Ch 1 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

६.१ प्रथमोऽध्यायः । त्रिशिरसस्तपोभङ्गाय देवराजेन्द्रद्वारा नानोपायचिन्तनवर्णनम् । ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग मिष्टं ते वचनामृतम् । न तृप्ताः स्मो वयं पीत्वा द्वैपायनकृतं शुभम् ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

The Ṛṣis (of the Naimiṣa forest) addressed Sūta (fondly) :-- O highly Fortunate One! Your nectar-like words are very sweet. We are not satiated with what you have described to us as the auspicious sayings of Dvaipāyana Vyāsa.

Ch 1 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुनस्त्वां प्रष्टुमिच्छामः कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । वेदेऽपि कथितां रम्यां प्रसिद्धां पापनाशिनीम् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

O Sūta! We desire to ask you again to narrate to us the auspicious sayings of this Purāṇa, beautiful, famous, and sin-destroying and authorised by the holy Vedas.

Ch 1 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वृत्रासुर इति ख्यातो वीर्यवांस्त्वष्टुरात्मजः । स कथं निहतः सङ्ख्ये वासवेन महात्मना ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Viśvakarmā had a son, named Vritrāsura, who was very well known, and very powerful. How was it that he had been slain by the high-souled Indra? Viśvakarmā was a powerful Brāhmin and belonged to the godś party; his son was stronger.

Ch 1 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्वष्टा वै सुरपक्षीयस्तत्पुत्रो बलवत्तरः । शक्रेण घातितः कस्माद्ब्रह्मयोनिर्महाबलः ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

How was it that he had been killed by Indra! The Devas are born of the Sattva qualities; men are born from the Rājasic qualities; and all the birds, etc., are born of the Tāmasic qualities.

Ch 1 Verse 5-6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देवाः सत्त्वगुणोत्पना मानुषा राजसाः स्मृताः । तिर्यञ्चस्तामसाः प्रोक्ताः पुराणागमवादिभिः ॥ ५ ॥ विरोधोऽत्र महान् भाति नूनं शतमखेन ह । छलेन बलवान् वृत्रः शक्रेण विनिपातितः ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

This is the opinion of the Pundits, versed in the Purāṇas and Āgamas. But in this act of slaying Vritrāsura, a great contradiction arises; for the powerful Vritra was killed merely under a pretext by Indra, the performer of the hundred sacrifices, and endowed with Sattva qualities.

Ch 1 Verse 7-8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विष्णुः प्रेरयिता तत्र स तु सत्त्वधरः परः । प्रविष्टः पविमध्ये स छद्मना भगवान् प्रभुः ॥ ७ ॥ सन्धिं विधाय स ह्येवं मन्त्रितोऽसौ महाबलः । हरिभ्यां सत्यमुत्सृज्य जलफेनेन शातितः ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

And Indra was prompted to do so by Viṣṇu, the head of those who possess Sattva qualities; while Viṣṇu himself entered in disguise into the thunderbolt so that he could kill Vritra. The powerful Vritra entered into a treaty and kept himself peaceful when Indra and Viṣṇu violated truth and treacherously killed him by Jalaphena (the watery foams).

Ch 1 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कृतमिन्द्रेण हरिणा किमेतत्सूत साहसम् । महान्तोऽपि च मोहेन वञ्चिताः पापबुद्धयः ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

O Sūta! The great wonder is this :-- That Indra and Viṣṇu turned out so bold as to forsake the truth. This, then, is therefore very clear that the high souled persons become deluded and act sinfully.

Ch 1 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यायवर्तिनोऽत्यर्थं भवन्ति सुरसत्तमाः । सदाचारेण युक्तेन देवाः शिष्टत्वमागताः ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

The Heads of the Devas act very wrongly; they are reckoned as polite simply because they observe the mere outward forms of good conduct as approved by the Śāstras. How can the mere observance of outward forms constitute politeness?

Ch 1 Verse 11-12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं विशिष्टधर्मेण शिष्टत्वं कीदृशं पुनः । हत्वा वृत्रं तु विश्वस्तं शक्रेण छद्मना पुनः ॥ ११ ॥ प्राप्तं पापफलं नो वा ब्रह्महत्यासमुद्भवम् । किं च त्वया पुरा प्रोक्तं वृत्रासुरवधः कृतः ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

Had Indra, who killed in disguise Vritra relying on his words, to suffer any punishment for the sin that he incurred in killing a Brāhmaṇa? It was told by you before that Vritra had been slain by the Devī Bhagavatī; but the general belief is that Indra killed him. Our minds are puzzled on this point. (So clear our doubts on this point.)

