Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purana - Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa

48 - Shattering of the Pride of the Sun

Radhika said- You have narrated to me the episodes relating to the shattering of the pride of Indra but now I would like to listen to the episode relating to the shattering of the pride of Surya.

Sri Krishna said- Once the sun was set after rising but the two demons Mall and Sumali started illuminating the earth like the sun-shine. Both the demons with the boons of Shiva had become quite powerful and were intoxicated. Because of the lustre emerging from their bodies, the night's ceased to exist.

At this the sun was immensely enraged and he attacked both of them with a trident. Having been wounded with the trident of the sun, both of them fainted and fall down on earth.

Shiva finding the destruction of their devotees, arrived there and with the application of his divine knowledge, he revived them back to their lives.

Both of them bowed in reverence to Shiva and went back to their respective, abodes. In the meantime, Shiva getting immensely annoyed started following. Surya in order to destroy him. Surya realised that Shiva, the destroyer of the universe himself intends to destroy him. The panic-stricken Surya rushed to Brahma and took refuge with him.

Thereafter, Shiva carrying the trident attacked the place of Brahma. Shiva happens to be the death for the death and is also Brahma for Brahma.

Finding lord Shiva having been annoyed he started offering prayer by Vedic hymns to him from his four mouths.

Brahma said- О teacher of the universe, you are the destroyer of the yajna of Daksha and creator of the entire universe, therefore, you be pleased with Surya who has taken refuge with me.

You are graceful on devotees, О virtuous one, you get pleased easily and are the ocean of mercy be pleased with us and protect Surya.

O lord, you are the form of Brahman and are responsible for the preservation and destruction. The sun had been created by you and now you yourself intend to destroy it.

You are yourself Brahma, Sesha, Dharma, Surya and Agni. You are the one who is beyond everything, the moon and all other gods are afraid of you.

The ascetics and recluses, earn the title of Tapodhanas after serving you. You are the bestower of the reward of tapas, the form of tapas and also are the form of the reward of tapas. Thus, speaking Brahma carried Surya and placed him at the feet of Shiva with great devotion.

Thereafter, Shiva the creator of the universe pronounced his blessing to Surya and with a delightful mind bowing at the feet of Brahma reverted to his abode.

The one who recites this stotra composed by Brahma for Shiva at the time of danger, he is relieved of all the dangers and is relieved of all fetters.

Whosoever recites this stotra in the royal courts cremation grounds after breaking of the ship in the ocean, he is surely relieved of all the dangers and meets with success.

Summary of chapter 48 of the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purana - Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa is as follows:

Enraged by the slaying of his son-in-law Kaṃsa, the mighty Emperor Jarasandha of Magadha launched seventeen massive military invasions against Mathura, laying siege to the city repeatedly with millions of soldiers. Although Kṛshṇa and Balarāma defeated Jarasandha's armies each time without taking weapons, Kṛshṇa foresaw continuous warfare and decided to construct an impregnable island fortress in the western ocean named Dvārakā. Through divine architectural skill, the magnificent jeweled city of Dvārakā arose overnight, and Kṛshṇa peacefully evacuated the entire Yādava population across the western sea to safety, outwitting Jarasandha's next campaign.