The following Narratation by Narada involves the story of Tilottama and how she came into being.
This interesting story is actually one of the side stories from the Mahabharata and is retold by Narada to the Pandavas around the time that they are given half of the kingdom and asked to go settle down in their new capital Khadavaprastha.
During the time that Khandavaprastha was being established, the Pandavas had a lot of visitors to help them, including Krishna and Viswakarma. Sometime after this, the Divine Sage Narada also visits them.
The Sage Narada spends some time with Yudishtra, instructing him on the art of administration and kingship. This is the time that Narada is also introduced to Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas.
When Narada sees Draupadi, he is reminded of the story of Tillotama and how her beauty caused two very loving brothers to fight and kill each other.
He proceeds to narrate this story to the Pandavas and Draupadi so that they could learn from it..
Narada says "It is a well known fact that even the closest friends or relatives can become bitter enemies if they desire the same woman.
In ancient times, there were two Asura brothers named Sundha and Upasundha, who were inseparable. Their brotherly devotion was extraordinary. They defeated the Devas and sent them into hiding. They desired immortality and performed a penance with this motive, directed towards Lord Brahma . When the Lord appeared before them, they wanted the boon of immortality. However, that boon could not be granted, so the Lord asked them instead to choose their mode of death. Since the brothers were so sure of their devotion to each other, they sought the boon that the only way death could approach them was if they killed each other. When Indra came to know of this fact, he knew that he had an opening. He commissioned his divine architect Vishwakarma to create the most beautiful woman in the world. According to Brahma's advice, Vishwakarma collected a crore (10 million) gems, and taking a small part (equal to that of one sesame seed) from each of these flawless gems, he created the beautiful Tilottama (Sanskrit Thila=Sesame), and sent her to seduce the Asura brothers. When Sundha and Upasundha beheld this woman, their desire knew no bounds and each of them wanted her for himself. A quarrel immediately arose. The brothers fought and ended up killing each other. Let their story be a warning to you."
and thus ended the narration of the story of Tilottama by Narada to Yudhishtra in the Mahabharat
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