Skandapurana 3.1.5
English (machine translation) 3.1.5
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3.1.5.1
The auspicious Sūta said:
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Having extolled the sacred Cakratīrtha that destroys sin,
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I shall tell yet another wonder, O foremost sages! (1)
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A Vasu named Vidhūma and the divine woman Alaṃbuṣā,
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formerly attained human birth due to a terrible curse from Brahmā. (2)
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Having bathed at the supremely holy Cakratīrtha, they were liberated from the curse.
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The seers said:
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O Sūta, Sūta, highly wise one, expert in the meaning of the Purāṇas! (3)
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Because of your wisdom and your being Vyāsa’s pupil, nothing is unknown to you.
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For what offense did the four-faced Brahmā in the past curse the Vasu named Vidhūma,
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together with Alaṃbuṣā? (4)
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Through the terrible curse of Brahmā, whose son and daughter did the two become? (5)
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How did the end of the curse come about for the two cursed by Brahmā?
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You ought to tell this in detail to us who are full of faith. (6)
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The auspicious Sūta said:
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Long ago, the lord Brahmā, the self-manifest, four-faced deity,
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flanked on both sides by Sāvitrī and Sarasvatī, (7)
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attended by the sage Sanātana and the wise Sanaka,
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by the one named Sanatkumāra, and by the noble Nārada, (8)
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served by Sanandana and other foremost sages,
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praised by Indra who is served by hosts of gods, (9)
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his lotus-feet praised by the planets headed by the Sun,
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surrounded by Siddhas, Sādhyas, Maruts, and Kinnaras, (10)
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accompanied by troops of Kimpuruṣas and by the eight Vasus,
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and watching again and again the charming dance
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along with instrumental music of heavenly courtesans led by Urvaśī,
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once held an assembly in the hall in Satyaloka. (12)
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Deep as the rumbling of clouds, continuously delighting the people,
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the sound of lutes, flutes, and drums spread there. (13)
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Cool from the touch of droplets from the rows of Gaṅgā’s waves,
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pleasant to the touch, the wind blew very gently at that time. (14)
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Then all the celestial women danced in turn.
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When the other courtesans were exhausted by the fatigue of dancing, respectfully (15)
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the celestial woman Alaṃbuṣā, endowed with beauty and youth,
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enchanting everyone, danced in the midst of the assembly. (16)
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At that moment, O brahmins, as she was dancing in the assembly,
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the wind playfully blew away her undergarment. (17)
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When that garment was lifted, the root of her thighs was clearly seen.
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Seeing her in such a state, all those beginning with Brahmā, out of bashfulness, (18)
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seated in the middle of the assembly, closed their eyes.
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The Vasu named Vidhūma, however, afflicted by the arrows of desire, (19)
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seeing her alone in Brahmā’s abode, her garment snatched by the wind,
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became full of joy with wide-open eyes and hair standing on end. (20)
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Observing that he was stricken with passion for Alaṃbuṣā,
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the four-faced Brahmā cursed that Vasu named Vidhūma: (21)
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“Because you have done such a deed, O Vidhūma,
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therefore you will attain a human state in the mortal world. (22)
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And this celestial woman shall be your wife there.”
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Thus cursed by Brahmā, Vidhūma, distressed in mind, (23)
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prostrated before Brahmā and sought to propitiate him.
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Vidhūma said:
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“O Lord, lover of your devotees! From this terrible curse (24)
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I do not deserve this, O Lord of gods; protect me, O ocean of compassion!”
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Propitiated in this manner by him, the imperishable Lord of Bhāratī, (25)
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filled with supreme mercy, spoke consolingly to Vidhūma.
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Brahmā said:
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“Although this curse has been laid upon you, and I do not speak falsely, (26)
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I shall now fix an end to this curse of yours.
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"Having fallen into mortal existence together with this Alaṃbuṣā,
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having become a great king there and having ruled the earth for a long time,
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having begotten upon her a peerless son who will be king,
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and having consecrated him on the throne, he who is expert in protecting the kingdom,
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then, for the pacification of this curse, on the shore of the southern ocean,
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at the most exalted Cakratīrtha situated near Phullagrāma,
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when you perform ritual ablution along with this wife,
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then you, shedding human existence like a snake sheds its worn-out skin,
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together with your wife, will attain your own realm.
