Book 6: Chapter 9
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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 6: Chapter 9: Verses 51-55
Indra, may all be well with you; seek ye Dadhyan (more popularly known as Dadhica or Dadhici), the noblest of seers, and beg of him without delay (the gift of) his body, which has grown (exceptionally) strong through the repetition of Mantras (prayers such as the holy Narayana-Kavaca), religious observances and asceticism. Having actually realized (his identity with) Brahma (the Absolute), free from (every) tinge (of Maya), he imparted that knowledge to the two Aswinikumaras (who are twin brothers and are the physicians of the gods)-the knowledge which is named Aswasira[1] (because it was imparted by the sage with the head of a horse) and which contributed to the immortality (liberation during their very life-time) of the aforesaid gods. Dadhici, the son of the sage Atharva, (again) taught to the god Twasta the prayer (serving as a protective cover and therefore known as the Narayana-Kavaca), full of My essence and incapable of being superseded (by any other Mantra or prayer), which Twasta (in his turn) ..taught to (his son) Viswarupa and which you have received from Viswarupa. Solicited (by you), the sage (who knows the essence of virtue) will part with in your favour and (particularly) in favour of (his disciples,) the two Aswinikumaras (your physicians) his (own) limbs. Then out of (the bones of) those limbs will be produced a thunderbolt (the best of weapons), forget by Viswakarma (the artisan of the gods), by means of which and (further) strengthened with My power, (O Indra) you will be able to sever the head of Vrtra. When he is slain, you will regain your (past) glory, missiles, weapons and riches, and everything will be well with you; for enemies can never destroy those who are devoted to Me. Thus ends the ninth discourse, in Book Six of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.
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References
- ↑ " Having come to know that the sage Dadhici was well-versed in Brahmavidya (the knowledge relating to the Supreme Spirit), the two Aswinikumaras once approached him and sought from him the knowledge of Brahma, The sage, who was then engaged in some religlous rite, politely dismissed them assuring them that he would impart that knowledge to them on some other occasion. No sooner had they left than Indra (the chief of the gods) called on the sage and asked him not to teach Brahmavidya to the Aswinikumaras, who were physicians and as such hardly qualified to receive it, and threatened to behead the sage in case he insisted on imparting the said knowledge to them. When the Aswlnikumaras approached the sage again and learnt from him of Indra's threat, they offered to cut off the sage's head even before and replace it with the head of a horse, and requested him to teach Brahmavidya by the horse's head, so that if Indra actually came and severed the sage's head in the course of the latter's discourse they would easily restore his original head. The sage, who prized his word more than his head, readily agreed and allowed himself to be beheaded by the heavenly physiclans and taught them Brahmavidya by the horse's head.