“Narada continued, ‘Meanwhile the Asura brothers (Sunda and
Upasunda) having subjugated the earth
were without a rival. The tiredness of effort gone, they (Sunda and
Upasunda), having brought the three
worlds under equal rule, regarded themselves as persons that had nothing more
to do. Having brought all the treasures of the Devas, the Gandharvas, the
Yakshas, the Naagaas, the Raakshasas, and the kings of the earth, the brothers
began to pass their days in great happiness. When they saw they had no rivals (in
the three worlds), they gave up all efforts
and devoted their time to pleasure and merriment, like the Devas. They
experienced great happiness by giving themselves up to every kind of enjoyment,
such as women, perfumes, floral arrangement, food, drinks and many other
agreeable objects all in abundance. In houses, woods, gardens, on hills and in
forests, wherever they liked they passed their time in pleasure and amusement,
like the immortals (Amara in Sanskrit; here Amara refers to Devas). It so happened that one day they went for
purposes of pleasure to a plateau of the Vindhya range, perfectly level and
stony, and overgrown with blossoming trees. After every object of desire, all
of the most agreeable kind, had been brought, the brothers sat on an excellent
seat, with happy hearts and accompanied by beautiful women. Those woman,
desirous of pleasing the brothers, commenced a dance in accompaniment to music,
and sweetly chanted many a song in praise of the mighty pair.’
“Meanwhile Tilottama dressed in a single piece of red silk that exposed
all her charms, came along, plucking wild flowers on her way. She advanced
slowly to where those mighty Asuras were. The Asura brothers, intoxicated with
the large portions they had drunk, were stricken upon seeing that lady of superior
beauty. Leaving their seats they went quickly to where the lady was. Both of
them being under the influence of Kaamaa, each sought the lady for himself.
Sunda catched that maid of fair brows by her right hand. Intoxicated with the
boons they had obtained, with physical might, with the wealth and gems they had
gathered from every quarter, and with the wine (Suraapaanaa in Sanskrit) they had drunk, maddened with all these,
and influenced by wishful desire, they addressed each other, each contracting
his bow in anger, ‘She is my wife, and therefore your superior,’ said Sunda. ‘She
is my wife, and therefore your sister-in-law’, replied Upasunda. They said to
each other, ‘She is mine not yours.’ Soon they were under the influence of anger.
Maddened by the beauty of the lady, they soon forgot their love and affection
for each other. Both of them, deprived of reason by Kaamaa, then took up their
fierce maces (Gada in Sanskrit).
Each repeating, ‘I was the first, I was the first,’ (in taking her hand) struck the other. The fierce Asuras,
struck by each other with the mace, fell down upon the ground, their bodies
bathed in blood, like two Suns dislodged from the sky.
“Looking this, the women that had come there, and the other Asuras there
present, all fled away trembling in grief and fear, and took refuge in the
nether regions (Paataala loka in Sanskrit). The Pitamaha (Lord Brahma)
Himself of pure soul, then came there, accompanied by the Devas, and the Maharishis.
The illustrious Pitamaha applauded Tilottama and expressed his wish of granting
her a boon. The Supreme Deity (Lord Brahma), before Tilottama spoke, desirous of granting her a boon, cheerfully
said, ‘O beautiful lady, you shall roam in the region of the Adityas (Adityaloka
in Sanskrit). Your splendour shall be so
great that nobody will ever be able to look at you for any length of time!’ The
Pitamaha of all creatures, granting this boon to her, establishing the three
worlds in (Lord) Indra as before,
returned to his own region (Brahmaloka).’
“Narada continued, ‘It was thus that Asuras, ever united and inspired
by the same purpose slew each other in anger for the sake of Tilottama.
Therefore, from affection I tell you, O foremost ones of Bharata’s line (Pandavas), that if you desire to do anything
agreeable to me, make some such arrangements that you may not quarrel with one
another for the sake of Draupadi.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The illustrious Pandavas, thus addressed by
the Maharishi Narada, consulting with one another, established a rule among
themselves in the presence of the Devarishi (Narada) himself filled with immeasurable energy. The rule they made was that
when one of them would be sitting with Draupadi, any of the other four who
would see that one thus must retire into the forest for twelve years, passing
his days as a Brahmachari. After the Dharmic Pandavas had established that rule
among themselves, the great Muni Narada, pleased with them, went to the place
he wished. Thus, O Janamejaya, did the Pandavas urged by Narada, established a
rule among themselves in regard to their common wife. It was for this, O
Bharata, that no dispute ever arose between them.’”
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