Progeny of many famous Ṛṣis, categories of them

 vaiśampāyana uvāca

brahmaṇo mānasāḥ putrā viditāḥ ṣaṇmaharṣayaḥ

ekādaśa sutāḥ sthāṇoḥ khyātāḥ paramatejasaḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: It is known that mind born sons of Brahmā were 6 great Ṛṣis. There was another mind born son of Brahmā named Sthāṇu. He had 11 sons gifted with great energy.

mṛgavyādhaśca sarpaśca nirṛtiśca mahāyaśāḥ

ajaikapādahirbughnyaḥ pinākī ca paraṁtapaḥ

Namely Mṛgavyādh, Sarpa, famous Nrṛti, Ajaikapāda, Ahirbughnya, chastiser of his foes Pinākī.

dahano ̍theśvaraścaiva kapālī ca mahādyutiḥ

sthāṇurbhagaśca bhagavānrudrā ekādaśa smṛtāḥ

Dahana, Īśvara and greatly effulgent Kapālī, Sthāṇu and illustrious Bhaga. These 11 are called Rudras.

marīciraṅgirā atri pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ

ṣaḍete brahmaṇaḥ putrā vīryavanto maharṣayaḥ

It has been already said that Marīci, Aṅgirasā, Atri, Pulastya, Kratu, these powerful Ṛṣis were 6 mind born sons of Brahmā.

trayastvaṅgirasaḥ putrā loke sarvatra viśrutāḥ

bṛhaspatirutathyaśca saṁvartaśca dhṛtavratāḥ

It is well known in the world that sons of Aṅgirā were 3, namely Bṛhaspati, Uttatathya and Saṁvarta, all of great saceticism.

atrestu bahavaḥ putrāḥ śrayūnte manujādhipa

sarve vedavidaḥ siddhāḥ śāntātmāno maharṣayaḥ

O king! It is said that sons of Atri were countless. They were all great Ṛṣis and they were all learned in Vedas. They were crowned with ascetic success and their souls were in perfect peace.

rākṣasāśca pulastyasya vānarāḥ kiṁnarāstathā

yakṣāśca manujavyāghra putrāstasya ca dhīmataḥ

O best of kings! An offspring of greatly wise Pulastya were Rākṣasas, Monkeys, Kinnaras and Yakṣas.

pulahasya sutā rājañcchalabhāśca prakīrtitāḥ

siṁhāḥ kiṁpuruṣā vyāghrā ṛkṣā īhāmṛgāstathā

O king! An offspring of Pulaha were Śalabhās - winged insects, lions, Kiṁpuruṣas - half lions and half men, tigers, bears, wolves.

kratoḥ kratusamāḥ putrāḥ pataṅgasahacāriṇaḥ

viśrutāstriṣu lokeṣu satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ

Sons of Kratu - Vālakhilyas, who were as sacred as sacrifice, were companions of Sūrya. They were known to 3 worlds and they were all devoted to truth and vows.

dakṣastvajāyatāṅguṣṭhāddakṣiṇādbhagavānṛṣiḥ

brahmaṇaḥ pṛthivīpāla śāntātmā sumahātapāḥ

O protector of the world! Illustrious Ṛṣi Dakṣa, having his soul in complete peace and possessing great asceticism, sprang from the right thumb of Brahmā.

vāmādajāyatāṅguṣṭhādbhāryā tasya mahātmanaḥ

tasyāṁ pañcāśataṁ kanyāḥ sa evājanayanmuniḥ

Wife of illustrious Dakṣa sprang from the left toe of Brahmā. He then begot 50 daughters on her.

tāḥ sarvāstvanavadyāṅgyaḥ kanyāḥ kamalalocanāḥ

putrikāḥ sthāpayāmāsa naṣṭaputraḥ prajāpatiḥ

They were all lotus eyed and of faultless features and limbs. As Dakṣa had no sons of his own, he made these daughters his Putrikās.

dadau sa daśa dharmāya saptaviṁśatimindave

divyena vidhinā rājankaśyapāya trayodaśa

Dakṣa bestowed in due form 10 of his daughters on Darma, 27 on Candra and 13 on Kaśyapa.

nāmato dharmapatnyastāḥ kīrtyamānā nibodha me

kīrtirlakṣmīrdhṛtirmedhā puṣṭi śraddhā kriyā tathā

Hear, O king, the names of the wives of Dharma. They were Kīrti, Lakṣmī, Dhṛti, Medhā, Puṣti, Śraddhā, Kriyā.

buddhirlajjā matiścaiva patnyo dharmasya tā daśa

dvārāṇyetāni dharmasya vihitāni svayaṁbhuvā

Buddhi, Lajjā. Mati. These were 10 wives of Dharma, as appointed by self created Brahmā.

saptaviṁśatiḥ somasya patnyo lokasya viśrutāḥ

kālasya nayane yuktāḥ somapatnyaḥ śucivratāḥ

It is known throughout the world that wives of Candra were 27. They were all of rigid and holy wovs, they were employed to indicate time.

sarvā nakṣatrayoginyo lokayātrā vidhānataḥ

paitāmaho munirdevastasya putraḥ prajāpatiḥ

They are Nakṣatras and Yoginīs. They were engaged in assisting the course of nature. Grandsire Brahmā had another son named Muni. His son was Prajāpati.

tasyā ̍ṣṭau vasavaḥ putrāsteṣāṁ vakṣyāmi vistaram

dharo dhruvaśca somaśca ahaścaivānilo ̍nalaḥ

Sons of Prajāpati were 8 and they were called Vasus. I shall name them in detail. They were Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Aha, Anila, Anala.

pratyūṣaśca prabhāsaśca vasavo ̍ṣṭau prakīrtitāḥ

dhūnrāyāstu dharaḥ putro brahmavidyo dhruvastathā

Pratyūṣa and Prabhāsa. These are known as 8 Vasus. Dara and Brahma knowing Dhruva were born of Dhūmrā.

candramāstu manasvinyāḥ śvāsāyāḥ śvanastathā

ratāyāścāpyahaḥ putraḥ śāṇḍilyāśca hutāśanaḥ

Soma was born of Manasvinī and Anila was born of wise Śvāsā. Aha was the son of Ratā and Anala of Śāṇḍilyā.

pratyūṣaśca prabhāsaśca prabhātāyāḥ sutau smṛtau

dharasya putro draviṇo hutahavyavahastathā

Pratyūṣa and Prabhāsa were sons of Prabhātā. Dhara had 2 sons, namely Draviṇa and Hutahavyavaha.

dhruvasya putro bhagavānkālo lokaprakāśanaḥ

somasya tu suto varcā varcasvī yena jāyate

Dhruva ̍s son was illustrious Kāla, destroyer of the world. Soma ̍s son was Varcā, Daughter of Varcā is Varcasvī.

manoharāyāḥ śiśiraḥ prāṇo ̍tha ramaṇastathā

ahnaḥ sutastathā jyotiḥ śamaḥ śāntastathā muniḥ

Fascinating Varcasvī had 3 sons, namely Śiśira, Prāṇa and Ramaṇa. Sons of Aha were Jyoti, Śama, Śānta and Muni.

agneḥ putraḥ kumārastu ṣrīmāñccharavaṇālayaḥ

tasya śākho viśākhaśca naigameyaśca pṛṣṭhajaḥ

kṛttikābhyupapatteśca kārtikeya iti smṛtaḥ

anilasya śivā bhāryā tasyāḥ putro manojavaḥ

Son of Agni was handsome Kumāra, who was born in the forest and as he was reared by Kṛttikā and others, he was called Kārtikeya. After him were born his 3 brothers, namely Śākha, Viśākha and Naigameya. Anila ̍s wife was Śivā and her sons were Manojava.

avijñātagatiścaiva dvau putrāvanilasya tu

pratyūṣasya viduḥ putramṛṣiṁ nāmnātha devalam

And Avijñātagati. These 2 were sons of Anila. Know, son of Pratyūṣa was Ṛṣi named Devala.

dvau putrau devalasyāpi kṣamāvantau manīṣiṇau

bṛhaspatestu bhaginī varastrī brahmavādinī

Devala had 2 sons, both greatly wise and forgiving, sister of Bṛhaspati, first women, utterer of sacred truth.

yogasaktā jagatkṛtsnamasaktā vicacāra ha

prabhāsasya tu bhāryā sā vasūnāmaṣṭamassya ha

And austere ascetic, who roamed over the world having no attraction for the world. This sister of Bṛhaspati became the wife of the 8th Vasu, Prabhāsa.

viśvakarmā mahābhāgo jajñe śilpaprajāpatiḥ

kartā śilpasahasrāṇāṁ trdaśānāṁ ca vardhakiḥ

bhūṣāṇānāṁ ca sarveāṁ kartā śilpavatāṁ varaḥ

yo divyāni vimānāni tridaśānāṁ cakāra ha

She gave birth to illustrious Viśvakarmā, founder of all arts, creator of thousand arts, artist of celestials, maker of all kinds of ornaments, the best of all artists and the maker of celestial cars of gods.

manuṣyāścopajīvanti yasya śilpaṁ mahātmanaḥ

pūjayanti ca yaṁ nityaṁ viśvakarmāṇamavyayam

Mankind was enabled to live in consequence of arts of this illustrious man and for this reason he was worshipped by all men. Viśvakarmā is everlasting and immutable.

stanaṁ tu dakṣiṇaṁ bhittvā brahmaṇo naravigrahaḥ

nisṛto bhagavāndharmaḥ sarvalokasukhāvahaḥ

Illustrious Dharma, dispenser of all happiness, came out of the right breast of Brahmā, assuming the form of a man.

trayastasya varāḥ putrāḥ sarvabhūtamanoharāḥ

śamaḥ kāmaśca harṣaśca tejasā lokadhāriṇaḥ

Darma had 3 excellent sons, charming to all creatures. They were Śama, Kāma, Harṣa, who supported the worlds by their energy.

kāmasya tu ratirbhāryā śamasya prāptiraṅganā

nandā tu bhāryā harṣasya yāsu lokāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ

Wife of Kāma was Rati, that of Śama was Prāpti and that of Harṣa was Nandā. On these the worlds were made to depend.

marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ putraḥ kaśyapasya surāsurāḥ

jajñire nṛpaśārdūla lokānāṁ prabhavastu saḥ

Kaśyapa was the son of Marīci and Kaśyapa ̍s offsprings were Suras - celestials and Asuras. O best of kings! Therefore, he is progenitor of all the worlds.

tvāṣṭī tu saviturbhāryā vaḍvārūpadhāriṇī

asūyata mahābhāgā sāntarikṣe ̍śvināvubhau

Tvaṣṭrī, who had the form of a mare, became the wife of Savita. She gave birth in the sky to a twin Aśvinīs.

dvādaśaivāditeḥ putrāḥ śakramukhyā narādhipa

teṣāmavarajo viṣṇuryatra lokāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ

O king! Sons of Aditi were 12 with Ingra at their head. The youngest of them was Viṣṇu, upon whom the worlds depend.

trayastriṁśata ityete devāsteṣāmahaṁ tava

anvayaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi pakṣaiśca kulato gaṇān

These were 33 celestials. I shall now mention to you their progeny according to their Pakṣas, Kulas and Gaṇas.

rudrāṇāmaparaḥ pakṣa sādhyānāṁ marutāṁ tathā

vasūnāṁ bhārgavaṁ vidyādviśvedevāṁstathaiva ca

Rudras, Sādhyas, Marutas, Vasus, Bhārgavas, Viśvedevas were each a Pakṣa.

vainateyastu garuḍo balavānaruṇastathā

bṛhaspatiśca bhagavānādityeṣvaiva gaṇyate

Sons of Vinatā, Garuḍa and Aruṇa and illustrious Bṛhaspati were counted amongst Ādityas.

aśvinau guhyakānviddhi sarvauṣadhyastathā paśūn

ete devagaṇā rājankīrtitāste ̍nupūrvaśaḥ

Aśvinīs, all annual plants and all beasts were counted among Guhyakas. O king! These are Gaṇas of celestials, narrated to you.

yānkīrtayitvā manujaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

brahmaṇo hṛdayaṁ bhittvā niṛtau bhagavānbhṛguḥ

bhṛgoḥ putraḥ kavirvidvāñchukraḥ kavisuto grahaḥ

trailokyaprāṇayātrārtha varṣāvarṣe bhayābhaye

svayambhuvā niyuktaḥ sanbhuvanaṁ paridhāvati

yogācāryo mahābuddhirdaityānāmabhavadguruḥ

surāṇāṁ cāpi medhāvī brahmacārī yatavrataḥ 

Which narration cleanses men of all their sins. Illustrious Bhṛgu sprang forth, ripping open the breast of Brahmā. Bhṛgu ̍s son was learned Śukra, a poet himself and the son of a poet. He, being commanded by self created Brahmā to pour rain and withhold it and to dispense and remit calamities, became a planet and he still traverses the sky in order to sustain the lives of all creatures Yoga philosophy, that greatly intelligent man, that wise and self controlled Brahmacārī became Guru of the Devas and Dānavas.

tasminniyukte cidhinā yogakṣemāya bhārgave

anyamutpādayāmāsa putraṁ bhṛguraninditam

Thus appointed by Brahmā to look after the welfare of Daityas, son of Bhṛgu, Śukra, begot another son.

cyavanaṁ dīptatapasaṁ dharmātmānaṁ yaśasvinam

yaḥ sa roṣāccyuto garbhānmāturmokṣāya bhārata

Named Cyavana, who was greatly famous, very virtuous minded and as effulgent as the sun. O descendant of Bharata race! He came out of his mother ̍s womb in anger and thus released his mother. ( p.s. son of Bhṛgu - Cyavana, from another story )

āroṣī tu manoḥ kanyā tasya patnī manīṣiṇaḥ

aurvastasyāṁ samabhavadūruṁ bhittvā mahāyaśāḥ

Āruṣī, daughter of Manu, became the wife of wise Cyavana and greatly illustrious  Aurva was born in her, ripping open her thighs.

mahātejā mahāvīryo bāla eva guṇairyutaḥ

ṛcīkastasya putrastu jamadagnistato ̍bhavat

Aurvas ̍sson was Ṛcīka, who became, even in his boyhood, very powerful, energetic and virtuous. Ṛcīka begot Jamadagni.

jamadagnestu catvāra āsanputrā mahātmanaḥ

rāmasteṣāṁ jaghanyo ̍bhūdajaghanyairguṇairyutaḥ

Illustrious Jamadagni had 4 sons, the youngest of them was Paraśurāma. He was superior to all his oter brothers in good qualities.

