Adhyaya 24

The chapter begins with the ṛṣis asking Sūta about a cruel rākṣasa who harmed a Viṣṇu-devoted brāhmaṇa. Sūta recalls an earlier episode at Śrīraṅga, portrayed as Vaikuṇṭha-like, where devotees worship Śrīraṅganātha. There the gandharva Sundara, son of Vīrabāhu, behaves immodestly with many women at a water-site. When Vasiṣṭha arrives for the midday rites, the women cover themselves but Sundara does not; for this shamelessness Vasiṣṭha curses him to become a rākṣasa. The women plead for mercy, stressing the social and ethical harm. Vasiṣṭha upholds the truth of his word yet grants a remedy: the curse will last sixteen years; afterward Sundara, wandering in rākṣasa form, will reach auspicious Veṅkaṭādri and Cakratīrtha. There dwells the yogin Padmanābha; when the rākṣasa attacks him, Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana will be moved to protect the brāhmaṇa, sever the rākṣasa’s head, and thus release Sundara back to his divine form and to heaven. The narrative unfolds accordingly: Sundara becomes a terrifying rākṣasa, roams for sixteen years, and finally assaults Padmanābha at Cakratīrtha. The yogin praises Janārdana; Sudarśana arrives and slays the rākṣasa. Restored and radiant, Sundara extols Sudarśana and asks leave to return to heaven and to meet his grieving wives; Sudarśana grants it. Padmanābha then petitions Sudarśana to remain at Cakratīrtha for ongoing sin-removal, liberation, and protection from fear of beings such as bhūtas and piśācas. Sūta concludes that hearing this account frees people from sins and that the tīrtha’s purifying glory has been declared.