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Without ritual ablution at Cakratīrtha, such a curse cannot be destroyed."
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Hearing these words of Brahmā, Vidhūma was not greatly pleased.
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Taking leave of the four-faced [god], he swiftly entered his own abode.
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There he reflected: "When I go into mortality,
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who indeed might be my father on earth, and who will be my mother?"
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Having reflected thus in many ways, that Vidhūma resolved:
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"In the city of Kauśāmbī there is a king renowned as Śatānīka.
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He is a heroic, highly fortunate man, and his wife is devoted to her husband.
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Her name is Viṣṇumatī, beloved to him like Śrī is to Viṣṇu.
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Making him alone my father, and making her my mother,
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I shall be born in the mortal realm through the ripening of my own deeds."
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Then, having summoned his three servants—Mālyavant, Puṣpadanta,
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and the mighty Balotkaṭa—he disclosed this occurrence:
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"Servants, listen—blessing be upon you! Because of the great fear of Brahmā's curse,
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I will be born as the son of Śatānīka from Viṣṇumatī."
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Hearing these words, his servants, who were like his vital breaths wandering outside,
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all with faces filled with tears, spoke these words to Vidhūma.
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The servants said:
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"Separation from you, all three of us cannot endure;
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therefore, you shall go into human existence together with us.
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There is that minister of the royal sage Śatānīka named Yugandhara,
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and the general Vipratīka, who marches in the forefront in battle,
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and the great brahmin named Vallabha, dear in humorous diversions;
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we three shall undoubtedly become their sons.
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To you, who have become the son of the royal sage Śatānīka,
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we shall render service in various tasks."
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To them speaking thus, that Vidhūma spoke [these] words.
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Vidhūma said:
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"I know such peerless affection of yours towards me;
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nevertheless, I speak today—hear these beneficial words:
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brought about by a terrible curse of Brahmā due to my own wrong deeds,
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I alone should undergo this despised human state.
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Following this curse is indeed not ordained for you;
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therefore, do not set your mind now upon contemptible human existence.
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Therefore, until the limit of the curse, let separation from me be endured."
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To him who had spoken thus, all of them, led by Mālyavant,
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bowing their heads, spoke, entreating him again and again:
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"Protect us out of compassion, and do not act rashly!
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Are you abandoning all of us today, your guiltless devotees?
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Compared to the terrifying separation from you, even contemptible human existence
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we deem very worthy, O lord! Therefore, protect us now!"
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Thus, he consented to those three servants who were entreating him;
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together with those three, he desired to go to Kauśāmbī.
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At that very time, however, the enhancer of the lunar dynasty,
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born in the lineage of Arjuna, born of Janamejaya,
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King Śatānīka was ruling the earth.
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Wise, prudent, eloquent, intent on protecting his subjects,
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equipped with a fourfold army, having valor as his sole wealth, young—
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that great king dwelt in the city of Kauśāmbī.
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Knowing the secret of counsel, Yugandhara was his minister,
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and Vipratīka was his general, the foremost in battle.
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In matters of jest, he had a brahmin friend named Vallabha.
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His beloved [wife] was named Viṣṇumatī, just like Śrī is beloved of Viṣṇu.
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Endowed with all virtues, the highly intelligent Śatānīka
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did not obtain a son equal to himself from that wife.
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Knowing himself to be sonless, he grieved deeply.
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Summoning the minister Yugaṃdhara, who was most skilled in counsel,
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he deliberated on the matter: “How may I obtain a son?”
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Gladdening with his speech the ruler of the earth,
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who was afflicted by lack of a son, Yugaṃdhara spoke these words:
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Yugaṃdhara said:
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“There is a great seer named Śāṇḍilya, truthful in speech and pure,
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impartial to foes and friends, self-controlled, devoted to austerity and the study of the Veda.
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Approaching that very sage, blazing like fire,
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you should humbly ask for a son equal to yourself, O King.
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Compassionate as he is, that great seer will surely grant you a son.”
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Hearing these words of his, his eyes blossoming with joy,
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accompanied by that minister, he went to the hermitage of that sage.