sarvaśastreṣu kuśalaḥ kṣatriyāntakaro vaśī

aurvasyāsītputraśataṁ jamadagnipurogamam

He was self controlled, was an expert in use of all weapons and became the destroyer of Kṣatriyas. Aurva had 100 sons, the eldest of whom being Jamadagni.

teṣāṁ putrasahasrāṇi babhūvurbhuvi vistaraḥ

dvau putrau brahmaṇatvanyau yayaostiṣṭhati lakṣaṇam

These 100 sons begot an offspring by thousands and filled whole world. Brahmā had 2 other sons, who had victory as their signification.

loke dhātā vidhātā ca yau sthitau manunā saha

tayoreva svasā devī lakṣmīḥ padmagṛhā śubhā

They are known as Dhātā and Vidhātā, who lived with Manu. Their sister is auspicious Lakṣmī, who lives in abode of lotuses.

tasyāstu mānasāḥ putrāsturagā vyomacāriṇaḥ

varuṇasya bhāryā yā jyeṣṭhā śukrāddevī vyajāyata

Mind born sons of Lakṣmī are sky ranging horses. Varuṇa ̍s eldest wife was daughter of Śukra, named Devī.

tasyāḥ putraṁ balaṁ viddhi surāṁ ca suranandinīm

prajānāmannakāmānāmanyonyaparibhakṣaṇāt

adharmastatra saṁjātaḥ sarvabhūtavināśakaḥ

tasyāpi nirṛtirbhāryā nairṛtā yena rākṣasā

She gave birth to a son named Bala and daughter Sura, who gives joy to celestials. All destroying Adharma was born of her, when creatures began to devour one another. Nirṛti was his wife, from whom were born Rākṣasas named Nairṛtyas.

ghorāstasyāstrayaḥ putrāḥ  pāpakarmaratāḥ sadā

bhayo mahābhayaścaiva mṛtyurbhūtāntakastathā

She had also 3 other fearful and cruel sons, always engaged in sinful deeds. They were Bhaya, Mahābhaya and Mṛtyu, destroyer of every created thing.

na tasya bhāryā putro vā kaścidastyantako hi saḥ

kākīṁ śyenīṁ tathā bhāsīṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrīṁ tathā śukīm

This all destroying being - Mṛtyu, had no wife or son. Kākī, Śyenī, Bhāsī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī and Śukī.

tāmrā tu suṣuve devī pañcaitā lokaviśrutāḥ

ulūkānsuṣuve kākī śyenī śyenānvyajāyata

These 5 are known in the world as the daughters of Tāmrā. Kākī brought forth crows, Śyenī - hawks.

bhāsī bhāsānajanayadgṛdhrāṁścaiva janādhipa

dhṛtarāṣṭrīṁ tu haṁsāṁśca kalahaṁsāṁśca sarvaśaḥ

Bhāsī gave birth to cocks and vultures and Dhṛtarāṣṭra all ducks and swans.

cakravākāṁśca bhadrā tu janayāmāsa saiva tu

śukī ca janayāmāsa śukāneva yaśasvinī

kalyāṇaguṇasaṁpannā sarvalakṣaṇapūjitā

nava krodhavaśā nārīḥ prajajñe krodhasaṁbhavāḥ

She gave birth to also to Cakravākās. Fair and illustrious Śukī of amiagle qualities and auspicious signs gave birth to all parrots. Krodhavaśā gave birth to 9 daughters of wrathful temper.

mṛgī ca mṛgamandā ca harī bhadramanā api

mātaṅgī tvatha śārdūlī śvetā surabhireva ca

They were Mṛgī, Mṛgamandā, Harī, Bhadramanā, Mātaṅgī, Śārdūlī, Śvatā, Surabhi.

sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpannā surasā caiva bhāminī

apatyaṁ tu mṛgāḥ sarve mṛgyā naravarottama

And beautiful Surasā of every auspicious sigh. O best of men! An offspring of Mṛgyā are all beasts of deer species.

ṛṣkṣāśca mṛgamandāyāḥ sṛmarāśca paraṁtapa

tatastvairāvataṁ nāgaṁ jajñe bhadramanāḥ sutam

O chastiser of foes! An offspring of Mṛgamandā are all beasts of bear species and also of those beasts called Sṛmara. Bhadramanā gave birth to her son Airāvata.

airāvataḥ sutastasyā devanāgo mahāgajaḥ

haryāśca harayo ̍patyaṁ vānarāśca tarasvinaḥ

Airāvata is great celestial elephant. An offspring of Harī are horses and beasts of the monkey kind which are endued with great activity.

golāṁgūlāśca bhadraṁ te haryāḥ putrānpracakṣate

prajajñe tvatha śārdūlī siṁhān vyāghrānanekaśaḥ

Those animals who are called Golāṅgūlā are also said to be an offspring oj Harī. Śārdūlī gave birth to innumerable lions and tigers.

dvipinaśca mahāsatvānsarvāneva na saṁśayaḥ

mātaṅgyapi ca mātaṅgānapatyāni narādhipa

And also leopards and all other animals. O king! an offspring of Mātaṅgī are all elephants.

diśāṁ gajaṁ tu śvetāravyaṁ śvetājanayadāśugam

tathā duhitarau rājan surabhirvai vyajāyata

Śvetā gave birth to large elephant known by the name of Śveta, which posesses gret speed. O king! Surabhi gave birth to 2 daughters.

rohiṇīṁ caiva bhadraṁ tu yaśasvinīm

vimalāmapi bhadraṁ te analāmapi bhārata

rohiṇyāṁ jajñire gāvaḥ gandharvāṁ vājinaḥ sutāḥ

sapta piṇḍaphalānvṛkṣānanalāpi vyajāyata

Namely geautiful Rohiṇī and illustrious Gandharvī. O descendant of Bharata race! She had 2 oter daughters, named Vimalā and Analā. All kine were born from Rohiṇī and all horses from Gandharvī. Anala gave birth to 7 kinds of trees, which produce pulpy fruits.

analāyāḥ śukī putrī kaṅkastu surasāsutaḥ

aruṇasya bhāryā śyenī tu vīryavantau mahābalau

saṁpātiṁ janayāmāsa vīryavantaṁ jaṭāyuṣam

surasājanayannāgānkadrūḥ putrāṁstu pannagān

Analā had another daughter named Śukī. Surasā gave birth to a son named Kaṅka.Aruṇa ̍s wife Śyenī gave birth to 2 very energetic and powerful sons, nemed Saṁpāti and mighty Jatāyu. Surasā also gave birth to Nāgas and Kadrū to Pannagas.

dvau putrau vinatāyāstu vikhyātau garuḍāruṇau

ityeṣaḥ sarvabjūtānāṁ mahatāṁ manujādhipa

prabhavaḥ kīrtitaḥ samyaṅmayā matimatāṁvara

yaṁ śrutvā puruṣaḥ samyaṅmukto bhavati pāpmanaḥ

sarvajñatāṁ ca lbhate gatimagryaṁ ca vindati

Vinatā had 2 sons, known in the world as Garuḍa and Aruṇa. O king of men! O best of all wise men! Thus I have fully described to you genealogy of all principal creatures. He who hears it, is cleansed of all his sins and acquires great knowledge and finally attains to the highest state in after life.

Description of race of Ādityas, Asuras

 vaiśampāyana uvāca

atha nārāyaṇenendraścakāra saha saṁvidam

avatartuṁ mahīṁ svargādaṁśataḥ sahitaḥ suraiḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: Thereupon, Hari held a consultation with Indra regarding his incarnation on Earth with all celestials according to their respective parts.

ādiśya ca svayaṁ śakraḥ sarvāneva divaukasaḥ

nirjagāma punastasmātkṣayānnārāyaṇasya ha

Having then ordered celestials, what they should all do, Indra returned from abode of Hari - Vaikuṇṭha.

te ̍marārivināśāya sarvalokahitāya ca

avateruḥ krameṇaiva mahīṁ svargāddivaukasaḥ

Dwellers of heaven then, one after the other, took birth on Earth for destruction of Asuras and for welfare of 3 worlds.

tato brahmārṣivaṁśeṣu pārthivarṣikuleṣu ca

jajñire rājaśārdūla yathākāmaṁ divaukasaḥ

O best of kings! Celestials, as each preferred, took birth in the races of Brahmaṛṣis and Rājaṛṣis.

dānavānrākṣasāṁścaiva gandharvānpannagāṁstathā

puruṣādāni cānyāni jaghnuḥ jaghnuḥ sattvānyanekaśaḥ

They killed Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Nāgas and other cannibals and creatures.

dānavā rākṣasāścaiva gandharvāḥ pannagāstathā

na tānbalasthānbālye ̍pi jaghnurbharatasattama

O best of Bharata race, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas and Nāgas could not kill incarnate celestials, even in their infancy, so strong were they.

janamejaya uvāca

devadānavasaṅghānāṁ gandharvāpsarasāṁ tathā

mānavānāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ tathā vai yakṣarakṣasām

śrotumicchāmi tattvena saṁbhavaṁ kṛtsnamāditaḥ

prāṇināṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ saṁbhavaṁ vaktumarhasi

Janamejaya said: I desire to hear accounts of births of Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Mānavas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas from their beginning. Therefore, you should tell me all about the births of creatures.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi namaskṛtya svayaṁbhuve

surādīnāmahaṁ samyaglokānāṁ prabhavāpyayam

Vaiśampāyana said: Bowing down my head to self created Brahmā, I shall narrate to you in detail the origin of celestials and of all creatures.

brahmaṇo mānasāḥ putrā viditā ṣaṇmaharṣayaḥ

marīciratryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ

Brahmā had 6 mind born sons, created out of his mind, namely Marīci, Atri, Aṅgirasā, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu.

marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ putraḥ kaśyapāttu imāḥ prajāḥ

prajajñire mahābhāgā dakṣakanyāstrayodaśa

Marīci had a son, named Kaśyapa and from Kaśyapa have sprung all creatures. Dakṣabegot 13 illustrious daughters.

aditirditirdanuḥ kālā danāyuḥ siṁhikā tathā

krodhā prādhā ca viśvā ca vinatā kapilā muniḥ

kadrūśca manujavyāghra dakṣakanyaiva bhārata

etāsāṁ vīryasaṁpannaṁ putrapautramanantakam

O best of kings! Daughters of Dakṣa were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālā, Danu, Siṁhikā, Krodha, Prādhā, Viśvā, Vinatā, Kapilā, Muni and Kadrū. Sons and grandsons of these daughters, all of exceeding prowess, were infinite in mumbers.

adityāṁ dvādaśādityāḥ saṁbhūtā bhuvaneśvarāḥ

ye rājannāmatastāṁste kīrtayiṣyāmi bhārata

O descendant of Bharata race! From Aditi were born 12 Ādityas, who were all lords of the universe. I shall now mention them to you according to their names.

dhātā mitro ̍yamā śakro varuṇastvaṁśa eva ca

bhago vivasvānpūṣā ca savitā daśamastathā

they were Dhātā, Mitrā, Aryamā, Śakra, Varuṇa, Aṁśa, Bhaga, Vivasvān, Pūṣā and Savitā, 10th.

ekādaśastathā tvaṣṭā dvādaśo viṣṇurucyate

jaghanyajastu sarveṣāmādityānāṁ guṇādhikaḥ

11th was Tvaṣṭri and 12th was Viṣṇu. Youngest, however, was the best in merit.

eka eva diteḥ putro hiraṇyakaśipuḥ smṛtaḥ

nāmnākhyātāstu tasyeme pañca putrā mahātmanaḥ

Diti had only one son, named Hiraṇyakaśipu and illustrious Hiraṇyakaśipu had 5 sons, famous all over the world.

prahlādaḥ pūrvajasteṣāṁ saṁhlādastadanantaram

anuhlādastṛtīyo ̍bhūttasmācca śibibāṣkalau

Eldest was Prahlāda, next was Saṁhlāda, 3rd was Anuhlāda, 4th was Śibi and the youngest was Bāṣkala.

prahlādasya trayaḥ putrāḥ khyātāḥ sarvatra bhārata

virocanaśca kumbhaśca nikumbhaśceti bhārata

O descendant of Bharata race, it is known everywhere that Prahlāda had 3 sons, namely Virocana, Kumbha and Nikumbha.

virocanasya putro ̍bhūdbalirekaḥ pratāpavān

baleśca prathitaḥ putro bāṇo nāma mahāsuraḥ

Virocana ̍s son was greatly powerful Bali and son of Bali was great Asura Bāṇa.

ru drasyānucaraḥ śrīmānmahākāleti yaṁ viduḥ

catustriṁśad danoḥ putrāḥ khyātāḥ sarvatra bhārata

Bāṇa was blessed with great fortune, he was follower of Rudra and was also known by the name of Mahākāla.

teṣāṁ prathamajo rājā vipracittirmahāyaśāḥ

śambaro namuciścaiva pulomā ceti viśrutaḥ

asilomā ca keśī ca durjayaścaiva dānavaḥ

ayaḥśirā aśvaśirā aśvaśaṅkuścavīryavān

tathā gaganamūrdhā ca vegavānketumāṁścasaḥ

svarbhānuraśvo ̍śvapatirvṛṣaparvājakastathā

aśvagrīvaśca sūkṣmaśca tuhuṇḍaśca mahābalaḥ

iṣupādekacakraśca virūpāharāharau

nicandraśca nikumbhaśca kupaṭaḥ kapaṭastathā

śarabhaḥ śalabhaścaiva sūryācandramasau tathā

ete khyātā danorvaṁśe dānavāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

O descendant of Bharata race, Danu had 34 sons, the eldest of them was famous king Vipracitti. Others were Śambara, Namuci, Puloma, Asiloma, Keśī, Durjaya, Ayaḥśirā, Aśvaśirā, Aśvaśaṅku, Gaganamūrdhā, Vegavān, Ketumān, Svarbhānu, Aśva, Aśvapati, Vṛṣaparvā, Ajaka, Aśvagrīva, Sūkṣma, Tuhuṇḍa, Eṣupāda, Ekacakra, Virūpākṣa, Hara, Ahara, Nicandra, Nikumbha, Kupaṭa, Kapaṭa, Śarabha, Śalabha, Sūrya, Candramā.

anyau tu khalu devānāṁ sūryācandramasau smṛtau

anyau dānavamukhyānāṁ sūryācandramasau tathā

ime ca vaṁśāḥ prathitāḥ sattvavanto mahābalāḥ

danuputrā mahārāja daśa dānavavaṁśajāḥ

ekākṣo mṛtapā vīraḥ pralambanarakāvapi

These were well known sons of Danu. Sūrya and Candramā, sun and moon, of celestials, were other persons and they were not sons of Danu. Besides these, there were 10 more powerful and great sons of Danu, namely Ekākṣa, heroic Mṛtapā, Pralambha, Naraka.

-vātāpī śatrutapanaḥ śaṭhaścaiva mahāsuraḥ

gaviṣṭhaśca vanāyuśca dīrghajihvaśca dānavaḥ

Vātāpī, Śatrutapana, great Asura Śaṭha, Gaviṣṭha, Vanāyu and Dānava named Dīrghajihva.

asaṁkhyāḥ smṛtāsteṣāṁ putrāḥ pautrāśca bhārata

siṁhikā suṣuve putraṁ rāhuṁ candrārkamardanam

O descendant of Bharata race! Sons and grandsons of above were numberless. Siṁhikā gave birth to a son called Rāhu, persecutor of sun and moon.

sucandraṁ candrahartāraṁ tathā candrapramardanam

krūrasvabhāvaṁ krūrāyāṁ putrapautramanantakam

She gave birth to 3 others, namely Sucandra, Candrahartā, Candrapramardana. Numberless progeny of Krūra was much wicked as she herself was.

gaṇaḥ krodhavaśo nāma krūrakarmārimardanaḥ

danāyuṣaḥ punaḥ putrāścatvāro ̍surapuṅgavāḥ

Their race was wrathful, of crooked deeds and persecutors of foes. Danayu had 4 sons, the best among Asuras.

vikṣaro balavīrau ca vṛtraścaiva mahāsuraḥ

kālāyāḥ prathitāḥ putrāḥ kālakalpā prahāriṇaḥ

They were Vikṣara, Bala, Vīra, great Asura Vṛtra. Sons of Kālā were like Yama himself, all slayers of their enemies.

pravikhyātā mahāvīryā dānaveṣu paraṁtapāḥ

vināśanaśca krodhaśca krodhahantā tathaiva ca

They were greatly famous and powerful amongst Dānavas and were great oppressors of their enemies.

krodhaśatrustathaivānye kālakeyā iti śrutāḥ

asurāṇāmupādhyāyaḥ śukrastvṛṣisuto ̍bhavat

They were Vināśana, Krodha, Krodhahanta, Krodhaśatru. These were sons of Kālā. As it is heard, there were also many others among sons of Kālā. Śukra, son of a Ṛṣi, was great Guru of all Asuras.

khyātāścośanasaḥ putrāścatvāro ̍surayājakāḥ

tvaṣṭādharastathātriśca dvāvanyau raudrakarmiṇau

Illustrious Śukra had 4 sons who were also Gurus of Asuras. Their names were Tvaṣṭādhara and Atri and 2 others of fearful deeds.

tejasā sūryasaṁkāśā brahmalokaparāyaṇāḥ

ityeṣa vaṁśaprabhavaḥ kathitaste tarasvinām

asurāṇāṁ surāṇāṁ ca purāṇe saṁśruto mayā

eteṣāṁ yadapatyaṁ tu na śakyaṁ tadaśeṣataḥ

prasaṁkhyātuṁ mahīpāla guṇabhūtamanantakam

They were as effulgent as sun himself. They were always engaged in acquiring regions of brahmā. Thus I have narrated to you , as I heard them from Purāṇa, accounts of the progeny of Devas and Dānavas of great strength and power. Sons and grandsons of Devas and Dāmavas were so numberless that I am incapable of counting them.

tārkṣyaścāriṣṭanemiśca tathaiva garuḍāruṇau

āruṇirvāruṇiścaiva vainateyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

śeṣo ̍nanto vāsukiśca takṣakaśca bhujaṅgamaḥ

O protector of the world! Tārkṣya, Ariṣṭanemi, Garuḍa, Aruṇa, Aruṇi, Varuṇi, were known to be sons of Vinatā. Śeṣa of Ananta, Vāsuki, Takṣaka.

kūrmaśca kulikaścaiva kādraveyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ 

bhīmasenograsenau ca suparṇo varuṇastathā

Kūrma, Kulika, are known to be sons of Kadrū, Bhīmasena, Ugrasena, Suparṇa, Varuṇa.

gopatidhṛtarāṣṭraśca sūryavarcāśca saptamaḥ

satyavāgarkaparṇaśca prayutaścāpi viśrutaḥ

Gopati, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Sūryavarcā, Satyavarcā, Arkaparṇa, Prayuta.

bhīmaścitrarathaścaiva vikhyātaḥ sarvavidvaṣī

tathā śāliśirā rājanparjanyaśca caturdaśaḥ

Bhīmasena, Citraratha, all greatly famous, learned and self controlled, then, O king, was Śāliśirā, then 14th in the least, Parjanya.

kaliḥ pañcadaśasteṣāṁ nāradaścaiva ṣoḍaśaḥ

ityete devagandharva mauneyāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

15th, Kali and 16th Nārada. These Devagandharvas were known to be sons of Muni.

atha prabhūtānyanyāni kīrtayiṣyāmi bhārata

anavadyāṁ manuṁ vaṁśāmasurāṁ mārgaṇapriyām

O descendant of Bharata race, Ishall now mention many others. Anavadyā, Manu, Vaṁśā, Asura, Mārgaṇapriyā.

arūpāṁ subhagāṁ bhāsīmiti prādhā vyajāyata

siddhaṁ pūrṇaśca barhiśca pūrṇāyuśca mahāyaśāḥ

Arūpā, Subhagā, Bhāsī were daughters of Prādhā. Siddha, Pūrṇa, Barhi and famous Pūrṇāyu.

brahmacārī ratiguṇaḥ suparṇaścaiva saptamaḥ

viśvāvasuśca bhānuśca sucandro daśamastathā

Brahmacārī, Ratiguṇa, Suparṇa, Viśvāvasu, Bhānu, Sucandra.

ityete devagandharvāḥ prādhāyāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

imaṁ tvapsarasā vaṁśaṁ viditaṁ puṇyalakṣaṇam

prādhā ̍sūta mahābhāgā devī devarṣitaḥ purā

alambuṣā miśrakeśī vidyutparṇā tilottamā

These Devas and Gandharvas were also known to be progeny of Prādhā. It is also known that, that lady of good fortune Prādhā, through celestial Ṛṣi Kaśyapa, brought forth holy race of Apsaras, namely Alambuṣā, Miśrakeśī, Vidyutparṇā, Tilottamā.

aruṇā rakṣitā caiva rambhā tadvanmanoramā

keśinī ca subāhuśca suratā surajā tathā

supriyā cātibāhuśca vikhyātau ca hāhā hūhūḥ

tumburuśceti catvāraḥ smṛtā gandharvasattamāḥ

Aruṇā, Rakṣitā, Rambhā, Manoramā, Keśinī, Subāhu, Suratā, Surajā, Supriyā, these were daughters of Prādhā, Atibāhu, celebrated Hāhā, Hūhū, Tumburu. These 4 best of gandharvas were also sons of Prādhā.

amṛtaṁ brāhmaṇā gāvo gandharvāpsarasastathā

apatyaṁ kapilāyāstu purāṇe parikīrtitam

Ambrosia, Brāhmaṇas, kine, Gandharvas, Apsaras were offspring of Kapila, so is stated in Purāṇa.

iti te sarvabhūtānāṁ saṁbhavaḥ kathito mayā

yathāvatsaṁparikhyāto gandharvāpsarasāṁ tathā

Thus have been narrated to you duly the births of all creatures and Gandharvas, Apsaras.

bhujaṅgānāṁ suparṇāṁ rudrāṇāṁ marutāṁ tathā

gavāṁ ca brāhmaṇānāṁ ca śrīmatāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām

Nāgas, Suparṇas, Rudras, Maruts, kine and of fortunate and holy Brāhmaṇas.

āyuṣyaścaiva puṇyaśca dhanyaḥ śrutisukhāvahaḥ

śrotavyaścaiva satataṁ śrāvyaścaivānasūyatā

This history, if read or heard extends period of life. It is sacred, it is worthy of all praise, it gives pleasure, if heard. It should be always heard and recited to others in a proper frame of mind.

imaṁ tu vaṁśaṁ niyamena yaḥ paṭhet

mahātmanāḥ brāhmaṇadevasaṁnidhau

apatyalābhaṁ labhate sa puṣkalam

śriyaṁ yaśaḥ pretya ca śobhanāṁ gatim

He who properly reads in the presence of deities and Brāhmaṇas, this account of births of noble creature, obtains large progeny, good fortune and fame, he attains to the higher worlds hereafter.

Story of incarnations of personalities and some rules

 janamejaya uvāca

ya ete kīrtitā brahmanye cānye nānukīrtitāḥ

samyak tācchrotumicchāmi rājñaścānyānsahasraśaḥ

Janamejaya said: O Brāhmaṇa! I wish to hear in detail accounts of those that you have named and of those who you have not named and other kings and potentates by thousands.

yadarthamiha saṁbhūtā devakalpā mahārathāḥ

bhuvi tanme mahābhāga samyagākhyātumarhasi

O great man! You should tell me in full the object for which these great car warriors, all equal to celestials, were born on Earth.

rahasyaṁ khalvidaṁ rājandevānāmiti naḥ śrutam

tattu te kathayiṣyāmi namaskṛtvā svayaṁbhuve

Vaiśampāyana said: O king! We have heard that what you ask is a mystery even to celestials. I shall however, speak of it, after bowing my head to self born Brahmā.

triḥsaptakṛtvaḥ pṛthivīṁ kṛtvā niḥkṣitriyāṁ purā

jāmadagnyastapastepe mahendre parvatottame

Son of Jamadagni, Paraśurāma, after making Earth bereft of Kṣatriyas for 21 times, went to the best of mountains named Mahendra and began his penances.

tadā niḥkṣatriye loke bhārgaveṇa kṛte sati

brāhmaṇānkṣatriyā rājansutārthinyo ̍bhicakramuḥ

O king! When Earth was thus bereft of Kṣatriyas, Kṣatriya women used to come to Brāhmaṇas for offspring.

tābhiḥ saha samāpeturbrāhmaṇāḥ saṁśitavratāḥ

ṛtāvṛtau naravyāghra na kāmānnanṛtau tathā

O best of men, Brāhmaṇas had connections with them only at their seasons and not when they were not in their seasons and Brāhmaṇas did not do it with lust.

tebhyaśca lebhire garbhaṁ kṣatriyāstāḥ sahasraśaḥ

tataḥ suṣuvire rājankṣatriyānvīryavattarān

Thus thousands of Kṣatriya women conceived through these connections with Brāhmaṇas and O king, thus were born many Kṣatriyas of great prowess,

kumārāśca kumārīśca punaḥ kṣatrābhivṛddhaye

evaṁ tadbrāhmaṇai kṣatraṁ kṣatriyāsu tapasvibhiḥ

Many boys and girls, in order to thrive Kṣatriya race. Thus sprang Kṣatriya race from Kṣatriya women from their connections with ascetic Brāhmaṇas.

jātaṁ vṛddhaṁ ca dharmeṇa sudīrgheṇāyuṣānvitam

catvāro ̍pi tato varṇā babhūvurbrāhmaṇottarāḥ

New generation, blessed with long life, began to thrive in virtue and thus were again established 4 castes having Brāhmaṇas at their head.

abhyagacchannṛtau nārīṁ na kāmānnānṛtau tathā

tathaivānyāni bhūtāni bhūtāni tiryagyonigatānyapi

ṛtau dārāṁśca gacchanti tattathā bharatarṣabha

tato vardhanta dhrmeṇa sahasraśatajīvinaḥ

At the same time of which I speak, every man went to his wife only at the time of her season and never from lust or when she was not at her season, Other creatures also, even those who were born in the race of birds, followed this example. O best of Bharata race, thus were born hundreds of creatures and they all thrived in virtue.

tāḥ prajāḥ pṛthivīpāla dharmavrataparāyaṇāḥ

ādhibhirvyādhibhiścaiva vimuktāḥ sarvaśo narāḥ

O lord of the Earth, all creatures were virtuous and religious and all men were free from sorrow and disease.

athemāṁ sāgarāpāṅgīṁ gāṁ gajendragatākhilām

adhyatiṣṭhatpunaḥ kṣatraṁ saśailavanapattanām

O king, having walk of elephant, thus once more, wide Earth, with ocean for her boundaries, with her mountains and woods and towns was governed by Kṣatriyas.

praśāsati punaḥ kṣatre dharmeṇemāṁ vasuṁdharām

brāhmaṇādyāstato varṇā lobhire mudamuttamām

When thus Earth was again governed virtuously by Kṣatriyas, other castes, having Brāhmaṇas at their head, were filled with great joy.

kāmakrodhodbhavāndoṣānnirasya ca narādhipāḥ

dharmeṇa daṇḍaṁ daṇḍyeṣu praṇayanto ̍nvapālayan

All kings of the world, becoming free from vices born of lust and anger and punishing those who deserved punishment, protected Earth.

tathā dharmapare kṣatre sahasrākṣaḥ śatakratuḥ

svādu deśe ca kāle ca varṣeṇāpālayatprajḥ

Indra, deity who performed 100 sacrifices and who has 1,000 eyes, seeing that all Kṣatriya sovereigns ruled their kingdoms very virtuously, poured down vivifying showers of rains at proper time and at the proper place and thus protected all creatures.

na bāla eva mriyate sadā kaścicajjanādhipa

na ca striyaṁ prajānāti kaścidaprāptayauvanaḥ

O king! No one died in early age and none took to wife before attaining to age.

evamāyuṣmatībhistu prajābhirbharatarṣabha

iyaṁ sāgaraparyantā samāpūryata medinī

O best of Bharata race, thus was filled Earth to the very shores of the sea with long lived men.

