Chapter 9: The Dynasty of Aḿśumān

 

9.9.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

aḿśumāḿś ca tapas tepe

gańgānayana-kāmyayā

kālaḿ mahāntaḿ nāśaknot

tataḥ kālena saḿsthitaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; aḿśumān — the king named Aḿśumān; ca — also; tapaḥ tepe — executed austerity; gańgā — the Ganges; ānayana-kāmyayā — with a desire to bring the Ganges to this material world to deliver his forefathers; kālam — time; mahāntam — for a long duration; na — not; aśaknot — was successful; tataḥ — thereafter; kālena — in due course of time; saḿsthitaḥ — died.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: King Aḿśumān, like his grandfather, performed austerities for a very long time. Nonetheless, he could not bring the Ganges to this material world, and thereafter, in due course of time, he died.

 

9.9.2

dilīpas tat-sutas tadvad

aśaktaḥ kālam eyivān

bhagīrathas tasya sutas

tepe sa sumahat tapaḥ

 

dilīpaḥ — named Dilīpa; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Aḿśumān; tat-vat — like his father; aśaktaḥ — being unable to bring the Ganges to the material world; kālam eyivān — became a victim of time and died; bhagīrathaḥ tasya sutaḥ — his son Bhagīratha; tepe — executed penance; saḥ — he; su-mahat — very great; tapaḥ — austerity.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Like Aḿśumān himself, Dilīpa, his son, was unable to bring the Ganges to this material world, and he also became a victim of death in due course of time. Then Dilīpa's son, Bhagīratha, performed very severe austerities to bring the Ganges to this material world.

 

9.9.3

darśayām āsa taḿ devī

prasannā varadāsmi te

ity uktaḥ svam abhiprāyaḿ

śaśaḿsāvanato nṛpaḥ

 

darśayām āsa — appeared; tam — unto him, King Bhagīratha; devī — mother Ganges; prasannā — being very much satisfied; varadā asmi — I shall bless with my benediction; te — unto you; iti uktaḥ — thus being addressed; svam — his own; abhiprāyam — desire; śaśaḿsa — explained; avanataḥ — very respectfully bowing down; nṛpaḥ — the King (Bhagīratha).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, mother Ganges appeared before King Bhagīratha and said, "I am very much satisfied with your austerities and am now prepared to give you benedictions as you desire." Being thus addressed by Gańgādevī, mother Ganges, the King bowed his head before her and explained his desire.

 

9.9.4

ko 'pi dhārayitā vegaḿ

patantyā me mahī-tale

anyathā bhū-talaḿ bhittvā

nṛpa yāsye rasātalam

 

kaḥ — who is that person; api — indeed; dhārayitā — who can sustain; vegam — the force of the waves; patantyāḥ — while falling down; me — of me; mahī-tale — upon this earth; anyathā — otherwise; bhū-talam — the surface of the earth; bhittvā — piercing; nṛpa — O King; yāsye — I shall go down; rasātalam — to Pātāla, the lower part of the universe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mother Ganges replied: When I fall from the sky to the surface of the planet earth, the water will certainly be very forceful. Who will sustain that force? If I am not sustained, I shall pierce the surface of the earth and go down to Rasātala, the Pātāla area of the universe.

 

9.9.5

kiḿ cāhaḿ na bhuvaḿ yāsye

narā mayy āmṛjanty agham

mṛjāmi tad aghaḿ kvāhaḿ

rājaḿs tatra vicintyatām

 

kim ca — also; aham — I; na — not; bhuvam — to the planet earth; yāsye — shall go; narāḥ — the people in general; mayi — in me, in my water; āmṛjanti — cleanse; agham — the reactions of their sinful activity; mṛjāmi — I shall wash; tat — that; agham — accumulation of sinful reactions; kva — unto whom; aham — I; rājan — O King; tatra — on this fact; vicintyatām — please consider carefully and decide.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, I do not wish to go down to the planet earth, for there the people in general will bathe in my water to cleanse themselves of the reactions of their sinful deeds. When all these sinful reactions accumulate in me, how shall I become free from them? You must consider this very carefully.