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The king bowed down to him as he sat in the hermitage.
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Seeing that the king had arrived at the hermitage,
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Śāṇḍilya, endowed with great splendor, honored him with water for the feet and other rites, and offered a welcome.
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Śāṇḍilya said:
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“Śatānīka, for what purpose have you come to my hermitage?
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Speak what must be done for you now; I shall do it.”
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As the sage was speaking thus, Yugaṃdhara replied to him:
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“O venerable one, this king, tormented by lack of a son,
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has now come to you for refuge for the sake of a son.
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You ought to dispel the sorrow born of his sonlessness.”
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Hearing his speech, Śāṇḍilya, the best of sages,
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promised the boon of obtaining a son to that king.
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That glorious bestower of boons, having respectfully come to Kauśāmbī for the king,
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that great sage became the officiating priest in the sacrifice for obtaining a son for him who desired a son.
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Then, by the grace of the sage, the king, comparable to Daśaratha,
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having performed the sacrifice, obtained a son named Sahasrānīka, just as [Daśaratha obtained] Rāma.
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Thus Vidhūma was born from Śatānīka, the best of kings.
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Meanwhile, the king's foremost minister and commander-in-chief,
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as well as the brahmin jester, obtained sons suitable to their lineages.
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The son of Yugaṃdhara was the attendant named Mālyavat,
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named Yaugandharāyaṇa, skilled in the sciences of counsel.
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Vipratīka's son was indeed Puṣpadanta,
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renowned as Rumaṇvat, the crusher of enemy armies.
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Then a son of immense strength was born to Vallabha,
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known as Vasantaka, skilled in the arts of jest.
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Then they all grew up, with the prince leading them.
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After they had reached the age of five years,
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the celestial courtezan Alambuṣā also [was born] to King Kṛtavarman
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in the great city of Ayodhyā as the maiden named Mṛgāvatī.
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Thus they, headed by Vidhūma, were born upon the earthly realm.
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In the meantime, a mighty [demon] of great strength, having wicked followers,
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renowned as Ahidaṃṣṭra, a great Daitya of tremendous might,
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joined by an evil-minded ally named Sthūlaśiras,
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besieged the city of the gods and oppressed the deities as well.
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While the great war between the gods and demons was underway in heaven,
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Puraṃdara brought Śatānīka to serve as his ally.
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Having duly consecrated his son to the position of crown prince,
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the king set forth, mounting a chariot, to battle with the sons of Diti.
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Brought respectfully by Mātali who had arrived [for him], that archer
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made the gods mere spectators and struck down the sons of Diti in battle.
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Then that lord of the Daityas too was slain in battle in heaven.
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Then, by the order of Śakra, placing that dead bull among kings
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swiftly upon the chariot, Mātali went to Kauśāmbī.
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Having brought [the king's body] to the surface of the earth, he presented it to his son.
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Then Sahasrānīka also, weeping and deeply distressed,
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joined together with the ministers and performed the funeral rites.
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Learning that her husband was dead, the queen died alongside him.
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When the king, along with his queen, had attained the state of living only in fame,
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Śatānīka's son took up the kingdom at the bidding of the ministers.
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When Yugandhara, Vipratīka, and Vallabha had died,
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all their sons, headed by Yaugandharāyaṇa,
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performed their respective duties for this son of Śatānīka.
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Thus the mighty prince ruled the earth.
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As time passed, having been invited by Mahendra to a great festival with his son,
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he heard a story of the future spoken by him:
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"The heavenly woman Alambuṣā, through the curse of Brahmā, in Ayodhyā
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was born as Mṛgāvatī, the daughter of King Kṛtavarman.
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And you, a Vasu named Vidhūma, formerly in the abode of Brahmā,
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having seen that very celestial woman whose garment was stripped away by the wind,
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were overcome with passion at once and came to mortality through a curse.
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She alone will be your beloved wife before long, O king, my friend!
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When, having installed your own son upon the kingdom, O ruler of the earth,
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along with your wife Mṛgāvatī, on the shore of the southern ocean,
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at the most holy Cakratīrtha near Phullagrāma,
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you perform a ritual ablution, then you will be freed from the curse."
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- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit