Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 9 · Chapter 6
श्रीशुक उवाच विरूप: केतुमाञ्छम्भुरम्बरीषसुतास्त्रय: । विरूपात् पृषदश्वोऽभूत्तत् पुत्रस्तु रथीतर: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca virupah ketuman chambhur ambarisa-sutas trayah virupat prsadasvo ’bhut tat-putras tu rathitarah
Sukadeva Gosvami said: O Maharaja Pariksit, Ambarisa had three sons, named Virupa, Ketuman and Sambhu. From Virupa came a son named Prsadasva, and from Prsadasva came a son named Rathitara.
रथीतरस्याप्रजस्य भार्यायां तन्तवेऽर्थित: । अङ्गिरा जनयामास ब्रह्मवर्चस्विन: सुतान् ॥ २ ॥
rathitarasyaprajasya bharyayam tantave ’rthitah angira janayam asa brahma-varcasvinah sutan
Rathitara had no sons, and therefore he requested the great sage Angira to beget sons for him. Because of this request, Angira begot sons in the womb of Rathitara’s wife. All these sons were born with brahminical prowess.
एते क्षेत्रप्रसूता वै पुनस्त्वाङ्गिरसा: स्मृता: । रथीतराणां प्रवरा: क्षेत्रोपेता द्विजातय: ॥ ३ ॥
ete ksetra-prasuta vai punas tv angirasah smrtah rathitaranam pravarah ksetropeta dvi-jatayah
Having been born from the womb of Rathitara’s wife, all these sons were known as the dynasty of Rathitara, but because they were born from the semen of Angira, they were also known as the dynasty of Angira. Among all the progeny of Rathitara, these sons were the most prominent because, owing to their birth, they were considered brahmanas.
क्षुवतस्तु मनोर्जज्ञे इक्ष्वाकुर्घ्राणत: सुत: । तस्य पुत्रशतज्येष्ठा विकुक्षिनिमिदण्डका: ॥ ४ ॥
ksuvatas tu manor jajne iksvakur ghranatah sutah tasya putra-sata-jyestha vikuksi-nimi-dandakah
The son of Manu was Iksvaku. When Manu was sneezing, Iksvaku was born from Manu’s nostrils. King Iksvaku had one hundred sons, of whom Vikuksi, Nimi and Dandaka were the most prominent.
तेषां पुरस्तादभवन्नार्यावर्ते नृपा नृप । पञ्चविंशति: पश्चाच्च त्रयो मध्येऽपरेऽन्यत: ॥ ५ ॥
tesam purastad abhavann aryavarte nrpa nrpa panca-vimsatih pascac ca trayo madhye ’pare ’nyatah
Of the one hundred sons, twenty-five became kings in the western side of Aryavarta, a place between the Himalaya and Vindhya mountains. Another twenty-five sons became kings in the east of Aryavarta, and the three principal sons became kings in the middle. The other sons became kings in various other places.
स एकदाष्टकाश्राद्धे इक्ष्वाकु: सुतमादिशत् । मांसमानीयतां मेध्यं विकुक्षे गच्छ मा चिरम् ॥ ६ ॥
sa ekadastaka-sraddhe iksvakuh sutam adisat mamsam aniyatam medhyam vikukse gaccha ma ciram
During the months of January, February and March, oblations offered to the forefathers are called astaka-sraddha. The sraddha ceremony is held during the dark fortnight of the month. When Maharaja Iksvaku was performing his oblations in this ceremony, he ordered his son Vikuksi to go immediately to the forest to bring some pure flesh.
तथेति स वनं गत्वा मृगान् हत्वा क्रियार्हणान् । श्रान्तो बुभुक्षितो वीर: शशं चाददपस्मृति: ॥ ७ ॥
tatheti sa vanam gatva mrgan hatva kriyarhanan sranto bubhuksito virah sasam cadad apasmrtih
Thereafter, Iksvaku’s son Vikuksi went to the forest and killed many animals suitable for being offered as oblations. But when fatigued and hungry he became forgetful and ate a rabbit he had killed.