 

9.9.6

śrī-bhagīratha uvāca

sādhavo nyāsinaḥ śāntā

brahmiṣṭhā loka-pāvanāḥ

haranty aghaḿ te 'ńga-sańgāt

teṣv āste hy agha-bhid dhariḥ

 

śrī-bhagīrathaḥ uvāca — Bhagīratha said; sādhavaḥ — saintly persons; nyāsinaḥ — sannyāsīs; śāntāḥ — peaceful, free from material disturbances; brahmiṣṭhāḥ — expert in following the regulative principles of Vedic scripture; loka-pāvanāḥ — who are engaged in delivering the entire world from a fallen condition; haranti — shall remove; agham — the reactions of sinful life; te — of you (mother Ganges); ańga-sańgāt — by bathing in the Ganges water; teṣu — within themselves; āste — there is; hi — indeed; agha-bhit — the Supreme Personality, who can vanquish all sinful activities; hariḥ — the Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bhagīratha said: Those who are saintly because of devotional service and are therefore in the renounced order, free from material desires, and who are pure devotees, expert in following the regulative principles mentioned in the Vedas, are always glorious and pure in behavior and are able to deliver all fallen souls. When such pure devotees bathe in your water, the sinful reactions accumulated from other people will certainly be counteracted, for such devotees always keep in the core of their hearts the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can vanquish all sinful reactions.

 

9.9.7

dhārayiṣyati te vegaḿ

rudras tv ātmā śarīriṇām

yasminn otam idaḿ protaḿ

viśvaḿ śāṭīva tantuṣu

 

dhārayiṣyati — will sustain; te — your; vegam — force of the waves; rudraḥ — Lord Śiva; tu — indeed; ātmā — the Supersoul; śarīriṇām — of all embodied souls; yasmin — in whom; otam — is situated in its longitude; idam — this whole universe; protam — latitude; viśvam — the whole universe; śāṭī — a cloth; iva — as; tantuṣu — in threads.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Like a cloth woven of threads extending for its length and breadth, this entire universe, in all its latitude and longitude, is situated under different potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Śiva is the incarnation of the Lord, and thus he represents the Supersoul in the embodied soul. He can sustain your forceful waves on his head.

 

9.9.8

ity uktvā sa nṛpo devaḿ

tapasātoṣayac chivam

kālenālpīyasā rājaḿs

tasyeśaś cāśv atuṣyata

 

iti uktvā — after saying this; saḥ — he; nṛpaḥ — the King (Bhagīratha); devam — unto Lord Śiva; tapasā — by executing austerities; atoṣayat — pleased; śivam — Lord Śiva, the all-auspicious; kālena — by time; alpīyasā — which was not very long; rājan — O King; tasya — upon him (Bhagīratha); īśaḥ — Lord Śiva; ca — indeed; āśu — very soon; atuṣyata — became satisfied.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After saying this, Bhagīratha satisfied Lord Śiva by performing austerities. O King Parīkṣit, Lord Śiva was very quickly satisfied with Bhagīratha.

 

9.9.9

tatheti rājñābhihitaḿ

sarva-loka-hitaḥ śivaḥ

dadhārāvahito gańgāḿ

pāda-pūta-jalāḿ hareḥ

 

tathā — (let it be) so; iti — thus; rājñā abhihitam — having been addressed by the King (Bhagīratha); sarva-loka-hitaḥ — the Personality of Godhead, who is always auspicious to everyone; śivaḥ — Lord Śiva; dadhāra — sustained; avahitaḥ — with great attention; gańgām — the Ganges; pāda-pūta-jalām hareḥ — whose water is transcendentally pure because of emanating from the toes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When King Bhagīratha approached Lord Śiva and requested him to sustain the forceful waves of the Ganges, Lord Śiva accepted the proposal by saying, "Let it be so." Then, with great attention, he sustained the Ganges on his head, for the water of the Ganges is purifying, having emanated from the toes of Lord Viṣṇu.

 

9.9.10

bhagīrathaḥ sa rājarṣir

ninye bhuvana-pāvanīm

yatra sva-pitṝṇāḿ dehā

bhasmībhūtāḥ sma śerate

 

bhagīrathaḥ — King Bhagīratha; saḥ — he; rāja-ṛṣiḥ — the great saintly king; ninye — carried or brought; bhuvana-pāvanīm — mother Ganges, who can deliver the whole universe; yatra — in that place where; sva-pitṝṇām — of his forefathers; dehāḥ — the bodies; bhasmībhūtāḥ — having been burnt to ashes; sma śerate — were lying.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great and saintly king Bhagīratha brought the Ganges, which can deliver all the fallen souls, to that place on earth where the bodies of his forefathers lay burnt to ashes.

