The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 214

Section CCXIV. *( Rajya-lava Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "Nārada continued, 'Meanwhile the Asura brothers having subjugated the earth were without a rival. And their fatigue of exertion past, bringing the three worlds under equal sway, they regarded themselves as having nothing more to do. And having brought all the treasures of the gods, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Nāgas, the Rākshasas, and the kings of the earth, the brothers began to pass their days in great happiness. And when they saw they had no rivals (in the three worlds), giving up all exertion, they devoted their time to pleasure and merriment, like the celestials. And they experienced great happiness by giving themselves up to every kind of enjoyment, such as women, and perfumes, and floral wreaths, and viands, and drinks, and many other agreeable objects, all in plenty. And in houses and woods and gardens, in hills and in forests, wherever they liked, they passed their time in pleasure and amusement, like the immortals. And it so happened that one day they went for purposes of pleasure to a table-land of the Vindhya range, perfectly level and stony, and overgrown with blossoming trees. And after every object of desire, all of the most agreeable kind, had been brought, the brothers sat on in excellent seat, with happy hearts and accompanied by handsome women. And these damsels, desirous of pleasing the brothers commenced a dance in accompaniment with music, and sweetly chaunted many a song in praise of the might pair. "'Meanwhile, Tilottamā attired in a single piece of red silk that exposed all her charms, cam along, plucking wild flowers along her way. And she slowly advanced to where those mighty Asuras were, gathering, as she walked, *karnikāras* from the trees that grew along the river-side. And the Asura brothers, intoxicated with the large potations they had imbibed, were smitten upon beholding that maiden of transcendent beauty. And leaving their seats they went quickly to where the damsel was. And both of them being under the influence of desire, each sought the maiden for himself. And Sunda seized that maid of fair brows by her right hand, while Upasunda caught hold of Tilottamā by her left hand. And 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 they had drunk, and maddened with all these, and influenced by desire, the addressed each other, each contracting his brow in anger. *She is my wife and*, *therefore*, *your superior*, said Sunda. *She is my wife and*, *therefore*, *your daughter-in-law*, replied Upasunda. And they said unto each other, *She is mine*, *not yours.* And soon they were under the influence of rage. And maddened by the beauty of the damsel, they soon forgot their love and affection for each other. And both of them, deprived on reason by desire, then took up their fierce maces. And each repeating, *I was the first*, *I was the first* (in taking her hand), struck each other. And the fierce Asuras, struck by each other with the mace, fell down upon the ground, their bodies bathed in the mace, fell down upon the ground, their bodies bathed in blood, like two suns loosened from the firmament. And beholding 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. And the Grand-sire himself, of pure soul, then came there, accompanied by the celestials and the great Rishis. And the illustrious Grand-sire applauded Tilottamā and expressed his wish of granting her a boon. And the Supreme Deity, before Tilottamā spoke, desirous of granting her a boon, cheerfully said,—O beautiful damsel, thou shalt roam in the region of the Adityas. And thy splendour shall be so great that nobody will ever be able to look at thee for any length of time.—And the Grand-sire of all, granting this boon unto her, and establishing the three worlds on Indra as before, returned to his own region.' "Nārada continued, 'It was thus that those Asuras, ever united and ever inspired by the same purpose, slew each other in wrath for the sake of Tilttamā. Therefore, from affection I tell ye, O ye best of the Bharata line, that if ye desire to do anything agreeable to me, make some such arrangement that ye may not quarrel with one another for the sake of Draupadi!'" Vaisampayana continued, "The illustrious Pandavas, thus addressed by the great Rishi Nārada, consulting with one another, established a rule amongst themselves, in the presence of the celestial Rishi himself endued with immeasurable energy. And 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 Brahmachārin. And after the virtuous Pandavas had established that rule amongst themselves, the great Muni, Nārada, gratified with them, went to the place he wished. Thus, O Janameyaja, did the Pandavas, urged by Nārada, establish a rule amongst themselves in regard to their common wife. And it was for this, O Bhārata, that no differences arose between them." Thus ends the two hundred and fourteenth Section in the Rājya-lāva of the Adi Parva.