शेषं निवेदयामास पित्रे तेन च तद्गुरु: । चोदित: प्रोक्षणायाह दुष्टमेतदकर्मकम् ॥ ८ ॥
sesam nivedayam asa pitre tena ca tad-guruh coditah proksanayaha dustam etad akarmakam
Vikuksi offered the remnants of the flesh to King Iksvaku, who gave it to Vasistha for purification. But Vasistha could immediately understand that part of the flesh had already been taken by Vikuksi, and therefore he said that it was unfit to be used in the sraddha ceremony.
ज्ञात्वा पुत्रस्य तत् कर्म गुरुणाभिहितं नृप: । देशान्नि:सारयामास सुतं त्यक्तविधिं रुषा ॥ ९ ॥
jnatva putrasya tat karma gurunabhihitam nrpah desan nihsarayam asa sutam tyakta-vidhim rusa
When King Iksvaku, thus informed by Vasistha, understood what his son Vikuksi had done, he was extremely angry. Thus he ordered Vikuksi to leave the country because Vikuksi had violated the regulative principles.
स तु विप्रेण संवादं ज्ञापकेन समाचरन् । त्यक्त्वा कलेवरं योगी स तेनावाप यत् परम् ॥ १० ॥
sa tu viprena samvadam jnapakena samacaran tyaktva kalevaram yogi sa tenavapa yat param
Having been instructed by the great and learned brahmana Vasistha, who discoursed about the Absolute Truth, Maharaja Iksvaku became renounced. By following the principles for a yogi, he certainly achieved the supreme perfection after giving up his material body.
पितर्युपरतेऽभ्येत्य विकुक्षि: पृथिवीमिमाम् । शासदीजे हरिं यज्ञै: शशाद इति विश्रुत: ॥ ११ ॥
pitary uparate ’bhyetya vikuksih prthivim imam sasad ije harim yajnaih sasada iti visrutah
After his father’s disappearance, Vikuksi returned to the country and thus became the king, ruling the plane earth and performing various sacrifices to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vikuksi later became celebrated as Sasada.
पुरञ्जयस्तस्य सुत इन्द्रवाह इतीरित: । ककुत्स्थ इति चाप्युक्त: शृणु नामानि कर्मभि: ॥ १२ ॥
puranjayas tasya suta indravaha itiritah kakutstha iti capy uktah srnu namani karmabhih
The son of Sasada was Puranjaya, who is also known as Indravaha and sometimes as Kakutstha. Please hear from me how he received different names for different activities.
कृतान्त आसीत् समरो देवानां सह दानवै: । पार्ष्णिग्राहो वृतो वीरो देवैर्दैत्यपराजितै: ॥ १३ ॥
krtanta asit samaro devanam saha danavaih parsnigraho vrto viro devair daitya-parajitaih
Formerly, there was a devastating war between the demigods and the demons. The demigods, having been defeated, accepted Puranjaya as their assistant and then conquered the demons.
वचनाद् देवदेवस्य विष्णोर्विश्वात्मन: प्रभो: । वाहनत्वे वृतस्तस्य बभूवेन्द्रो महावृष: ॥ १४ ॥
vacanad deva-devasya visnor visvatmanah prabhoh vahanatve vrtas tasya babhuvendro maha-vrsah
Puranjaya agreed to kill all the demons, on the condition that Indra would be his carrier. Because of pride, Indra could not accept this proposal, but later, by the order of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, Indra did accept it and became a great bull carrier for Puranjaya.
स सन्नद्धो धनुर्दिव्यमादाय विशिखाञ्छितान् । स्तूयमानस्तमारुह्य युयुत्सु: ककुदि स्थित: ॥ १५ ॥ तेजसाप्यायितो विष्णो: पुरुषस्य महात्मन: । प्रतीच्यां दिशि दैत्यानां न्यरुणत् त्रिदशै: पुरम् ॥ १६ ॥
sa sannaddho dhanur divyam adaya visikhan chitan stuyamanas tam aruhya yuyutsuh kakudi sthitah tejasapyayito visnoh purusasya mahatmanah praticyam disi daityanam nyarunat tridasaih puram
Well protected by armor and desiring to fight, Puranjaya took up a transcendental bow and very sharp arrows, and, while being highly praised by the demigods, he got up on the back of the bull [Indra] and sat on its hump. Thus he is known as Kakutstha. Being empowered by Lord Visnu, who is the Supersoul and the Supreme Person, Puranjaya sat on the great bull and is therefore known as Indravaha. Surrounded by the demigods, he attacked the residence of the demons in the west.