ījire ca mahāyajñaiḥ kṣatriyā bahudakṣiṇaiḥ

sāṅgopaniṣadānvedānviprāścādhīyate tadā

Kṣatriyas performed great sacrifices and bestowed much wealth an Brāhmaṇas and all Brāhmaṇas also studied Vedas and Vedāṅgas, Upaniṣads.

na ca vikrīṇate brahma brāhmaṇāśca tadā nṛpa

na ca śūdrasamābhyāse vedānuccārayantyuta

O king! No Brāhmaṇa ever sold Vedas and none of them ever read them aloud before Śūdra.

kārayantaḥ kṛṣiṁ gobhistathā vaiśyāḥ kṣitāviha

yuñjate dhuri no gāśca kṛśāṁ gāṁścāpyajīvayan

vaiśyas tilled well Earth with the help of bullocks and they never yoked kine to the plough. They carefully fed lean ones.

phenapāṁśca tathā vatsānna duhanti sma mānavāḥ

na kūṭamānairvaṇijaḥ pāṇyaṁ vikrīṇate tadā

Men never milched cows as long as calves could not live on the milk of their mothers. No merchant sold his goods with false scales.

karmāṇi ca naravyāghra dharmopetāni mānavāḥ

dharmamevānupaśyantaścakrardharmaparāyaṇāḥ

O best of men! All men, thus virtuously inclined, did everything with their eyes fixed on virtue.

svakarmaniratāścāsansarve varṇā narādhipa

evaṁ tadā naravyāghra dharrmo na hrasate kvacit

O king! All men of all castes were mindful of the respective duties of their duties of their respective castes. O best of men! Their virtue never sustained any diminution.

kāle gāvaḥ prasūyante nāryaśca bharatarṣabha

bhavantyṛtuṣu vṛkṣaṇāṁ puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca 

Both women and kine gave birth to offspring at proper time and trees bore flowers and fruits at their proper seasons.

evaṁ kṛtayuge samyagvartamāne tadā nṛpa

āpūryata mahī kṛtsnā prāṇibhirbahubhirbhṛśam

O king! Kṛta - Satya Yuga having come into the world, whole Earth was filled with numerous beings.

evaṁ samudite loke mānuṣe bharatarṣabha

asurā jajñire kṣetre rājñāṁ tu manujeśvara

O best of Bharata race! O lord of men! When such was happy state of the world, Asuras began to take birth in royal dynasties.

ādityairhi tadā daityā bahuśo nirjitā yudhi

aiśvaryādbhraṁśitāḥ svrgātsaṁbabhūvuḥ kṣitāviha

Sons of Diti, Asuras, having been continually defeated by the Ādityas - celestials and deprived of sovereignty and heaven, began to taks birth on Earth.

iha devatvamicchanto mānuṣeṣu manasvinaḥ

jajñire bhuvi bhūteṣu teṣu teṣvasurā vibho

goṣvaśveṣu ca rājendra kharoṣṭramahiṣeṣu ca

kravyātsu caiva bhūteṣu gajeṣu ca mṛgeṣu ca

O king! Wishing to enjoy sovereignty in this Earth, powerful Asuras took birth among humans, cows, horses, mules, camels, buffaloes, elephants, deer they also took birth as Rākṣasas and others.

jātairiha mahīpāla jāyamānaiśca tairmahī

na śaśākātmanātmānamiyaṁ dhārayituṁ dharā

O protector of the world, owing to the birth of those Asuras that were already born and those who were being born, Earth became incapable of supporting herself.

atha jātā mahīpālāḥ kecidbahumadānvitāḥ

diteḥ putrā danoścaiva tadā loka ihācyutāḥ

Amongst Daityas and Dānavas, some, being thrown off from heaven, took birth as men and became proud and insolent monarchs on Earth.

vīryavanto ̍valiptāste nānārūpadharā mahīm

imāṁ sāgaraparyantāṁ parīyurarimardanāḥ

Possessed of great prowess, they covered Earth in various shapes. They, becoming great oppressors, filled Earth to very shores of the sea.

brāhmaṇānkṣatriyānvaiśyānśūdrāṁścaivāpyapīḍayan

anyāni caiva sattvāni pīḍayāmāsurojasā

They began to oppress Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, Śūdras. They began to persecute all other creatures with their strength.

trāsayanto ̍bhinighnantaḥ sarvabhūtagaṇāṁśca te

viceruḥ sarvaśo rājanmahīṁ śatasahasraśaḥ

O king! Frightening and killing all creatures, they roamed over the Earth in hundreds and thousands

āśramasthānmaharṣīṁśca dharṣayantastatastataḥ

abrahmaṇyā vīryamadā mattā madabalena ca

bereft of virtue and truth, proud of their strength, intoxicated with their insolence. They even insulted holy Ṛṣis in their hermitages.

evaṁ vīryabalotsiktairbhūriyatnairmahāsuraiḥ

pīḍyamānā mahī rājanbrahmāṇamupacakrame

O king! Earth, thus oppressed by Asuras of great strength, energy and abundant means, thought of appealing to Brahmā. 

na hyamībhūtasattvaughāḥ pannagāḥ sanagāḥ mahīm

tadā dhārayituṁ śekuḥ saṁkrāntāṁ dānavairbalāt

United strength  of Nāga Śeṣa and other creatures such as tortoise and elephant, could not support Earth, attacked by powerful Dānavas.

tato mahī mahīpāla bhārārtā bhayapīḍitā

jagāma śaraṇaṁ devaṁ sarvabhūtapitāmaham

O protector of the world! Therupon Earth, afflicted with fear and oppressed by the weight of Dānavas went to Grandfather of all creatures and asked his protection.

sā saṁvṛtaṁ mahābhāgairdevadvijamaharṣibhiḥ

dadarśa devaṁ brahmāṇaṁ lokakartāramavyayam

vandhamānaṁ mudopetairvavande cainametya sā

She saw divine Brahmā, creator of the worlds, who is undeteriorating, seated on his seat, surrounded by celestials and great and illustrious Ṛṣis and adored by delighted Gandharvas and Apsaras who are always engaged in services of celestials.

atha vijñāpayāmāsa bhūmistaṁ śaraṇārthinī

saṁnidhau lokapālānāṁ sarveśāmeva bhārata

Earth adored Grandsire and, O best of Bharata race, telling him all that had happened, before all regents of the world she asked his protection.

tatpradhānātmanastasya bhūmeḥ kṛtyaṁ svayaṁbhuvaḥ

pūrvamevābhavadrājanviditaṁ parameṣṭhinaḥ

O king! Object for which she came was already known beforehand to omniscient, self created and Supreme Lord.

sraṣṭā hi jagataḥ kasmānna saṁbudhyate bhārata

sasurāsurāsuralokānāmaśaṣeṇa manogatam

O descendant of Bharata race he is creator of the universe, why should he not know fully what is in the minds of creatures, including very Devas and Dānavas?

tāmuvāca mahārāja bhūmiṁ bhūmipatiḥ prabhuḥ

prabhavaḥ sarvabhūtānāmīśaḥ śaṁbhuḥ prajāpatiḥ

O great king! Lord of Earth, Prajāpati, Īśa, Śambhu, then thus spoke to her.

yadarthaṁmabhisaṁprāptā matsakāśāṁ vasuṁdhare

tadarthaṁ saṁniyokṣyāmi sarvāneva divaukasaḥ

Brahmā said: O Vasundhara - holder of wealth, I shall appoint all dwellers of heaven in the work for which you have come to me.

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

ityuktvā sa mahīṁ devo brahmā rājanvisṛya ca

ādideśa tadā sarvānvibudhānbhūtakṛrsvayam

asyā bhūmernirasituṁ bhāraṁ bhāgaiḥ pṛthakpṛthak

asyāmeva prasūyaghvaṁ virodhāyeti cābravīt

Vaiśampāyana said: O king! Having thus addressed Earth, divine Brahmā, bade her farewell. Then Creator commanded all celestials, saying: All of you go and take your birth on Earth to free her from her burden. Go according to your respective parts and seek battles with Dānavas.

tathaiva ca samānīya gandharvāpsarasāṁ gaṇān

uvāca bhagavānsarvānidaṁ vacanamarthavat

Then Creator of all creatures, calling all the tribes of Gandharvas and Apsaras, spoke to them thus: All of you go and take your birth amongst men according to your respective parts and in the forms you prefer.

brahmovāca

svaiḥ svairaṁśaiḥ prasūyaghvaṁ yatheṣṭaṁ mānuṣeṣu ca

atha śakrādayaḥ sarve śrutvā suragurorvacaḥ

tathyamarthyaṁ ca pathyaṁ ca tasya te jagṛhustadā

All celestials with Indra at their head, having heard these words of the lord of celestials, words that were true, that were desirable under circumstances and which were fraught with benefit, accepted them.

atha te sarvaśoṁ ̍śaiḥ svairgantuṁ bhūrgantuṁ bhūmiṁ kṛtakṣaṇāḥ

nārāyaṇamamitraghnaṁ vaikuṇṭhamupacakramuḥ

Having then resolved to take birth on Earth according to their respective parts, they all went to Vaikuṇṭha to the slayer of foes, Nārāyaṇa,

yaḥ sa cakragadāpāṇiḥ pītavāsāḥ śitiprabhaḥ

padmanābhaḥ surārighnaḥ pṛthucārvañcitekṣaṇaḥ

Who bears discus and mace in his hands, who wears yellow coloured cloth, who is greatly effulgent, who has lotus in his navel, who is the slayer of the foes of celestials, who is fixedly starting at his wide chest.

prajāpatipatirdevaḥ suranātho mahābalaḥ

śrīvatsāṅko hṛṣīkeśaḥ sarvadaivatapūjitaḥ

Who is lord of Prajāpati - Brahmā himself, who is sovereign of all the gods, who is of infinite srength, who has the mark of auspicious wheel on his breast, who is central force of everyone ̍s faculties and who is adored by all the deities,

taṁ bhuvaḥ śodhanāyendra uvāca puruṣottamam

aṁśenāvataretyevaṁ tathetyāha ca taṁ hariḥ

To him, this most exalted of all persons, Indra said: Be incarnate! and Hari replied: Be it so!

Saṅjaya, Karṇa, Pāṇḍavas

 saṅjayayo munikalpastu jajñe suto gavalgaṇāt

sūryācca kuntikanyāyā jajñe karṇo mahābalaḥ

Suta, Saṅjaya, who was like Ṛṣi, was begot by Gavalgaṇa and greatly powerful Karṇa was begotten by Sūrya of Kuntī when she was a maid.

sahajaṁ kavacaṁ bibhratkuṇḍalotitānanaḥ

anugrahārthaṁ lokānāṁ viṣṇurlokanamaskṛtaḥ

He came out of his mother ̍s womb with natural coat of mail and with face beautified by earrings. For the benefit of whole world, world wide famous.

vasudevāttu devakyāṁ prādurbhūto mahāyaśāḥ

anādinidhano devaḥ sa kartā jagataḥ prabhuḥ

Viṣṇu himself worshipped deity of all the worlds, was begot by Vāsudeva on Devakī. He is great God without birth and death. He is creator and lord of universe.

;avyaktamakṣaraṁ brahma pradhānaṁ triguṇātmakam

ātmānamavyayaṁ caiva prakṛtiṁ prabhavaṁ prabhum

He is called by learned invisible cause of all, he knows no deterioration, he is the first Brahman, he is abode of 3 qualities - Satva, Rajas, Tamas, he is great soul, he is undeteriorating, he is first cause of creation, Nature, controlling Lord.

puruṣaṁ viśvakarmāṇaṁ sattvayogaṁ dhruvākṣaram

anantamacalaṁ devaṁ haṁsaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ prabhum

He is Puruṣa, Creator himself, he is centre of Satya Guṇa, he is infinite, he is incapable of being moved, he is deity, he is Lord Nārāyaṇa.

dhāramajamavyaktaṁ yamāhuḥ paramavyayam

kaivalyaṁ nirguṇaṁ viśvamanādimajamavyayam

He is Dhātā, he is undeteriorating, he is effulgent, he is the best, he is great combiner, incarnate, invisible essence of all and great immutable. He is bereft of those attributes that are knowable by the senses, he is universe itself without beginning, birth and decay.

puruṣaḥ sa vibhuḥ kartā sarvabhūtapitāmahaḥ

dharmasaṁvardhanārthāya prajajñe ̍ndhakavṛṣṇiṣu

This great being. possessed of infinite wealth, this Grandsire of all creatures, took his birth in the race of Andhaka, Vṛṣṇis, in order to increase piety in the world.

astrajñau tu mahāvīryau sarvaśāstraviśāradau

sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmā ca nārāyaṇamanuvratau

Sātyaki and Kṛtavarmā, learned in the science of arms, possessed of great prowess, well versed in all Śāstras, ever obedient to Nārāyaṇa.

satyakādbhudikāccaiva jajñāte ̍straviśāradau

bharadvājasya ca skannaṁ droṇyāṁ śukramavardhata

maharṣerugratapasastasmāddroṇo vyajāyata

gautamānmithunaṁ jajñe śarastambāccharadvataḥ

aśvatthāmnaśca jananī kṛpaścaiva mahābalaḥ

aśvatthāmā tato jajñe droṇādeva mahābalaḥ

And expert in use of arms, were begot by Sātyaki and Hṛdīka. Seed of the great ascetic Ṛṣi Bharadvāja was kept in a pot and there it began to develop. From that seed was born Droṇa. From seed of Gautama, fallen on a heap of reeds, were born a twin, Kṛpa of great strength and Kṛpī, mother of Aśvatthāmā and then was begotten mighty Aśvatthāmā by Droṇa.

tathaiva dhṛṣṭradyumno ̍pi sākṣādagnisamadyutiḥ

vaitāne karmaṇi tataḥ pāvakātsamajāyata

Then was born, from sacrificial fire, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, as effulgent as fire itself.

vīro droṇavināśāya dhanurādāya vīryavān

tatraiva vedyāṁ kṛṣṇāpi jajñe tejasvinī śubhā

Mighty hero was born, a bow in his hand, in order to kill Droṇa hereafter. From sacrificial altar was born Kṛṣṇā - Draupadī, resplendent and handsome.

vibhrājamānā vapuṣā bibhratī rūpamuttamam

prahlādaśiṣyo nagnajitsubalaścābhavattataḥ

Girl of fascinating features and great beauty. Then was born disciples of Prahlāda, namely Nagnajit and Subala.

tasya prajā dharmahantrī jajñe devaprakopanāt

gāndhārarājaputro ̍bhūcchakuniḥ saubalastathā

Subala begot a son named Śakuni, who through the curse of celestials, became an enemy of virtue and destroyer of creatures and Subala begot a daughter.

duryodhanasya jananī jajṅāte ̍rthaviśāradau

kṛṣṇadvaipāyanājjajñe dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ

Who became the mother of Duryodhana and both of them were well versed in acquiring worldly profits. From Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana was born Dhṛtarāṣṭra, king of men.

kṣetre vicitravīryasya pāṇḍuścaiva mahābalaḥ

dharmārthakuśalo dhīmānmedhāvī dhūtakalmaṣaḥ

viduraḥ śūdrayonau tu jajñe dvaipāyanādapi

pāṇḍostu jajñire pañca putrā devasamāḥ pṛthak

And Pāṇḍu of great strength, both in the wombs of the wives of Vicitravīrya and from him was also born in the womb of Śūdra women, wise and intelligent Vidura, learned in both Dharma and Artha and free from all sins. 5 sons were born of Pāṇḍu,

dvayoḥ striyorguṇajyeṣṭhasteṣāmāsīdyudhiṣṭhiraḥ

dharmādyudhiṣṭhiro jajñe mārutācca vṛkodaraḥ

In the wombs of his two wives. Yudhiṣṭhira was son of the eldest. Yudhiṣṭhira was born of Dharma, Vṛkodara Bhīma was born of Maruta.

indrāddhanaṅjayaḥ śrīmānsarvaśastrabhṛtāṁ varaḥ

jajñāte rūpasaṁpannāvaśvibhyāṁ ca yamāvapi

nakulaḥ sahadevaśca guruśuśrūṣaṇe ratau

tathā putraśataṁ jajñe dhṛtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ

first of all, the best wielder of arms, illustrious Arjuna was born of Indra and Nakula and Sahadeva of handsome features, ever engaged in the services of their superiors, were born of the twin Aśvinīs. 100 sons were born to wise Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

duryodhanaprabhṛtayo yuyutsuḥ karaṇastathā

Namely Duryodhana and others and another son named Yuyutsu born of a Vaiśya woman.

tato duḥśāsanaścaiva duḥsahaścāpi bhārata

durmarṣaṇo vikarṇaśca citraseno viviṁśatiḥ

jayaḥ saytavrataścaiva purumitraśca bhārata

vaiśyāputro yuyutsuśca ekādaśa mahārathāḥ

abhimanyuḥ subhadrāyāmarjunādabhyajāyata

O descendant of Bharata race, amongst those 100 hundred sons, 11, namely Duḥśāsana, Duḥsaha, Durmarṣaṇa, Vikarṇa, Citrasena, Viviṁśati, Jaya, Satyavrata, Purumitra and Yuyutsu of Vaiśya wife, were all great car warriors. Abhimanyu was born of Subhadrā.

svastrīyo vāsudevasya pautraḥ pāṇḍormahātmanaḥ

pāṇḍavebhyo hi pāñcālyāṁ draupadyāṁ pañca jajñire

Sister of Vāsudeva - Kṛṣṇā, begot by Arjuna and therefore he was grandson of Pāṇḍu. 5 sons were born to 5 Pāṇḍavas by Draupadī, daughter of Pāñcāla.

kumārā rūpasaṁpannāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ

prativindhyo yudhiṣṭhirātsutasomo vṛkodarāt

These princes were all very handsome and learned in all Śāstras. From Yudhiṣṭhira was born Prativindhya, from Bhīma was born Sutasoma.

arjunācchrutakīrtistu śatānīkastu nākuliḥ

tathaiva sahadevācca śrutasenaḥ pratāpavān

From Arjuna was born Śrutakīrti, from Nakula was born Śatānīka and from Sahadeva was born greatly powerful Śrutasena.

hiḍimbāyāṁ ca bhīmena vane jajñe ghaṭotkacaḥ

śikhaṇḍī drupadājjajñe kanyā putratvamāgatā

Bhīma begot son in the forest on Hiḍimbā named Ghaṭotkaca. Drupada gave birth to daughter also, named Śikhanṇḍinī and she was transformed into mele child.

yāṁ yakṣaḥ puruṣaṁ cakre sthūṇaḥ priyacikīrṣayā

karuṇāṁ vigrahe tasminsamāgacchanbahūnyathā

rājñāṁ śatasahasrāṇi yotsyamānāni saṁyuge

teṣāmaparimeyānāṁ nāmadheyāni sarvaṣaḥ

na śakyāni samākhyātuṁ varṣāṇāmayutairapi

ete tu kīrtitā mukhyā yairākhyānamidaṁ tatam

She was thus transformed into male child by Yakṣa named Sthūṇa, who did it from desire of doing her good. In that great battle of Kurus assembled many hundred of kings and potentates to fight among one another. I am unable to recount the names of those innumerable hosts. I have named only principal ones who have been mentioned in this history Mahābhārata.

Story of Uparicāra, Parāśara, Satyavatī

 vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

rājoparicaro nāma dharmanityo mahīpatiḥ

babhūva mṛgayāṁ gantuṁ sadā kila dhṛtavrataḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: Ther was a king, ever devoted to virtue, named Uparicāra. He was very much addicted to hunting.

sa cediviṣayaṁ ramyaṁ vasuḥ pauravanandanaḥ

indropadeśājjagrāha ramaṇīyaṁ mahīpatiḥ

That son of Paurava, Uparicāra called also Vasu, directed by Indra, conquered beautiful and excellent kingdom of Cedi.

tamāśrame nyastaśastraṁ nivasantaṁ taponidhim

devāḥ śakrapurogā vai rājānamupatasthire

King, some time after, giving up use of arms and dwelling in secluded retreat, practised severe asceticism. Celestials with Indra at their head one day came to king.

indratvamarho rājāyaṁ tapasetyanucintya vai

taṁ sāntvena nṛpaṁ sākṣāttapasaḥ saṁnyavartayan

Believing that he sought to be king of celestials by practising severe austerities, celestials, appearing before him, succeeded with sweet words in winning him from his asceticism.

devā ūcuḥ

na saṁkīryeta dharmo ̍yaṁ pṛthivyāṁ pṛthivīpate

tvayā hi dharmo vidhṛtaḥ kṛtsnaṁ dhārayate jagat

Celestials said: O king of the world! You should see that piety may not sustain diminution in your hands. Protected by you, piety will protect the universe.

indra uvāca

loke dharmaṁ pālaya tvaṁ nityayuktaḥ samāhitaḥ

dharmayuktastato lokānpuṇyānpaśyasi śāśvatān

Indra said: Protect attentively and rigidly piety on Earth. Protecting virtue on Earth, you will see many sacred regions in after life.

diviṣṭhasya bhuviṣṭhastvaṁ sakhābhūto mama priyaḥ

ramyaḥ pṛthivyāṁ yo deśastamāvasa narādhipa

paśavyaścaiva puṇyaśca prabhūtadhanadhānyavān

svārakṣyaścaiva saumyaśca bhogyairbhūmiguṇairyutaḥ

Though I belong to heaven and you to Earth, yet you are my friend and you are dear to me. 

O king of men! Live in that place in Earth which is delightful, which is full of animals, wealth and corn, which is sacred, which is well protected like heavenand which is blessed with fertility, which has agreeable climate and every object of enjoyment.

arthavāneṣadeśo hi dhanaratnādibhiryutaḥ

vasypūrṇā vasa cediṣu cedipa cedipa

O king of Cedi, this Cedi, your kingdom is full of riches, gems and precious stones, it contains much mineral wealth. You dwell there.

dharmaśīlā janapadāḥ susaṁtoṣāśca sādhavaḥ

na ca mithyāpralāpo ̍tra svaireṣvapi kuto ̍nyathā

Cities in this kingdom are all devoted to virtue. People are honest and contented. They never speak falsehood even in jest.

na ca pitrā vibhajyate putrā guruhite ratāḥ

yuñjate dhuri no gāśca kṛśānsaṁdhukṣayanti ca

Sons never divide their wealth here with their fathers. They are always mindful of their parent ̍s welfare. Lean kine are never yoked to plough or to cart engaged in carrying merchandise.

sarve varṇāḥ svadharmasthāḥ sadā cediṣu mānada

na te ̍styaviditaṁ kiṁcittriṣu lokeṣu yadbhavet

They are all well fed and fat. O reverencer of celestials, 4 castes are engaged in doing their respective duties in Chedi. Let nothing in 3 words remain unknown to you.

daivopabhogyaṁ divyaṁ tvāmākāśe sphāṭikaṁ mahat

ākāśagaṁ tvāṁ maddattaṁ vimānamupapatsyate

I shall give you an excellent and great crystal car, which is capable of carrying you through the sky.

tvamekaḥ sarvamartyeṣu vimānavaramāsthitaḥ

cariṣyasyuparistho hi devo vigrahavāniva

You only, among all mortals on Earth, will ride on that best of cars and go through the sky like celestial, though possessing physical body.

dadāmi te vaijayantīṁ mālāmamlānapaṅkajām

dhārayiṣyati saṁgrāme yā tvāṁ śastrairavikṣatam

I shall also give you victory producing garland of unfading lotuses, wearing which you shall not be wounded by weapons.

lakṣaṇaṁ caitadeveha bhavitā te narādhipa

indramāleti vikhyātaṁ dhanyamapratimaṁ mahat

O king of men, this excellent, matchless and great garland, widely known as Indra ̍s garland, will be your distinctive badge.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

yaṣṭiṁ ca vaiṇavīṁ tasmai dadau vṛtraniṣūdanaḥ

iṣṭapradānamuddiśya śiṣṭānāṁ pratipālinīm

Vaiśampāyana said: Slayer of Vṛtra - Indra gave him also bamboo stick to protect to protect honest and peaceful.

tasyāḥ śakrasya pūjārthaṁ bhūmau bhūmipatistadā

praveśaṁ kārayāmāsa gate saṁvatsare sadā

After expiration of a year, king planted it on the ground for the purpose of worshiping giver, Indra.

tataḥ prabhṛti cādyāpi yaṣṭeḥ kṣitipasattamaiḥ

praveśaḥ kriyate rājanyathā tena pravartitaḥ

O king! From that day up to this day, all kings, following example of Vasu, began to plant bamboo stick on the ground to worship Indra.

aparedyustasyāḥ kriyate ̍tyucchrayo nṛpaiḥ 

alaṅkṛtāyāḥ piṭakairgandhamālyaiśca bhūṣaṇaiḥ

Afer planting stick, they cover it with golden cloths, perfume it with scents and decorate it with garlands and various ornaments.

mālyadāmaparikṣiptā vidhivatkriyate ̍pi ca

bhagavānpūjyate cā ̍tra haṁsarūpeṇa ceśvaraḥ

svayameva gṛhītena vasoḥ prītyā mahātmanaḥ

sa tāṁ pūjāṁ mahendrastu dṛṣṭvā devaḥkṛtāṁ śubhām

vasunā rājamukhyena prītimānabravītprabhuḥ

ye pūjayiṣyanti narā rājānaśca mahaṁ mama

God Indra was thus worshipped in due form with garlands and ornaments. God, assuming form of a swan, came himself to accept worship thus offered. Great Indra was much pleased to see auspicious worship thus made by Vasu, best of kings and said to him: Those men and kings who will worship me.

kārayiṣyanti ca mudā yathā cedipatirnṛpaḥ

teṣāṁ śrīrvijayaścaiva sarāṣṭrāṇāṁ bhaviṣyati

And will observe this my festival like king of Cedi, will gain wealth and victory for their countries and kingdoms.

tathā sphīto janapado muditaśca bhaviṣyati

evaṁ mahātmanā tena mahendreṇa narādhipa

vasuḥ prītyā maghavatā mahārājo ̍bhisatkṛtaḥ

utsavaṁ kārayiṣyanti sadā śakrasya ye narāḤ

Their cities will also expand and will be ever in joy. O king, Vasu, great monarch, was thus blessed by high souled by high souled chief of celestials, Maghavat, Indra. Those men, who cause this festival of Indra to be observed.

bhūmiratnādibhirdānaistathā pūjyā bhavanti te

varadānamahāyajñaistathā śakrotsavena ca

With gifts of lands, gems, precious stones, like king Vasu, became much respected in the worlds.

saṁpūjito maghavatā vasuścedīśvaro nṛpaḥ

pālayāmāsa dharmeṇa cedisthaḥ pṛthivīmimām

putrāścā ̍sya mahāvīryāḥ pañcāsannamitaujasaḥ

Vasu, king of Cedi, thus being blessed by Indra and bestowing boons and performing gret sacrifices, continued to observe festival of Indra. He had 5 greatly powerful and immeasurably effulgent sons.

nānārājyeṣu ca sutānsa samrāḍabhyaṣecayat

mahāratho māgadhānāṁ viśruto yo bṛhadrathaḥ

Emperor Vasu installed his sons in many kingdoms. His illustrious son Bṛhadratha, great car warrior, was installed in the kingdom of Māgadhā.

pratyagrahaḥ kuśāmbaśca yamāhurmaṇivāhanam

māvellaśca yaduścaiva rājanyaścāparājitaḥ

His other sons were Pratyagraha and Kuśāmba, who was also called Maṇivāhana. Two others were Māvella and Yadu who was greatly powerful and invincible in battle.

ete tasya sutā rājan rājarṣerbhūritejasaḥ

nyaveśayannāmabhiḥ svaiste deśāṁśca purāṇi ca

O king! These were sons of that greatly effulgent royal sage. % sons founded kingdoms and cities after their names.

vāsavāḥ pañca rājānaḥ pṛthagvaṁśāśca śāśvatāḥ

vasantamindraprāsāde ākāśe sphāṭike ca tam

And they thus created separate dynasties lasted for long ages. When he travelled through space in the crystal car.

upatasthurmahātmānaṁ gandharvāpsaraso nṛpam

rājoparicaretyevaṁ nāma tasyātha viśrutam

Gandharvas and Apsaras came to adore that illustrious man and because he moved through upper regions in his car, he was called Uparicara.

puropavāhinīṁ tasya nadīṁ śuktimatīṁ giriḥ

arautsīccetanāyuktaḥ kāmātkolāhalaḥ kila

River by name Śuktimatī, which flowed by his capital, was once stopped by living mountain called Kolāhala, who was maddened by lust.

giriṁ kolāhalaṁ taṁ tu padā vasuratāḍayat

niścakrāma tatastena prahāravivareṇa sā

Mountain Kolāhala was kicked by Vasu and river came out embrace of mountain indentation caused by his kick.

tasyāṁ nadyāṁ sa janayanmithunaṁ parvataḥ svayam

tasmādvimokṣaṇātprītā nadī rāje nyavedayat

From this embrace of the mountain, river gave birth to a twin, son and daughter and river, grateful to Vasu, gave them both to him.

yaḥ pumānabhavattatra taṁ sa rājarṣisattamaḥ

vasurvasupradaścakre senāpatimariṁdamaḥ

Best of royal sages and giver of wealth and punisher of enemies, Vasu made son of river generalissimo of his army.

cakāra patnīṁ kanyāṁ tu tathā tāṁ girikāṁ nṛpaḥ

vasoḥ patnī tu girikā kāmakālaṁ nyavedayat

ṛtukālamanuprāptā snātā puṁsavane śuciḥ

tadahaḥ pitaraścainamūcurjahi mṛgāniti

King made daughter of the river who was called Girikā his wife. Girikā, wife of Vasu, purifying herself by bath when her season of impunity came, told her state to her husband, but that very day ancestors of vasu came to him.

taṁ rājasattamaṁ prītāstadā matimatāṁvara

sa pitṝṇāṁ tamanatikramya pārthivaḥ

And they asked that best of kings and foremost of wise men to kill deer to perform their Śrāddha and king, thinking that the command of his ancestors should not be disobeyed.

