The Dharma of Tripura

Shiva said

The lords of Tripura are doing meritorious deeds now, and as long as people perform virtuous acts the learned should never kill them. I know the gods' hardships and that all the gods suffer greatly. Those daityas are strong, and neither gods nor asuras can kill them. All the sons of Taraka and Maya are virtuous in their deeds, so no one can kill the residents of that city. Though I am harsh in battle, how can I act against those who are my friends? Svayambhu said long ago that harming a well-wisher is a great sin. The virtuous have shown ways by which a brahmana-killer, a drunkard, a thief or a breaker of vows can cleanse himself, but there is no atonement for an ingrate. Gods, the daityas are my devotees; how can I kill them? All of you know dharma; reflect on this by dharma. As long as they are devoted to me they cannot be killed. Even so, go and tell Vishnu this reason.

Sanatkumara said

Sage, hearing him, the gods with Shakra in front left at once and first reported this to Brahma. Then, putting Vidhatri at their head, all the gods, Vasava among them, quickly set out for beautiful Vaikuntha. There they saw Hari and bowed respectfully, and with cupped hands praised him with great devotion. They told him the reasons for their misery, both the earlier and the later, and quickly reported to powerful Vishnu, who enters everywhere. Vishnu heard of the gods' misery caused by the residents of Tripura and of the vows they kept, and knowing this he spoke.

Vishnu said

These are true words. Where eternal dharma is, there can be no miseries, as there is no darkness where the sun is seen.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing him, the gods were grief-stricken, their faces like faded lotuses, and they spoke to Vishnu again.

The devas said

What can be done then to end our sorrows? How can we be happy, how established? As long as those in Tripura live, how can there be dharma? All the residents of Tripura surely cause the gods grief. You must arrange for Tripura's destruction. Otherwise, within a short time, the gods will surely be destroyed.

Sanatkumara said

In their misery the gods said this again and again. Having spoken to the supreme divinity, they could neither leave nor stay. Prosperous Narayana saw them humbled and distressed and thought it over. "I will help the gods. What can I do to accomplish their task? The daityas, Taraka's sons, are devoted to Shiva." So thought powerful Vishnu, who enters everywhere.

To accomplish the gods' eternal task he remembered the sacrifices. The moment Vishnu remembered them, they came quickly to where Purushottama, Shri's lord, was. Vishnu is the lord of sacrifices, Hari the eternal being. They cupped their hands, bowed and praised him. While Indra and the gods looked on, eternal Bhagavan Achyuta spoke to the eternal sacrifices.

Vishnu said

Gods, for the destruction of Tripura and the prosperity of the three worlds, constantly worship Parameshvara together with these sacrifices.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing Achyuta, the intelligent lord of the gods, the gods bowed lovingly to the lord of sacrifices and praised him, and performed a sacrifice to him. Sage, the sacrifice was done by the rules and completed by the rules. Thousands of bhutas rose from the sacrificial pit, gigantic, with tridents, spears and clubs as weapons. The gods saw those thousands of bhutas with tridents, javelins, clubs, staffs and boulders in their hands, wielding many kinds of weapons, dressed in many kinds of garments, fierce as the fire of destruction, like the sun rising at the time of destruction. As they bowed and stood before him, Vishnu saw them, ready to follow the commands of the prosperous lord of sacrifices.

Vishnu said

Bhutas, you have arisen to do a task for the gods; listen to my words. All of you are extremely strong. Go to Tripura. Having gone, burn, shatter and destroy the daityas' three cities. Bhutas, when you come back you will deserve prosperity.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing Bhagavan, the host of bhutas bowed to the lord of the gods and left for the daityas' three cities. They went in, but like moths before a fire they were instantly reduced to ashes by the lords of Tripura's energy. Those who remained thought only of flight; they escaped and, shaken, came to Hari. Hari saw them and heard all that had happened. Bhagavan Purushottama thought it over. Since all the immortals with Vasava who had followed his command were tormented, he was tormented too. "What shall I do now? How can force be used to destroy the daityas' three cities and accomplish the gods' task?" Shaken, he thought: "Without doubt they follow dharma, so abhichara cannot be used to destroy them." Saying this, the lord himself cited the proof of good conduct in the shrutis.

Vishnu said

All the daityas living in Tripura follow dharma, bulls among gods, so they cannot be killed, and that principle is unbreakable. Having committed great sins, they worshipped Rudra and so were freed from all their sins, as a lotus leaf is freed from water. Gods, because they worshipped Rudra all their desires have been met. All earthly pleasures and prosperity have come under their control. So the daityas enjoy pleasures, are devoted to worshipping the lingam and enjoy great prosperity. In the next world they will gain liberation. So I will use my own maya to create obstacles to their pursuit of dharma. To accomplish the gods' task, I will destroy the daityas' Tripura in an instant.

Sanatkumara said

So Bhagavan Purushottama thought. After that, he set about creating obstacles to the gods' enemies' dharma. As long as they followed the Vedic dharma, worshipped Shankara and performed pure rites, they could not be destroyed. So one must act to make the daityas forsake Vedic dharma and the worship of the lingam. Having decided this, Vishnu set about devising ways for the daityas to violate the dharma of the shrutis. Then the divinity Vishnu, wishing to help the gods, spoke to them at Shiva's command, seeking at Shiva's command to protect the three worlds.

Vishnu said

All you gods, go back to your own abodes. I will use my intelligence to carry out the gods' task, without doubt. I will make excellent efforts to turn them away from Rudra. When he knows they are no longer devoted to him, he will reduce them to ashes.

Sanatkumara said

Sages, the immortals were reassured and took his command on their heads. Comforted, they went to their own abodes. Brahma too left, glad. Then, to accomplish the gods' welfare, Vishnu acted; listen to all of it properly, for it destroys all sins.