तैस्तस्य चाभूत्प्रधनं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् । यमाय भल्लैरनयद् दैत्यान् अभिययुर्मृधे ॥ १७ ॥
tais tasya cabhut pradhanam tumulam loma-harsanam yamaya bhallair anayad daityan abhiyayur mrdhe
There was a fierce battle between the demons and Puranjaya. Indeed, it was so fierce that when one hears about it one’s hairs stand on end. All the demons bold enough to come before Puranjaya were immediately sent to the residence of Yamaraja by his arrows.
तस्येषुपाताभिमुखं युगान्ताग्निमिवोल्बणम् । विसृज्य दुद्रुवुर्दैत्या हन्यमाना: स्वमालयम् ॥ १८ ॥
tasyesu-patabhimukham yugantagnim ivolbanam visrjya dudruvur daitya hanyamanah svam alayam
To save themselves from the blazing arrows of Indravaha, which resembled the flames of devastation at the end of the millennium, the demons who remained when the rest of their army was killed fled very quickly to their respective homes.
जित्वा पुरं धनं सर्वं सश्रीकं वज्रपाणये । प्रत्ययच्छत् स राजर्षिरिति नामभिराहृत: ॥ १९ ॥
jitva param dhanam sarvam sastrikam vajra-panaye pratyayacchat sa rajarsir iti namabhir ahrtah
After conquering the enemy, the saintly king Puranjaya gave everything, including the enemy’s riches and wives, to Indra, who carries a thunderbolt. For this he is celebrated as Puranjaya. Thus Puranjaya is known by different names because of his different activities.
पुरञ्जयस्य पुत्रोऽभूदनेनास्तत्सुत: पृथु: । विश्वगन्धिस्ततश्चन्द्रो युवनाश्वस्तु तत्सुत: ॥ २० ॥
puranjayasya putro ’bhud anenas tat-sutah prthuh visvagandhis tatas candro yuvanasvas tu tat-sutah
The son of Puranjaya was known as Anena, Anena’s son was Prthu, and Prthu’s son was Visvagandhi. Visvagandhi’s son was Candra, and Candra’s son was Yuvanasva.
श्रावस्तस्तत्सुतो येन श्रावस्ती निर्ममे पुरी । बृहदश्वस्तु श्रावस्तिस्तत: कुवलयाश्वक: ॥ २१ ॥
sravastas tat-suto yena sravasti nirmame puri brhadasvas tu sravastis tatah kuvalayasvakah
The son of Yuvanasva was Sravasta, who constructed a township known as Sravasti Puri. The son of Sravasta was Brhadasva, and his son was Kuvalayasva. In this way the dynasty increased.
य: प्रियार्थमुतङ्कस्य धुन्धुनामासुरं बली । सुतानामेकविंशत्या सहस्रैरहनद् वृत: ॥ २२ ॥
yah priyartham utankasya dhundhu-namasuram bali sutanam eka-vimsatya sahasrair ahanad vrtah
To satisfy the sage Utanka, the greatly powerful Kuvalayasva killed a demon named Dhundhu. He did this with the assistance of his twenty-one thousand sons.
धुन्धुमार इति ख्यातस्तत्सुतास्ते च जज्वलु: । धुन्धोर्मुखाग्निना सर्वे त्रय एवावशेषिता: ॥ २३ ॥ दृढाश्व: कपिलाश्वश्च भद्राश्व इति भारत । दृढाश्वपुत्रो हर्यश्वो निकुम्भस्तत्सुत: स्मृत: ॥ २४ ॥
dhundhumara iti khyatas tat-sutas te ca jajvaluh dhundhor mukhagnina sarve traya evavasesitah drdhasvah kapilasvas ca bhadrasva iti bharata drdhasva-putro haryasvo nikumbhas tat-sutah smrtah
O Maharaja Pariksit, for this reason Kuvalayasva is celebrated as Dhundhumara [“the killer of Dhundhu”]. All but three of his sons, however, were burned to ashes by the fire emanating from Dhundhu’s mouth. The remaining sons were Drdhasva, Kapilasva and Bhadrasva. From Drdhasva came a son named Haryasva, whose son is celebrated as Nikumbha.