cakāra mṛgayāṁ kāmī girikāmeva saṁsmaran

atīvarūpasaṁpannāṁ sākṣāchriyamivāparām

Went out to hunt the deer, thinking of Girikā who was exceedingly beautiful and was like Śrī herself.

aśokaiścampakaiścūtairanekairatimuktakaiḥ

punnāgaiḥ karṇikāraiśca bakulairdivyapāṭalaiḥ

There were in the forest in which king went to hunt many Aśoka, Campaka, Cūtas, Atimuktas, Punnagas, Karṇikāras, Bakula, Divya pāṭala.

pāṭalairnārikelaiśca candanaiścārjunaistathā

etai ramyairmahāvṛkṣaiḥ puṇyaiḥ svāduphalairyutam

Pāṭala, Nārikela, Candana, Arjuna and various other beautiful, sacred and great trees, full of fragrant flowers and sweet fruits.

kokilākulasaṁnādaṁ mattabhramaranāditam

vasantakāle tattasya vanaṁ caitrarathopamam

Whole forest was maddened by sweet notes of Kokilas and echoed with hum of intoxicated bees. It was season of spring and forest in which king was roaming was beautiful as gardens of Kubera.

manmathābhiparītātmā nāpaśyadgirikāṁ tadā

apaśyankāmasaṁtaptaścaramāṇo yadṛcchayā

King was filled with desire, but he did not find Girikā by him. Maddened by desire king roamed here and there and he saw.

puṣpasaṁcchannaśākhāgraṁ pallavairupaśobhitam

aśokaṁ stabakaiśchannaṁ ramaṇīyamapaśyata

Beautiful Aśoka tree, decked with immense foliage and its branches so covered with flowers that they can not be seen.

adhastāttasya chāyāyāṁ sukhāsīno narādhipaḥ

madhuganghaiśca saṁyuktaṁ puṣpagandhamanoharam

King comfortably seated himself under its cool shade and enjoyed sweet fragrance of the flowers mixed with the fragrance of honey.

vāyunā preryamāṇastu dhūmrāya mudamanvagāt

tasya retaḥ pracaskanda carato gahane vane

He breathed delicious breeze blowing slowly all over the forest. He became so much excited. So, semen of king discharged in that forest.

skannamātraṁ ca tadreto vṛkṣapatreṇa bhūmipaḥ

pratijagrāha mithyā me na patedreta ityuta

idaṁ mithyā pariskannaṁ reto me na bhavediti

ṛtuśca tasyāḥ patnyā me na moghaḥ syāditi prabhuḥ

having discharged semen, king Uparicāra collected that semen on the leaf of a tree, to save its utility. King thought that his semen might not be wasted and also time of the menses of his wife would not pass uselessly.

saṁcintyaivaṁ tadā rājā vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ

amoghatvaṁ ca vijñāya retaso rājasattamaḥ

śukraprasthāpane kāle mahiṣyāḥ prasamīkṣya vai

abhimantryātha tacchukramārāttiṣṭhantamāśugam

Thinking on it repeatedly king Vasu firmly determined to make semen infallible. After looking for the proper time to send it to his wife, he consecrented by mantras semen which was very strong for the origin of any progeny.

sūkṣmadharmārthatattvajño gatvā śyenaṁ tato ̍bravīt

matpiyārthamidaṁ saumya śukraṁ mama gṛhaṁ naya

King, learned in the subtle truths of Dharma, Artha, Kāma, saw swift hawk resting very near him. He addressed bird thus:

girikāyāḥ prayacchāśu tasyā hyārtavamadya vai

gṛhītvā tat tadā śyenastūrṇamutpatya vegavān

O amiable one! Take this to my wife Girikā and give it toher. She is now in her season. Swift hawk took it from king and flew rapidly through the sky.

javaṁ paramamāsthāya pradudrāva vihaṁgamaḥ

tamapaśyadathāyāntaṁ śyenaṁ śyenastathāparaḥ

abhyadravacca taṁ sadyo dṛṣṭvaivāmiṣaśaṅkayā

When he was thus flying through the sky. He was seen by another hawk and thinking that he was carrying some meat, he flew at him.

tuṇḍayuddhamathākāśe tāvubhau saṁpracakratuḥ

yudhyatorapatadretastaccāpi yamunāmbhasi

Two birds fought with their beaks and when they were thus fighting, seed fell into the waters of yamunā.

tatrādriketi vikhyātā brahmaśāpādvarāpsarāḥ

mīnabhāvamanuprāptā babhūva yamunācarī

There in Yamunā lived Apsarā, known by the name Adrikā, who dwelt in the water of the river as a fish, as the result of the curse of Brahmā on her.

śyenapādaparibhraṣṭaṁ tadvīryamatha vāsavam

jagrāha tarasopetya sādrikā matsyarūpiṇī

fish, Adrikā, rapidly came to the spot where Vasu ̍s seed fell from the claws of the hawk and she swallowed it at once.

kadācidapi matsīṁ tāṁ babandhurmatsyajīvinaḥ

māse ca daśame prāpte tadā bharatasattama

Some time after, this fish Adrikā was caught by fishermen. O best of Bharata race, it was 10th month after she swallowd the seed.

ujjahrurudarāttasyāḥ strīṁ pumāṁsaṁ ca mānuṣam

āścaryabhūtaṁ tadgatvā rājñe ̍tha pratyavedayan

There came out from the stomach of this fish two children of human form, one a boy and the other was girl. Fishermen were very much astonished to see this wonderful phenomenon and they went to king Uparicāra - Vasu.

kāye matsyā imau rājansaṁbhūtau mānuṣāviti

tayoḥ pumāṁsaṁ jagrāha rājoparicarastadā

They said: O king! These two - boy and girl have been born in the womb of fish. King Uparicāra took male child.

sa matsyo nāma rājāsīddhārmikaḥ satyasaṁgaraḥ

sāpsarā muktaśāpā ca kṣaṇena samapadyata

That child became afterwards virtuous and powerful monarch named Matsya. Apsara was also released from her form as soon as children were born,

yā puroktā bhagavatā tiryagyonigatā śubhā

mānuṣau janayitvā tvaṁ śāpamokṣamavāpsyati

 Because she had been told before by illustrious one that she would be released from her piscatorial form after giving birth to two human children.

tataḥ sā janayitvā tau viśastā matsyaghātinā

saṁyajya matsyarūpaṁ sā divyaṁ rūpamavāpya ca

Now according to these words, having given birth to two children and being killed by fishermen, she left the form of the fish and assumed her own celestial form.

siddharṣicāraṇapathaṁ jagāmātha varāpsarāḥ

sā kanyā duhitā tasyā matsyā matsyasagandhinī

Excellent Apsara then rose on the path trodden by Siddhas, Ṛṣis, Cāraṇas. Fish smelling daughter of fish form Apsara.

rājñā dattā ca dāśāya kanyeya te bhavatviti

rūpasatvasamāyuktā sarvaiḥ samuditāguṇaiḥ

Was then giving by the king to the fishermen, saying: Let this child be your daughter! 

She was gifted with great beauty and possessed of every virtue.

sā tu satyavatī nāma matsyaghātyabhisaṁśrayāt

āsītsā matsyagandhaiva kaṁcitkālaṁ śucismitā

That girl of sweet smiles was known by the name of Satyavatī, but owing to her association with fishermen, she was for years of fishy smell.

śūśrūṣārthaṁ piturnāvaṁ vāhayantīṁ jale ca tām

tīrthayātrāṁ parikrāmannapaśyadvai parāśaraḥ

Wishing to serve her father - fisherman, she plied a boat on the waters of Yamunā. Parāśara, when going on pilgrimage, saw her one day.

atīvarūpasaṁpannāṁ siddhānāmapi kāṅkṣatām

dṛṣṭvaiva sa ca tāṁ dhīmāṁścakame cāruhāsinīm

She was exceedingly beautuful, an object of desire with even Siddha. As soon as wise Ṛṣi saw the girl of sweet smiles, he desired to have her.

divyāṁ tāṁ vāsavīṁ kanyāṁ rambhoruṁ munipuṅgavaḥ

saṁgamaṁ mama kalyāṇi kuruṣvetyabhyabhāṣata

Best of Ṛṣis - Parāśara addressed daughter of Vasu, girl of celestial beauty and tapering things, saying: O blessed girl, accepted my embraces.

sābravītpaśya bhagavanpārāvāre sthitānṛṣīn

āvayordṛṣṭayorebhiḥ kathaṁ tu syātsamāgamaḥ

She replied: O holy Ṛṣi, see, Ṛṣis are standing on both banks of the river. Seen by them, how can I grant your wish?

evaṁtayokto bhagavānnīhāramasṛjatprabhuḥ

yena deśaḥ sa sarvastu tamobhūta ivābhavat

Thus addressed by her, illustrious lord Parāśara created a fog, by which whole place was covered with darkness.

dṛṣṭvā sṛṣṭaṁ tu nīhāraṁ tatastaṁ paramarṣiṇā

vismitā sābhavatkanyā vrīḍitā ca tapasvinī

Seeing sudden creation of the fog by great Ṛṣi, girl was very much astonished and became suffused with blushes of bashfulness.

viddhi māṁ bhagavankanyāṁ sadā pitṛvaśānugām

tvatsaṁyogācca duṣyeta kanyābhāvo mamānagha

Satyavatī said: O holy Ṛṣi! Know me to be a girl under control of my father. O sinless man, my virginity will be sullied by accepting your embraces.

kanyātve dūṣite vāpi kathaṁ śakṣye dvijottama

gṛhaṁ gantumṛṣe cāhaṁ dhīmanna sthātumutsahe

etatsaṁcintya bhagavanvidhatsva yadanantaram

O best of Brāhmaṇas, O Ṛṣi, my virginity being sallied, how shall I be able to return home? I shall not then be able to bear life. O illustrious one! Take this into your kind consideration and do what is proper.

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

evamuktavatīṁ tāṁ tu prītimānṛṣisattamaḥ

uvāca matpriyaṁ kṛtvā kanyaiva tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

Vaiśampāyana said: That best of Brāhmaṇas, Parāśara, having been much pleased with all that she said, replied: You will remain a virgin even after associating with me!

vṛṇīṣva ca varaṁ bhīru yaṁ tvamicchasi bhāvini

vṛthā hi na prasādo me bhūtapūrvaḥ śucismite

O timid girl! O beauteous maiden! Ask from me any boon you desire to have! O beauty of swwet smiles, my favour has never proved fruitless.

evamuktā varaṁ vavre gātrasaugandhyamuttamam

sa cāsyai bhagavānprādānmanasaḥ kākṣitaṁ bhuvi

Having been thus addressed, maiden Satyavatī asked for the boon that her body might be sweet scented and illustrious Ṛṣi granted that wish of her heart.

tato labdhavarā prītā strībhāvaguṇabhūṣitā

jagāma saha saṁsargamṛṣiṇādbhutakarmaṇā

Having obtained boon, she became exceedingly pleased. She was in her season and she accepted embraces of that Ṛṣi of wonderful deeds.

tena gandhavatītyevaṁ nāmāsyāḥ prathitaṁ bhuvi

tasyāstu yojanādgandhamājighranta narā bhuvi

Thenceforth she become known among men by the name of Gandhavatī - sweet scented. Men could smell sweet scent of her body from distance of a Yojana.

tasyā yojanagandheti tato nāmāparaṁ smṛtam

tataḥ paraṁ sa bhagavān jagāma svagṛhaṁ prati

Thence she was also called Yojana gandha. After all this, illustrious Parāśara went away to his hermitage.

iti satyavatī hṛṣṭā labdhvā varamanuttamam

parāśareṇa saṁyuktā sadyo garbha suṣāva sā

Satyavatī was exceedingly pleased to receive excellent boon and she thereupon, on that very day, conceived through embraces of Parāśara.

jajñe ca yamunādvīpe pārāśaryaḥ sa vīryavān

sa mātaramanujñāpya tapasyeva mano dadhe

She gave birth on island in Yamunā, greatly powerful child, begotten on her by Parāśara and child with permission of her mother adopted asceticism.

smṛto ̍haṁ darśayiṣyāmi kṛtyeṣviti ca so ̍bravīt

evaṁ dvaipāyano jajñe satyavatyāṁ parāśarāt

He went away saying: As soon as I shall be remembered by you on any occasion, I shall immediately appear before you. THus was born Dvaipāyana in the womb of Satyavatī by Parāśara.

nyasto dvīpe sa yadvālastasmāddvaipāyanaḥ smṛtaḥ

pādāpasāriṇaṁ dharmaṁ sa tu vidvānyuge yuge

Because he was born on island, he was called Dvaipāyana, knowing that Dharma would became lame by one leg at each Yuga, 

āyuḥśaktiṁ ca martyānāṁ yugāvasthāmavekṣya ca

brahmaṇo brāhmaṇāṁ ca tathānugrahakāṅkṣayā

And that period of human life and strength would follow Yuga by becoming shorter and lesser and moved by desire of obtaining favour of Brāhmaṇa amd Brāhmaṇas,

vivyāsa vedānyasmātsa tasmādvyāsa iti smṛtaḥ

vedānadhyāpayāmāsa mahābhāratapañcamān

Arranged Vedas and thence he came to be called Vyāsa. He then taught Vedas and 5th Veda Mahābhārata.

sumantuṁ jauminiṁ pailaṁ śukaṁ caiva svamātmajam

prabhurvariṣṭho varado vaiśaṁpāyanameva ca

To Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, his own son Śuka and his disciple Vaiśampāyana - myself.

saṁhitāstaiḥ pṛthaktvena bhāratasya prakāśitāḥ

tathā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo gaṅgāyāmamitadyutiḥ

vasuvīryāt samabhavanmahāvīryo mahāyaśāḥ

Bhārata Saṁhita was published by him separately through these men. Then was born in womb of Gaṅgā by Śāntanu, Bhīṣma of gret energy, fame and immeasurable prowess. 

