Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
546
Mahapuraana, Uttara Puraana
When those in front of the city were leaving, seeing the sounds of conch shells, trumpets, etc., the best of the merchants, fearing, said: ||253|| "Who will go to this city and find out and return here?" Hearing this, the pleasing young man said: ||254|| "I am capable of this task." Then, tied with a rope made of cinnamon bark, he was lowered down by them. ||255|| Looking around in amazement, he entered the city. After seeing the Jain temple, he circumambulated it and offered his respects. ||256|| Then, going forward, he saw many dead people, their bodies marked by the blows of weapons. He saw a girl coming out of a lake and going towards her house. ||257|| Following her, he reached the courtyard of her house. "Where have you come from, O noble one?" she said, offering him a seat. ||258|| Standing on that seat, he asked her, "Tell me, why has this city become like this?" She replied, "There is no time to tell you this. O noble one, go from here quickly, for there is great danger here." ||259|| Hearing this, the fearless one said, "Does the one who will cause me fear have a thousand arms?" ||260|| The girl, whose fear had subsided, spoke in detail. "In the north of this Vijayardha mountain, there is a city called Alaka, whose rulers were three brothers. Haribal was the eldest, Mahaasen was younger than him, and Bhootilka was the youngest. ||262|| Haribal's queen, Dhaarini, had a son named Bheemka, and his other queen, Shrimati, had another son named Hiranyavarma. ||264|| Mahaasen's wife, Sundari, had two sons, Ugrasen and Varsen, and I am their sister, Vasundhara. ||265|| Once, my father went out to roam the earth. Seeing this beautiful and vast city, he desired to claim it. ||266|| Earlier, some Vyantara Devatas lived here. My father, along with his brother Bhootilka, defeated them in battle and conquered this place. ||267||