Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 10:1-16

Book 4: Chapter 10

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 10: Verses 1-16
Uttama's death at the hands of the Yaksas and Dhruva's encounter with them

Maitreya continued : Dhruva married Bhrami, daughter of Sisumara, a lord of created beings, and the couple were blessed with two sons, Kalpa and Vatsara. Through his (other) wife, lla, daughter of Vayu (the wind-god), too,the mighty Dhruva begot a son, Utkala by name, and a daughter, a very jewel among women. Uttama (Dhruva's half-brother), however, who was yet unmarried, was killed in the course of a hunting expedition on the Himalaya mountain by a Yaksa, who was stronger than he, and his mother (Suruci, Dhruva's stepmother) followed him (to the abode of Yama). Overcome with anger, indignation and grief at the news of his brother's death, Dhruva mounted his victorious car and marched against the city of Alaka (the abode of the Yaksas). Proceeding in a northerly direction, the king (Dhruva) saw in a valley of the Himalayas the city (of Alaka) crowded with the Guhyakas (Yaksas) and inhabited by spirits and ghosts. (the attendants of Lord Rudra). The stout-armed Dhruva blew his conch, causing the heavens as well as the quarters to resound, and the women of the demigods, O Vidura, were greatly alarmed at the sound and cast a bewildered look. Impatient at the blast, the mighty and great warriors among the demigods sallied forth from their stronghold with uplifted weapons and proceeded (against Dhruva). As they rushed towards him, 0 valiant Vidura, Dhruva (the great car-warrior), who was armed with a fierce bow, hit them all at once with three shafts each. With the arrows planted in their brow, they all thought themselves vanquished and applauded that feat of his. Intolerant of his valour like serpents, who cannot tolerate being trodden on, they in their anxiety to achieve twice as much as he had done simultaneously struck him (with six arrows each). Full of rage and eager to return his volleys, the Yaksas, numbering one hundred and thirty thousand, rained on him as well as on his car and charioteer iron clubs, swords, lances, pikes and axes, javelins, double-edged swords, Bhusundis and arrows with many-coloured feathers. Screened with the thick volley of weapons, even as a hill is covered with a torrential shower. Dhruva (the son of Uttanapada) could not be seen at that time. That very moment arose a plaintive cry raised by the Siddhas who had been witnessing the scene from heaven: "Drowned in the sea of the Puhyajana (Yaksa) host, this sun of Manu's race has set I" Then, in the midst of the roaring of the Raksasas (Yaksas) [1] who were proclaiming their own triumph on the field of battle, Dhruva's car came into view, like the sun from behind (a cloud of) mist. Twanging his celestial bow and inspiring terror into (the heart of) the enemies, Dhruva tore to pieces their host of missiles even as a blast disperses an army of clouds.

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References

  1. Here as well as In the subsequent verses the Yaksas have been promiscuously referred to as 'Raksasas' and'Asuras,-obviously because all these species are akin to one another and the population of Alaka was a mixture of all these.

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