Narada came to meet the Pandavas. He told them the story of Sunda and Upasunda to explain that they must not fight over Draupadi, but respect one another’s relationship with her. Sunda and Upasunda were the powerful and evil asuras. To get a boon of unconquerable power they went to the Vindhyas to perform penance. When Brahma appeared, they asked for strength, knowledge of all weapons, ability to create illusions and take any form, and for immortality. Brahma wouldn’t give them immortality, so he told them to ask for something else. They said they should only be killed by each other. Brahma granted them the boon. Now the unconquerable brothers defeated the devas, and terrorised and killed all beings. Vishvakarma, the architect and engineer of the gods, made a beautiful maiden, Tilottama, glowing with gems. She tempted the brothers, who fought over her and killed each other.
Sunda and Upasunda