बहुलाश्वो निकुम्भस्य कृशाश्वोऽथास्य सेनजित् । युवनाश्वोऽभवत् तस्य सोऽनपत्यो वनं गत: ॥ २५ ॥
bahulasvo nikumbhasya krsasvo ’thasya senajit yuvanasvo ’bhavat tasya so ’napatyo vanam gatah
The son of Nikumbha was Bahulasva, the son of Bahulasva was Krsasva, the son of Krsasva was Senajit, and the son of Senajit was Yuvanasva. Yuvanasva had no sons, and thus he retired from family life and went to the forest.
भार्याशतेन निर्विण्ण ऋषयोऽस्य कृपालव: । इष्टिं स्म वर्तयांचक्रुरैन्द्रीं ते सुसमाहिता: ॥ २६ ॥
bharya-satena nirvinna rsayo ’sya krpalavah istim sma vartayam cakrur aindrim te susamahitah
Although Yuvanasva went into the forest with his one hundred wives, all of them were very morose. The sages in the forest, however, being very kind to the King, began very carefully and attentively performing an Indra-yajna so that the King might have a son.
राजा तद् यज्ञसदनं प्रविष्टो निशि तर्षित: । दृष्ट्वा शयानान् विप्रांस्तान् पपौ मन्त्रजलं स्वयम् ॥ २७ ॥
raja tad-yajna-sadanam pravisto nisi tarsitah drstva sayanan viprams tan papau mantra-jalam svayam
Being thirsty one night, the King entered the arena of sacrifice, and when he saw all the brahmanas lying down, he personally drank the sanctified water meant to be drunk by his wife.
उत्थितास्ते निशम्याथ व्युदकं कलशं प्रभो । पप्रच्छु: कस्य कर्मेदं पीतं पुंसवनं जलम् ॥ २८ ॥
utthitas te nisamyatha vyudakam kalasam prabho papracchuh kasya karmedam pitam pumsavanam jalam
When the brahmanas got up from bed and saw the waterpot empty, they inquired who had done this work of drinking the water meant for begetting a child.
राज्ञा पीतं विदित्वा वै ईश्वरप्रहितेन ते । ईश्वराय नमश्चक्रुरहो दैवबलं बलम् ॥ २९ ॥
rajna pitam viditva vai isvara-prahitena te isvaraya namas cakrur aho daiva-balam balam
When the brahmanas came to understand that the King, inspired by the supreme controller, had drunk the water, they all exclaimed Alas! The power of providence is real power. No one can counteract the power of the Supreme In this way they offered their respectful obeisances unto the Lord.
तत: काल उपावृत्ते कुक्षिं निर्भिद्य दक्षिणम् । युवनाश्वस्य तनयश्चक्रवर्ती जजान ह ॥ ३० ॥
tatah kala upavrtte kuksim nirbhidya daksinam yuvanasvasya tanayas cakravarti jajana ha
Thereafter, in due course of time, a son with all the good symptoms of a powerful king came forth from the lower right side of King Yuvanasva’s abdomen.
कं धास्यति कुमारोऽयं स्तन्ये रोरूयते भृशम् । मां धाता वत्स मा रोदीरितीन्द्रो देशिनीमदात् ॥ ३१ ॥
kam dhasyati kumaro ’yam stanye roruyate bhrsam mam dhata vatsa ma rodir itindro desinim adat
The baby cried so much for breast milk that all the brahmanas were very unhappy Who will take care of this baby they said. Then Indra, who was worshiped in that yajna, came and solaced the baby Do not cry Indra said.
न ममार पिता तस्य विप्रदेवप्रसादत: । युवनाश्वोऽथ तत्रैव तपसा सिद्धिमन्वगात् ॥ ३२ ॥
na mamara pita tasya vipra-deva-prasadatah yuvanasvo ’tha tatraiva tapasa siddhim anvagat
Because Yuvanasva, the father of the baby, was blessed by the brahmanas, he did not fall a victim to death. After this incident, he performed severe austerities and achieved perfection in that very spot.
