fierce austerities ofthetwobrothers eventhe smoke. Itwasawondrous sight.Seeingthe fiery austerities,finallybelched outcloudsof had beenheatingupfrom thepoweroftheir and theydidnotwaver fromtheirvows. fering piecesoftheirownfleshinsacrifice, raised, staringwithunblinkingeyesandof- they stoodonthetipsoftheirtoes,armsup- they begantoeatonlyair. Foralong time exhaustion. With theirlimbscakedwithdirt, themselves tothelimitsofhunger, thirst,and tree barkandlongmattedhairdrove ful austeritiesforaverylongtime.Theywore went toVindhya andthere performeddread- conquering thethreeworlds. determination onthesingleobjectiveof all theirtasks,andgraduallytheyfocused strength, theysharedasingledeterminationin into two. As thetwomightycreatures grew in the samebehaviorasifonepersonhadbeenmade other withtheirwordsanddeeds,theydeveloped nothing separately. Always tryingtopleaseeach enjoyed everythingtogetherandwoulddo prowess andfrighteningaudacity. Thesetwo him, andbothwereendowedwithunusual the leaderofDaityas.Two sonswere bornof mighty demonnamedNikumbhawhobecame therewasastrongand demon Hiranya-kasipu, 22 September 200322 September Issue No.62 The twoVindhya hills,whichfora long time Taking initiationintotheVedic science,they Long ago,amongthedescendantsofgreat Highlights M FromMahābharataādiparva, Mahābharata • OST T T ILOTTAMA chapters 200to204 B ILOTTAMA EAUTIFUL Fortnightly emailmini-magazinefromGopalJiuPublications Śrī IndirāEkādaśī a QaaMa*Ta&TaáJaqvNaMa( Tav k , QaaMa*Ta&TaáJaqvNaMa( Tav k

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ity, allthatyou requestwillbegranted. Select satisfied withus,thengrant usimmortality!” our bodiesatwill. And ifthelord istruly of weapons,mostpowerful, andabletochange let usbothbecomeknowers ofmagic,knowers grandfather issatisfiedwithourausterity, then prayed foraboon.Inunisontheysaid,“Ifthe Upasunda, stoodwithfoldedhandsand before them,thetwobrothersSundaand Seeing thecreatorandgrandfatherstanding a boonandbylawBrahmahadtograntit. desired, forbytheirausteritiestheyhadearned and offeredtograntthemwhateverthey the worlds,approachedtwogreatdemons and thewholescenevanishedbeforethem. or feelanygrief,thewomenandRaksasa brothers wouldallowhimselftobedisturbed break theirdiscipline.Whenneitherofthe brothers, “We begyou!Saveus! us!” their clothes,theyallscreamedouttothetwo ments disheveled,andfinally, losingallof rified womenranabout,theirhairandorna- tacked byaRaksasa,spearinhand.Theter- wives, andotherrelativesbeingcruellyat- suddenly sawtheirsisters,mother, aunts, fects infrontofthetwomightysouls,who vows withutmostdetermination. would notflinch,fortheyhadtakentheir brothers withjewelsandwomen,butthetwo Again andagaintheytriedtoseducethe stacles tobreaktheausteritiesoftwo. gods becomefrightened.Thecreatedob- PAGE W The Grandfathersaid,“Except forimmortal- At lastLordBrahma,thegrandfatherofall Mighty intheirvows,thetwowouldnot The godstriedagainbycreatingmagicalef- OMAN S S S S S S S S

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t t t t t t t t t t h h h h h h h h h h amr amr amr amr amr amr amr amr amr amr it it it it it it it it it it a a a a a a a a a a é[q k* ZDaityas terity to conquer the universe, and for that rea- flew up into space, for they could travel son, O leaders of the Daityas, I cannot fulfill anywhere at will, and they went straight to the your desire for immortality.” home of the gods in a warlike frenzy. Realizing Sunda and Upasunda said, “We wish that there they had come, and knowing also the boon they be no danger for us from any creature in the had acquired from Lord Brahma, the gods gave universe, moving or unmoving. Our death can up their heavenly abode and went to only come from each other, O Grandfather.” Brahmaloka. With their intense prowess the two The Grandfather said, “That which you have brothers thus conquered the planet of Indra and requested, exactly as you have stated it, I now the hosts of Yakshas and Rakshasas, and grant to you. The arrangement of your death subdued the sky-borne beings as well. will be according to this boon.” The great demons then conquered the Nagas, Having given them this boon and restrained who had gone within the earth, and all of the them from further austerities, the grandfather ocean dwellers, and they subjugated the semi- returned to his own planet, Brahmaloka. The civilized nations of Mlecchas. Then they began two mighty demons also went home, for having to systematically conquer all the earth, placing achieved all these wishes they were now it under their dread rule. Calling together all invulnerable in all the material worlds. Seeing the warriors they vehemently spoke these that the two great demons had achieved their harsh words: “The strength and stamina of wishes and fulfilled their desires, all of their close the gods and their fortune as well is fed by the associates and relatives began to rejoice and grand sacrifices and oblations offered by saintly celebrate. The two brothers gave up their kings and brāhmaas, who thus flourish as matted locks and placed crowns on their heads, enemies of the demons. We must therefore find out and slay every one of them.” adorned themselves with priceless jewelry, and Thus instructing all their men as they stood dressed in the purest garments. At an incorrect on the eastern shore of the great