 

9.9.11

rathena vāyu-vegena

prayāntam anudhāvatī

deśān punantī nirdagdhān

āsiñcat sagarātmajān

 

rathena — on a chariot; vāyu-vegena — driving at the speed of the wind; prayāntam — Mahārāja Bhagīratha, who was going in front; anudhāvatī — running after; deśān — all the countries; punantī — sanctifying; nirdagdhān — who had been burnt to ashes; āsiñcat — sprinkled over; sagara-ātmajān — the sons of Sagara.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bhagīratha mounted a swift chariot and drove before mother Ganges, who followed him, purifying many countries, until they reached the ashes of Bhagīratha's forefathers, the sons of Sagara, who were thus sprinkled with water from the Ganges.

 

9.9.12

yaj-jala-sparśa-mātreṇa

brahma-daṇḍa-hatā api

sagarātmajā divaḿ jagmuḥ

kevalaḿ deha-bhasmabhiḥ

 

yat-jala — whose water; sparśa-mātreṇa — simply by touching; brahma-daṇḍa-hatāḥ — those who were condemned for offending brahma, the self; api — although; sagara-ātmajāḥ — the sons of Sagara; divam — to the heavenly planets; jagmuḥ — went; kevalam — only; deha-bhasmabhiḥ — by the remaining ashes of their burnt bodies.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because the sons of Sagara Mahārāja had offended a great personality, the heat of their bodies had increased, and they were burnt to ashes. But simply by being sprinkled with water from the Ganges, all of them became eligible to go to the heavenly planets. What then is to be said of those who use the water of mother Ganges to worship her?

 

9.9.13

bhasmībhūtāńga-sańgena

svar yātāḥ sagarātmajāḥ

kiḿ punaḥ śraddhayā devīḿ

sevante ye dhṛta-vratāḥ

 

bhasmībhūta-ańga — by the body which had been burnt to ashes; sańgena — by contacting the water of the Ganges; svaḥ yātāḥ — went to the heavenly planets; sagara-ātmajāḥ — the sons of Sagara; kim — what to speak of; punaḥ — again; śraddhayā — with faith and devotion; devīm — unto mother Ganges; sevante — worship; ye — those persons who; dhṛta-vratāḥ — with vows of determination.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Simply by having water from the Ganges come in contact with the ashes of their burnt bodies, the sons of Sagara Mahārāja were elevated to the heavenly planets. Therefore, what is to be said of a devotee who worships mother Ganges faithfully with a determined vow? One can only imagine the benefit that accrues to such a devotee.

 

9.9.14

na hy etat param āścaryaḿ

svardhunyā yad ihoditam

ananta-caraṇāmbhoja-

prasūtāyā bhava-cchidaḥ

 

na — not; hi — indeed; etat — this; param — ultimate; āścaryam — wonderful thing; svardhunyāḥ — of the water of the Ganges; yat — which; iha — herewith; uditam — has been described; ananta — of the Supreme Lord; caraṇa-ambhoja — from the lotus of the feet; prasūtāyāḥ — of that which emanates; bhava-chidaḥ — which can liberate from material bondage.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because mother Ganges emanates from the lotus toe of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, she is able to liberate one from material bondage. Therefore whatever is described herewith about her is not at all wonderful.

