Markandeya Narrates Utanka's Boon from Vishnu

Markandeya said: "O King Yudhishthira, I will tell you the story. Listen. The account of Dhundhumara is full of dharma. Hear how King Kuvalashva of the Ikshvaku lineage became Dhundhumara. There was a famous maharshi named Utanka. He had his beautiful hermitage in the desert regions. Wishing to worship Vishnu, Utanka performed difficult austerities for a large number of years. He sat in the barren heat, fasting, meditating, drawing his mind inward — year after year, with nothing but sand and sky around him. Pleased with him, Vishnu himself appeared before him. As soon as he saw the lord, Utanka prostrated himself and praised him with many hymns. 'All beings — gods, asuras, men, and all mobile and immobile objects — have been created by you. Brahma, the Vedas, all that can be learnt — created by you. The heaven is your head. Your eyes are the moon and the sun. The wind is your breath. The fire is your energy. All directions are your arms. The great ocean is your stomach. The mountains are your thighs. The sky is your navel. The earth is your feet. The herbs are your body hair. Indra, Soma, Agni, Varuna, the gods, the asuras, the great serpents — all bow before you and praise you. When you are satisfied, the universe is at peace. When you are angered, there is great fear. You alone are the dispeller of all fear. Through three strides, you covered the three worlds. The prosperity of the asuras was destroyed by you. Through your valour, the gods attained supreme bliss. You are the creator and the destroyer of all beings.' Having been praised thus, Vishnu spoke to Utanka: 'I am pleased with you. Ask for a boon.' Utanka replied: 'It is already enough of a boon that I have seen you — the eternal being, the divine lord who is the creator of the universe.' Vishnu said: 'I am pleased with your steadfastness and your devotion. But you must accept a boon from me.' Thus instructed, Utanka joined his hands in salutation and asked: 'If you are pleased with me, let my mind always be fixed on dharma, truth and self-control, eternally. And let me always be devoted to you.' Vishnu replied: 'Through my favours, all this will happen. A yoga will manifest itself in you. United with it, you will accomplish a great task for the dwellers of heaven and the three worlds. A great asura named Dhundhu is now performing terrible austerities for the destruction of the worlds. Listen. I will tell you who will kill him. There will be a famous king named Brihadashva. He will have an obedient and sacred son, known by the name of Kuvalashva. On your instructions, this best of kings will use my powers of yoga and become Dhundhumara.' Having spoken thus to Utanka, Vishnu disappeared."