Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 9 · Chapter 7

The Descendants of King Māndhātā

9.7.1

श्रीशुक उवाच मान्धातु: पुत्रप्रवरो योऽम्बरीष: प्रकीर्तित: । पितामहेन प्रवृतो यौवनाश्वस्तु तत्सुत: । हारीतस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्मान्धातृप्रवरा इमे ॥ १ ॥

sri-suka uvaca mandhatuh putra-pravaro yo ’mbarisah prakirtitah pitamahena pravrto yauvanasvas tu tat-sutah haritas tasya putro ’bhun mandhatr-pravara ime

Sukadeva Gosvami said: The most prominent among the sons of Mandhata was he who is celebrated as Ambarisa. Ambarisa was accepted as son by his grandfather Yuvanasva. Ambarisa’s son was Yauvanasva, and Yauvanasva’s son was Harita. In Mandhata’s dynasty, Ambarisa, Harita and Yauvanasva were very prominent.

9.7.2

नर्मदा भ्रातृभिर्दत्ता पुरुकुत्साय योरगै: । तया रसातलं नीतो भुजगेन्द्रप्रयुक्तया ॥ २ ॥

narmada bhratrbhir datta purukutsaya yoragaih taya rasatalam nito bhujagendra-prayuktaya

The serpent brothers of Narmada gave Narmada to Purukutsa. Being sent by Vasuki, she took Purukutsa to the lower region of the universe.

9.7.3

गन्धर्वानवधीत् तत्र वध्यान् वै विष्णुशक्तिधृक् । नागाल्लब्धवर: सर्पादभयं स्मरतामिदम् ॥ ३ ॥

gandharvan avadhit tatra vadhyan vai visnu-sakti-dhrk nagal labdha-varah sarpad abhayam smaratam idam

There in Rasatala, the lower region of the universe, Purukutsa, being empowered by Lord Visnu, was able to kill all the Gandharvas who deserved to be killed. Purukutsa received the benediction from the serpents that anyone who remembers this history of his being brought by Narmada to the lower region of the universe will be assured of safety from the attack of snakes.

9.7.4

त्रसद्दस्यु: पौरुकुत्सो योऽनरण्यस्य देहकृत् । हर्यश्वस्तत्सुतस्तस्मात्प्रारुणोऽथ त्रिबन्धन: ॥ ४ ॥

trasaddasyuh paurukutso yo ’naranyasya deha-krt haryasvas tat-sutas tasmat praruno ’tha tribandhanah

The son of Purukutsa was Trasaddasyu, who was the father of Anaranya. Anaranya’s son was Haryasva, the father of Praruna. Praruna was the father of Tribandhana.

9.7.5-6

तस्य सत्यव्रत: पुत्रस्त्रिशङ्कुरिति विश्रुत: । प्राप्तश्चाण्डालतां शापाद् गुरो: कौशिकतेजसा ॥ ५ ॥ सशरीरो गत: स्वर्गमद्यापि दिवि द‍ृश्यते । पातितोऽवाक् शिरा देवैस्तेनैव स्तम्भितो बलात् ॥ ६ ॥

tasya satyavratah putras trisankur iti visrutah praptas candalatam sapad guroh kausika-tejasa sasariro gatah svargam adyapi divi drsyate patito ’vak-sira devais tenaiva stambhito balat

The son of Tribandhana was Satyavrata, who is celebrated by the name Trisanku. Because he kidnapped the daughter of a brahmana when she was being married, his father cursed him to become a candala, lower than a sudra. Thereafter, by the influence of Visvamitra, he went to the higher planetary system, the heavenly planets, in his material body, but because of the prowess of the demigods he fell back downward. Nonetheless, by the power of Visvamitra, he did not fall all the way down; even today he can still be seen hanging in the sky, head downward.

9.7.7

त्रैशङ्कवो हरिश्चन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयो: । यन्निमित्तमभूद् युद्धं पक्षिणोर्बहुवार्षिकम् ॥ ७ ॥

traisankavo hariscandro visvamitra-vasisthayoh yan-nimittam abhud yuddham paksinor bahu-varsikam

The son of Trisanku was Hariscandra. Because of Hariscandra there was a quarrel between Visvamitra and Vasistha, who for many years fought one another, having been transformed into birds.

9.7.8

सोऽनपत्यो विषण्णात्मा नारदस्योपदेशत: । वरुणं शरणं यात: पुत्रो मे जायतां प्रभो ॥ ८ ॥

so ’napatyo visannatma naradasyopadesatah varunam saranam yatah putro me jayatam prabho

Hariscandra had no son and was therefore extremely morose. Once, therefore, following the advice of Narada, he took shelter of Varuna and said to him My lord I have no son.

9.7.9

यदि वीरो महाराज तेनैव त्वां यजे इति । तथेति वरुणेनास्य पुत्रो जातस्तु रोहित: ॥ ९ ॥

yadi viro maharaja tenaiva tvam yaje iti tatheti varunenasya putro jatas tu rohitah

O King Pariksit, Hariscandra begged Varuna, My lord, if a son is born to me, with that son I shall perform a sacrifice for your satisfaction When Hariscandra said this, Varuna replied, Let it be so Because of Varuna’s benediction, Hariscandra begot a son named Rohita.

9.7.10

जात: सुतो ह्यनेनाङ्ग मां यजस्वेति सोऽब्रवीत् । यदा पशुर्निर्दश: स्यादथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १० ॥

jatah suto hy anenanga mam yajasveti so ’bravit yada pasur nirdasah syad atha medhyo bhaved iti

Thereafter, when the child was born, Varuna approached Hariscandra and said, Now you have a son.

9.7.11

निर्दशे च स आगत्य यजस्वेत्याह सोऽब्रवीत् । दन्ता: पशोर्यज्जायेरन्नथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ ११ ॥

nirdase ca sa agatya yajasvety aha so ’bravit dantah pasor yaj jayerann atha medhyo bhaved iti

After ten days, Varuna came again and said to Hariscandra, “Now you can perform the sacrifice.” Hariscandra replied, “When an animal grows teeth, then it becomes pure enough to be sacrificed.”

9.7.12

दन्ता जाता यजस्वेति स प्रत्याहाथ सोऽब्रवीत् । यदा पतन्त्यस्य दन्ता अथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १२ ॥

danta jata yajasveti sa pratyahatha so ’bravit yada patanty asya danta atha medhyo bhaved iti

When the teeth grew, Varuna came and said to Hariscandra, “Now the animal has grown teeth, and you can perform the sacrifice.” Hariscandra replied, “When all its teeth have fallen out, then it will be fit for sacrifice.”

9.7.13

पशोर्निपतिता दन्ता यजस्वेत्याह सोऽब्रवीत् । यदा पशो: पुनर्दन्ता जायन्तेऽथ पशु: शुचि: ॥ १३ ॥

pasor nipatita danta yajasvety aha so ’bravit yada pasoh punar danta jayante ’tha pasuh sucih

When the teeth had fallen out, Varuna returned and said to Hariscandra, “Now the animal’s teeth have fallen out, and you can perform the sacrifice.” But Hariscandra replied, “When the animal’s teeth grow in again, then he will be pure enough to be sacrificed.”

9.7.14

पुनर्जाता यजस्वेति स प्रत्याहाथ सोऽब्रवीत् । सान्नाहिको यदा राजन् राजन्योऽथ पशु: शुचि: ॥ १४ ॥

punar jata yajasveti sa pratyahatha so ’bravit sannahiko yada rajan rajanyo ’tha pasuh sucih

When the teeth grew in again, Varuna came and said to Hariscandra, “Now you can perform the sacrifice.” But Hariscandra then said, “O King, when the sacrificial animal becomes a ksatriya and is able to shield himself to fight with the enemy, then he will be purified.”

9.7.15

इति पुत्रानुरागेण स्‍नेहयन्त्रितचेतसा । कालं वञ्चयता तं तमुक्तो देवस्तमैक्षत ॥ १५ ॥

iti putranuragena sneha-yantrita-cetasa kalam vancayata tam tam ukto devas tam aiksata

Hariscandra was certainly very much attached to his son. Because of this affection, he asked the demigod Varuna to wait. Thus Varuna waited and waited for the time to come.

9.7.16

रोहितस्तदभिज्ञाय पितु: कर्म चिकीर्षितम् । प्राणप्रेप्सुर्धनुष्पाणिररण्यं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ १६ ॥

rohitas tad abhijnaya pituh karma cikirsitam prana-prepsur dhanus-panir aranyam pratyapadyata

Rohita could understand that his father intended to offer him as the animal for sacrifice. Therefore, just to save himself from death, he equipped himself with bow and arrows and went to the forest.

9.7.17

पितरं वरुणग्रस्तं श्रुत्वा जातमहोदरम् । रोहितो ग्राममेयाय तमिन्द्र: प्रत्यषेधत ॥ १७ ॥

pitaram varuna-grastam srutva jata-mahodaram rohito gramam eyaya tam indrah pratyasedhata

When Rohita heard that his father had been attacked by dropsy due to Varuna and that his abdomen had grown very large, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra forbade him to do so.

9.7.18

भूमे: पर्यटनं पुण्यं तीर्थक्षेत्रनिषेवणै: । रोहितायादिशच्छक्र: सोऽप्यरण्येऽवसत् समाम् ॥ १८ ॥

bhumeh paryatanam punyam tirtha-ksetra-nisevanaih rohitayadisac chakrah so ’py aranye ’vasat samam

King Indra advised Rohita to travel to different pilgrimage sites and holy places, for such activities are pious indeed. Following this instruction, Rohita went to the forest for one year.