 

9.9.15

sanniveśya mano yasmiñ

chraddhayā munayo 'malāḥ

traiguṇyaḿ dustyajaḿ hitvā

sadyo yātās tad-ātmatām

 

sanniveśya — giving full attention; manaḥ — the mind; yasmin — unto whom; śraddhayā — with faith and devotion; munayaḥ — great saintly persons; amalāḥ — freed from all contamination of sins; traiguṇyam — the three modes of material nature; dustyajam — very difficult to give up; hitvā — they can nonetheless give up; sadyaḥ — immediately; yātāḥ — achieved; tat-ātmatām — the spiritual quality of the Supreme.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Great sages, completely freed from material lusty desires, devote their minds fully to the service of the Lord. Such persons are liberated from material bondage without difficulty, and they become transcendentally situated, acquiring the spiritual quality of the Lord. This is the glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

9.9.16-17

śruto bhagīrathāj jajñe

tasya nābho 'paro 'bhavat

sindhudvīpas tatas tasmād

ayutāyus tato 'bhavat

 

ṛtūparṇo nala-sakho

yo 'śva-vidyām ayān nalāt

dattvākṣa-hṛdayaḿ cāsmai

sarvakāmas tu tat-sutam

 

śrutaḥ — a son named Śruta; bhagīrathāt — from Bhagīratha; jajñe — was born; tasya — of Śruta; nābhaḥ — by the name Nābha; aparaḥ — different from the Nābha previously described; abhavat — was born; sindhudvīpaḥ — by the name Sindhudvīpa; tataḥ — from Nābha; tasmāt — from Sindhudvīpa; ayutāyuḥ — a son named Ayutāyu; tataḥ — thereafter; abhavat — was born;

 

ṛtūparṇaḥ — a son named Ṛtūparṇa; nala-sakhaḥ — who was a friend of Nala; yaḥ — one who; aśva-vidyām — the art of controlling horses; ayāt — achieved; nalāt — from Nala; dattvā — after giving in exchange; akṣa-hṛdayam — the secrets of the art of gambling; ca — and; asmai — unto Nala; sarvakāmaḥ — by the name Sarvakāma; tu — indeed; tat-sutam — his son (the son of Ṛtūparṇa).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Bhagīratha had a son named Śruta, whose son was Nābha. This son was different from the Nābha previously described. Nābha had a son named Sindhudvīpa, from Sindhudvīpa came Ayutāyu, and from Ayutāyu came Ṛtūparṇa, who became a friend of Nalarāja. Ṛtūparṇa taught Nalarāja the art of gambling, and Nalarāja gave Ṛtūparṇa lessons in controlling and maintaining horses. The son of Ṛtūparṇa was Sarvakāma.

 

9.9.18

tataḥ sudāsas tat-putro

damayantī-patir nṛpaḥ

āhur mitrasahaḿ yaḿ vai

kalmāṣāńghrim uta kvacit

vasiṣṭha-śāpād rakṣo 'bhūd

anapatyaḥ sva-karmaṇā

 

tataḥ — from Sarvakāma; sudāsaḥ — Sudāsa was born; tat-putraḥ — the son of Sudāsa; damayantī-patiḥ — the husband of Damayantī; nṛpaḥ — he became king; āhuḥ — it is said; mitrasaham — Mitrasaha; yam vai — also; kalmāṣāńghrim — by Kalmāṣapāda; uta — known; kvacit — sometimes; vasiṣṭha-śāpāt — being cursed by Vasiṣṭha; rakṣaḥ — a man-eater; abhūt — became; anapatyaḥ — without any son; sva-karmaṇā — by his own sinful act.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sarvakāma had a son named Sudāsa, whose son, known as Saudāsa, was the husband of Damayantī. Saudāsa is sometimes known as Mitrasaha or Kalmāṣapāda. Because of his own misdeed, Mitrasaha was sonless and was cursed by Vasiṣṭha to become a man-eater [Rākṣasa].

 

9.9.19

śrī-rājovāca

kiḿ nimitto guroḥ śāpaḥ

saudāsasya mahātmanaḥ

etad veditum icchāmaḥ

kathyatāḿ na raho yadi

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — King Parīkṣit said; kim nimittaḥ — for what reason; guroḥ — of the spiritual master; śāpaḥ — curse; saudāsasya — of Saudāsa; mahā-ātmanaḥ — of the great soul; etat — this; veditum — to know; icchāmaḥ — I wish; kathyatām — please tell me; na — not; rahaḥ — confidential; yadi — if.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Parīkṣit said: O Śukadeva Gosvāmī, why did Vasiṣṭha, the spiritual master of Saudāsa, curse that great soul? I wish to know of this. If it is not a confidential matter, please describe it to me.

