Tilottama

Mahabharata Adiparva Rajyalabha parva section 211-215

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Yudhistir made khandavaprastha as his capital and ruled the land justly along with his brothers. Sage Narada visits them. After worshipping the sage, Yudhistir asks him why did he come there. Sage Narada tells them to establish a rule amongst pandava brothers as how to share their common wife, otherwise they will meet same fate as the asuras Sunda and Upasunda.

Pandavas out of curiosity ask Narada who were those asuras and how did they meet their end. The Sage tells them the following story.

Sunda and Upasunda were asuras (demons) of great energy. They were born to Nikumbha in the race of Hiranyakasipu. Both the brothers were inseparable in thought, speech and action. They supported each other in everything. They performed terrible penances to please Brahmaji (The creator). The devatas (angels) tried to disturb their penance, but failed. Brahmaji, pleased by their devotion, appears before them and grants them a boon. They ask for invincibility in battle, secrets of all weapons, kamaroopa (ability to assume any form) and immortality. Brahmaji says 'since your intention while doing this penance is not for immortality, but for dominance of universe, I will grant you all that you desire except immortality, ask for a form of death that you desire'. The asuras ask for death in each others hands, thinking that they will not strike at each other.

The asuras Sunda and Upasunda conquer heaven, earth, naga (snakes, nether world). They were unjust rulers, and persecuted anybody following the vedic ways. They killed all brahmanas, and kshatriyas. They put a stop to all activities of other varnas. World became a terrible place to live in, as all activities came to a stop. 'Eat, drink, make merry, kill, enjoy' these were the words that reverberated in the universe.

The celestial sages out of compassion for the beings in the universe went to Brahmaji and requested him to put an end to this tyranical rule of Sunda and Upasunda. The creator Brahmaji orders Vishwakarma (divine architect) to make a damsel so beautiful that anybody who sees her should lust after her. Vishwakarma makes a beautiful damsel with the tiniest portions of all gems, hence known as 'Tilottama'. When life was breathed into her, She bows to Brahmaji and asks for what purpose she was born. He orders her to go to Sunda and Upasunda and charm them.

When Sunda and Upasunda see Tilottama, they lose their mind, and out of lust, each of them hold one hand of tillottama, and quarrel over her. They take their maces and strike at each other and meet their death.

After hearing the story, Pandavas establish a rule amongst themselves that whenever any of the brother is with Draupadi in the inner chamber, the other brothers should avoid entering the inner chamber. Thus the brothers avoided jealousy amongst them.

My Commentary :

Nobody is immune to death. How one has lived is important. Sunda and Upasunda lived as a curse on the universe. Injuring or harming others should be avoided. As long as they could share, the asura brothers were happy. As Tilottama enters the scene, the equation has changed. Greed, 'I, me, mine, I want for myself' took over.

Hari Om

In Guruseva