“Narada continued, ‘As soon as those festivities came to an end, the
brothers Sunda and Upasunda, desirous of the Sovereignty of the three worlds, took
advice and commanded their forces to be arranged. Obtaining the approval of
their friends and relatives, of the elders of the Daitya (Daityas are a
clan of Asuras) race and of their
ministers of state, and performing the preliminary rites of departure, they set
out in the night when the constellation Magha (modern-day Regulus star) was in the ascendant. The brothers set out
with a large Daitya force dressed in armour and armed with maces (Gada in
Sanskrit), axes, spears and clubs. The
Daitya heroes (Sunda and Upasunda)
set out on their expedition with joyous hearts, the charanas (poets) chanting auspicious praises indicative of
their future triumphs.
“Furious in war, the Daitya brothers, capable of going everywhere at
will, ascended the skies and went to the region of Devas (Devaloka in
Sanskrit). The Devas knowing they were
coming and familiar also with the boons granted to them by the Supreme Deity (Lord
Brahma) left heaven and sought refuge in
the region of (Lord) Brahma (Brahmaloka
in Sanskrit). Filled with fierce
prowess, the Daitya heroes (Sunda and Upasunda) soon subjugated the region of Indra (Indraloka in Sanskrit), and vanquishing the diverse tribes (Gana
in Sanskrit) of Yakshas and Raakshasas
and every creature travelling the skies, came away. Those mighty chariot-warriors
next subjugated the Naagaas of the nether region (Anthar Bhoomi in
Sanskrit), and then the inmates of the
ocean and then all the tribes of the Mlechchhas.
“Desirous next of subjugating the whole earth, those heroes (Sunda
and Upasunda) of irresistible influence,
summoning their soldiers, issued these cruel commands, ‘Brahmanas and Rajarishis
(on earth) with their offerings and
other food offered at grand yagnas, increase the energy and strength of the Devas,
as also their prosperity. Engaged in such acts, they are the enemies of the
Asuras. All of us, therefore, gathering together should completely slaughter
them off the face of the earth!’
“Ordering their soldiers thus on the eastern shore of the great ocean,
and entertaining such a cruel resolution, the Asura brothers set out in all
directions. Those that were performing yagnas and the Brahmanas that were
assisting at those yagnas, the mighty brothers (Sunda and Upasunda) instantly slew. Slaughtering them with
violence they departed for some other place. While their soldiers threw into
the water, the sacrificial fires (Agnihotra in Sanskrit) that were in the ashrama of Munis with
souls under complete control, the curses uttered by the illustrious Rishis in anger,
made fruitless by the boons granted (by Lord Brahma), affected not the Asura brothers. When the Brahmanas saw that their
curses produced not the slightest effect like arrows shot at stones they fled
in all directions, leaving their rites and vows.
“Even those Rishis on earth that were crowned with success of Tapas,
and had their passions under complete control and were wholly engrossed in
meditation of the Deity, from fear of the Asura brothers (Sunda and
Upasunda), fled like snakes at the
approach of Vinata’s son (Garuda the snake-eater). The sacred ashrama were all walked down and broken. The jars and
vessels of yagna being broken, their (sacred) contents were scattered over the ground. The whole universe became
empty, as if its creatures had all been stricken down during the season of
general dissolution (Pralaya in Sanskrit). O king (Yudhishthira),
after the Rishis had all disappeared and made themselves invisible both the
great Asuras, resolved upon their destruction, began to assume various forms.
“Assuming the forms of maddened elephants with temples rent from excess
of juice, the Asura pair (Sunda and Upasunda), searching out the Rishis who had sheltered themselves in caves, sent
them to the region of Yama (Yamaloka in Sanskrit). Sometimes becoming as lions, again as tigers and disappearing the
next moment, by these and other methods the cruel couple, seeing the Rishis,
slew them instantly. Yagnas and study (Swadhyaayaa in Sanskrit) stopped, and kings and Brahmanas were destroyed.
The earth became utterly empty of yagnas and festivals. The terrified people
uttered cries of ‘Oh’ and ‘Alas’ and all buying and selling were stopped.
“All
religious rites (Devakaarya
in Sanskrit) stopped, and the earth
became empty of sacred ceremonies and marriages. Agriculture was neglected and
cattle were no longer looked after. Towns and ashrama became empty. Scattered
over with bones and skeletons, the earth assumed a frightful aspect. All
ceremonies in honour of the Pitris were suspended, and the sacred sound of
Vashat and the whole circle of auspicious rites stopped. The earth became
frightful to look upon. The Sun (Surya)
and the Moon (Chandra), the Planets (Graha) and Stars (Taaraa), and Constellations (Nakshatras), and the other dwellers in the sky, witnessing these acts of Sunda and
Upasunda, grieved deeply. Subjugating all the points of heaven by means of such
cruel acts, the Asura brothers took up their abode in Kurukshetra, without a
single rival.’”
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