 

9.9.20-21

śrī-śuka uvāca

saudāso mṛgayāḿ kiñcic

caran rakṣo jaghāna ha

mumoca bhrātaraḿ so 'tha

gataḥ praticikīrṣayā

 

sañcintayann aghaḿ rājñaḥ

sūda-rūpa-dharo gṛhe

gurave bhoktu-kāmāya

paktvā ninye narāmiṣam

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saudāsaḥ — King Saudāsa; mṛgayām — in hunting; kiñcit — sometimes; caran — wandering; rakṣaḥ — a Rākṣasa, or man-eater; jaghāna — killed; ha — in the past; mumoca — released; bhrātaram — the brother of that Rākṣasa; saḥ — that brother; atha — thereafter; gataḥ — went; praticikīrṣayā — for taking revenge;

 

sañcintayan — he thought; agham — to do some harm; rājñaḥ — of the King; sūda-rūpa-dharaḥ — disguised himself as a cook; gṛhe — in the house; gurave — unto the King's spiritual master; bhoktu-kāmāya — who came there to take dinner; paktvā — after cooking; ninye — gave him; nara-āmiṣam — the flesh of a human being.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Once Saudāsa went to live in the forest, where he killed a man-eater [Rākṣasa] but forgave and released the man-eater's brother. That brother, however, decided to take revenge. Thinking to harm the King, he became the cook at the King's house. One day, the King's spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha Muni, was invited for dinner, and the Rākṣasa cook served him human flesh.

 

9.9.22

parivekṣyamāṇaḿ bhagavān

vilokyābhakṣyam añjasā

rājānam aśapat kruddho

rakṣo hy evaḿ bhaviṣyasi

 

parivekṣyamāṇam — while examining the eatables; bhagavān — the most powerful; vilokya — when he saw; abhakṣyam — unfit for consumption; añjasā — very easily by his mystic power; rājānam — unto the King; aśapat — cursed; kruddhaḥ — being very angry; rakṣaḥ — a man-eater; hi — indeed; evam — in this way; bhaviṣyasi — you shall become.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While examining the food given to him, Vasiṣṭha Muni, by his mystic power, could understand that it was unfit to eat, being the flesh of a human being. He was very angry at this and immediately cursed Saudāsa to become a man-eater.

 

9.9.23-24

rakṣaḥ-kṛtaḿ tad viditvā

cakre dvādaśa-vārṣikam

so 'py apo-'ñjalim ādāya

guruḿ śaptuḿ samudyataḥ

 

vārito madayantyāpo

ruśatīḥ pādayor jahau

diśaḥ kham avanīḿ sarvaḿ

paśyañ jīvamayaḿ nṛpaḥ

 

rakṣaḥ-kṛtam — having been done by the Rākṣasa only; tat — that serving of human flesh; viditvā — after understanding; cakre — (Vasiṣṭha) performed; dvādaśa-vārṣikam — twelve years of penance for atonement; saḥ — that Saudāsa; api — also; apaḥ-añjalim — a palmful of water; ādāya — taking; gurum — his spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha; śaptum — to curse; samudyataḥ — was preparing;

 

vāritaḥ — being forbidden; madayantyā — by his wife, who was also known as Madayantī; apaḥ — water; ruśatīḥ — strong by chanting of a mantra; pādayoḥ jahau — threw on his legs; diśaḥ — all directions; kham — in the sky; avanīm — on the surface of the world; sarvam — everywhere; paśyan — seeing; jīva-mayam — full of living entities; nṛpaḥ — the King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Vasiṣṭha understood that the human flesh had been served by the Rākṣasa, not by the King, he undertook twelve years of austerity to cleanse himself for having cursed the faultless King. Meanwhile, King Saudāsa took water and chanted the śapa-mantra, preparing to curse Vasiṣṭha, but his wife, Madayantī, forbade him to do so. Then the King saw that the ten directions, the sky and the surface of the globe were full of living entities everywhere.

