The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 212

Section CCXII. ( Rajya-lava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana said, "Narada continued, 'And as soon as those festivities came to an end, the brothers Sunda and Upasunda, desirous of the sovereignty of the there worlds, took counsel and commanded their forces to be arranged. And obtaining the assent of their friends and relatives, of the elder of the Daitya race, of their ministers of state, and performing the preliminary rites of departure, they set out in the night when the constellation Maghā was on the ascendant. And the brothers set out with a large Daitya force cased in mail and armed with maces and axes and lances and clubs. And the Daitya heroes set out on their expedition with joyous hearts, the charanas chaunting auspicious panegyrics indicative of their future triumphs. Furious in war, the Daitya brothers capable of going everywhere at will, ascended the skies and went unto the region of the celestials. And the celestials knowing that they were coming, and acquainted also with the boons granted unto them by the Supreme Deity, leaving heaven sought refuge in the region of Brahmā. And endued with fierce prowess, the Daitya heroes soon subjugated the region of Indra, and vanquishing the tribes of the Yakshas and Rakshas, and every creature ranging the skies, came away. And those mighty charioteers next subjugated the Nāgas of the nether region, and then the inmates of the ocean and then all the tribes of the Mlechchas. And desirous next of subjugating the whole earth, those heroes of irresistible rule, summoning their soldiers issued these cruel commands:—Brahmanas and royal sages (on earth) by their libations and other food offered in grand sacrifices, increase the energy and strength of the gods as also their prosperity. Engaged in such acts, they are the enemies of the Asuras. All of us therefore, mustering together, should completely slaughter them off the face of the earth.—Ordering their soldiers thus on the eastern beach of the great ocean, and entertaining such a cruel resolution, the Asura brothers set out in all directions. And those that were performing sacrifices and the Brahmanas that were assisting at those sacrifices, the mighty brothers instantly slew. And slaughtering them with violence they departed for some other place. And their soldiers threw into the water the sacrificial fires that were in the assylums of Munis having their souls under complete control. And the curses uttered by the illustrious Rishis in wrath, rendered abortive by the boons granted (by Brahmā), touched not the Asura brothers. And when the Brahmanas saw that their curses produced not the slightest effect like shafts shot at stones, forsaking their rites and vows they fled in all directions. And even those Rishis on the earth that were crowned with ascetic success, and had their passions under complete control and were wholly engrossed in the meditation of the Deity, from fear of the Asura brothers, fled like snakes at the approach of Vinata's son (Gadura). And the sacred asylums were all trodden down and broken. And the sacrificial jars and vessels being broken, their (sacred) contents were scattered over the ground. And the whole universe became empty, as if its creatures had been stricken down during the season of general dissolution. And, O king, after the Rishis had all disappeared and made themselves invisible, both the great Asuras, resolved upon their destruction, began to assume various forms. And assuming the forms of maddened elephants with temples rent from excess of juice, the Asura pair searching out the Rishis who had sheltered themselves in caves, sent them to the region of Yama. And sometimes becoming as lion and again as tigers and disappearing the next moment, by these and other methods the cruel pair, seeing the Rishis, slew them instantly. And thus sacrifices and study ceased, and kings and Brahmanas were exterminated. And the earth became utterly destitute of sacrifices and festivals. And the terrified people cried, Oh and Alas, and all buying and selling were stopped. And all religious rites ceased, and the earth became destitute of sacred ceremonies and marriages. And agriculture was neglected and cattle were no longer tended. ANd towns and asylums became desolate. And scattered over with bones and skeletons, the earth assumed a frightful aspect. And all ceremonies in honor of the pitris were suspended, and the sacred sound of Vashat and the whole circle of auspicious rites ceased. And the earth became frightful to behold. And the sun and the moon, the planets, stars, stellar constellations, and other dwellers of the firmament, witnessing these acts of Sunda and Upsunda, grieved deeply. And 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.'"

Thus ends the two hundred and twelfth Section in the Rājya-lāva of the Adi Parva.