Ch 1 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

श्रीदेव्या इति तच्चापि चित्तं मोहयतीह नः । सूत उवाच । शृण्वन्तु मुनयो वृत्तं वृत्रासुरवधाश्रयम् ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

Sūta said :-- O Munis! Hear the incident of the killing of Vritrāsura and the punishment that Indra had to suffer due to his sin of Brahmahatyā (killing a Brāhmin).

Ch 1 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यथेन्द्रेण च सम्प्राप्तं दुःखं हत्यासमुद्भवम् । एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

This question was asked by the King Pārikṣit and replied by Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī. I will tell you what Vyāsa had told before.

Ch 1 Verse 15-16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पारीक्षितेन राज्ञापि स यदाह च तद्ब्रुवे । जनमेजय उवाच । कथं वृत्रासुरः पूर्वं हतो मघवता मुने ॥ १५ ॥ सहायं विष्णुमासाद्य छद्मना सात्त्विकेन ह । कथं च देव्या निहतो दैत्योऽसौ केन हेतुना ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Janamejaya asked :-- O Best of Munis! How was it that in former days Indra, endowed with the Sattva qualities, killed Vritrāsura, with the aid of Viṣṇu? And how and why was it that he was killed again by the Goddess Bhagavatī? O Lord of Munis! How could one body be killed by the two; our curiosity has been excited to hear the truth.

Ch 1 Verse 17-18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कथमेकवधो द्वाभ्यां कृतः स्यान्मुनिपुङ्गव । तदेतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥ १७ ॥ महतां चरितं शृण्वन् को विरज्येत मानवः । कथयाम्बावैभवं त्वं वृत्रासुरवधाश्रितम् ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

What man is there that does not like to hear any more of the glorious deeds of the high-souled persons! Kindly narrate to us the slaying of Vritra by the Devī Bhagavatī.

Ch 1 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । धन्योऽसि राजंस्तव बुद्धिरीदृशी जाता पुराणश्रवणेऽतिसादरा । पीत्वामृतं देववरास्तु सर्वथा पाने वितृष्णाः प्रभवन्ति वै पुनः ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! You are blessed, since your taste to hear the events of Purāṇa has grown so much; the Devas even get their thirst for drinking nectar; but when quenched, they do not like to drink any more.

Ch 1 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दिने दिने तेऽधिकभक्तिभावः कथासु राजन् महनीयकीर्तेः । श्रोता यदैकप्रवणः शृणोति वक्ता तदा प्रीतमना ब्रवीति ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

O King! Your name and fame are widely spread. Your Bhakti (devotion) to the Purāṇas is growing more and more daily. A speaker gets very much delighted when his audience hears him with undivided attention.

Ch 1 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

युद्धं पुरा वासववृत्रयोर्यद् वेदे प्रसिद्धं च तथा पुराणे । दुःखं सुरेन्द्रेण तथैव लब्धं हत्वा रिपुं त्वाष्ट्रमपापमेव ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

O Lord of the earth! The fight between Vritra and Vāsava that occurred in days of yore is famous in the passages of the Vedas and the Purāṇas; as well as the suffering that Indra had to encounter as his punishment when he had killed the innocent son of Visvakarma.

Ch 1 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चित्रं किमत्र नृपते हरिवज्रभृद्भ्यां यच्छद्मना विनिहतस्त्रिशिरोऽथ वृत्रः । मायाबलेन मुनयोऽपि विमोहितास्ते चक्रुश्च निन्द्यमनिशं किल पापभीताः ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

O King! The Munis, who fear sin very much, commit yet blameable acts under Māyā; then what wonder is there that Viṣṇu, and Indra would kill Triśirā and Vritra merely under a plea.

Ch 1 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विष्णुः सदैव कपटेन जघान दैत्यान् सत्त्वात्ममूर्तिरपि मोहमवाप्य कामम् । कोऽन्योऽस्ति तां भगवतीं मनसापि जेतुं शक्तः समस्तजनमोहकरीं भवानीम् ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

When Viṣṇu, the incarnate of Sattva qualities, gets deluded by Māyā and kills deceitfully the Daityas always, then how can you expect any other man to conquer mentally even the Maha Māyā Bhavāni, Who deludes all the beings!