History of Mahābhārata

 janamejaya uvāca

kathitaṁ vai samāsena tvayā sarvaṁ dvijottama

mahābhāratamākhyānaṁ kurūṇāṁ caritaṁ mahat

Janamejaya said: O best of Brāhmaṇas! You have told me in brief history called Mahābhārata, containing great deeds of Kurus.

kathāṁ tvanagha citrārthāṁ kathayasva tapodhana

vistaraśraṇe jātaṁ kautūhalamatīva me

O great ascetic! Recite now fully this wonderful history! I feel great curioity to hear it! 

sa bhavānvistareṇemāṁ punarākhyātumarhati

na hi tṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṁ śṛṇvānaścaritaṁ mahat

You should, therefore, recite it in full! I am not satisfied with hearing in abstract this great history of my ancestors.

na tatkāraṇamalpaṁ vai dharmajñā yatra pāṇḍavāḥ

avadhyānsarvaśo jaghnuḥ praśasyante ca mānavaiḥ

It could not be trifling cause for which virtuous Pāṇḍavas killed those whom they should not have killed and for which they are still praised by men.

kimarthaṁ te naravyāghrāḥ śaktāḥ santā hyanāgasaḥ

prayujyamānānsaṁkleśāntavanto durātmanām

Why did those best of men, Pāṇḍavas, capable of avenging themselves on their enemies, though innocent, quietly suffered persecutions of wicked Kurus?

kathaṁ nāgāyutaprāṇo bāhuśālī vṛkodaraḥ

parikliśyannapi krodhaṁ dhṛtavānvai dvijottama

O best of Brāhmaṇas! Why did mighty armed Bhīma, having strength of 10,000 elephants, though persecuted, patiently kept his anger down?

kathaṁ sā draupadī kṛṣṇā kliśyamānā durātmabhiḥ

śaktā satī dhārtarāṣṭrānnādahatkrodhacakṣuṣā

Why did not chaste Kṛṣṇā, daughter of Drupada, though persecuted by wicked Kurus, burn sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra by her angry eyes, capable as she was to do it?

kathaṁ vyasaninaṁ dyūte pārthau mādrīsutau tadā

anvayuste naravyāghrā bādhyamānā durātmabhiḥ

Why did two sons of Pṛthā, Bhīma and Arjuna and two sons of Mādrī - Nakula and Sahadeva, those best of men, though persecuted by wretches, follow Yudhiṣṭhira, who was addicted to the evil habit of gambling?

kathaṁ dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ suto dharmasya dharmavit

anarhaḥ paramaṁ kleśaṁ soḍhavānsa yudhiṣṭhira

Why did Yudhiṣṭhira, the best of all virtuos men and son of Dharma himself. though acquainted with all duties, suffer great afflictions?

kathaṁ ca bahulāḥ senāḥ pāṇḍavaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ

asyanneko ̍nayatsarvāḥ pitṛlokaṁ dhanaṁjayaḥ

Why did Pāṇḍava, Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa himself being his charioteer and who could by his arrows send to other world hosts of fighting men, suffer so many persecutions?

etadācakṣva me sarvaṁ yathāvṛttaṁ tapodhana

yadyacca kṛtavantaste tatra tatra mahārathāḥ

O great Ṛṣi, tell me all this as they happened. Tell me everything that those highly mighty car warriors did.

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

kṣaṇaṁ kuru mahārāja vipulo ̍yamanukramaḥ

puṇyākhyānasya vaktavyaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyaneritaḥ

maharṣeḥ sarvalokeṣu pūjitasya mahātmanaḥ

pravakṣyāmi mataṁ kṛtsnaṁ vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: O great king! Appoint a time to hear it! This history is very extensive. This is but beginning. I shall recite whole of this history, composed by illustrious Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, great Ṛṣi, Vyāsa of immeasurable mental power, who is adored by all the world.

idaṁ śatasahasraṁ hi ślokānāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām

satyavatyātmajeneha vyākhyātamamitaujasā

This Bharata contains one lac sacred ślokas, composed by the son of Satyavatī, Vyāsa of immeasurable mental power.

ya idaṁ śrāvayedvidvānye cedaṁ śṛṇuyurnarāḥ

te brahmaṇaḥ sthānametya prāpnuyurdevatulyatām

Learned man who reads it to others and those who hear it read, go to the world of Brahmā and become equal to celestials.

idaṁ hi vedaiḥ samitaṁ pavitramapi cottamam

śrāvyāṇāmuttamaṁ cedaṁ purāṇamṛṣisaṁstutam

This Bharata is equal to Vedas. It is holy and excellent. It is worthiest of all that should be listened to. It is Purāṇa, adored by Ṛṣis.

asminnarthaśca kāmaśca nikhilenopadekṣyate

itihāse mahāpuṇye buddhiśca parinaiṣṭhikī

It contains many useful instructions on Artha and Kāma. This sacred history makes heart desire to attain salvation.

akṣudrāndāndānaśīlāṁśca satyaśīlānanāstikān

kārṣṇaṁ vedamimaṁ vidvāñchrāvayitvārthamaśnute

Learned men earn much wealth by reciting this Veda composed by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana to those who are noble, liberal, truthful and believing.

bhrūṇahatyākṛtaṁ cāpi pāpaṁ jahyādasaṁśayam

itihāsamimaṁ śrutvā puruṣo ̍pi sudāruṇaḥ

mucyate sarvapāpebhyo rāhuṇā candramā yathā

jayo nāmetihāso ̍yaṁ śrotavyo vijigīṣuṇā

Sins, even killing embryo, are destroyed by reading or hearing it. Even greatly sinful man, by hearing this history, escapes from all his sins, like sun from Rāhu. This history is called Jaya - victory. It should be heard by those who desire victory.

mahīṁ vijayate rājā śatrūṁścāpi parājayet

idaṁ puṁsavanaṁ śreṣṭhamidaṁ svastyayanaṁ mahat

Hearing it, king can bring whole world under his subjection and defeat all his foes. It is mighty act of propitiation. It is great sacrifice, productive of blessed fruits.

mahiṣī yuvarājābhyāṁ śrotavyaṁ bahuśastathā

vīraṁ janayate putraṁ kanyāṁ vā rājyabhāginīm

It should be heard by crown princes with their wives, for then, they would beget heroic son or a daughter who occupies throne.

dharmaśāstramidaṁ puṇyamarthaśāstramidaṁ param

mokṣaśāstramidaṁ proktaṁ vyāsenāmitabuddhinā

It is Dharma Śāstra, it is also sacred Artha Śāstra, it is also great Mokṣa Śāstra, so said Vyāsa of immeasurable intelligence.

saṁpratyācakṣate cedaṁ tathā śroṣyanti cāpare

putrāḥ śuśrūṣavaḥ santi preṣyāśca priyakāriṇaḥ

It is recited in present age and will be recited in future ages. He, who hears it, gets sons and survivors, who perform their favourite works.

śarīreṇa kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vācā ca manasaiva ca

sarvaṁ saṁtyajati kṣipraṁ ya idaṁ ṣṛṇuyānnaraḥ

He who hears it, escapes immediately from all his sins that are committed by him in body, word or mind.

bharatānāṁ mahajjanma śṛṇvatāmanasūyatām

nāsti vyādhibhayaṁ teṣāṁ paralokabhayaṁ kutaḥ

He who hears history of Bharata race without being fault finding, can have no fear from diseases, let alone fear of other world.

dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ puṇyaṁ svargyaṁ tathaiva ca

kṛṣṇadvaipāyanenedaṁ kṛtaṁ puṇyacikīrṣuṇā

kīrti prathayatā loke pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām

anyeṣāṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ ca bhūridraviṇatejasām

ya idaṁ mānavo loke puṇyārthe brāhmaṇāñchucīn

śrāvayeta mahāpuṇyaṁ tasya dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

kurūṇāṁ prathitaṁ vaṁśaṁ kīrtayansatataṁ śuciḥ

In order to extend fame of high souled Pāṇḍavas and other Kṣatriyas, learned an all branches of knowledge, high spirited and already famous in the world for their great deeds, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, moved by desire of benefiting the world, has composed this excellent, sacred and big work, which spreads one ̍s fame and gives one long life. He who, from desire of acquiring virtue, causes this history to be heard in this world by holy Brāhmaṇas, gains inexhaustible virtue. He who recites history of Kurus, becomes immediately pure and holy.

vaṁśamāpnoti vipulaṁ loke pūjyatamo bhavet

yo ̍dhīte bhārataṁ puṇyaṁ brāhmaṇo niyatavrataḥ

He acquires large family and becomes respected in the world. Brāhmaṇa, who reads holy Bhārata regularly,

caturo vārṣikānmāsānsarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

vijñeyaḥ sa ca vedānāṁ pārago bhārataṁ paṭhan

For 4 rainy months of the year, is cleansed of all his sins. He, who has read Bhārata, may be regarded as one who has studied Vedas.

devā rājarṣayo hyatra puṇyā brahmarṣayastathā

kīrtyante dhūtapāpmānaḥ kīrtyate keśavastathā

In it have been described celestials, royal sages, holy and renegate Ṛṣis, sinless Keśava - Kṛṣṇa.

bhagavāṁścāpi deveśo yatra devī ca kīrtyate

anekajanano yatra kārtikeyasya saṁbhavaḥ

God of gods, Mahādeva, goddess Pārvatī, birth of Kārtikeya, who had many mothers.

brāhmaṇānāṁ gavāṁ caiva māhātmyaṁ yatra kīrtyate

sarvaśrutisamūho ̍yaṁ śrotavyo dharmabuddhibhiḥ

And greatness of Brāhmaṇas and kine. It is collection of all Śrutis and work worthy to be heard by virtuous minded men.

ya idaṁ śrāvayedvidvānbrāhmaṇāniha parvasu

dhūtapāpmā jitasvargo brahma gacchati śāśvatam

Learned man, who recites it to Brāhmaṇas during sacred Parvas - lunar changes, is cleansed of all his sins and being victorious over heaven - not caring for it, attains to union with Brahman.

śrāvayedbrāhmaṇāñcchrāddhe yaścemaṁ pādamantataḥ

akṣayyaṁ tasya tacchrāddhamupāvartetpitṛniha

He who causes even single line of it to be heard by Brāhmaṇas at Śrāddha, that Śrāddha becomes inexhaustible and Pitṛs become gratified with food presented to them.

ahnā yadenaḥ kriyate indriyairmanasāpi vā

jñānādajñānato vāpi prakaroti naraśca yat

Sins that are committed daily by our senses and by our mind and those who are commited knowingly or unknowingly by any man.

tanmahābhāratākhyānaṁ śrutvaiva pravilīyate

bharatānāṁ mahājjanma mahābhāratamucyate

Are all destroyed by hearing Mahābhārata, history of great births of Bhārata princes is called Mahābhārata.

niruktamasya yo veda sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

bharatānāṁ yataścāyamitihāso mahādbhutaḥ

He who knows etymology of the name Bharata is cleansed of all his sins. As this history of Bharata race is wonderful.

mahato hyenaso martyānmocayedanukīrtitaḥ

tribhirvarṣairlabdhakāmaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ

Therefore, when recited, it purifies men of their sins. Ṛṣi Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana completed it in 3 years.

nityotthitaḥ śuciḥ śakto mahābhāratamāditaḥ

tapo niyamamāsthāya kṛtametanmaharṣiṇā

Rising daily in the morning, purifying himself by ablutions and performing all his religious duties, he composed this Mahābhārata.

tasmānniyamasaṁyuktaiḥ śrotavyaṁ brāhmaṇairidam

kṛṣṇaproktāmimaṁ puṇyāṁ bhāratīmuttamāṁ kathām

Therefore, Brāhmaṇas should hear, with prescribed rules, this holy history, this excellent narration of Bhārata, composed by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.

śrāvayiṣyanti ye viprā ye ca śroṣyanti mānavāḥ

sarvathā vartamānā vai na te śocyāḥ kṛtākṛtaiḥ

Brāhmaṇas who recite it for others to hear it and those who hear it, in whatewer state they may be, can never be affected by fruits of good or bad deeds.

nareṇa dharmakāmena sarvaḥ śrotavya ityapi

nikhilenetihāso ̍yaṁ tataḥ siddhimavāpnuyāt

Man, who is desirous of acquiring virtue, should hear it all. It is equal to all histories in the world and he who hears it acquires purity of heart.

na tāṁ svargagatiṁ prāpya tuṣṭiṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

yāṁ śrutvaiva mahāpuṇyamitihāsamupāśnute

Bliss that one enjoys in attaining heaven is secretly equal to that which one derives from hearing this greatly holy history.

śṛṇvañcchrāddhaḥ puṇyaśīlaḥ śrāvayaṁścedamadbhutam

naraḥ phalamavāpnoti rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ

Virtuous man, who hears or causes it to be heard with reverence, obtains fruits of Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifice.

yathā samudro bhagavānyathā merurmahāgiriḥ

ubhau khyātau ratnanidhī tathā bhāratamucyate

This Bhārata is said to be a mine of gems, as illustrious ocean or great mountain Meru.

idaṁ hi vedaiḥ samitaṁ pavitramapi cottamam

śravyaṁ śrutisukhaṁ caiva pāvanaṁ śīlavardhanam

This Bhārata is sacred and excellent and it equals Vedas in sanctity. It is worthy of being heard, it is pleasing to the ear. It is sin destroying and virtue incresing.

ya idaṁ bhārataṁ rājanvācakāya prayacchati

tena sarvā mahī dattā bhavetsāgaramekhalā

O king, he who gives a copy of Mahābhārata to one who asks for it, does give not a copy of a book, but whole of Earth having a belt of seas.

pārikṣitakathāṁ divyāṁ puṇyāya vijayāya ca

kathyamānāṁ mayā kṛtsnāṁ ṣṛṇu harṣakarīmimām

O son of Parīkṣit, this pleasant and sacred history that secures victory to the gearer, I shall now recite to you in full. Listen to it!

tribhirvarṣaiḥ sadotthāyī kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ

mahābhāratamākhyānaṁ kṛtavānidamadbhutam

Ṛṣi Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, regularly rising every morning for three years, composed this wonderful history, called Mahābhārata.

dharme cārthe ca kāme ca mokṣe ca bharatarṣabha

yadihāsti tadanyatra yannehāsti na tatkvacit

O best of Bharata race, whatever about Dharma, Artha, Kāma, Mokṣa, that is contained in this Bhārata, may be met elsewhere, but whatewer is not in it, is not to be found anywhere.

Vaiśampāyana starts the history of Mahābhārata

 vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

gurave prāṅnamaskṛtya manobuddhisamādhibhiḥ

saṁpūjya ca dvijānsarvāstathānyaānviduṣo janān

maharṣerviśrutasyeha sarvalokeṣu dhīmataḥ

pravakṣyāmi mataṁ kṛtsnaṁ vyāsasyāsya mahātmanaḥ

Bowing down first to my Guru with 8 parts of my body touching the ground and then worshipping with devotion, reverence and singleness of min all the Brāhmaṇas and learned men present here, I shall now recite in full narration, I heard the best of intelligent men, high souled great Ṛṣi, Vyāsa.

śrotuṁ pātraṁ ca rājaṁstvaṁ prāpyemāṁ bhāratīṁ kathām

gurorvaktraparispando manaḥ protsāhayatīva me

O king! You are proper person to hear history of Bharata. I feel no fear to perform this great act reciting Bharata encouraged as I am by my Guru.