त्रसद्दस्युरितीन्द्रोऽङ्ग विदधे नाम यस्य वै । यस्मात् त्रसन्ति ह्युद्विग्ना दस्यवो रावणादय: ॥ ३३ ॥ यौवनाश्वोऽथ मान्धाता चक्रवर्त्यवनीं प्रभु: । सप्तद्वीपवतीमेक: शशासाच्युततेजसा ॥ ३४ ॥
trasaddasyur itindro ’nga vidadhe nama yasya vai yasmat trasanti hy udvigna dasyavo ravanadayah yauvanasvo ’tha mandhata cakravarty avanim prabhuh sapta-dvipavatim ekah sasasacyuta-tejasa
Mandhata, the son of Yuvanasva, was the cause of fear for Ravana and other thieves and rogues who caused anxiety. O King Pariksit, because they feared him, the son of Yuvanasva was known as Trasaddasyu. This name was given by King Indra. By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Yuvanasva was so powerful that when he became emperor he ruled the entire world, consisting of seven islands, without any second ruler.
ईजे च यज्ञं क्रतुभिरात्मविद् भूरिदक्षिणै: । सर्वदेवमयं देवं सर्वात्मकमतीन्द्रियम् ॥ ३५ ॥ द्रव्यं मन्त्रो विधिर्यज्ञो यजमानस्तथर्त्विज: । धर्मो देशश्च कालश्च सर्वमेतद् यदात्मकम् ॥ ३६ ॥
ije ca yajnam kratubhir atma-vid bhuri-daksinaih sarva-devamayam devam sarvatmakam atindriyam dravyam mantro vidhir yajno yajamanas tathartvijah dharmo desas ca kalas ca sarvam etad yad atmakam
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not different from the auspicious aspects of great sacrifices, such as the ingredients of the sacrifice, the chanting of Vedic hymns, the regulative principles, the performer, the priests, the result of the sacrifice, the arena of sacrifice, and the time of sacrifice. Knowing the principles of self-realization, Mandhata worshiped that transcendentally situated Supreme Soul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, who comprises all the demigods. He also gave immense charity to the brahmanas, and thus he performed yajna to worship the Lord.
यावत् सूर्य उदेति स्म यावच्च प्रतितिष्ठति । तत् सर्वं यौवनाश्वस्य मान्धातु: क्षेत्रमुच्यते ॥ ३७ ॥
yavat surya udeti sma yavac ca pratitisthati tat sarvam yauvanasvasya mandhatuh ksetram ucyate
All places, from where the sun rises on the horizon, shining brilliantly, to where the sun sets, are known as the possession of the celebrated Mandhata, the son of Yuvanasva.
शशबिन्दोर्दुहितरि बिन्दुमत्यामधान्नृप: । पुरुकुत्समम्बरीषं मुचुकुन्दं च योगिनम् । तेषां स्वसार: पञ्चाशत् सौभरिं वव्रिरे पतिम् ॥ ३८ ॥
sasabindor duhitari bindumatyam adhan nrpah purukutsam ambarisam mucukundam ca yoginam tesam svasarah pancasat saubharim vavrire patim
Mandhata begot three sons in the womb of Bindumati, the daughter of Sasabindu. These sons were Purukutsa, Ambarisa, and Mucukunda, a great mystic yogi. These three brothers had fifty sisters, who all accepted the great sage Saubhari as their husband.
यमुनान्तर्जले मग्नस्तप्यमान: परन्तप: । निर्वृतिं मीनराजस्य दृष्ट्वा मैथुनधर्मिण: ॥ ३९ ॥ जातस्पृहो नृपं विप्र: कन्यामेकामयाचत । सोऽप्याह गृह्यतां ब्रह्मन् कामं कन्या स्वयंवरे ॥ ४० ॥
yamunantar-jale magnas tapyamanah param tapah nirvrtim mina-rajasya drstva maithuna-dharminah jata-sprho nrpam viprah kanyam ekam ayacata so ’py aha grhyatam brahman kamam kanya svayamvare
Saubhari Rsi was engaged in austerity, deep in the water of the river Yamuna, when he saw a pair of fish engaged in sexual affairs. Thus he perceived the pleasure of sex life, and induced by this desire he went to King Mandhata and begged for one of the King’s daughters. In response to this request, the King said, “O brahmana, any of my daughters may accept any husband according to her personal selection.”