Ch 1 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मत्स्यादियोनिषु सहस्रयुगेषु सद्यः साक्षाद्भवत्यपि यया विनियोजितोऽत्र । नारायणो नरसखो भगवाननन्तः कार्यं करोति विहिताविहितं कदाचित् ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

O King! It is under the compulsion of this Māyā that the Bhagavān, the Infinite, the friend of Nara, Nārāyana, takes incarnations in thousands and thousands of Yugas in this Samsāra as Fish, etc., and does deeds sometimes lawful and sometimes unlawful.

Ch 1 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देहं धनं गृहमिदं स्वजना मदीयं पुत्राः कलत्रमिति मोहमुपेत्य सर्वः । पुण्यं करोत्यथ च पापचयं करोति मायागुणैरतिबलैर्विकलीकृतो यत् ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

The Devas and men, being confounded by his Māyā, become upset and disordered and say “that this body, wealth, house, sons, wife and relatives are all mine” and being thus deluded sometimes do virtuous and sometimes sinful deeds.

Ch 1 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न जातु मोहं क्षपितुं नरः क्षमः कश्चिद्भवेद्भूप परावरार्थवित् । विमोहितस्तैस्त्रिभिरेव मूलतो वशीकृतात्मा जगतीतले भृशम् ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

O King! There is not even one, on the surface of this earth, though he may be well versed in finding out cause and effect, the knowledge of the high and low, that can be free from this Great Delusion; he is from the very beginning tied up by the three Guṇas of this Māyā and that remains under Her control.

Ch 1 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अथ तौ मायया विष्णुवासवौ मोहितौ भृशम् । जघ्नतुश्छद्मना वृत्रं स्वार्थसाधनतत्परौ ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

This explains that Viṣṇu and Indra both were deluded by Māyā and engaged in fulfilling their own selfish ends. They killed Vritrāśūra under a pretext.

Ch 1 Verse 28-29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि वृत्तान्तमवनीपते । कारणं पूर्ववैरस्य वृत्रवासवयोर्मिथः ॥ २८ ॥ त्वष्टा प्रजापतिर्ह्यासीद्देवश्रेष्ठो महातपाः । देवानां कार्यकर्ता च निपुणो ब्राह्मणप्रियः ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

O King! Hear! I am now describing to you the cause of enmity between lndra and Vritra. Viśvakarmā, the Prajāpati, was great architect of the Gods, he was skilled, he was superior amongst the gods, a great ascetic and endeared by the Brahmiṇs.

Ch 1 Verse 30-32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स पुत्रं वै त्रिशिरसमिन्द्रद्वेषात्किलासृजत् । विश्वरूपेति विख्यातं नाम्ना रूपेण मोहनम् ॥ ३० ॥ त्रिभिः स वदनैः श्रेष्ठैर्व्यरोचत मनोहरैः । त्रिभिर्भिन्नानि कार्याणि मुखैः समकरोन्मुनिः ॥ ३१ ॥ वेदानेकेन सोऽधीते सुरां चैकेन सोऽपिबत् । तृतीयेन दिशः सर्वा युगपच्च निरीक्षते ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

He had enmity with Indra; and out of this enmity he created a son, very beautiful named him Triśiraska Visvarūpa. That son had three faces very beautiful and lovely. Visvarūpa performed three different functions with his three different faces; with one, he used to study the Vedas, with the second he used to drink nectar (wine), and with the third he used to see simultaneously all the directions.

Ch 1 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्रिशिरा भोगमुत्सृज्य तपश्चक्रे सुदुष्करम् । तपस्वी स मृदुर्दान्तो धर्ममेव समाश्रितः ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

Triśirā renounced the pleasures of the world and began to practise a hard tapasyā; he became a great ascetic, gentle, restrained in his passions and entirely devoted to his religion.

Ch 1 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पञ्चाग्निसाधनं काले पादपाग्रे निवेशनम् । जलमध्ये निवासं च हेमन्ते शिशिरे तथा ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

He practised Pañcāgni-Sādhan in the summer season, tying his feet upwards on the branch of a tree with his head downwards; he remained in dew in the cold season, under water in the winter season.