 

9.9.25

rākṣasaḿ bhāvam āpannaḥ

pāde kalmāṣatāḿ gataḥ

vyavāya-kāle dadṛśe

vanauko-dampatī dvijau

 

rākṣasam — man-eating; bhāvam — propensity; āpannaḥ — having gotten; pāde — on the leg; kalmāṣatām — a black spot; gataḥ — obtained; vyavāya-kāle — at the time of sexual intercourse; dadṛśe — he saw; vana-okaḥ — living in the forest; dam-patī — a husband and wife; dvijau — who were brāhmaṇas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Saudāsa thus acquired the propensity of a man-eater and received on his leg a black spot, for which he was known as Kalmāṣapāda. Once King Kalmāṣapāda saw a brāhmaṇa couple engaged in sexual intercourse in the forest.

 

9.9.26-27

kṣudhārto jagṛhe vipraḿ

tat-patny āhākṛtārthavat

na bhavān rākṣasaḥ sākṣād

ikṣvākūṇāḿ mahā-rathaḥ

 

madayantyāḥ patir vīra

nādharmaḿ kartum arhasi

dehi me 'patya-kāmāyā

akṛtārthaḿ patiḿ dvijam

 

kṣudhā-ārtaḥ — being aggrieved by hunger; jagṛhe — caught; vipram — the brāhmaṇa; tat-patnī — his wife; āha — said; akṛta-artha-vat — being unsatisfied, poor and hungry; na — not; bhavān — yourself; rākṣasaḥ — a man-eater; sākṣāt — directly or factually; ikṣvākūṇām — among the descendants of Mahārāja Ikṣvāku; mahā-rathaḥ — a great fighter;

 

madayantyāḥ — of Madayantī; patiḥ — the husband; vīra — O hero; na — not; adharmam — irreligious act; kartum — to do; arhasi — you deserve; dehi — please deliver; me — my; apatya-kāmāyāḥ — desiring to get a son; akṛta-artham — whose desire has not been fulfilled; patim — husband; dvijam — who is a brāhmaṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being influenced by the propensity of a Rākṣasa and being very hungry, King Saudāsa seized the brāhmaṇa. Then the poor woman, the brāhmaṇa's wife, said to the King: O hero, you are not actually a man-eater; rather, you are among the descendants of Mahārāja Ikṣvāku. Indeed, you are a great fighter, the husband of Madayantī. You should not act irreligiously in this way. I desire to have a son. Please, therefore, return my husband, who has not yet impregnated me.

 

9.9.28

deho 'yaḿ mānuṣo rājan

puruṣasyākhilārthadaḥ

tasmād asya vadho vīra

sarvārtha-vadha ucyate

 

dehaḥ — body; ayam — this; mānuṣaḥ — human; rājan — O King; puruṣasya — of the living being; akhila — universal; artha-daḥ — beneficial; tasmāt — therefore; asya — of the body of my husband; vadhaḥ — the killing; vīra — O hero; sarva-artha-vadhaḥ — killing all beneficial opportunities; ucyate — it is said.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, O hero, this human body is meant for universal benefits. If you kill this body untimely, you will kill all the benefits of human life.

 

9.9.29

eṣa hi brāhmaṇo vidvāḿs

tapaḥ-śīla-guṇānvitaḥ

ārirādhayiṣur brahma

mahā-puruṣa-saḿjñitam

sarva-bhūtātma-bhāvena

bhūteṣv antarhitaḿ guṇaiḥ

 

eṣaḥ — this; hi — indeed; brāhmaṇaḥ — a qualified brāhmaṇa; vidvān — learned in Vedic knowledge; tapaḥ — austerity; śīla — good behavior; guṇa-anvitaḥ — endowed with all good qualities; ārirādhayiṣuḥ — desiring to be engaged in worshiping; brahma — the Supreme Brahman; mahā-puruṣa — the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa; saḿjñitam — known as; sarva-bhūta — of all living entities; ātma-bhāvena — as the Supersoul; bhūteṣu — in every living entity; antarhitam — within the core of the heart; guṇaiḥ — by qualities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Here is a learned, highly qualified brāhmaṇa, engaged in performing austerity and eagerly desiring to worship the Supreme Lord, the Supersoul who lives within the core of the heart in all living entities.

