Skandapurana 3.1.5

The auspicious Sūta said:

Having extolled the sacred Cakratīrtha that destroys sin,

I shall tell yet another wonder, O foremost sages! (1)

A Vasu named Vidhūma and the divine woman Alaṃbuṣā,

formerly attained human birth due to a terrible curse from Brahmā. (2)

Having bathed at the supremely holy Cakratīrtha, they were liberated from the curse.

The seers said:

O Sūta, Sūta, highly wise one, expert in the meaning of the Purāṇas! (3)

Because of your wisdom and your being Vyāsa’s pupil, nothing is unknown to you.

For what offense did the four-faced Brahmā in the past curse the Vasu named Vidhūma,

together with Alaṃbuṣā? (4)

Through the terrible curse of Brahmā, whose son and daughter did the two become? (5)

How did the end of the curse come about for the two cursed by Brahmā?

You ought to tell this in detail to us who are full of faith. (6)

The auspicious Sūta said:

Long ago, the lord Brahmā, the self-manifest, four-faced deity,

flanked on both sides by Sāvitrī and Sarasvatī, (7)

attended by the sage Sanātana and the wise Sanaka,

by the one named Sanatkumāra, and by the noble Nārada, (8)

served by Sanandana and other foremost sages,

praised by Indra who is served by hosts of gods, (9)

his lotus-feet praised by the planets headed by the Sun,

surrounded by Siddhas, Sādhyas, Maruts, and Kinnaras, (10)

accompanied by troops of Kimpuruṣas and by the eight Vasus,

and watching again and again the charming dance

along with instrumental music of heavenly courtesans led by Urvaśī,

once held an assembly in the hall in Satyaloka. (12)

Deep as the rumbling of clouds, continuously delighting the people,

the sound of lutes, flutes, and drums spread there. (13)

Cool from the touch of droplets from the rows of Gaṅgā’s waves,

pleasant to the touch, the wind blew very gently at that time. (14)

Then all the celestial women danced in turn.

When the other courtesans were exhausted by the fatigue of dancing, respectfully (15)

the celestial woman Alaṃbuṣā, endowed with beauty and youth,

enchanting everyone, danced in the midst of the assembly. (16)

At that moment, O brahmins, as she was dancing in the assembly,

the wind playfully blew away her undergarment. (17)

When that garment was lifted, the root of her thighs was clearly seen.

Seeing her in such a state, all those beginning with Brahmā, out of bashfulness, (18)

seated in the middle of the assembly, closed their eyes.

The Vasu named Vidhūma, however, afflicted by the arrows of desire, (19)

seeing her alone in Brahmā’s abode, her garment snatched by the wind,

became full of joy with wide-open eyes and hair standing on end. (20)

Observing that he was stricken with passion for Alaṃbuṣā,

the four-faced Brahmā cursed that Vasu named Vidhūma: (21)

“Because you have done such a deed, O Vidhūma,

therefore you will attain a human state in the mortal world. (22)

And this celestial woman shall be your wife there.”

Thus cursed by Brahmā, Vidhūma, distressed in mind, (23)

prostrated before Brahmā and sought to propitiate him.

Vidhūma said:

“O Lord, lover of your devotees! From this terrible curse (24)

I do not deserve this, O Lord of gods; protect me, O ocean of compassion!”

Propitiated in this manner by him, the imperishable Lord of Bhāratī, (25)

filled with supreme mercy, spoke consolingly to Vidhūma.

Brahmā said:

“Although this curse has been laid upon you, and I do not speak falsely, (26)

I shall now fix an end to this curse of yours.

"Having fallen into mortal existence together with this Alaṃbuṣā,

having become a great king there and having ruled the earth for a long time,

having begotten upon her a peerless son who will be king,

and having consecrated him on the throne, he who is expert in protecting the kingdom,

then, for the pacification of this curse, on the shore of the southern ocean,

at the most exalted Cakratīrtha situated near Phullagrāma,

when you perform ritual ablution along with this wife,

then you, shedding human existence like a snake sheds its worn-out skin,

together with your wife, will attain your own realm.