ocean, those time the two demon leaders and their relatives two proceeded in all directions, fixed in their celebrated the full moon festival, but still cruel decision. The two mighty demons then managed to satisfy all their desires with the most massacred on sight every brāhmaa who was pleasure they had ever known. offering sacrifice to the Supreme or engaging “Eat! Enjoy! Don’t stop; Have a good time! others in the same. Fearlessly entering the Let’s sing, everybody! Drink! Take this, it’s hermitages of self-realized sages, their yours!” Everywhere, in every house, these were demonic soldiers seized the sacred fires and the merry cries; people drank like never before, hurled them into the water. When the exalted loudly clapping their hands, and the whole city sages furiously pronounced curses upon them, of demons thrilled to the joyous celebration. The they had no effect on the two brothers, who demonic Daityas could change their forms at had grown wild by the gift of the boon. will, and in these many merry ways they lost When their curses had no effect, like arrows themselves in play. Thus the passing years fired on stone, the brāhmaas abandoned their seemed to them like a single day. religious centers and fled. Whoever on the earth As soon as the celebration was over, Sunda was perfect in austerity, self-controlled and and Upasunda, yearning to conquer the devoted to peace fled in fear of the two demons, universe, took counsel and called out their like snakes fleeing from Garuda. When the army. Their close friends and the Daitya elders centers of spiritual culture were thus attacked and councilors bade them farewell. Then, and broken to pieces, with their sacred pots, having performed the rites for an auspicious spoons, and other religious articles scattered all journey, they set out in the dead of night under about, the whole world seemed vacant, as if the constellation Magha, at the head of a struck down by the force of time. great and united Daitya army, equipped with When saintly kings and sages were no longer clubs and three-bladed spears, and with visible — for they were all hiding in fear — the TopSri leftKrishna-kathamrita 3 Bindu top right 3 Issue Sixty-two, Page — 3 two mighty demons, eager to murder, trans- priority. Hearing their words, the Grandfather formed themselves into maddened elephants pondered for a moment and then decided what with oozing temples. Charging wildly about, must be done. He authorized the killing of the they sent those who were lying concealed in two brothers and called for the heavenly designer hard to reach places to the lord of death. Viswakarma. When he saw him, the They became two lions, and again two tigers, Grandfather gave this instruction: “Create an and again became invisible — by all these meth- irresistibly maddening woman!” ods the savage ones continued to slaughter the Accepting his instruction, Viswakarma bowed sages wherever they could find them. All over to the Grandfather. He then thought deeply the earth, sacrifice and scriptural study ceased, and, working hard, constructed a heavenly the royal and priestly orders were decimated, woman. He brought together in one woman and pious festivals and offerings were devas- all of the beautiful features of every moving and tated. The Earth could only cry out in anguish unmoving creature that lives in the three and fear. Even buying and selling stopped, as worlds, and invested in the woman’s limbs these were all the duties that are done for God, in- millions of jewels of loveliness. Thus he created cluding sacred marriage. a woman of celestial shape and splendor, a Plowing and cow protection was no more, monumental composite of gemlike beauties. the towns and hermitages were ravished, and Viswakarma built her with grand endeavor, with bones and skeletons strewn about her, and in all the three worlds not a single woman the earth was a dreadful sight. Gone were the equaled her in the gorgeous quality of her fig- offerings to the departed elders and the inspir- ure and face. Such was her endowment of ing temple chant. The whole world, wearing loveliness that not a single tiny part of her the face of terror, was a sight not to be seen. limbs was flawed or failed to entangle the eyes Seeing the works of Sunda and Upasunda, of those who beheld her. Like an incarnation the Moon, the Sun, the planets, stars and as- of the Goddess of Fortune, she possessed a terisms, and all that dwell in heaven, fell to lovely, radiant body that stole the eyes and utter despair. Thus having conquered in all minds of all creatures. Since she was created by bringing together various bits of jewels, she directions by cruel deeds, and facing no fur- was named Tilottama, “the ultimate woman, ther opposition, the two Daityas established from bits of beauty.” their residence at Kurukshetra. The Grandfather said, “Now, Tilottama, good All the supreme and godly sages and the woman, go to Sunda and Upasunda and with perfect mystics became mortified to see the your most desirable body, arouse their desire. Be- terrible persecutions executed by the two have so that simply by seeing you a conflict arises brothers. Out of compassion for the universe, the between them over the possession of your per- sages who had conquered worldly anger by fect body and they fight each other