CHAPTER CXLIV
(ANDHAKA GOES TO THE MOUNT MANDARA)
Vaishampāyana said:— O descendant of Bharata, hearing attentively the words of Nārada the great Asura Andhaka felt a desire for going to the mount Mandara (1). Having gathered other Asuras (around him) the highly energetic and powerful Andhaka, elated with the pride of his strength, arrived at the mount Mandara. It was covered with huge clouds, great herbs and virtuous Siddhas. There lived the great Rishis and it abounded in many elephants, sandal, Aguru and various other trees. It was rendered charming with the songs of the Kinnaras and it danced as if with the blossoming trees blown by the wind. It was filled with the sweet notes of the birds and swans moving about beautifully. It was adorned with the highly powerful buffaloes, the destroyers of the demons and lions white as the rays of the moon. It was filled with hundreds of deer. Arriving there he said to that best of mountains existing there in his own form. (2–8). "You know that by virtue of my father's boon I am not to be slain by any. The three worlds, consisting of mobile and immobile creation, are under me. O mountain, out of fear, none is able to fight with me. O great hill, I have heard that on your table-land there is a forest of Pārijāta trees, the jewels of them, adorned with flowers conferring all desired-for objects. My mind is filled with curiosity-tell me speedily where that forest is on your table-land. O mountain, if angry you will not be able to do any thing against me: on the other hand if I oppress and trouble you, I do not see any one who will be able to protect you." Thus addressed the mount Mandara disappeared therefrom (9-12).
Thereupon worked up with great anger Andhaka, proud of his boon, set up a terrible leonine shout and said:—"O mountain, although requested by me you have not shown me sufficient honor. Now witness my strength—I will crush you within this very moment." Saying it the powerful Andhaka, elated with the pride of the boon, uprooted, with the help of the Asuras, a summit extending over many yojanas and began to grind it. O hero, for this all the streams of that huge mountain were blockaded. When Rudra came to know of all this he showed him such a special favour, that it appeared in the same beauty abounding in infuriated elephants, deer, various streams and variegated gardens, which it possessed before it was uprooted by Andhaka (13–18).
Thereupon by the power of the Lord, the dreadful summits, uprooted by Andhaka, brought about the destruction of the Asuras themselves (19). O king, the mountain summits crushed those Asuras to death who uprooting them were flying away (20). Those Asuras however, who were sitting at ease on the table-land of the mount Mandara, were not killed thereby. Seeing his soldiers thus crushed down Andhaka set up a terrible leonine shout and said:—"O mountain, there is no need of fighting with you. I invite him who is the owner of the garden situate on your elevation. Let him come forward to fight. What is the use of carrying on the work of destruction remaining in disguise in the battle-field" (21–23).
Thus addressed the Lord Maheswara, desirous of killing him, took up his mace and arrived there riding on his bull (24). The intelligent, three-eyed deity, the lord of goblins came there encircled by ghosts and goblins. At that time when Mahādeva was worked up with anger the entire world shook and the rivers flew in contrary courses with burning water (25–26), O king, by Hara's energy all the quarters were consumed with fire and the planets began to fight with one another. O descendant of Kuru, at that time all the mountains were moved and the god of rains sent down showers of char-coals accompanied with smoke. And the moon became hot and the sun cool. The Brahmavādins forgot the Vedas. O sinless one, at that time the asses gave birth to cows and the cows to horses. The trees were reduced to ashes and fell down on earth. The bulls began to oppress the kine and the kine began to ride on the bulls. All the quarters were filled with Rakshasas, Yatudhānas and Pishācas. Beholding the universe in such an altered condition the Divine Mahādeva cast off his mace effulgent like fire. O king, that dreadful mace, discharged by Hara, fell on the breast of the Asura Andhaka, the thorn of the pious, and immediately reduced him to ashes (27-33).
When the enemy of the world was slain, the gods and the Munis, having asceticism for their wealth, began to propitiate Shankara (34). Celestials bugles were sounded and showers of flowers fell down. O king, the three worlds were freed from anxiety and enjoyed rest (35). The gods and Gandharvas began to sing and the Apsaras began to dance. The Brāhmanas began to recite the Vedas and perform sacrifices (36). The planets resumed their natural positions and the rivers flew in their proper courses. Fire did not burn in water. All people began to cherish hopes (37). The foremost of mountains Mandara again shone in beauty—adorned with its pristine prosperity and effulgence (38). Having thus benefitted the gods the Lord Hara began to sport with Umā again in the garden of Pārijāta (39).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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