तीर्थयात्रा पर्व — सुकन्याको कथा

Lomasha said: Thereupon hearing that Chyavana had been turned into a youth, Sharyati, becoming very much pleased, came with his troops to the hermitage of the son of Bhrigu.

He saw Chyavana and Sukanya like two celestials children. Sharyati with his wife was as pleased as he would have been, if he had acquired the whole earth. The ruler of earth together with his wife was received honourable by those saints. The king seated himself near the ascetic and entered into a delightful conversation of an auspicious kind.

O king, the son of Bhrigu thus spoke to that ruler of worlds these words of a soothing nature, “O king, I shall perform your sacrifice. Let the necessary articles be procured."

Thereupon that ruler of earth, Sharyati was exceedingly delighted. O great king, he expressed his approbation of the proposal made by Chyavana.

On an auspicious day, suitable for the commencement of a sacrificial ceremony, Sharyati ordered the erection of an excellent sacrificial shrine. He then splendidly furnished it with all desirable things.

O king, Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu performed his sacrifice. Hear the wonderful events which happened at that spot.

Chyavana took up some Soma juice, so that he might offer it to the Ashvins who are the physician to the celestials. When he was going to offer it, Indra prevented him.

Indra said: These two (Ashvins) in my opinion have no right to receive an offering of the Soma juice; they are the physicians to the celestials. As such, they are prevented (from receiving it).

Chyavana said: O Indra, these two are of great energy, they are high-souled, beautiful and handsome, they have made me eternally young like a celestials. Why should you and the other celestials have a right to the Soma juice and not they? O lord of the celestials, O Purandara, know that the Ashvins are also celestials.

Indra said: These two are physicians and as such they are but servants. Assuming various forms at pleasure, they roam about the world of the mortals. How can they claim the Soma juice?

Lomasha said : When these words were said by the king of the celestials, the son of Bhrigu (Chyavana) did not heed them; and he took up the offering of (the soma).

Having seen that he was about to take up an excellent portion of Soma to offer it to the Ashvins, the destroyer of Bala Indra thus spoke to hiin,

"If you take up the Soma to offer it to those two celestials, I shall hurl at you my fearful thunder which is superior to all existing weapons."

Having been thus addressed, the son of Bhrigu smilingly looked at Indra and he then took up in due form some excellent Soma juice to offer it to the Ashvins.

The husband of Sachi (Indra), then hurled at him the fearful thunder. When he was about to hurl it, the son of Bhrigu paralyzed it.

Having paralyzed his arms, Chyavana recited sacred hymns and made offerings to the fire. That greatly effulgent one, having gained his object tried to kill the celestials (Indra).

Thereupon the Rishi created, by his ascetic power, a great Asura of huge body and exceeding prowess, named Mada.

His body was incapable of being measured by the Suras and the Asuras. His mouth was fearful; it was of huge size with teeth of sharpened ends.

One of his jaws rested on earth and the other stretched to heaven. He had four fangs extending as far as one hundred yojanas.

His other fangs extended as far as one hundred yojanas. They looked like the towers on a palace. They might be likened to the ends of spears.

His two arms were like two hills. They were of equal bulk and extended ten thousand yojanas. His two eyes resembled the sun and the moon and his countenance looked like the great fire at the universal dissolution.

He was licking his mouth with his tongue, which like lightning knew no rest. His mouth was open and his glance was fearful. It appeared as if he would forcibly swallow up the world.

He rushed upon Shatakratu (Indra) with the intention of devouring that deity. The worlds resounded with the loud and fearful roaring of that Asura.