Madhu-Kaiṭabha Vadha and Dhundhumāra (Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa)

Two linked accounts from the Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa. The first tells how the daityas Madhu and Kaiṭabha were born from the sweat of Bhagavān Vishṇu, stole the Vedas, and were slain by him. The second tells how Bhagavān Vishṇu, working through the Ikshvāku king Kuvalaśva, destroyed the water-rākshasa Dhundhu, the son of Madhu and Kaiṭabha. Dhundhu was troubling the earth from under a sea of sand. Kuvalaśva won the name Dhundhumāra, “the slayer of Dhundhu”.

Madhu-Kaiṭabha Vadha

All the moving and unmoving world had dissolved into one ocean. The suns, moons, planets and stars had gone out. Janārdana, Bhagavān Vishṇu, slept deeply on the coils of Śesha. From his navel grew a shining lotus, and on it rose Svayaṃbhū Brahmā with his four auspicious faces. While Bhagavān Vishṇu slept, the Vedas took bodily form and served him.

As he was busy with the study of the Vedas (Vedādhyāsa), a drop of sweat rose on his body. The drop fell on a lotus leaf and split in two. From it were born two mighty daityas, full of rajas and tamas, named Madhu and Kaiṭabha. They were drunk with power and cruel by nature. In their pride they stole the Vedas of Brahmā.

The Vedas had taken form and were now lost. Pitāmaha Brahmā woke Deva-deva Vishṇu. Bhagavān Vishṇu rose. To bring back the eternal Vedas, he made from his own body the form of Hayagrīva, white as a hundred moons and decked with divine ornaments. He also made a second form named Jishṇu. He went down to the nether regions, recovered the eternal Vedas and gave them to four-faced Brahmā. Then Bhagavān Vishṇu vanished.

Madhu and Kaiṭabha arrived at that place. Bhagavān Vishṇu as Jishṇu fought Madhu, and Bhagavān Vishṇu himself fought Kaiṭabha. Hari was pleased with the battle. He told them they could not be beaten and offered them a vara (a boon). They asked for a son of great strength and courage, and Bhagavān Vishṇu gave it.

Then he joined the two together and drowned them in the waters. When they drowned, their fat (medas) spread through the world. Because of that fat the earth got the name Medinī. Bhagavān Vishṇu then took the form of Varāha, lifted the earth and set it in its place. By the command of Deva-deva Vishṇu, Brahmā began creation again.

Madhu and Kaiṭabha were slain by Hari. They reached Vishṇu-loka and the blessed nearness of Bhagavān Vishṇu in the milk-ocean.

Dhundhumāra Upākhyāna

The water-rākshasa in Ujjānaka

In the ninth division of Bhāratavarsha there is a sea filled only with sand. It is called Ujjānaka. In the middle of that sand-sea lived the water-rākshasa Dhundhu. He was the son born to Madhu and Kaiṭabha through the vara from Bhagavān Vishṇu. His nature was cruel and fearsome.

At the end of each year Dhundhu breathed out one great breath. At that breath the mountains and forests shook and the whole earth trembled. All small creatures were sent to the realm of Yama. When he woke after this breath, only a little of the earth was left whole. He was always looking for food and kept the whole region in terror.

Uttaṅka’s tapas and the vara from Bhagavān Vishṇu

At that time the great ṛshi Uttaṅka was doing tapas in that region. In the course of his austerities he saw Madhusūdana. The gracious Madhusūdana offered him a vara. Uttaṅka folded his hands and praised Madhusūdana. Then he said, “O Bhagavān Vishṇu, I have received the darśana (sight) of the lotus feet of Deva-deva. This itself is the vara I wanted.”

But Bhagavān Vishṇu told the descendant of Bhṛgu that a vara must surely be given. He granted these: Uttaṅka would be free of old age and death. Wherever he needed water, it would appear. He would have the power to do the great work of the devas. And no one would ever harm his āśrama.

Then Bhagavān Vishṇu said, “The water-rākshasa Dhundhu will surely trouble your āśrama. Go without delay to Kuvalaśva, the son of Bṛhadaśva, and ask him to come and destroy Dhundhu. I will enter the body of Kuvalaśva (vigraha-praveśa). Through my tejas that Kuvalaśva will be able to slay Dhundhu in battle. Without great tejas it is not possible to kill Dhundhu.”

With these words Bhagavān Madhusūdana vanished.

The mission of Bṛhadaśva and Kuvalaśva

The great tapasvin Uttaṅka reached Ayodhyā and went to Bṛhadaśva, who received him with honour. Uttaṅka said, “O King, why do you rest at ease on your bed when you have seen what Dhundhu does? On my word, the power to kill Dhundhu is surely in you. For a king who makes the effort, what is impossible? O King, destroy Dhundhu of the great body, who blocks the ṛshis!”

Bṛhadaśva heard Uttaṅka and spoke to his son Kuvalaśva. He said, “I am old and have put my weapons aside. So you must go, guided by Uttaṅka, and slay Dhundhu.”

Kuvalaśva was full of love for his people. At his father’s command he set out with Uttaṅka, together with his own sons, to fight the water-rākshasa Dhundhu. With Uttaṅka’s consent, Kuvalaśva called up the Brahmāstra. With Keśava having entered his body, he killed Dhundhu.

The boons and the name Dhundhumāra

After the rākshasa was slain, the devas gave Kuvalaśva three great boons. They were undivided bhakti (devotion) to Kṛshṇa, steadiness in dharma, and an undying home in svarga (heaven). The rākshasa was the son, born through the vara, of Madhu and Kaiṭabha. By destroying him, Kuvalaśva won the famous name Dhundhumāra.

When that chief of the rākshasas was slain, all the directions became peaceful. The devas rejoiced, and the world was free of its obstacle. The king gained great fame.

Sources

• Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 15: Madhu-Kaiṭabha Vadha
• Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 16: Dhundhumāra Upākhyāna