Without ritual ablution at Cakratīrtha, such a curse cannot be destroyed."

Hearing these words of Brahmā, Vidhūma was not greatly pleased.

Taking leave of the four-faced [god], he swiftly entered his own abode.

There he reflected: "When I go into mortality,

who indeed might be my father on earth, and who will be my mother?"

Having reflected thus in many ways, that Vidhūma resolved:

"In the city of Kauśāmbī there is a king renowned as Śatānīka.

He is a heroic, highly fortunate man, and his wife is devoted to her husband.

Her name is Viṣṇumatī, beloved to him like Śrī is to Viṣṇu.

Making him alone my father, and making her my mother,

I shall be born in the mortal realm through the ripening of my own deeds."

Then, having summoned his three servants—Mālyavant, Puṣpadanta,

and the mighty Balotkaṭa—he disclosed this occurrence:

"Servants, listen—blessing be upon you! Because of the great fear of Brahmā's curse,

I will be born as the son of Śatānīka from Viṣṇumatī."

Hearing these words, his servants, who were like his vital breaths wandering outside,

all with faces filled with tears, spoke these words to Vidhūma.

The servants said:

"Separation from you, all three of us cannot endure;

therefore, you shall go into human existence together with us.

There is that minister of the royal sage Śatānīka named Yugandhara,

and the general Vipratīka, who marches in the forefront in battle,

and the great brahmin named Vallabha, dear in humorous diversions;

we three shall undoubtedly become their sons.

To you, who have become the son of the royal sage Śatānīka,

we shall render service in various tasks."

To them speaking thus, that Vidhūma spoke [these] words.

Vidhūma said:

"I know such peerless affection of yours towards me;

nevertheless, I speak today—hear these beneficial words:

brought about by a terrible curse of Brahmā due to my own wrong deeds,

I alone should undergo this despised human state.

Following this curse is indeed not ordained for you;

therefore, do not set your mind now upon contemptible human existence.

Therefore, until the limit of the curse, let separation from me be endured."

To him who had spoken thus, all of them, led by Mālyavant,

bowing their heads, spoke, entreating him again and again:

"Protect us out of compassion, and do not act rashly!

Are you abandoning all of us today, your guiltless devotees?

Compared to the terrifying separation from you, even contemptible human existence

we deem very worthy, O lord! Therefore, protect us now!"

Thus, he consented to those three servants who were entreating him;

together with those three, he desired to go to Kauśāmbī.

At that very time, however, the enhancer of the lunar dynasty,

born in the lineage of Arjuna, born of Janamejaya,

King Śatānīka was ruling the earth.

Wise, prudent, eloquent, intent on protecting his subjects,

equipped with a fourfold army, having valor as his sole wealth, young—

that great king dwelt in the city of Kauśāmbī.

Knowing the secret of counsel, Yugandhara was his minister,

and Vipratīka was his general, the foremost in battle.

In matters of jest, he had a brahmin friend named Vallabha.

His beloved [wife] was named Viṣṇumatī, just like Śrī is beloved of Viṣṇu.

Endowed with all virtues, the highly intelligent Śatānīka

did not obtain a son equal to himself from that wife.

Knowing himself to be sonless, he grieved deeply.

Summoning the minister Yugaṃdhara, who was most skilled in counsel,

he deliberated on the matter: “How may I obtain a son?”

Gladdening with his speech the ruler of the earth,

who was afflicted by lack of a son, Yugaṃdhara spoke these words:

Yugaṃdhara said:

“There is a great seer named Śāṇḍilya, truthful in speech and pure,

impartial to foes and friends, self-controlled, devoted to austerity and the study of the Veda.

Approaching that very sage, blazing like fire,

you should humbly ask for a son equal to yourself, O King.

Compassionate as he is, that great seer will surely grant you a son.”

Hearing these words of his, his eyes blossoming with joy,

accompanied by that minister, he went to the hermitage of that sage.

