Critical Edition
मार्कण्डेय उवाच धुन्धुर्नाम महातेजास्तयोः पुत्रो महाद्युतिः स तपोऽतप्यत महन्महावीर्यपराक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : great monarch, they (Madhu and Kaitabha) had a son, Dhundhu by name, who was most illustrious and possessed of immense power and energy; and who also observed severe asceticism.
अतिष्ठदेकपादेन कृशो धमनिसंततः तस्मै ब्रह्मा ददौ प्रीतो वरं वव्रे स च प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: He remained for a time, standing on one leg; and became lean as the skeleton. Much pleased Brahmana granted him a boon, which he asked of the Lord in the following way:
देवदानवयक्षाणां सर्पगन्धर्वरक्षसाम् अवध्योऽहं भवेयं वै वर एष वृतो मया
M. N. Dutt: "Such a boon is asked by me, as will render me incapable of being killed by either the celestials, the Danavas the Yakshas or by the snakes, Gandharvas or Rakshasas.'
एवं भवतु गच्छेति तमुवाच पितामहः स एवमुक्तस्तत्पादौ मूर्ध्ना स्पृश्य जगाम ह
M. N. Dutt: The grandsire answered him, saying, "So be it and do you go away". Having been thus addressed, he touched his feet by his head and went away.
स तु धुन्धुर्वरं लब्ध्वा महावीर्यपराक्रमः अनुस्मरन्पितृवधं ततो विष्णुमुपाद्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: The most courageous and energetic Dhundhu, too, speedily advanced to Vishnu, after gaining this boon and also recollecting the murder of his father (by that god). at
स तु देवान्सगन्धर्वाञ्जित्वा धुन्धुरमर्षणः बबाध सर्वानसकृद्देवान्विष्णुं च वै भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: The unconquerable Dhundhu first defeated all the celestials as well as the Gandharvas; and then he began to cruelly oppress the other celestials with Vishnu at their head.
समुद्रो वालुकापूर्ण उज्जानक इति स्मृतः आगम्य च स दुष्टात्मा तं देशं भरतर्षभ बाधते स्म परं शक्त्या तमुत्तङ्काश्रमं प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the Bharata race, that wickedminded one came to a country where there was an ocean of sands, known by the name of Ujjalaka. O illustrious one, he, lying in an under-ground cave excavated in the bed of sands, greatly harassed the asylum of Uttanka.
अन्तर्भूमिगतस्तत्र वालुकान्तर्हितस्तदा मधुकैटभयोः पुत्रो धुन्धुर्भीमपराक्रमः
AI Translation: At that time, he was hidden in the sand, having gone underground. Dhundhu, the son of Madhu and Kaitabha, was of terrible prowess.
शेते लोकविनाशाय तपोबलसमाश्रितः उत्तङ्कस्याश्रमाभ्याशे निःश्वसन्पावकार्चिषः
AI Translation: He lies down, relying on the power of asceticism, for the destruction of the world. Near the hermitage of Uttanka, sighing like the flames of a fire.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सभृत्यबलवाहनः कुवलाश्वो नरपतिरन्वितो बलशालिनाम्
AI Translation: At this very time, King Kuvalashva, with his servants, army, and mounts, was accompanied by powerful warriors.
Supplementary Passages:
3.195.10 After 10ab, K3 B1-3 D (except D1-3) ins.: *985 उत्तङ्कविप्रसहितः कुवलाश्वो महीपतिः पुत्रैः सह महीपालः प्रययौ भरतर्षभ while G4 ins.: *986 कुवलाश्वो नरपतिः पुत्रैश्च सहितः प्रभुः
सहस्रैरेकविंशत्या पुत्राणामरिमर्दनः प्रायादुत्तङ्कसहितो धुन्धोस्तस्य निवेशनम्
AI Translation: With twenty-one thousand sons, the destroyer of enemies, he went with Uttanka to the abode of Dhundhu.
तमाविशत्ततो विष्णुर्भगवांस्तेजसा प्रभुः उत्तङ्कस्य नियोगेन लोकानां हितकाम्यया
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon at the injunction of Uttanka, the omnipotent Lord Vishnu, imparted to him his own energy, with the object of doing good to the three worlds.
तस्मिन्प्रयाते दुर्धर्षे दिवि शब्दो महानभूत् एष श्रीमान्नृपसुतो धुन्धुमारो भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: When the haughty one was gone away, a loud noise was heard in the heaven, uttering the words-'this invincible hero will this day be the slayer of Dhundhu.'
दिव्यैश्च पुष्पैस्तं देवाः समन्तात्पर्यवाकिरन् देवदुन्दुभयश्चैव नेदुः स्वयमुदीरिताः
M. N. Dutt: The celestials showered heaven-grown flowers upon him from the sky; as also the divine kettle-drums played spontaneously without cessation.
