Shloka 20
Tīrtha-Sevana and the Cursed Apsaras
Grāha-Encounter at Saubhadra Tīrtha
मायाविदावस्त्रविदौ बलिनौ कामरूपिणौ । उभावप्यमरी स्याव: प्रसन्नो यदि नौ प्रभु:,तदनन्तर सुदृढ़ पराक्रमी दोनों भाई सुन्द और उपसुन्द भगवान् ब्रह्माको उपस्थित देख हाथ जोड़कर खड़े हो गये और एक साथ भगवान् ब्रह्मासे बोले--'भगवन्! यदि आप हमारी तपस्यासे प्रसन्न हैं तो हम दोनों सम्पूर्ण मायाओंके ज्ञाता, अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंके विद्वान, बलवान इच्छानुसार रूप धारण करनेवाले और अमर हो जाये
māyāvidāv astravidau balinau kāmarūpiṇau | ubhāv apy amarī syāvaḥ prasanno yadi nau prabhuḥ ||
Nārada said: “If our Lord is pleased with us, may we both become immortal—masters of magical arts, skilled in the knowledge of weapons, mighty in strength, and able to assume whatever form we desire.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how tapas (austerity) can be used to seek extraordinary powers; ethically, it warns that power and near-invulnerability, when desired as an end in itself, can become a seed of adharma unless governed by restraint and right intention.
Sunda and Upasunda, having pleased Brahmā through austerities, ask for a boon: that both become immortal and possess mastery of māyā, weapon-knowledge, great strength, and the ability to assume any form at will.