Chapter 213

“Narada continued, ‘Then the celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and thehigh-souled Rishis possessing the attributes of tranquillity andself-restraint, beholding that act of universal slaughter, were afflictedwith great grief.

With passions and senses and souls under completecontrol, they then went to the abode of the Grandsire, moved bycompassion for the universe. Arrived there, they beheld the Grandsireseated with gods, Siddhas, and Brahmarshis around him. There were presentthat God of gods, viz., Mahadeva, and Agni, accompanied by Vayu, and Somaand Surya and Sakra, and Rishis devoted to the contemplation of Brahma,and the Vaikhanasas, the Valakhilyas, the Vanaprasthas, the Marichipas,the Ajas, the Avimudas, and other ascetics of great energy. All thoseRishis were sitting with the Grandsire, when the celestial and otherRishis, approaching Brahman with sorrowful hearts, represented unto himall the acts of Sunda and Upasunda. And they told the Grandsire in detaileverything that the Asura brothers had done, and how they had done it,and in what order. Then all the celestials and the great Rishis pressedthe matter before the Grandsire. The Grandsire, hearing everything theysaid, reflected for a moment and settled in his mind what he should do.Resolving to compass the destruction of the Asura brothers, he summonedViswakarman (the celestial architect). Seeing Viswakarman before him, theGrandsire possessed of supreme ascetic merit commanded him, saying,’Create thou a damsel capable of captivating all hearts.’ Bowing downunto the Grandsire and receiving his command with reverence, the greatartificer of the universe created a celestial maiden with carefulattention. Viswakrit first collected all handsome features upon the bodyof the damsel he created. Indeed, the celestial maiden that he createdwas almost a mass of gems. And created with great care by Viswakarman,the damsel, in beauty, became unrivalled among the women of the threeworlds. There was not even a minute part of her body which by its wealthof beauty could not attract the gaze of beholders. And like unto theembodied Sri herself, that damsel of extraordinary beauty captivated theeyes and hearts of every creature. And because she had been created withportions of every gem taken in minute measures, the Grandsire bestowedupon her the name of Tilottama. And as soon as he started it into life,the damsel bowed to Brahman and with joined palms said, ‘Lord of everycreated thing, what task am I to accomplish and what have I been createdfor?’ The Grandsire answered, ‘Go, O Tilottama, unto the Asuras, Sundaand Upasunda. O amiable one, tempt them with thy captivating beauty. And,O damsel, conduct thyself there in such a way that the Asura brothersmay, in consequence of the wealth of thy beauty, quarrel with each otheras soon as they cast their eyes upon thee.’

“Narada continued, ‘Bowing unto the Grandsire and saying, ‘So beit,’–the damsel walked round the celestial conclave. The illustriousBrahman was then sitting with face turned eastwards, and Mahadeva withface also towards the east, and all the celestials with faces northwards,and the Rishis with faces towards all directions. While Tilottama walkedround the conclave of the celestials, Indra and the illustrious Sthanu(Mahadeva) were the only ones that succeeded in preserving theirtranquillity of mind. But exceedingly desirous as Mahadeva was (ofbeholding Tilottama) when the damsel (in her progress round the celestialconclave) was at his side, another face like a full-blown lotus appearedon the southern side of his body. And when she was behind him, anotherface appeared on the west. And when the damsel was on the northern sideof the great god, a fourth face appeared on the northern side of hisbody. Mahadeva (who was eager to behold the damsel) came also to have athousand eyes, each large and slightly reddish, before, behind and on hisflanks. And it was thus that Sthanu the great god came to have fourfaces, and the slayer of Vala, a thousand eyes. And as regards the massof the celestials and the Rishis, they turned their faces towards alldirections as Tilottama walked round them. Except the divine Grandsirehimself, the glances of those illustrious personages, even of all of themfell upon Tilottama’s body. And when Tilottama set out (for the city ofthe Asuras) with the wealth of her beauty, all regarded the task asalready accomplished. After Tilottama had gone away, the great god whowas the First Cause of the Universe, dismissed all the celestials and theRishis.'”