शीतश्च वायुः प्रववौ प्रयाणे तस्य धीमतः विपांसुलां महीं कुर्वन्ववर्ष च सुरेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: While that intelligent one was proceeding onwards, cool breezes began to blow and showers were poured forth by the chief of the gods, making the earth free from dusts.
Supplementary Passages:
3.195.15 After 15, G1.2.4 M ins.: *987 प्रदक्षिणाश्चाप्यभवन्वन्यास्तस्य मृगद्विजाः
अन्तरिक्षे विमानानि देवतानां युधिष्ठिर तत्रैव समदृश्यन्त धुन्धुर्यत्र महासुरः
M. N. Dutt: O Yudhishthira, the cars of the gods were seen on the sky just when the great Asura, Dhundhu, was below the heaven.
कुवलाश्वस्य धुन्धोश्च युद्धकौतूहलान्विताः देवगन्धर्वसहिताः समवैक्षन्महर्षयः
M. N. Dutt: Propelled by curiosity the celestials with the Gandharvas, as well as the great sages, beheld from heaven the combat between Kuvalashva and Dhundhu.
नारायणेन कौरव्य तेजसाप्यायितस्तदा स गतो नृपतिः क्षिप्रं पुत्रैस्तैः सर्वतोदिशम्
M. N. Dutt: O son of the Kuru race, thereupon that ruler of men, supplied with the energy of Narayana went speedily in all directions with all of his sons. Kuvalashva, excavated that sea of sands.
Supplementary Passages:
3.195.18 After 18ab, S ins.: *988 हितार्थं सर्वलोकानामुदङ्कस्य वशे स्थितः
अर्णवं खानयामास कुवलाश्वो महीपतिः कुवलाश्वस्य पुत्रैस्तु तस्मिन्वै वालुकार्णवे
AI Translation: King Kuvalashva dug the ocean. The sons of Kuvalashva built a wall in that sandy ocean.
सप्तभिर्दिवसैः खात्वा दृष्टो धुन्धुर्महाबलः आसीद्घोरं वपुस्तस्य वालुकान्तर्हितं महत् दीप्यमानं यथा सूर्यस्तेजसा भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the Bharata race, the monstrous body of that hero lay in the interior of those sands and shone as the sun in splendour.
Supplementary Passages:
3.195.20 After 20cd, K3.4 D3.5 ins.: *989 युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि पावकस्येव धक्ष्यतः After 20, D2 ins.: *990 दीप्यमानस्ततो धुन्धुस्तेजसा च नरेश्वर
ततो धुन्धुर्महाराज दिशमाश्रित्य पश्चिमाम् सुप्तोऽभूद्राजशार्दूल कालानलसमद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon O great monarch, Dhundhu lay asleep, occupying the whole of the western point of the horizon; and he looked effulgent like the all-destroying fire.
कुवलाश्वस्य पुत्रैस्तु सर्वतः परिवारितः अभिद्रुतः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैरपि पट्टिशैः परिघैः प्रासैः खड्गैश्च विमलैः शितैः
M. N. Dutt: Then the ruler of the earth, and entirely surrounded as he was by all the sons of Kuvalashva. He was also assaulted with the sharp arrows, the maces and clubs, as well as with the axes, iron spikes, shafts and sharp and bright swords. Having been thus wounded, the greatly powerful one rose up in anger; and swallowed up all the various sorts of weapons in great excitement.
स वध्यमानः संक्रुद्धः समुत्तस्थौ महाबलः क्रुद्धश्चाभक्षयत्तेषां शस्त्राणि विविधानि च
AI Translation: Though being killed, the very powerful one got up in anger. And in anger he devoured their various weapons.
आस्याद्वमन्पावकं स संवर्तकसमं तदा तान्सर्वान्नृपतेः पुत्रानदहत्स्वेन तेजसा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon he vomited from his mouth the fire, that was like the Samvartaka (appearing at the end of the Yoga); and he burnt the sons of the king by these his own flames.
मुखजेनाग्निना क्रुद्धो लोकानुद्वर्तयन्निव क्षणेन राजशार्दूल पुरेव कपिलः प्रभुः सगरस्यात्मजान्क्रुद्धस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Surrounding the three worlds with the fire emitted from his mouth, the wrathful one seemed in a moment to be a miracle like Lord Kapila of old, who consumed the sons of Sagara (by the fire of his wrath).
तेषु क्रोधाग्निदग्धेषु तदा भरतसत्तम तं प्रबुद्धं महात्मानं कुम्भकर्णमिवापरम् आससाद महातेजाः कुवलाश्वो महीपतिः
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the Bharata race, after the sons were thus consumed by the fire of wrath, the ruler of earth, Kuvalashva, endued with great energy, approached that high-souled one (Asura) who, now awake, was like a second Kumbhakarna.