स विचिन्त्याप्रियं स्त्रीणां जरठोऽहमसन्मत: । वलीपलित एजत्क इत्यहं प्रत्युदाहृत: ॥ ४१ ॥ साधयिष्ये तथात्मानं सुरस्त्रीणामभीप्सितम् । किं पुनर्मनुजेन्द्राणामिति व्यवसित: प्रभु: ॥ ४२ ॥
sa vicintyapriyam strinam jaratho ’ham asan-matah vali-palita ejat-ka ity aham pratyudahrtah sadhayisye tathatmanam sura-strinam abhipsitam kim punar manujendranam iti vyavasitah prabhuh
Saubhari Muni thought: I am now feeble because of old age. My hair has become grey, my skin is slack, and my head always trembles. Besides, I am a yogi. Therefore women do not like me. Since the King has thus rejected me, I shall reform my body in such a way as to be desirable even to celestial women, what to speak of the daughters of worldly kings.
मुनि: प्रवेशित: क्षत्रा कन्यान्त:पुरमृद्धिमत् । वृत: स राजकन्याभिरेकं पञ्चाशता वर: ॥ ४३ ॥
munih pravesitah ksatra kanyantahpuram rddhimat vrtah sa raja-kanyabhir ekam pancasata varah
Thereafter, when Saubhari Muni became quite a young and beautiful person, the messenger of the palace took him inside the residential quarters of the princesses, which were extremely opulent. All fifty princesses then accepted him as their husband, although he was only one man.
तासां कलिरभूद् भूयांस्तदर्थेऽपोह्य सौहृदम् । ममानुरूपो नायं व इति तद्गतचेतसाम् ॥ ४४ ॥
tasam kalir abhud bhuyams tad-arthe ’pohya sauhrdam mamanurupo nayam va iti tad-gata-cetasam
Thereafter, the princesses, being attracted by Saubhari Muni, gave up their sisterly relationship and quarreled among themselves, each one of them contending, This man is just suitable for me, and not for you In this way there ensued a great disagreement.
स बह्वऋचस्ताभिरपारणीय- तप:श्रियानर्घ्यपरिच्छदेषु । गृहेषु नानोपवनामलाम्भ:- सरस्सु सौगन्धिककाननेषु ॥ ४५ ॥ महार्हशय्यासनवस्त्रभूषण- स्नानानुलेपाभ्यवहारमाल्यकै: । स्वलङ्कृत स्त्रीपुरुषेषु नित्यदा रेमेऽनुगायद्द्विजभृङ्गवन्दिषु ॥ ४६ ॥
sa bahv-rcas tabhir aparaniya- tapah-sriyanarghya-paricchadesu grhesu nanopavanamalambhah- sarahsu saugandhika-kananesu maharha-sayyasana-vastra-bhusana- snananulepabhyavahara-malyakaih svalankrta-stri-purusesu nityada reme ’nugayad-dvija-bhrnga-vandisu
Because Saubhari Muni was expert in chanting mantras perfectly, his severe austerities resulted in an opulent home, with garments, ornaments, properly dressed and decorated maidservants and manservants, and varieties of parks with clear-water lakes and gardens. In the gardens, fragrant with varieties of flowers, birds chirped and bees hummed, surrounded by professional singers. Saubhari Muni’s home was amply provided with valuable beds, seats, ornaments, and arrangements for bathing, and there were varieties of sandalwood creams, flower garlands, and palatable dishes. Thus surrounded by opulent paraphernalia, the muni engaged in family affairs with his numerous wives.
यद्गार्हस्थ्यं तु संवीक्ष्य सप्तद्वीपवतीपति: । विस्मित: स्तम्भमजहात् सार्वभौमश्रियान्वितम् ॥ ४७ ॥
yad-garhasthyam tu samviksya sapta-dvipavati-patih vismitah stambham ajahat sarvabhauma-sriyanvitam
Mandhata, the King of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, was struck with wonder when he saw the household opulence of Saubhari Muni. Thus he gave up his false prestige in his position as emperor of the world.
एवं गृहेष्वभिरतो विषयान् विविधै: सुखै: । सेवमानो न चातुष्यदाज्यस्तोकैरिवानल: ॥ ४८ ॥
evam grhesv abhirato visayan vividhaih sukhaih sevamano na catusyad ajya-stokair ivanalah
In this way, Saubhari Muni enjoyed sense gratification in the material world, but he was not at all satisfied, just as a fire never ceases blazing if constantly supplied with drops of fat.