9.7.19

एवं द्वितीये तृतीये चतुर्थे पञ्चमे तथा । अभ्येत्याभ्येत्य स्थविरो विप्रो भूत्वाह वृत्रहा ॥ १९ ॥

evam dvitiye trtiye caturthe pancame tatha abhyetyabhyetya sthaviro vipro bhutvaha vrtra-ha

In this way, at the end of the second, third, fourth and fifth years, when Rohita wanted to return to his capital, the King of heaven, Indra, approached him as an old brahmana and forbade him to return, repeating the same words as in the previous year.

9.7.20

षष्ठं संवत्सरं तत्र चरित्वा रोहित: पुरीम् । उपव्रजन्नजीगर्तादक्रीणान्मध्यमं सुतम् । शुन:शेफं पशुं पित्रे प्रदाय समवन्दत ॥ २० ॥

sastham samvatsaram tatra caritva rohitah purim upavrajann ajigartad akrinan madhyamam sutam sunahsepham pasum pitre pradaya samavandata

Thereafter, in the sixth year, after wandering in the forest, Rohita returned to the capital of his father. He purchased from Ajigarta his second son, named Sunahsepha. Then he offered Sunahsepha to his father, Hariscandra, to be used as the sacrificial animal and offered Hariscandra his respectful obeisances.

9.7.21

तत: पुरुषमेधेन हरिश्चन्द्रो महायशा: । मुक्तोदरोऽयजद् देवान् वरुणादीन् महत्कथ: ॥ २१ ॥

tatah purusa-medhena hariscandro maha-yasah muktodaro ’yajad devan varunadin mahat-kathah

Thereafter, the famous King Hariscandra, one of the exalted persons in history, performed grand sacrifices by sacrificing a man and pleased all the demigods. In this way his dropsy created by Varuna was cured.

9.7.22

विश्वामित्रोऽभवत् तस्मिन् होता चाध्वर्युरात्मवान् । जमदग्निरभूद् ब्रह्मा वसिष्ठोऽयास्य: सामग: ॥ २२ ॥

visvamitro ’bhavat tasmin hota cadhvaryur atmavan jamadagnir abhud brahma vasistho ’yasyah sama-gah

In that great human sacrifice, Visvamitra was the chief priest to offer oblations, the perfectly self-realized Jamadagni had the responsibility for chanting the mantras from the Yajur Veda, Vasistha was the chief brahminical priest, and the sage Ayasya was the reciter of the hymns of the Sama Veda.

9.7.23

तस्मै तुष्टो ददाविन्द्र: शातकौम्भमयं रथम् । शुन:शेफस्य माहात्म्यमुपरिष्टात् प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ २३ ॥

tasmai tusto dadav indrah satakaumbhamayam ratham sunahsephasya mahatmyam uparistat pracaksyate

King Indra, being very pleased with Hariscandra, offered him a gift of a golden chariot. Sunahsepha’s glories will be presented along with the description of the son of Visvamitra.

9.7.24

सत्यं सारं धृतिं द‍ृष्ट्वा सभार्यस्य च भूपते: । विश्वामित्रो भृशं प्रीतो ददावविहतां गतिम् ॥ २४ ॥

satyam saram dhrtim drstva sabharyasya ca bhupateh visvamitro bhrsam prito dadav avihatam gatim

The great sage Visvamitra saw that Maharaja Hariscandra, along with his wife, was truthful, forbearing and concerned with the essence. Thus he gave them imperishable knowledge for fulfillment of the human mission.

9.7.25-26

मन: पृथिव्यां तामद्भ‍िस्तेजसापोऽनिलेन तत् । खे वायुं धारयंस्तच्च भूतादौ तं महात्मनि । तस्मिञ्ज्ञानकलां ध्यात्वा तयाज्ञानं विनिर्दहन् ॥ २५ ॥ हित्वा तां स्वेन भावेन निर्वाणसुखसंविदा । अनिर्देश्याप्रतर्क्येण तस्थौ विध्वस्तबन्धन: ॥ २६ ॥

manah prthivyam tam adbhis tejasapo ’nilena tat khe vayum dharayams tac ca bhutadau tam mahatmani tasmin jnana-kalam dhyatva tayajnanam vinirdahan hitva tam svena bhavena nirvana-sukha-samvida anirdesyapratarkyena tasthau vidhvasta-bandhanah

Maharaja Hariscandra first purified his mind, which was full of material enjoyment, by amalgamating it with the earth. Then he amalgamated the earth with water, the water with fire, the fire with the air, and the air with the sky. Thereafter, he amalgamated the sky with the total material energy, and the total material energy with spiritual knowledge. This spiritual knowledge is realization of one’s self as part of the Supreme Lord. When the self-realized spiritual soul is engaged in service to the Lord, he is eternally imperceptible and inconceivable. Thus established in spiritual knowledge, he is completely freed from material bondage.