तस्य वारि महाराज सुस्राव बहु देहतः तदापीयत तत्तेजो राजा वारिमयं नृप योगी योगेन वह्निं च शमयामास वारिणा
M. N. Dutt: O great king, a current of water flowed copiously from the body of the monarch, who now extinguished those flames, O king, by that stream of water endued with the Yuga prowess, he extinguished the fire by the stream of water flowing from his body.
ब्रह्मास्त्रेण तदा राजा दैत्यं क्रूरपराक्रमम् ददाह भरतश्रेष्ठ सर्वलोकाभयाय वै
AI Translation: With the Brahma missile, the king then burned the demon of cruel prowess, O best of the Bharatas, for the fear of all the worlds.
सोऽस्त्रेण दग्ध्वा राजर्षिः कुवलाश्वो महासुरम् सुरशत्रुममित्रघ्नस्त्रिलोकेश इवापरः धुन्धुमार इति ख्यातो नाम्ना समभवत्ततः
AI Translation: Having burned the great demon with his weapon, the royal sage Kuvalashva became known by the name Dhundhumara, like another lord of the three worlds, the slayer of enemies and foes of the gods.
Supplementary Passages:
3.195.29 After 29cd, B D (except D1-3.5) T2 (marg. sec. m.) G3 ins.: *991 धुन्धोर्वधात्तदा राजा कुवलाश्वो महामनाः On the other hand, G1 ins. after 29cd: *992 कुवलाश्वो महाबाहुर्धुन्धुं हत्वा जहर्ष च
प्रीतैश्च त्रिदशैः सर्वैर्महर्षिसहितैस्तदा वरं वृणीष्वेत्युक्तः स प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतस्तदा अतीव मुदितो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon all the celestials as well as the great sages became highly gratified with him. Having been solicited by them to take a boon from them, he folded his hands and bowed down to them; and, O king, being highly delighted, he addressed them, saying,
दद्यां वित्तं द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः शत्रूणां चापि दुर्जयः सख्यं च विष्णुना मे स्याद्भूतेष्वद्रोह एव च धर्मे रतिश्च सततं स्वर्गे वासस्तथाक्षयः
M. N. Dutt: 'Grant me the boon that I may give wealth to the best of the Brahmanas and that I may be unconquerable in respect to all enemies; and I may have friendship with Vishnu; and that I may not entertain any animosity against any body.
तथास्त्विति ततो देवैः प्रीतैरुक्तः स पार्थिवः ऋषिभिश्च सगन्धर्वैरुत्तङ्केन च धीमता
AI Translation: Then the gods, being pleased, said to the king, "So be it." And the sages, together with the Gandharvas, and the wise Uttanka.
सभाज्य चैनं विविधैराशीर्वादैस्ततो नृपम् देवा महर्षयश्चैव स्वानि स्थानानि भेजिरे
AI Translation: Having honored him with various blessings, the king then the gods and great sages went to their own abodes.
तस्य पुत्रास्त्रयः शिष्टा युधिष्ठिर तदाभवन् दृढाश्वः कपिलाश्वश्च चन्द्राश्वश्चैव भारत तेभ्यः परम्परा राजन्निक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम्
AI Translation: His three sons were the remaining ones, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Dṛḍhāśva, Kapilāśva and Candrāśva, O descendant of Bharata. From them, O king, was the succession of the great-souled Ikṣvākus
Supplementary Passages:
3.195.34 After 34, B D (except D1-3.5) ins.: *993 वंशस्य सुमहाभाग राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्
एवं स निहतस्तेन कुवलाश्वेन सत्तम धुन्धुर्दैत्यो महावीर्यो मधुकैटभयोः सुतः
AI Translation: Thus, O best of men, he was killed by that Kuvalashva. Dhundhu, the demon of great prowess, was the son of Madhu and Kaitabha.
कुवलाश्वस्तु नृपतिर्धुन्धुमार इति स्मृतः नाम्ना च गुणसंयुक्तस्तदा प्रभृति सोऽभवत्
AI Translation: King Kuvalashva was known as Dhundhumara. And from then on, he became known by the name of Gunasamyukta.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि धौन्धुमारमुपाख्यानं प्रथितं यस्य कर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: By his assuming this appellation, he really became, from that time forward, one of innumerable virtues. Now I have related to you the whole account, which you asked me. By this act of his (Kuvalashva's) the story of Dhundhu's death has become famous.
इदं तु पुण्यमाख्यानं विष्णोः समनुकीर्तनम् शृणुयाद्यः स धर्मात्मा पुत्रवांश्च भवेन्नरः
AI Translation: This is the meritorious account of the glorification of Vishnu. He who listens to it today becomes virtuous and has sons.
आयुष्मान्धृतिमांश्चैव श्रुत्वा भवति पर्वसु न च व्याधिभयं किंचित्प्राप्नोति विगतज्वरः
AI Translation: The venerable Dhṛtimān, having heard it on the parvan days, Does not experience any fear of illness, being free from fever.