{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk09ch23.htm","path":"hin/db/bk09ch23.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk09ch23.htm","text":"THE NINTH BOOK\nChapter XXIII\nOn the killing of S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda\n1-6. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said : -- S\u2019iva, versed in the knowledge of the Higher Reality, hearing all this, went himself with His whole host to the battle. Seeing Him, S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda alighted from his chariot and fell prostrate before him. With great force he got up and, quickly putting on his armour he took up his huge and heavy bow case. Then a great fight ensued between\nS\u2019iva and S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda for full one hundred years but there was no defeat nor victory on either side. The result was stalemate. Both of them, Bhagav\u00e2n and the D\u00e2nava quitted their weapons. S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda, remained on his chariot and Mah\u00e2deva role on His Bull. Hundreds and hundreds of D\u00e2navas were slain. But extraordinarily endowed with divine power, S\u2019ambhu restored to life all those of His party that were slain.\n7-30. In the meanwhile, an aged Br\u00e2hmana, very distressed in his appearance, came to the battlefield and asked S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda, the King of D\u00e2navas :-- \u201cO King! Grant me what I beg of you; you give away in charity all sorts of wealth and riches; give me also what I desire; give me, a Br\u00e2hmin, something also. I am a quiet peaceable aged Br\u00e2hmin, very very thirsty. Make your Promise first and then I will speak to you what I desire.\u201d (Note :-- The Br\u00e2hmins only are fit for receiving frauds and cheatings.)\nThe King S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda, with a gracious countenance and pleasing eyes swore before him that He would give him what he would desire. Then the Br\u00e2hmin spoke to the King with great affection and M\u00e2y\u00e2 :-- \u201cI am desirous of your Kavacha (amulet).\u201d The King, then, gave him the Kavacha (the amulet, mantra written on a Bhurja bark and located in a golden cup). Bhagav\u00e2n Hari (in the form of that Br\u00e2hmin) took that Kavacha and, assuming the form of S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda came to Tulas\u00ee. Coming there, He made His M\u00e2y\u00e2 (magic) manifest and held sexual intercourse with her. At this time Mah\u00e2deva took up the Hari\u2019s trident-aiming at the king of the D\u00e2navas. The trident looked like the Mid-day Sun of summer, flaming like a Pralaya fire. It looked irresistible and invincible as if quite powerful to kill the enemies. In brilliance it equalled the Sudars\u2019an Chakra (disc) and it was the chief of all the weapons. No other body than S\u2019iva and Kes\u2019ava could wield such a weapon. And everybody feared that but S\u2019iva and Kes\u2019ava. In length it was one thousand Dhanus and in width it was one hundred hands. It seemed lively, of the nature of Brahm\u00e2, eternal and not capable to be noticed, whence and how it proceeded. The weapon could destroy, by its own free L\u00eel\u00e2 (Will) all the worlds. When S\u2019iva held it aloft and aiming at S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda, He hurled it on him, the King of the Demons quitted his bows and arrows and with mind collected in a yoga posture, began to meditate on the lotus-feet of S\u2019r\u00ee Krisna with great devotion. At that moment, the trident, whirling round fell on S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda and easily burnt him and his chariot to ashes. He, then assuming the form of a two-armed Gopa, full of youth, divine, ornamented with jewels, holding flute, mounted on a Divine Chariot, surrounded by kotis\nand kotis of Gopas who came there from the region of Goloka, whose bodies were built up of excellent jewels, and S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda then went up to the Heavens (Goloka, where S\u2019r\u00ee Brind\u00e2bana is located in the middle). He went to Vrind\u00e2ban, full of R\u00e2sas (sentiments) and bowed down at the lotus feet of R\u00e2dh\u00e2 Krisna with devotion. Both of them were filled with love when they saw Sud\u00e2m\u00e2, and, with a gracious countenance and joyful eyes, they took him on their laps. On the other hand the S\u2019\u00fbla weapon came with force and gladness back again to Krisna. The bones of S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda, O Narada! were transformed into conch-shells. These conch-shells are always considered very sacred and auspicious in the worship of the Devas. The water in the conch-shell is also very holy and pleasing to the Devas. What more than this, that the water in the conch-shell is as holy as the water of any T\u00eertha. This water can be offered to all the Gods but not to S\u2019iva. Wherever the conch-shell is blown, there Laksm\u00ee abides with great pleasure. If bathing be done with conch-shell water, it is equivalent to taking bath in all the T\u00eerthas. Bhagav\u00e2n Hari resides direct in the conch-shell. Where S\u2019ankha is placed, there Hari resides. Laksm\u00ee also resides there and all inauspicious things fly away from there. Where the females and S\u2019\u00fbdras blow the S\u2019ankhas, Laksm\u00ee then gets vexed and, out of terror, She goes away to other places. O N\u00e2rada! Mah\u00e2deva, after killing the D\u00e2nava, went to His own abode. When He gladly went away on His Vehicle, on the Bull\u2019s back, with His whole host, all the other Devas went to their respective places with great gladness. Celestial drums were sounded in the Heavens. The Gandharbas and the Kinnaras began to sing songs. And showers of flowers were strewn on S\u2019iva\u2019s head. All the Munis and Devas and their chiefs began to chant hymns to Him.\nHere ends the Twenty-Third Chapter of the Ninth Book on the killing of S\u2019ankhach\u00fbda in S\u2019r\u00ee Mad Dev\u00ee Bh\u00e2gavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Ninth Book: Chapter 23","type":"page"}