Shloka 13
Tīrtha-Sevana and the Cursed Apsaras
Grāha-Encounter at Saubhadra Tīrtha
अथ मायां पुनर्देवास्तयोशक्षक्रुर्महात्मनो: । भगिन्यो मातरो भार्यास्तयोक्षात्मजनस्तथा,तत्पश्चात् देवताओंने महान् आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न उन दोनों दैत्योंके सामने पुन: मायाका प्रयोग किया। उनकी मायानिर्मित बहनें, माताएँ, पत्नियाँ तथा अन्य आत्मीयजन वहाँ भागते हुए आते और उन्हें कोई शूलधारी राक्षस बार-बार खदेड़ता तथा पृथ्वीपर पटक देता था। उनके आभूषण गिर जाते, वस्त्र खिसक जाते और बालोंकी लटें खुल जाती थीं। वे सभी आत्मीयजन सुन्द-उपसुन्दको पुकारकर चीखते हुए कहते--“बेटा! मुझे बचाओ, भैया! मेरी रक्षा करो।' यह सब सुनकर भी वे दोनों महान् व्रतधारी तपस्वी अपनी तपस्यासे नहीं डिगे; अपने व्रतको नहीं तोड़ सके
atha māyāṃ punar devās tayoḥ śakṣakruḥ mahātmanoḥ | bhaginyo mātaro bhāryās tayoḥ kṣātmajanas tathā ||
Then the gods once again employed illusion against those two great-souled ones. By that māyā there appeared before them sisters, mothers, wives, and other close kin, fleeing in distress as if being repeatedly chased down and hurled to the ground by a spear-bearing demon; their ornaments fell, their garments slipped, and their hair came loose. Crying out to Sunda and Upasunda—“Son, save me! Brother, protect me!”—they begged for rescue. Yet even hearing this, the two mighty ascetics, firm in their vows, did not waver from their austerities and could not be made to break their vow.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in tapas and fidelity to one’s vrata are portrayed as powerful ethical disciplines: even emotionally charged, seemingly urgent appeals from ‘family’ (here, illusory) should not overturn discernment and commitment to a righteous vow.
Nārada describes how the gods try to disrupt the austerities of Sunda and Upasunda by projecting a distressing illusion of their female relatives being attacked and begging for help; despite the provocation, the two ascetics remain unmoved and do not break their vow.