शणु मे विस्तरेणेममितिहासं पुरातनम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितः पार्थ यथा वृत्तं युधिष्ठिर
Listen to me as I recount in detail this ancient story, O Partha, as it happened, together with your brothers, O Yudhishthira.
महासुरस्यान्ववाये हिरण्यकशिपोः पुरा। निकुम्भो नाम दैत्येन्द्रस्तेजस्वी बलवानभूत्
In the lineage of the mighty asura Hiranyakashipu, there was once a powerful and radiant lord of the Daityas named Nikumbha.
तस्य पुत्रौ महावीर्यौ जातौ भीमपराक्रमौ। सुन्दोपसुन्दौ दैत्येन्द्रौ दारुणौ क्रूरमानसौ
His two sons, of great might and terrible valor, were born—Sunda and Upasunda, lords of the Daityas, fierce and cruel of mind.
तावेकनिश्चयौ दैत्यावेककार्यार्थसंमतौ। निरन्तरमवर्तेतां समदुःखसुखावुभौ
Those two asuras, united in resolve and purpose, always acted together, sharing equally in joy and sorrow.
विनाऽन्योन्यं न भुञ्जाते विनाऽन्योन्यं न जल्पतः। अन्योन्यस्य प्रियकरावन्योन्यस्य प्रियंवदौ
Without each other, they would not eat, nor speak; each did what pleased the other, and spoke what was dear to the other.
एकशीलसमाचारौ द्विधैवैकोऽभवत्कृतः। तौ विवृद्धौ महावीर्यौ कार्येष्वप्येकनिश्चयौ
Of one character and conduct, they were as if one being in two forms; those two, grown in might, were united in every undertaking.
त्रैलोक्यविजयार्थाय समाधायैकनिश्चयम्। दीक्षां कृत्वा गतौ विन्ध्यं तावुग्रं तेपतुस्तपः
With a single-minded resolve for the conquest of the three worlds, having undertaken initiation, the two went to the Vindhya mountains and performed fierce austerities.
तौ तु दीर्घेण कालेन तपोयुक्तौ बभूवतुः। क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्तौ जटावल्कलधारिणौ
Engaged in austerities for a long time, the two became emaciated with hunger and thirst, weary, and clad in matted hair and bark garments.
मलोपचितसर्वाङ्गौ वायुभक्षौ बभूवतुः। आत्ममांसानि जुह्वान्तौ पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रधिष्ठितौ। ऊर्ध्वबाहू चानिमिषौ दीर्घकालं धृतव्रतौ
Their bodies covered with filth, subsisting on air, offering their own flesh as oblation, standing on the tips of their toes, with arms raised and eyes unblinking, they steadfastly observed their vow for a long time.
तयोस्तपःप्रभावेण दीर्घकालं प्रतापितः। धूमं प्रमुमुचे विन्ध्यस्तद्भुतमिवाभवत्
By the power of their long austerities, the Vindhya mountain, tormented for a long time, began to emit smoke, which appeared as something wondrous.
ततो देवा भयं जग्मुरुग्रं दृष्ट्वा तयोस्तपः। तपोविघातार्थमथो देवा विघ्नानि चक्रिरे
Then the gods became greatly afraid, seeing the fierce austerity of the two, and so, to hinder their penance, the gods created obstacles.
रत्नैः प्रलोभयामासुः स्त्रीभिश्चोभौ पुनःपुनः। न च तौ चक्रतुर्भङ्गं व्रतस्य सुमहाव्रतौ
They tempted both repeatedly with jewels and women, but the two, steadfast in their great vow, did not waver from their resolve.
अथ मायां पुनर्देवास्तयोश्चक्रुर्महात्मनोः। भगिन्यो मातरो भार्यास्तयोश्चात्मजनस्तथा
Then again the gods created illusions for those two great souls: sisters, mothers, wives, and even their own children.
प्रपात्यमाना विस्रस्ताः शूलहस्तेन रक्षसा। भ्रष्टाभरणकेशान्ता भ्रष्टाभरणवाससः
Dragged away and scattered by a demon wielding a spear, their ornaments and hair disheveled, their garments and ornaments fallen.
अभिभाष्य ततः सर्वास्तौ त्राहीति विचुक्रुशुः। न च तौ चक्रतुर्भङ्गं व्रतस्य सुमहाव्रतौ
Calling out to them, all those women cried, 'Save us!' But the two, steadfast in their great vow, did not break their resolve.