for your sake. controlling the mind and senses proceeded to “So it shall be,” she promised, and after bow- the abode of the Grandfather. There they saw ing to the Grandfather, she respectfully circu- him seated with the gods, surrounded by the mambulated the gods. Lord Brahma, the great Siddhas and Vedic sages. Indra was there, as controller, sat to the south, facing east, the gods were Siva, Fire, the Wind, the Sun, the Moon, sat to the north, and the sages were all around. Dharma, and Budha, son of the Moon. The As she walked around them, making her circle, Vaikhanasas, Valakhilyas, Vanaprasthas, and Indra and Sthanu gravely kept themselves steady nectar-drinking sages had all come, along with in mind, but Sthanu desired very much to see the unborn, unbewildered sages and the her, and as she moved to his side, he sprouted Tejogarbha ascetics. All these groups of sages had another face with curving lashes on his south come to see the Grandfather, Brahma. The sages side. As she continued around behind him, he approached Brahma together and related the sprouted a face on that side, and as she moved wicked works of Sunda and Upasunda —␣what to the northern side, he sprouted a northern they had done, how they had done it, and in face. The great Indra manifested wide red eyes what sequence. They revealed everything to on his two sides, and in front and back, until Brahma, leaving nothing out. All the hosts of he had a thousand eyes all over his body. Thus gods and supreme sages then urged the the great lord Sthanu became four-headed, and Grandfather to deal with this problem as his first Indra, slayer of Bala, grew one thousand eyes. é[q k* ZGandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, earthly kings, and were maddened by lust, and both yearned to Rakshasas, they felt the highest satisfaction. have her. With his hand, Sunda took the right When there were no authorities anywhere to hand of the fine-browed woman, and Upasunda forbid or challenge them, they ceased from their held Tilottama’s left hand. The brothers were in- strenuous efforts and simply enjoyed life as if they toxicated by their boon and with their own were two immortal gods. With abundant women, strength. They were drunk from liquor and mad- opulent necklaces and garlands, magnificent per- dened by their wealth and jewels. fumes, the finest food, varieties of liquors that move Intoxicated by all these types of madness, they the heart, and all that is rich and enjoyable, they scowled at each other, furrowing their brows. Being overwhelmed by the madness of lust, achieved the highest pleasure. In their private they spoke to each other. “She’s my wife and apartments, in the forested parks, gardens and your guru!” declared Sunda. “She’s my wife hilltop groves, and in all the places and lands that and your sister-in-law!” insisted Upasunda. Both men desire, they enjoyed like two deathless gods. flew into a rage, telling each other, “She’s not One day they were freely enjoying in a for- yours, she’s mine!” Intent on getting her, both est of bright blossoming sala trees, atop the of them grabbed their ferocious clubs, and dizzy stony plateau of the Vindhya hills. All things with lust, clubs in hand, they bashed one an- other, screaming, “I shall be first! I shall be first!” SRI KRISHNA KATHAMRITA BINDU Struck by the horrible clubs, the two col- a free bi-monthly service provided by: lapsed onto the earth, their bodies smeared Gopal Jiu Publications with blood, like two bright suns fallen from c/o ISKCON Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir the sky. Thereupon the women and the en- National Highway No. 5, IRC Village tire host of demons, trembling with shock and Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 751015 fear, fled to the lower world of Patala. Phone: (0674) 2557026 Then the Grandfather, with the gods and great Email: [email protected] sages, came to inspect the scene, and that pure For more information about Gopal Jiu Publica- soul paid homage to Tilottama. Brahma tions check out our website: www.gopaljiu.org awarded her a wish of her choosing, and she To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] chose the simple pleasure of devoted service to with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. (To subscribe put Lord Brahma. The Grandfather then happily “subscribe” in the subject line.) said to her, “Bright maiden, you will move Gopal Jiu Publications is a branch of the International freely in the worlds of the gods, and such will Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. be your radiance that none will easily see you.” Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Having given her this boon, the Grandfather of Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada all the material planets entrusted the three ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. All other mate- worlds to Lord Indra, and he returned to his rials, unless specified, © ISKCON Bhubaneswar/Gopal Jiu Publications. All rights reserved. Blanket permission is own planet, Brahmaloka. — Translated by Sri Hrdayananda Das Goswami. Unpublished manu- given to redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form pro- script. © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. vided no changes are made to the contents.