 

9.9.30

so 'yaḿ brahmarṣi-varyas te

rājarṣi-pravarād vibho

katham arhati dharma-jña

vadhaḿ pitur ivātmajaḥ

 

saḥ — he, the brāhmaṇa; ayam — this; brahma-ṛṣi-varyaḥ — not only a brāhmaṇa but the best of great sages, or brahmarṣis; te — also from you; rāja-ṛṣi-pravarāt — who are the best of all saintly kings, or rājarṣis; vibho — O master of the state; katham — how; arhati — he deserves; dharma-jña — O you, who are quite aware of religious principles; vadham — killing; pituḥ — from the father; iva — like; ātmajaḥ — the son.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My lord, you are completely aware of the religious principles. As a son never deserves to be killed by his father, here is a brāhmaṇa who should be protected by the king, and never killed. How does he deserve to be killed by a rājarṣi like you?

 

9.9.31

tasya sādhor apāpasya

bhrūṇasya brahma-vādinaḥ

kathaḿ vadhaḿ yathā babhror

manyate san-mato bhavān

 

tasya — of him; sādhoḥ — of the great saintly person; apāpasya — of one who has no sinful life; bhrūṇasya — of the embryo; brahma-vādinaḥ — of one who is well versed in Vedic knowledge; katham — how; vadham — the killing; yathā — as; babhroḥ — of a cow; manyate — you are thinking; sat-mataḥ — well recognized by higher circles; bhavān — your good self.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You are well known and worshiped in learned circles. How dare you kill this brāhmaṇa, who is a saintly, sinless person, well versed in Vedic knowledge? Killing him would be like destroying the embryo within the womb or killing a cow.

 

9.9.32

yady ayaḿ kriyate bhakṣyas

tarhi māḿ khāda pūrvataḥ

na jīviṣye vinā yena

kṣaṇaḿ ca mṛtakaḿ yathā

 

yadi — if; ayam — this brāhmaṇa; kriyate — is accepted; bhakṣyaḥ — as eatable; tarhi — then; mām — me; khāda — eat; pūrvataḥ — before that; na — not; jīviṣye — I shall live; vinā — without; yena — whom (my husband); kṣaṇam ca — even for a moment; mṛtakam — a dead body; yathā — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Without my husband, I cannot live for a moment. If you want to eat my husband, it would be better to eat me first, for without my husband I am as good as a dead body.

 

9.9.33

evaḿ karuṇa-bhāṣiṇyā

vilapantyā anāthavat

vyāghraḥ paśum ivākhādat

saudāsaḥ śāpa-mohitaḥ

 

evam — in this way; karuṇa-bhāṣiṇyāḥ — while the brāhmaṇa's wife was speaking very pitiably; vilapantyāḥ — lamenting severely; anātha-vat — exactly like a woman who has no protector; vyāghraḥ — a tiger; paśum — prey animal; iva — like; akhādat — ate up; saudāsaḥ — King Saudāsa; śāpa — by the curse; mohitaḥ — because of being condemned.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being condemned by the curse of Vasiṣṭha, King Saudāsa devoured the brāhmaṇa, exactly as a tiger eats its prey. Even though the brāhmaṇa's wife spoke so pitiably, Saudāsa was unmoved by her lamentation.

 

9.9.34

brāhmaṇī vīkṣya didhiṣuḿ

puruṣādena bhakṣitam

śocanty ātmānam urvīśam

aśapat kupitā satī

 

brāhmaṇī — the wife of the brāhmaṇa; vīkṣya — after seeing; didhiṣum — her husband, who was about to give the seed of a child; puruṣa-adena — by the man-eater (Rākṣasa); bhakṣitam — having been eaten up; śocantī — lamenting very much; ātmānam — for her body or her self; urvīśam — unto the King; aśapat — cursed; kupitā — being angry; satī — the chaste woman.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the chaste wife of the brāhmaṇa saw that her husband, who was about to discharge semen, had been eaten by the man-eater, she was overwhelmed with grief and lamentation. Thus she angrily cursed the King.

 

9.9.35

yasmān me bhakṣitaḥ pāpa

kāmārtāyāḥ patis tvayā

tavāpi mṛtyur ādhānād

akṛta-prajña darśitaḥ

 

yasmāt — because; me — my; bhakṣitaḥ — was eaten up; pāpa — O sinful one; kāma-ārtāyāḥ — of a woman very much bereaved because of sexual desire; patiḥ — husband; tvayā — by you; tava — your; api — also; mṛtyuḥ — death; ādhānāt — when you try to discharge semen in your wife; akṛta-prajña — O foolish rascal; darśitaḥ — this curse is placed upon you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O foolish, sinful person, because you have eaten my husband when I was sexually inclined and desiring to have the seed of a child, I shall also see you die when you attempt to discharge semen in your wife. In other words, whenever you attempt to sexually unite with your wife, you shall die.

