Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Dhundhu included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of Dhundhu
A notorious Asura. He was the son of the Madhu 碍补颈峁璦产丑补蝉.
叠谤补丑尘腻 was born in the lotus from the navel of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, who was lying in meditation on the surface of water. From the ear-wax of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 two asuras鈥擬adhu and 碍补颈峁璦产丑补 sprang up. They terrified 叠谤补丑尘腻 by shaking the stalk of the lotus. 叠谤补丑尘腻 became terribly afraid of the asuras and ran about on the surface of water. Hearing the cry of 叠谤补丑尘腻 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 awoke, but he could not defeat the asuras. 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 decided to employ '厂腻尘补' (conciliation) the first expedient. The arrogant demons ordered 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 to ask of them any boon. 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 replied. "If it is so, you must be killed by me." They could not but give the boon. They agreed to the request of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and said: "But we must be killed in an atmosphere, which is not cloudy." 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 killed them when the atmosphere was clear.
A son named Dhundhu had been born to Madhu and 碍补颈峁璦产丑补. Because 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 had killed his fathers Dhundhu decided to take revenge on 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and the Gods. With this idea in view Dhundhu began to do penance in the sandy desert of Ujj膩laka in Marudhanva. Standing on one leg he did penance for thousands of years. Then 叠谤补丑尘腻 appeared before him and gave the boon that he would not be killed by Devas, 顿腻苍补惫补蝉 (asuras), Gandharvas (Demi-gods), 搁腻办峁蝉补蝉 (demons), 驰补办峁蝉 (paragods) and Uragas (serpents). Having got this boon, he lived under sand in the desert of Ujj膩laka. His idea was to destroy the gods.
A hermit named 鲍迟迟补峁卥补 had erected his hermitage in another part of Marudhanva and began penance. By his penance he made 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 appear before him and then made a request that Dhundhu鈥檚 activities be put a stop to. 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 replied "鲍迟迟补峁卥补! Dhundhu has become a curse to the three worlds. There is a king named 碍耻惫补濒腻艣惫补, born of the dynasty of 滨办峁腻办耻. He will kill Dhundhu." Saying these words, 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 disappeared.
鲍迟迟补峁卥补 went to the palace of 碍耻惫补濒腻艣惫补 and told him what 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 had said. 碍耻惫补濒腻艣惫补 and his sons went to the forest and killed Dhundhu in a fight. From that day 碍耻惫补濒腻艣惫补 came to be known by the name 顿丑耻苍诲丑耻尘腻谤补,* which meant 'the killer of Dhundhu. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Vana Parva, 4 Chapters from 201).
*) Dhundhu was the son of 碍补艣测补辫补, born of Danu. It was to kill Dhundhu that 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 incarnated a 痴腻尘补苍补, 痴腻尘补苍补pur膩na Chapter 8.