Brahma's Boon - A story from the Indian epics

Category : Story

There once lived a wicked asura (demon). He had two sons called Sunda and Upasunda. They loved each other very much. Now, the asura brothers had one great dream - to conquer all three worlds. So, they decided to please the great Brahma (the Creator) to achieve their aim.Sunda and Upasunda climbed the mighty Vindhyas and began their tapas. They practised severe austerities, much to the alarm of the devas in Heaven. Indra, King of Heaven, sent many of his men to distract them, but failed.

Finally Brahma appeared before Sunda and Upasunda.

"Lord", said the brothers, "Grant us immortality."

"Only those who are worthy of it can get that boon,'' replied Brahma, "You two are not yet fit for it".

''Well," said Sunda, "Then grant us this boon. Let us die by each other's hands only.''

Without a second thought, Brahma granted their boon and vanished.

Proud and arrogant now that they had conquered death, (well, almost, since they were very sure that they would not kill one another), Sunda and Upasunda began to create horror in all three worlds. They plundered the earth and killed holy men. They captured maidens and made the devas their slaves. Men went rushing to the devas for help, but Indra ( Chief of Devas ) could only helplessly murmur, ''I am powerless!''

''I was hasty with my boon,'' thought Brahma, who watched all this.

He summoned Viswakarma (Divine Architect). "Make the most beautiful woman ever seen''.

So the architect used a bit of all the materials he had, and created Thilothama, a beautiful maiden. He brought her to Brahma. Brahma was pleased.

"Fair maiden," commanded the Lord, ''Go down to earth and create rivalry between Sunda and Upasunda''. Thilothama bowed low and did as she was bid.

When the brothers saw Thilothama, both of them wanted to marry her.

"Whoever came first," she replied, "will wed me."

"I came first", cried Sunda.

"No! It was me!", shouted Upasunda.

And they began to quarrel. The quarrel soon turned into a duel. They began pounding each other with their fists. Then, they took up their maces. The fighting went on and on, until, the brothers finally wounded and killed each other.