“Narada continued, ‘Then the Devarishis, the Siddhas, and the
high-souled Rishis possessing the attributes of peace and self-restraint, seeing
that act of universal slaughter, were pained with great grief. With passions, senses
and souls under complete control, they then went to the abode of the Pitamaha (Lord
Brahma), moved by compassion for the
universe. Arrived there, they saw the Pitamaha seated with Devas, Siddhas, and
Brahmarishis around him. There were present that Devon ke Dev, viz., Mahadeva (Lord
Shiva), Agni, accompanied by Vaayu, Soma,
Surya, Shakra (Lord Indra), and
Rishis devoted to the meditation of (Lord) Brahma, the Vaikhaanasaas, the Valakhilyaas, the Vaanaprasthaas, the
Marichipaas, the Ajaas, the Avimoodaas, and other Rishis of great energy.
“All those Rishis were sitting with the Pitamaha, when the Devas and other
Rishis, approaching (Lord) Brahma
with sorrowful hearts, represented to Him all the acts of Sunda and Upasunda. They
told the Pitamaha in detail everything that the Asura brothers (Sunda and
Upasunda) had done, and how they had
done it, and in what order. Then all the Devas and the Maharishis pressed the
matter before the Pitamaha. The Pitamaha, hearing everything they said, thought
for a moment and settled in his mind what he should do. Resolving to limit the
destruction of the Asura brothers, he summoned Vishwakarma (the architect
of Devas). Seeing Vishwakarma before Him,
the Pitamaha possessed of supreme merit of Tapas commanded him, saying, ‘You create
a woman capable of captivating all hearts.’
“Bowing down to the Pitamaha and receiving his command with respect,
the great architect of the universe (Vishwakarma) created a divine woman with careful attention. Vishwakrit (i.e.
Vishwakarma) first collected all beautiful
features upon the body of the woman he created. Indeed, the divine woman that
he created was almost a mass of gems. Created with great care by Vishwakarma,
the woman, in beauty, became matchless among the women of the three worlds.
There was not even a smallest part of her body which by its wealth of beauty
could not attract the looks of observer. Like to the embodied Sri (Mahalakshmi) Herself, that woman of extraordinary
beauty attracted the eyes and hearts of every creature. Because she had been
created with portions of every gem taken in smallest measures, the Pitamaha gave
upon her the name of Tilottama (Tilam here refers to minute or smallest).
“As soon as He started it into life, the woman bowed to (Lord) Brahma and with joined palms said, ‘Lord
of every created thing, what task am I to accomplish and what have I been
created for?’ The Pitamaha answered, ‘Go, O Tilottama, to the Asuras, Sunda and
Upasunda. O friendly one, tempt them with your captivating beauty. O lady, behave
yourself there in such a way that the Asura brothers may, in consequence of the
wealth of your beauty, quarrel with each other as soon as they put their eyes
upon you.’
“Narada continued, ‘Bowing to the Pitamaha (Lord Brahma) and saying, ‘So be it,’--the woman (Tilottama) walked round the assembly of Devas. The
illustrious (Lord) Brahma was then
sitting with face turned eastwards, and Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) with face also towards the east, and all
the Devas with faces northwards, and the Rishis with faces towards all
directions. While Tilottama walked round the assembly of Devas, (Lord) Indra and the illustrious Sthanu (Lord
Shiva) were the only ones that succeeded
in preserving their peace of mind. But exceedingly desirous as Mahadeva was (of
seeing Tilottama) when the woman (in
her progress round the assembly Devas)
was at His side, another face like a full-blown lotus appeared on the southern
side of his body. When she was behind Him, another face appeared on the west. When
the damsel was on the northern side of Mahadeva (Lord Shiva), a fourth face appeared on the northern
side of His body. Mahendra (Lord Indra)
(who was eager to see the woman)
came also to have a thousand eyes, each large and slightly reddish, before, behind
and on His sides. It was thus that Sthanu (Lord Shiva), the Mahadeva came to have four faces, and the slayer of Bala (Lord
Indra), a thousand eyes. As regards the
mass of Devas and the Rishis, they turned their faces towards all directions as
Tilottama walked round them. Except the divine Pitamaha (Lord Brahma) Himself, the glances of those respected personalities,
even of all of them fell upon Tilottama’s body. When Tilottama set out (for
the city of the Asuras) with the wealth
of her beauty, all regarded the task as already accomplished. After Tilottama
had gone away, the great God who was the First Cause of the Universe, dismissed
all the Devas and the Rishis.’”
No comments:
Post a Comment