Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 10:17-30

Book 4: Chapter 10

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 10: Verses 17-30 Uttama's death at the hands of the Yaksas and Dhruva's encounter with them Piercing the armour of the Raksasas, the sharp arrows discharged from his bow disappeared into their bodies as thunderbolts into mountains. Strewn all over with the heads adorned with beautiful ear-rings, thighs resembling gold palmyras, arms graced with bracelets as well as with the necklaces, armlets, diadems and costly turbans of the enemies, who were being mowed down with the shafts (of Dhruva), the fields of battle, which ravished the mind ofheroes, looked very charming. Hosts of other Raksasas, who had escaped death, yet who had most of their limbs cut off with the arrows of Dhruva (the foremost of the Ksatriyas), fled from the field of battle like troop-leaders of elephants disturbed in their sport by the king of beasts. Not finding then anyone left with a weapon in that extensive field of battle, Dhruva (the foremost of Manu s race) felt inclined to behold the city of the enemies, yet he refrained from entering it (and said,) "No man can know the intention of those skilled in enchantment !" Addressing his charioteer as above, Dhruva (who rode in a wonderful chariot) remained on his guard, apprehending renewed opposition from the enemy, when he heard a (loud) noise like the roaring of an ocean, and further beheld in every direction the dust raised by a blast. In an instant the sky was overcast on all sides with a canopy of clouds accompanied by flashes of lightning and alarming claps of thunder in every direction. They rained torrent of blood as well as phlegm etc., pus, ordure, urine and fat and before him fell headless trunks from the sky, O sinless Vidura. Then appeared a mountain in the air and there rained on all sides maces, iron clubs, swords and Musalas (a particular type of arrow), as well as showers accompanied with volleys of stones. Serpents ran up to him hissing with a thunder-like roar and discharging fire from their eyes in rage, and there came rushing in herds mad elephants, lions and tigers. Assuming a threatening aspect as at the time of universal dissolution and roaring deeply, the terrible ocean approached on all sides deluging the earth with waves. By their conjuring tricks, peculiar to the demons, the Yaksas, who are noted for their cruel disposition, displayed many such phenomena which inspired terror into (the heart of) the pusillanimous. Seeing the conjuring trick employed by the Yaksas against Dhruva--a trick which was so very difficult to counteract-a number of hermits that had assembled there prayed for his welfare (in the following words). The hermits said : O son of Uttanapada may the almighty lord Visnu (the Wielder of the famous Sarnga bow), who relieves the agony of His suppliants, wipe out your enemies! By uttering and hearing His very Name people easily succeed in this very life in conquering death, which is so hard to overcome, O dear Dhruva. Thus ends the tenth discourse in Book Four of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.