinaka.

The lord of Uma, seeing Bhargava thus brought upon the palm of his hand, opened his mouth. The chief of the gods then threw Bhargava into his mouth and swallowed him up.

The powerful and great Ushanas of Bhrigu's race, entering the stomach of Maheshvara, began to wander there.

Yudhishthira said How, O king, could Ushanas wander within the stomach of that foremost (god) of superior intelligence? What also did that great god do while the Brahmana was within his stomach.

Bhishma said Then Mahadeva of severe vows, entered the water and remained there like an immovable wooden stake, O king, for millions of years.

His Yoga penances of the austerest type having been over, he rose from the great lake. Then that prime god of the gods, viz., the eternal Brahman, approached him, and enquired after the progress of his penances and well-being. The god having the bull for his emblem answered, saying,—My penances have been well practised.

Of inconceivable soul, endued with great intelligence, and ever devoted to the religion of truth, Shankara saw that Ushanas within his stomach had become greater on account of those penances of his.

That foremost of Yogins. (viz., Ushanas), rich with that wealth of penances and the wealth (of Kuvera), shone brightly in the three worlds, gifted with great energy.

After this, Mahadeva armed with Pinaka, that soul of Yoga, once more began to roam within the stomach of the great god.

The great ascetic began to sing the praises of the god from where he was desirous of finding on outlet for escape. But, having stopped all his outlets, Rudra, prevented him from coming out.

The great ascetic Ushanas, however, O chastiser of enemies, from within Mahadeva's stomach repeatedly addressed the god, saying,-Show me your kindness.

To him Mahadeva said,-Go out through my urethra!-He had closed up all other outlets of his body.

Closed on all sides and unable to find out the outlet pointed out, the asetic began to roam hither and thither. burning all the while with Mahadeva's energy.

At last he found the outlet and came out through it. On account of this incident he passed by the name of Shukra, and it is for this he also became unable to attain the central point of the sky.

Seeing him come out of his stomach and shining bringhtly with energy, Bhava filled with anger, stood with lance uplifted in his hand.

The goddess Uma then interposed and forbade the angry lord of all creatures, viz., her consort, to kill the Brahmana. And on account of Uma's having thus prevented her lord from fulfilling his purpose, the ascetic Ushanas became the son of the goddess.

The goddess said-This Brahmana no longer deserves to be killed by you. He has become my son. O god, one who comes out of your stomach does not deserve to be killed by you.

Bhishma said Pacified by these words of his wife, Bhava smiled and said repeatedly these words, O king, viz.,-Let this one go wherever he likes.

Bowing to the boon-giving Mahadeva and also to his wife the goddess Uma, the great ascetic Ushanas, gifted with superior intelligence, proceeded to the place he chose.

I have thus described to you, O chief of the Bharatas, the story of the great Bhargava about which you had asked me.