स कदाचिदुपासीन आत्मापह्नवमात्मन: । ददर्श बह्वृचाचार्यो मीनसङ्गसमुत्थितम् ॥ ४९ ॥
sa kadacid upasina atmapahnavam atmanah dadarsa bahv-rcacaryo mina-sanga-samutthitam
Thereafter, one day while Saubhari Muni, who was expert in chanting mantras, was sitting in a secluded place, he thought to himself about the cause of his falldown, which was simply that he had associated himself with the sexual affairs of the fish.
अहो इमं पश्यत मे विनाशं तपस्विन: सच्चरितव्रतस्य । अन्तर्जले वारिचरप्रसङ्गात् प्रच्यावितं ब्रह्म चिरं धृतं यत् ॥ ५० ॥
aho imam pasyata me vinasam tapasvinah sac-carita-vratasya antarjale vari-cara-prasangat pracyavitam brahma ciram dhrtam yat
Alas! While practicing austerity, even within the depths of the water, and while observing all the rules and regulations practiced by saintly persons, I lost the results of my long austerities simply by association with the sexual affairs of fish. Everyone should observe this falldown and learn from it.
सङ्गं त्यजेत मिथुनव्रतीनां मुमुक्षु: सर्वात्मना न विसृजेद् बहिरिन्द्रियाणि । एकश्चरन् रहसि चित्तमनन्त ईशे युञ्जीत तद्व्रतिषु साधुषु चेत् प्रसङ्ग: ॥ ५१ ॥
sangam tyajeta mithuna-vratinam mumuksuh sarvatmana na visrjed bahir-indriyani ekas caran rahasi cittam ananta ise yunjita tad-vratisu sadhusu cet prasangah
A person desiring liberation from material bondage must give up the association of persons interested in sex life and should not employ his senses externally (in seeing, hearing, talking, walking and so on). One should always stay in a secluded place, completely fixing his mind at the lotus feet of the unlimited Personality of Godhead, and if one wants any association at all, he should associate with persons similarly engaged.
एकस्तपस्व्यहमथाम्भसि मत्स्यसङ्गात् पञ्चाशदासमुत पञ्चसहस्रसर्ग: । नान्तं व्रजाम्युभयकृत्यमनोरथानां मायागुणैर्हृतमतिर्विषयेऽर्थभाव: ॥ ५२ ॥
ekas tapasvy aham athambhasi matsya-sangat pancasad asam uta panca-sahasra-sargah nantam vrajamy ubhaya-krtya-manorathanam maya-gunair hrta-matir visaye ’rtha-bhavah
In the beginning I was alone and engaged in performing the austerities of mystic yoga, but later, because of the association of fish engaged in sex, I desired to marry. Then I became the husband of fifty wives, and in each of them I begot one hundred sons, and thus my family increased to five thousand members. By the influence of the modes of material nature, I became fallen and thought that I would be happy in material life. Thus there is no end to my material desires for enjoyment, in this life and the next.
एवं वसन् गृहे कालं विरक्तो न्यासमास्थित: । वनं जगामानुययुस्तत्पत्न्य: पतिदेवता: ॥ ५३ ॥
evam vasan grhe kalam virakto nyasam asthitah vanam jagamanuyayus tat-patnyah pati-devatah
In this way he passed his life in household affairs for some time, but then he became detached from material enjoyment. To renounce material association, he accepted the vanaprastha order and went to the forest. His devoted wives followed him, for they had no shelter other than their husband.
तत्र तप्त्वा तपस्तीक्ष्णमात्मदर्शनमात्मवान् । सहैवाग्निभिरात्मानं युयोज परमात्मनि ॥ ५४ ॥
tatra taptva tapas tiksnam atma-darsanam atmavan sahaivagnibhir atmanam yuyoja paramatmani
When Saubhari Muni, who was quite conversant with the self, went to the forest, he performed severe penances. In this way, in the fire at the time of death, he ultimately engaged himself in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
ता: स्वपत्युर्महाराज निरीक्ष्याध्यात्मिकीं गतिम् । अन्वीयुस्तत्प्रभावेण अग्निं शान्तमिवार्चिष: ॥ ५५ ॥
tah sva-patyur maharaja niriksyadhyatmikim gatim anviyus tat-prabhavena agnim santam ivarcisah
O Maharaja Pariksit, by observing their husband progressing in spiritual existence, Saubhari Muni’s wives were also able to enter the spiritual world by his spiritual power, just as the flames of a fire cease when the fire is extinguished.