Ch 1 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

निराहारो जितात्मासौ त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः । तपश्चचार मेधावी दुष्करं मन्दबुद्धिभिः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Thus he abstained from food and conquered his self and, forsaking all the worldly connections, practised a very hard tapasyā; very difficult, indeed, for those who are of dull intellects.

Ch 1 Verse 36-38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तं च दृष्ट्वा तपस्यन्तं खेदमाप शचीपतिः । विषादमगमत्तत्र शक्रोऽयं मास्मभूदिति ॥ ३६ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तस्य तपो वीर्यं सत्यं चामिततेजसः । चिन्तां च महतीं प्राप ह्यनिशं पाकशासनः ॥ ३७ ॥ विवर्धमानस्त्रिशिरा मामयं शातयिष्यति । नोपेक्ष्यः सर्वथा शत्रुर्वर्धमानबलो बुधैः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

Indra became very sad and dispirited to see him practise such a Tapasyā and thought of the means so that he might not acquire his Indraship. The Pākasāśana Indra remained always very anxious see the energetic penance practised by that ascetic of unbounded glory and his steady attachment towards it.

Ch 1 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मादुपायः कर्तव्यस्तपोनाशाय साम्प्रतम् । कामस्तु तपसां शत्रुः कामान्नश्यति वै तपः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

He thought thus :-- “This Triśirā is becoming stronger day by day by his penance, so he will kill me. The wise never look an enemy with indifference whose strength daily becomes greater and greater.”

Ch 1 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथैवाद्य प्रकर्तव्यं भोगासक्तो भवेद्यथा । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा बुद्धिमान्बलमर्दनः ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

It is now my urgent duty to invent means how to baffle his Tapasyā and he at last settled that lust is the great enemy of asceticism; the practice of devout austerities is destroyed complete by lust; so I must try this very day how the Muni becomes attached to worldly lust and enjoyments.

Ch 1 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आज्ञापयत्सोऽप्सरसस्त्वाष्ट्रपुत्रप्रलोभने । उर्वशीं मेनकां रम्भां घृताचीं च तिलोत्तमाम् ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

The intelligent Indra, thinking thus, called the Apsarās Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā, Ghritācī, and Tilottamā and others proud of their beauties so that they might seduce Tri’sirā, the son of Vi’svakarmā.

Ch 1 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

समाहूयाब्रवीच्छक्रस्तास्तदा रूपगर्विताः । प्रियं कुरुध्वं मे सर्वाः कार्येऽद्य समुपस्थिते ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

O Apsarās! I have now got a very grave task to fulfil; all of you help me in this respect. A great enemy of mine, difficult to conquer, is practising penance with his self-controlled.

Ch 1 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यत्तो मेऽद्य महाञ्छत्रुस्तपस्तपति दुर्जयः । कार्यं कुरुत गच्छध्वं प्रलोभयत माचिरम् ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

Start at once and with your dress suited to various amorous gestures and try hard to seduce him. Be all well with you; seduce him and remove the fever of my heart.

Ch 1 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शृङ्गारवेषैर्विविधैर्हावैर्देहसमुद्भवैः । प्रलोभयत भद्रं वः शमयध्वं ज्वरं मम ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

O Apsarās! What more shall I say, I am restless since I have heard of his strength performing such hard austerities.

Ch 1 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अस्वस्थोऽहं महाभागास्तस्य ज्ञात्वा तपोबलम् । बलवानासनं मेऽद्य ग्रहीष्यत्यविलम्बितः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

O Weak Ones ! That powerful ascetic may acquire my place and thus dispossess me; this fear has possessed me.

Ch 1 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भयं मे समुपायातं क्षिप्रं नाशयताबलाः । उपकुर्वन्तु सहिताः कार्येऽद्य समुपस्थिते ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

Therefore destroy my fear as quickly as possible. This is the task now given to you; get united and do this good to me.

Ch 1 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं नार्य ऊचुस्तं प्रणताः पुरः । मा भयं कुरु देवेश यतिष्यामः प्रलोभने ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

The Apsarās, hearing him, bowed down and said :-- “O Lord of the Devas! Do not be afraid! We will try our best to seduce him.

