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STORIES · THE MAHĀBHĀRATA · Ādi

Sunda-Upasunda

Classical

Narada tells this tale to Yudhishthira, and he tells it for a reason: the Pandavas have a wife in common, and he wants them to see how two brothers who were like one person destroyed each other. Sunda and Upasunda were Daityas, sons of Nikumbha, in the line of Hiranyakashipu, so alike in temper and purpose that they seemed one being split in two.

They went to the Vindhya mountains and did terrible penance, hungry and thirsty, in bark and matted hair, and offered pieces of their own flesh to the fire. The mountains grew hot and the gods grew alarmed. The gods first tried treasures and beautiful women. When that failed they conjured the illusion of the brothers' women relatives being attacked by a Rakshasa. The brothers held to their vows and the illusions faded.

Brahma appeared and offered a boon. They asked for knowledge of all weapons and illusions, great strength, the power to change shape, and immortality. Brahma refused immortality, because their penance had been driven by ambition for sovereignty, and told them to choose another kind of death. They asked that nothing in the three worlds be able to kill them except each other. Brahma granted it.

They went home to delighted relatives, cut off their matted locks, and put on crowns and fine clothes. They had the moon rise over their city every night, out of season, and the Daityas feasted and played so long that a year passed like a day. Then they set out to rule the three worlds. They overran heaven, where the gods fled to Brahma's realm, then took the underworld, the ocean's creatures and the barbarian tribes. On earth they ordered their followers to kill the Brahmins and royal sages who performed sacrifices, since those rites feed the gods. Hermitage fires and sacred vessels were smashed. The sages' curses failed because of the brothers' boons. The brothers hunted holy men to their caves in the shapes of elephants, lions and tigers. Sacrifice, study, trade, farming, marriage and ancestral rites all stopped, and the earth went empty. The sun, moon and stars grieved. The brothers settled at Kurukshetra, with no rivals left.

With no enemy, they gave themselves to pleasure, enjoying treasure taken from gods, Gandharvas, Nagas and others. One day, on a level stony plateau of the Vindhya covered with flowering trees, they sat with singing and dancing women. Tilottama came walking slowly toward them in a single red silk garment, picking wildflowers. The text I could read does not show how she was made or sent.

Both brothers, drunk and burning with desire, stood up to claim her. Sunda took her right hand, and each insisted she was his. The affection that had held them together became rage, and they hit each other with their maces until both fell bleeding. The women and other Asuras fled to the nether regions.

Brahma came with the gods and great sages. He praised Tilottama and gave her a boon: she would move through the realm of the Adityas, and her radiance would be so great that no one could look at her for long. He gave the three worlds back to Indra and went home.

Narada's point comes after: the Asuras destroyed themselves over Tilottama, so the Pandavas must make sure no such quarrel arises over Draupadi. They agreed that if one brother was alone with her, any other who saw them must go to the forest as a celibate student for twelve years. Narada left, and no dispute arose. The agreement is tested soon enough. When a Brahmin's cattle are stolen, Arjuna has to go into the room where Yudhishthira and Draupadi are to get his bow, saves the cattle, then insists on keeping the vow he has broken and goes into exile for twelve years. Truth, he says, is his weapon.

Told by Nārada → Pāṇḍavas

Who: Draupadī

Bound to

The Draupadī rule and Arjuna's twelve-year exile mirror

Where this comes from

See it on the tree · All stories

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