śṛṇu rājanyathā bhedaḥ kurupāṇḍavayorabhūt

rājyārthe dyūtasaṁbhūto vanavāsastathaiva ca

Hear, O king, why the quarrel between Kurus and Pāṇḍavas occured and how occurred excile of Pāṇḍavas as the result of the game of dice, prompted by desire of Kurus to gain kingdom.

yathā ca yuddhamabhavatpṛthivīkṣayakārakam

tatte ̍haṁ kathayiṣyāmi pṛcchate bharatarṣabha

And how the battle was fought to exterminate all men. O best of Bharata race, I shall relate all this to you as you ask me.

mṛte pitari te vīrā vanādetya svamandiram

nacirādeva vidvāṁso vede dhanuṣi cābhavan

On the death of their father, Pāṇḍavas came back came back to their own home from the forest. They became experts in the science of archery within very short time.

tāṁstathā satvavīryaujaḥ saṁpannānpaurasaṁmatān

nāmṛṣyankuravo dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāñchrīyaśobhṛtaḥ

Kaurāvas became jealous of Pāṇḍavas, who were all gifted with great physical strength, energy and power of mind. They were also very popular with citizens.

tato duryodhanaḥ krūraḥ karṇaśca saha saubalaḥ

teṣāṁ nigrahanirvāsānvidhāṁste samārabhan

Thereupon, wicked minded Duryodhana with Karṇa and son of Subala, Śakuni, tried to banish them and persecuted them in various ways.

tato duryodhanaḥ śūraḥ kuliṅgasya mate sthitaḥ

pāṇḍavānvidhopāyai rājyahetorapīḍayat

Wicked minded Duryodhana, guided by the bird of evil omen - Śakuni, persecuted Pāṇḍavas by various means in order to have undisputed possession of kingdom.

dadāvatha viṣaṁ pāpo bhīmāya dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ

jarayāmāsa tadvīraḥ sahānnena vṛkodaraḥ

That wretch of the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra gave poison to Bhīma with his food, but that hero digested it.

pramāṇakoṭyāṁ saṁsuptaṁ punarbaghvā vṛkodaram

toyeṣu bhīmaṁ gaṅgāyāḥ prakṣipya puramāvrajat

That wretch one day bound sleeping Bhīma on the bank of Gaṅgā and throwing him into the water, went away.

yadā vibuddhaḥ kaunteyastadā saṁcchidya bandhanam

udatiṣṭhanmahābāhurbhīmaseno gatavyathaḥ

But when strong armed Bhīma, Kaunteya, awoke, he tore up the strings with which he was bound and his pains were all gone.

āśīviṣaiḥ kṛṣṇasarpaiḥ suptaṁ cainamadaṁśayat

sarveṣvāṅgadeśeṣu na mamāra ca śatruhā

While asleep, he was caused to be bitten in every part of his body by black snakes of virulent poison, but that chastiser of foes did not perish still.

teṣāṁ tu viprakāreṣu teṣu teṣu mahāmatiḥ

mokṣaṇe pratikāre ca viduro ̍vahito ̍bhavat

In all these various persecutions of Pāṇḍavas by Kurus, high souled Vidura was always engaged in counter acting their evil designs and saving persecuted Pāṇḍavas.

svargastho jīvalokasya yathā śakraḥ sukhāvahaḥ

pāṇḍavānāṁ tathā nityaṁ viduro ̍pi sukhāvahaḥ

As Indra keeps heavens and Earth in happiness, so did Vidura always keep Pāṇḍavas in happiness.

yadā tu vividhopāyaiḥ saṁvṛtairvivṛtairapi

nāśakadvinihantuṁ tāndaivabhāvyartharakṣitān

tataḥ saṁmantrya sacivairvṛṣaduḥśānādibhiḥ

dhṛtarāṣṭramanujñāpya jātuṣaṁ gṛhamādiśat

When Duryodhana found himself incapable of destroying Pāṇḍavas, who were protected by Fate and kept alive for graver objects, by various secret and open means he called together his councillors, Karṇa,Duḥśāsana and others. He then caused a house of lac to be built with knowledge of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

sutapriyaiṣī tānrājā pāṇḍavānambikāsutaḥ

tato vivāsayāmāsa rājyabhogabubhukṣayā

That king, son of Ambikā - Dhṛtarāṣṭra, out of affection for his sons and being tempted by desire for sovereignty, sent Pāṇḍavas to exile.

te prātiṣṭhanta sahitā nagarānnāgasāhvayāt

prasthāne cābhavanmantrī kṣattā teṣāṁ mahātmanām

Pāṇḍavas went away with their mother from Hastinapura and when they went away, son of Vaiśya woman - Vidura, became adviser of those illustrious men.

tena muktā jatugṛhānniśīthe prādravanam

tataḥ saṁprāpya kaunteyā nagaraṁ vāraṇāvatam

Being saved through him from the house of lac, they fled at the dead of night to deep forest. They, Kaunteyas, came to a city called Vāraṇāvata.

nyavasanta mahātmāno mātrā saha paraṁtapāḥ

dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa cājñaptā uṣitā jātuṣe gṛhe

And those chastisers of foes, those illustrious men, lived there with their mother in the house of lac, as commanded by Dhṛtarāṣṭa.

purocanādrakṣamāṇāḥ saṁvatsaramatandritāḥ

suruṅgāṁ kārayitvā tu vidureṇa pracoditāḥ

They lived in the house for 1 year, watchfully protecting themselves from Purucana. At the same time they dug subterranean passage according to directions of Vidura.

ādīpya jātuṣaṁ veśma dagdhvā caiva purocanam

prādravanbhayasaṁvignā mātrā saha paraṁtapāḥ

They then set fire to the house of lac and burnt Purocana. They, those chastisers of foes, then fled with their mother in anxiety and in fear.

dadṛśurdāruṇaṁ rakṣo hiḍimbaṁ vananirjhare

hatvā ca taṁ rākṣasendraṁ bhītāḥ samavabodhanāt

niśi saṁprādravanpārthā dhārtarāṣṭrabhayārditāḥ

prāptā hiḍimbā bhīmena yatra jāto ghaṭotkacaḥ

They saw, near a fountain in the forest, a fearful Rākṣasa named Hiḍimbā. They killed that king of Rākṣasas. They, Pārthas, afraid of Dhārtarāṣṭras, then fled in darkness, so that they might not run the risk of being seen by anybody. Here Bhīma acquired Hiḍimbā, of whom Ghaṭotkaca was born.

ekacakrāṁ tato gatvā pāṇḍavāḥ saṁśitavratāḥ

vedādhyayanasaṁpannāste ̍bhavanbrahmacāriṇā

Pāṇḍavas of rigid vows, learned in Vedas, then came to a place called Ekacakra and lived there as Brahmacārīs.

te tatra niyatāḥ kālaṁ kaṁcidūṣurnararṣabhāḥ

mātrā sahaikacakrāyāṁ brahmaṇasya niveśane

They, those best of men, with their mother lived there for some time in the house of a Brāhmaṇa, in temperance and in abstinence.

tatrāsasāda kṣudhitaṁ puruṣādaṁ vṛkodaraḥ

bhīmaseno mahābāhurbakaṁ nāma mahābalam

It was here that mighty armed Bhīma met with greatly powerful and hungry man eating Rākṣasa named Baka.

taṁ cāpi puruṣavyāghro bāhuvīryeṇa pāṇḍavaḥ

nihatya tarasā vīro nāgarānparyasāntvayat

The best of men, Pāṇḍava Bhīma, soon killed him with the strenght of his arms and thus made citizens safe and fearless.

tataste śuśruvuḥ kṛṣṇāṁ pañcāleṣu svayaṁvarām

śrutvā caivābhyagacchanta gatvā caivālabhanta tām

Then they heard of Svayaṁvara of Kṛṣṇā - Draupadī, Daughter of king of Pañcāla. Having heard it, they went there and obtained her.

te tatra draupadīṁ labdhvā parisaṁvatsaroṣitāḥ

viditā hāstinapuraṁ pratyājagmurariṁdamāḥ

Having obtained Draupadī, they lived there for 1 year and then those chastisers of foes, having been known, went back to Hastinapura.

te uktā dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa rājñā śāntanavena ca

bhrātṛbhirvigrahastāta kathaṁ vo na bhavediti

They were then told by the king Dhṛtarāṣṭra amd son of Śāntanu, as follows: O dear children, so that dissensions may not take place among you all brothers and cousins.

asmābhiḥ khāṇḍavaprasthe yuṣmadvāso ̍nucintitaḥ

tasmājjanapadopetaṁ suvibhaktamahāpatham

vāsāya khāṇḍavaprasthaṁ vrajaghvaṁ gatamatsarāḥ

tayoste vacanājjagmuḥ saha sarvaiḥ suhṛjjanaiḥ

nagaraṁ khāṇḍavaprasthaṁ ratnānyādāya sarvaśaḥ

tatra te nyavasanpārthāḥ saṁvatsaragaṇānbahūn

We have settled that Khāṇḍavaprastha will be your abode. Therefore, casting of all jealousies, go to live at Khāṇḍavaprastha, which contains many towns and broad roads. Having heard these words, Pāṇḍavas, with all their friends and followers, went to Khāṇḍavaprastha, taking with them many jewels and precious stones. Pārthas lived there for many years.

vaśe śastrapratāpena kurvanto ̍nyānmahībhṛtaḥ

evaṁ dharmapradhānāste satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ

They brought by the force of their arms many chiefs and potentates under their subjugation. Setting their hearts on virtue and firmly adhering to truth.

apramattotthitāḥ kṣāntāḥ pratapanto ̍hitānbahūn

ajayadbhīmasenastu diśaṁ prācīṁ mahāyaśāḥ

Being unexcited by wrath, being calm in demeanour and putting down numerous evils, Pāṇḍavas gradually rose in power. Greatly illustrious Bhīma subjugated East.

udīcīmarjuno vīraḥ pratīcīṁ nakulastathā

dakṣiṇāṁ sahadevastu vijigye paravīrahā

Heroic Arjuna conquered North, Nakula - West and slayer of heroic foes, Sahadeva - South.

evaṁ cakrurimāṁ sarve vaśe kutsnāṁ vasuṁdharām

pañcabhiḥ sūryasaṁkāśaiḥ sūryeṇa ca virājatā

Having done this, their kingdom extended over whole world. Each like a sun in splendour, they looked like five suns.

ṣaṭsūryevābhavatpṛthvī pāṇḍavai satyavikramaḥ

tato nimitte kasmiṁściddharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

vanaṁ prasthāpayāmāsa tejasvī satyavikramaḥ

prāṇebhyo ̍pi priyataraṁ bhrātaraṁ savyasācinam

And Earth appeared to have 6 suns on account of the presence of heroic Pāṇḍavas. Then for some reasons just king Yudhiṣṭhira sent to the forest his greatly powerful and heroic brother Savyasācin - Arjuna, dearer to him than life itself.

arjunaṁ puruṣavyāghraṁ sthirātmānaṁ guṇairyutam

sa vai saṁvatsaraṁ pūrṇaṁ māsaṁ caikaṁ vane vasan

That best of men, self controlled and virtuous Arjuna lived in the forest for 11 years and one month.

tato gacchaddhruṣīkeśaṁ dvāravatyāṁ kadācana

labdhavāṁstatra bībhatsurbhāryāṁ rājīvalocanam

Thus roving about in many places, on one occasion, he went to Kṛṣṇa in Dwārakā and he obtained there for his wife lotue eyed 

anujāṁ vāsudevasya subhadrāṁ bhadrabhāṣiṇīm

sā śacīva mahendreṇa śrīḥ kṛṣṇeneva saṁgatā

And sweet speeched younger sister of Kṛṣṇa, named Subhadrā. Like Śacī with great Indra and like Lakṣmī with Kṛṣṇa.

subhadrā yuyuje prītyā pāṇḍavenārjunena ha

atarpayacca  kaunteyaḥ khāṇḍave havyavāhanam

bībhatsurvāsudevena sa hito nṛpasattama

nātibhāro hi pārthasya keśavena sahābhavat

Subhadra was much pleased to be united with Arjuna, Pāṇḍava. O best of kings! Kaunteya with Kṛṣṇa then gratified Agni by giving him Khāṇḍava to burn. Task did not at all appear heavy to Arjuna, assisted as he was by Kṛṣṇa.

vyavasāyasahāyasya viṣṇoḥ śatruvadheṣviva

pārthāyāgnirdadau cāpi gāṇḍīvaṁ dhanuruttamam

As nothing is a heavy task to Viṣṇu, in the matter of destroying his enemies. Agni gave to Pārthaan excellent bow Gāṇḍīva.

iṣudhī cākṣayairbāṇai rathaṁ ca kapilakṣaṇam

mokṣayāmāsa bībhatsurmayaṁ yatra mahāsuram

An inexhaustible quiver and one war chariot, bearing an ape as its standard. On this occasion did Arjuna rescue frightened great Asura Maya.

sa cakāra sabhāṁ divyāṁ sarvaratnasamārcitām

tasyāṁ duryodhano mando lobhaṁ cakre sudurmatiḥ

And Maya built beautiful assembly hall, adorned with all sorts of jewels and precious stones. Seeing this building, wicked Duryodhana was tempted to possess it.

tato ̍kṣairvañcayitvā ca saubalena yudhiṣṭhiram

vanaṁ prasthāpayāmāsa sapta varṣāṇi pañca ca

Thereupon he deceived Yudhiṣṭhira by means of game, played by son of Subala - Śakuni and he sent him to the forest for 12 years.

ajñātamekaṁ rāṣṭre ca tato varṣaṁ trayodaśam

tataścaturdaśe varṣe yācamānāḥ svakaṁ vasu

And another additional year to live in concealment, thus making period of banishment complete 13 years. On the 14th year, when Pāṇḍavas returned and claimed their kingdom.

nālabhanta mahārāja tato yuddhamavartata

tataste kṣatramutsādya hatvā duryodhanaṁ nṛpam

rājyaṁ vihatabhūyiṣṭhaṁ pratyapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ

evametatpurāvṛttaṁ teṣāmakliṣṭakarmaṇām

bhedo rājyavināśāya jayaśca jayatāṁ vara

O king! They did not get it! Thereupon war was declared and Pāṇḍavas, after exterminating whole race of Kṣatriyas and  killing king Duryodhana obtained back their kingdom. This is the story of Pāṇḍavas, who never acted under the influence of evil passions. O best of kings! This is account of dissension that ended in the loss of their kingdom by Kurus and of the victory of Pāṇḍavas.