यदा क्षोभं नोपयाति नार्तिमन्यतरस्तयोः। ततः स्त्रियस्ता भूतं च सर्वमन्तरधीयत
When neither of the two was disturbed or distressed, then all those women and beings vanished completely.
ततः पितामहः साक्षादभिगम्य महासुरौ। वरेण च्छ्दयामास क्वलोकहितः प्रभुः
Then the Grandfather himself approached the two great asuras and, for the good of the worlds, offered them a boon.
ततः सुन्दोपसुन्दौ तौ भ्रातरौ दृढविक्रमौ। दृष्ट्वा पितामहं देवं तस्थतुः प्राञ्जली तदा
Then Sundā and Upasunda, the two brothers of firm valor, seeing the god Grandfather, stood with joined palms.
ऊचतुश्च प्रभुं देवं ततस्तौ सहितौ तदा। आवयोस्तपसाऽनेन यदि प्रीतः पितामहः
Then together they spoke to the Lord, 'If, O Grandfather, you are pleased with our austerity—'
मायाविदावस्त्रविदौ बलिनौ कामरूपिणौ। उभावप्यमरौ स्यावः प्रसन्नो यदि नौ प्रभुः
'Let both of us, skilled in illusion and weapons, strong and able to assume any form at will, become immortal, if the Lord is pleased with us.'
ऋतेऽमरत्वं युवयोः सर्वमुक्तं भविष्यति। अन्यद्वृणीतं मृत्योश्च विधानममरैः सम्
'Except for immortality, everything else you desire shall be granted; choose another boon, for immortality is not ordained even among the immortals.'
प्रभविष्याव इति यन्महदभ्युद्यतं तपः। युवयोर्हेतुनानेन नामरत्वं विधीयते
'The great austerity you have undertaken with the thought "we shall become powerful"—for this reason, immortality is not granted to you.'
त्रैलोक्यविजयार्थाय भवद्भ्यामास्थितं तपः। हेतुनाऽनेन दैत्येन्द्रौ न वां कामं करोम्यहम्
'You have undertaken this austerity for the conquest of the three worlds; for this reason, O lords of the Daityas, I do not grant your desire.'
सुन्दोपसुन्दावूचतुः। त्रिषु लोकेषु यद्भूतं किंचित्स्थावरजङ्गमम्। सर्वस्मान्नौ भयं न स्यादृतेऽन्योन्यं पितामह
Sunda and Upasunda said: 'Of all that exists in the three worlds, whether moving or unmoving, let there be no fear for us from anything except each other, O Grandfather.'
यत्प्रार्थितं यथोक्तं च काममेतद्ददानि वाम्। मृत्योर्विधानमेतच्च यथावद्वा भविष्यति
What you have requested and as spoken, this desire I now grant to you; and this arrangement regarding death shall also occur as it should.
ततः पितामहो दत्त्वा वरमेतत्तदा तयोः। निवर्त्य तपसस्तौ च ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह
Then the Grandfather, having given this boon to them at that time, caused them to cease their austerities, and went to the world of Brahma.
लब्ध्वा वराणि दैत्येन्द्रावथ तौ भ्रातरावुभौ। अवध्यौ सर्वलोकस्य स्वमेव भवनं गतौ
Having obtained the boons, the two brothers, lords of the Daityas, invulnerable to all the worlds, returned to their own abode.
तौ तु लब्धवरौ दृष्ट्वा कृतकामौ मनस्विनौ। सर्वः सुहृञ्जनस्ताभ्यां प्रहर्षमुपजग्मिवान्
Seeing those two, who had received boons, whose desires were fulfilled, and who were resolute in mind, all their friends and people were filled with great joy.
ततस्तौ तु जटा भित्त्वा मौलिनौ संबभूवतुः। महार्हाभरणोपेतौ विरजोम्बरधारिणौ
Then, breaking their matted locks, the two adorned their crowns, arrayed in splendid ornaments and spotless garments.
अकालकौमुदीं चैव चक्रतुः सार्वकालिकीम्। नित्यः प्रमुदितः सर्वस्तयोश्चैव सुहृञ्जनः
They made the night of the new moon into a perpetual festival; and all their friends and people were constantly delighted.