Ch 1 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यथा न स्याद्भयं तस्मात्तथा कार्यं महाद्युते । नृत्यगीतविहारैश्च मुनेस्तस्य प्रलोभने ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

O highly Lustrous One! For the enticing away of the Muni, we will do all the things, dancing, music and other amorous gestures and practices, that will discard your fear.

Ch 1 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कटाक्षैरङ्गभेदैश्च मोहयित्वा मुनिं विभो । लोलुपं वशमस्माकं करिष्यामो नियन्त्रितम् ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

O King of the Gods! We will unsettle the mind of the Muni by our side glances and passionate gestures and postures, delude and tie him and then bring him under our control.”

Ch 1 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इत्याभाष्य हरिं नार्यो ययुस्त्रिशिरसोऽन्तिकम् । कुर्वन्त्यो विविधान्भावान्कामशास्त्रोचितानपि ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Thus saying, the Apsarās went to Triśirā and began to exhibit various amorous gestures and postures as stated in the Kāma Sāstra.

Ch 1 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गायन्त्यस्तालभेदैस्ता नृत्यन्त्यः पुरतो मुनेः । तं प्रलोभयितुं चक्रुर्नानाभावान्वराङ्गनाः ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

They began to sing sometimes, sometimes to dance in tune with musical measures before the Muni. In short, they practised various amorous gestures to entice him away.

Ch 1 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नापश्यत्स तपोराशिरङ्गनानां विडम्बनम् । इन्द्रियाणि वशे कृत्वा मूकान्धबधिरः स्थितः ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

But that ascetic, blazing with the fire of Tapas, did not notice even the Apsaraś various attempts; rather he kept all his senses under the control and remained like a deaf, dumb, and blind man.

Ch 1 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दिनानि कतिचित्तस्थुर्नार्यस्तस्याश्रमे वरे । कुर्वन्त्यो गाननृत्यादिप्रपञ्चानतिमोहदान् ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

In that lovely hermitage of the Muni, the Apsarās sang and danced ravishingly and remained a few days there.

Ch 1 Verse 54-55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न चचाल यदा कामं ध्यानाच्च त्रिशिरा मुनिः । परावृत्य तदा देव्यः पुनः शक्रमुपस्थिताः ॥ ५४ ॥ कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वा देवराजमथाब्रुवन् । श्रान्ता दीना भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदना भृशम् ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

But when they saw that the Muni Triśirā did not swerve a bit from his meditative posture they returned tired, distressed to Indra and all, very fearful, began to address Indra with folded hands :-- “O King! We tried our best and we could not in any way make the Muni unsteady, very hard to surmount.

Ch 1 Verse 56-57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देवदेव महाराज यत्नश्च परमः कृतः । न स शक्यो दुराधर्षो धैर्याच्चालयितुं विभो ॥ ५६ ॥ उपायोऽन्यः प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वथा पाकशासन । नास्माकं बलमेतस्मिंस्तापसे विजितेन्द्रिये ॥ ५७ ॥

English Translation

O Pākaśasana! Please invent other means; we could not make the self-controlled Muni move away an inch from his position; it is our good luck that that high-souled Muni, an incarnate of blazing fire have not cursed us!”

Ch 1 Verse 58 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दिष्ट्या वयं न शप्ताः स्म यदनेन महात्मना । मुनिना वह्नितुल्येन तपसा द्योतितेन हि ॥ ५८ ॥

English Translation

Then dismissing the Apsarās, the evil-minded and dull Indra began to devīse means, though totally unlawful, how to kill that good Muni.

Ch 1 Verse 59-60 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विसृज्याप्सरसः शक्रश्चिन्तयामास मन्दधीः । तस्यैव च वधोपायं पापबुद्धिरसाम्प्रतम् ॥ ५९ ॥ विसृज्य लोकलज्जां स तथा पापभयं भृशम् । चकार पापबुद्धिं तु तद्वधाय महीपते ॥ ६० ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे त्रिशिरसस्तपोभङ्गाय देवराजेन्द्रद्वारा नानोपायचिन्तनवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ ६.१॥

English Translation

O King! That Indra abandoned all shame, and fear of sin and ultimately came to a highly blameable and sinful conclusion how to kill him. Here ends the First Chapter of the Sixth Book on Triśirā’s austerities in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam the Mahā Purāṇam, of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.