Chapter 290

“Yudhishthira said, ‘This curiosity, O sire, is always dwelling in mymind. O grandsire of the Kurus, I desire to hear everything about it fromthee. Why was the celestial Rishi, the high-souled Usanas, called alsoKavi engaged in doing what was agreeable to the Asuras and disagreeableto the deities? Why was he engaged in diminishing the energy of thedeities? Why were the Danavas always engaged in hostilities with theforemost of the deities? Possessed of the splendour of an immortal, forwhat reason did Usanas obtain the name of Sukra? How also did he acquiresuch superior excellence? Tell me all about these things. Thoughpossessed of great energy, why does he not succeed in travelling to thecentre of the firmament? I desire, O grandsire, to learn everything aboutall these matters.'[1489]

“Bhishma said, ‘Listen, O king, with attention to all this as it occurredactually. O sinless one, I shall narrate these matters to thee as I haveheard and understood them. Of firm vows and honoured by all, Usanas, thatdescendant of Bhrigu’s race, became engaged in doing what wasdisagreeable to the deities for an adequate cause.[1490] The royalKuvera, the chief of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas, is the lord of thetreasury of Indra, that master of the universe.[1491] The great asceticUsanas, crowned with Yoga-success, entered the person of Kuvera, anddepriving the lord of treasures of his liberty by means of Yoga, robbedhim of all his wealth.[1492] Seeing his wealth taken away from him, thelord of treasures became highly displeased. Filled with anxiety, and hiswrath also being excited, he went to that foremost of gods, viz.,Mahadeva. Kuvera, represented the matter unto Siva of immeasurableenergy, that first of gods, fierce and amiable, and possessed of variousforms. And he said, ‘Usanas, having spiritualised himself by Yoga enteredmy form and depriving myself of liberty, has taken away all my wealth.Having by Yoga entered my body he has again left it.’ Hearing thesewords, Maheswara of supreme Yoga-powers became filled with rage. Hiseyes, O king, became blood-red, and taking up his lance he waited (readyto strike down Usanas). Indeed, having taken up that foremost of weapons,the great god began to say, ‘Where is he? Where is he?’ Meanwhile,Usanas, having ascertained the purpose of Mahadeva (through Yoga-power)from a distance, waited in silence. Indeed, having ascertained the factof the wrath of the high-souled Maheswara of superior Yoga-power, thepuissant Usanas began to reflect as to whether he should go to Maheswaraor fly away or remain where he was. Thinking, with the aid of his severepenances, of the high-souled Mahadeva, Usanas of soul crowned withYoga-success, placed himself on the point of Mahadeva’s lance. Thebow-armed Rudra, understanding that Usanas, whose penances had becomesuccessful and who had converted himself into the form of pure Knowledge,was staying at the point of his lance (and finding that he was unable tohurl the lance at one who was upon it), bent that weapon with hand. Whenthe fierce-armed and puissant Mahadeva of immeasurable energy had thusbent his lance (into the form of a bow), that weapon came to be calledfrom that time by the name of Pinaka.[1493] The lord of Uma, beholdingBhargava thus brought upon the palm of his hand, opened his mouth. Thechief of the gods then threw Bhargava into his mouth and swallowed him atonce. The puissant and high-souled Usanas of Bhrigu’s race, entering thestomach of Maheswara, began to wander there.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How, O king, could Usanas succeed in wanderingwithin the stomach of that foremost of superior intelligence? What alsodid that illustrious god do while the Brahmana was within hisstomach?'[1494]

“Bhishma said, ‘In days of yore (having swallowed up Usanas), Mahadeva ofsevere vows entered the waters and remained there like an immovable stakeof wood, O king, for millions of years (engaged in Yoga-meditation). HisYoga penances of the austerest type having been over, he rose from themighty lake. Then that primeval god of the gods, viz., the eternalBrahman, approached him, and enquired after the progress of his penancesand after his welfare. The deity having the bull for his emblem answered,saying, ‘My penances have been well-practised.’ Of inconceivable soul,possessed of great intelligence, and ever devoted to the religion oftruth, Sankara saw that Usanas within his stomach had become greater inconsequence of those penances of his.[1495] That foremost of Yogins(viz., Usanas), rich with that wealth of penances and the wealth (he hadappropriated from Kuvera), shone brightly in the three worlds, enduedwith great energy.[1496] After this, Mahadeva armed with Pinaka, thatsoul of Yoga, once more betook himself to Yoga-meditation. Usanas,however, filled with anxiety, began to wander within the stomach of thegreat god. The great ascetic began to hymn the praises of the god fromwhere he was, desirous of finding an outlet for escape. Rudra, however,having stopped all his outlets, prevented him from coming out. The greatascetic Usanas, however, O chastiser of foes, from within Mahadeva’sstomach, repeatedly addressed the god, saying, ‘Show me thy kindness!’Unto him Mahadeva said, ‘Go out through my urethra.’ He had stopped upall other outlets of his body. Confined on every side and unable to findout the outlet indicated, the ascetic began to wander hither and thither,burning all the while with Mahadeva’s energy. At last he found the outletand issued through it. In consequence of this fact he came to be calledby the name of Sukra, and it is in consequence of that fact he alsobecame unable to attain (in course of his wandering) the central point ofthe firmament. Beholding him come out of his stomach and shining brightlywith energy, Bhava, filled with anger, stood with lance uplifted in hishand. The goddess Uma then interposed and forbade the angry lord of allcreatures, viz., her spouse, to slay the Brahmana. And in consequence ofUma’s having thus prevented her lord from accomplishing his purpose theascetic Usanas (from the day) became the son of the goddess.’

“The goddess said, ‘This Brahmana no longer deserves to be slain by thee.He has become my son. O god, one who comes out of thy stomach does notdeserve slaughter at thy hands.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Pacified by these words of his spouse, Bhava smiledand said repeatedly these words, O king, ‘Let this one go whithersoeverhe likes.’ Bowing unto the boon-giving Mahadeva and to also his spousethe goddess Uma, the great ascetic Usanas, endued with superiorintelligence, proceeded to the place he chose. I have thus narrated tothee, O chief of the Bharatas, the story of the high-souled Bhargavaabout which thou didst ask me.'”