The king bowed down to him as he sat in the hermitage.

Seeing that the king had arrived at the hermitage,

Śāṇḍilya, endowed with great splendor, honored him with water for the feet and other rites, and offered a welcome.

Śāṇḍilya said:

“Śatānīka, for what purpose have you come to my hermitage?

Speak what must be done for you now; I shall do it.”

As the sage was speaking thus, Yugaṃdhara replied to him:

“O venerable one, this king, tormented by lack of a son,

has now come to you for refuge for the sake of a son.

You ought to dispel the sorrow born of his sonlessness.”

Hearing his speech, Śāṇḍilya, the best of sages,

promised the boon of obtaining a son to that king.

That glorious bestower of boons, having respectfully come to Kauśāmbī for the king,

that great sage became the officiating priest in the sacrifice for obtaining a son for him who desired a son.

Then, by the grace of the sage, the king, comparable to Daśaratha,

having performed the sacrifice, obtained a son named Sahasrānīka, just as [Daśaratha obtained] Rāma.

Thus Vidhūma was born from Śatānīka, the best of kings.

Meanwhile, the king's foremost minister and commander-in-chief,

as well as the brahmin jester, obtained sons suitable to their lineages.

The son of Yugaṃdhara was the attendant named Mālyavat,

named Yaugandharāyaṇa, skilled in the sciences of counsel.

Vipratīka's son was indeed Puṣpadanta,

renowned as Rumaṇvat, the crusher of enemy armies.

Then a son of immense strength was born to Vallabha,

known as Vasantaka, skilled in the arts of jest.

Then they all grew up, with the prince leading them.

After they had reached the age of five years,

the celestial courtezan Alambuṣā also [was born] to King Kṛtavarman

in the great city of Ayodhyā as the maiden named Mṛgāvatī.

Thus they, headed by Vidhūma, were born upon the earthly realm.

In the meantime, a mighty [demon] of great strength, having wicked followers,

renowned as Ahidaṃṣṭra, a great Daitya of tremendous might,

joined by an evil-minded ally named Sthūlaśiras,

besieged the city of the gods and oppressed the deities as well.

While the great war between the gods and demons was underway in heaven,

Puraṃdara brought Śatānīka to serve as his ally.

Having duly consecrated his son to the position of crown prince,

the king set forth, mounting a chariot, to battle with the sons of Diti.

Brought respectfully by Mātali who had arrived [for him], that archer

made the gods mere spectators and struck down the sons of Diti in battle.

Then that lord of the Daityas too was slain in battle in heaven.

Then, by the order of Śakra, placing that dead bull among kings

swiftly upon the chariot, Mātali went to Kauśāmbī.

Having brought [the king's body] to the surface of the earth, he presented it to his son.

Then Sahasrānīka also, weeping and deeply distressed,

joined together with the ministers and performed the funeral rites.

Learning that her husband was dead, the queen died alongside him.

When the king, along with his queen, had attained the state of living only in fame,

Śatānīka's son took up the kingdom at the bidding of the ministers.

When Yugandhara, Vipratīka, and Vallabha had died,

all their sons, headed by Yaugandharāyaṇa,

performed their respective duties for this son of Śatānīka.

Thus the mighty prince ruled the earth.

As time passed, having been invited by Mahendra to a great festival with his son,

he heard a story of the future spoken by him:

"The heavenly woman Alambuṣā, through the curse of Brahmā, in Ayodhyā

was born as Mṛgāvatī, the daughter of King Kṛtavarman.

And you, a Vasu named Vidhūma, formerly in the abode of Brahmā,

having seen that very celestial woman whose garment was stripped away by the wind,

were overcome with passion at once and came to mortality through a curse.

She alone will be your beloved wife before long, O king, my friend!

When, having installed your own son upon the kingdom, O ruler of the earth,

along with your wife Mṛgāvatī, on the shore of the southern ocean,

at the most holy Cakratīrtha near Phullagrāma,

you perform a ritual ablution, then you will be freed from the curse."