 

9.9.36

evaḿ mitrasahaḿ śaptvā

pati-loka-parāyaṇā

tad-asthīni samiddhe 'gnau

prāsya bhartur gatiḿ gatā

 

evam — in this way; mitrasaham — King Saudāsa; śaptvā — after cursing; pati-loka-parāyaṇā — because of being inclined to go with her husband; tat-asthīni — her husband's bones; samiddhe agnau — in the burning fire; prāsya — after placing; bhartuḥ — of her husband; gatim — to the destination; gatā — she also went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus the wife of the brāhmaṇa cursed King Saudāsa, known as Mitrasaha. Then, being inclined to go with her husband, she set fire to her husband's bones, fell into the fire herself, and went with him to the same destination.

 

9.9.37

viśāpo dvādaśābdānte

maithunāya samudyataḥ

vijñāpya brāhmaṇī-śāpaḿ

mahiṣyā sa nivāritaḥ

 

viśāpaḥ — being released from the period of the curse; dvādaśa-abda-ante — after twelve years; maithunāya — for sexual intercourse with his wife; samudyataḥ — when Saudāsa was prepared to do it; vijñāpya — reminding him about; brāhmaṇī-śāpam — the curse given by the brāhmaṇī; mahiṣyā — by the Queen; saḥ — he (the King); nivāritaḥ — checked.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After twelve years, when King Saudāsa was released from the curse by Vasiṣṭha, he wanted to have sexual intercourse with his wife. But the Queen reminded him about the curse by the brāhmaṇī, and thus he was checked from sexual intercourse.

 

9.9.38

ata ūrdhvaḿ sa tatyāja

strī-sukhaḿ karmaṇāprajāḥ

vasiṣṭhas tad-anujñāto

madayantyāḿ prajām adhāt

 

ataḥ — in this way; ūrdhvam — in the near future; saḥ — he, the King; tatyāja — gave up; strī-sukham — the happiness of sexual intercourse; karmaṇā — by destiny; aprajāḥ — remained sonless; vasiṣṭhaḥ — the great saint Vasiṣṭha; tat-anujñātaḥ — being permitted by the King to beget a son; madayantyām — in the womb of Madayantī, King Saudāsa's wife; prajām — a child; adhāt — begot.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After being thus instructed, the King gave up the future happiness of sexual intercourse and by destiny remained sonless. Later, with the King's permission, the great saint Vasiṣṭha begot a child in the womb of Madayantī.

 

9.9.39

sā vai sapta samā garbham

abibhran na vyajāyata

jaghne 'śmanodaraḿ tasyāḥ

so 'śmakas tena kathyate

 

sā — she, Queen Madayantī; vai — indeed; sapta — seven; samāḥ — years; garbham — the child within the womb; abibhrat — continued to bear; na — not; vyajāyata — gave delivery; jaghne — struck; aśmanā — by a stone; udaram — abdomen; tasyāḥ — of her; saḥ — a son; aśmakaḥ — by the name Aśmaka; tena — because of this; kathyate — was called.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Madayantī bore the child within the womb for seven years and did not give birth. Therefore Vasiṣṭha struck her abdomen with a stone, and then the child was born. Consequently, the child was known as Aśmaka ["the child born of a stone"].

 

9.9.40

aśmakād bāliko jajñe

yaḥ strībhiḥ parirakṣitaḥ

nārī-kavaca ity ukto

niḥkṣatre mūlako 'bhavat

 

aśmakāt — from that son named Aśmaka; bālikaḥ — a son named Bālika; jajñe — was born; yaḥ — this child Bālika; strībhiḥ — by women; parirakṣitaḥ — was protected; nārī-kavacaḥ — having a shield of women; iti uktaḥ — was known as such; niḥkṣatre — when there were no kṣatriyas (all kṣatriyas having been vanquished by Paraśurāma); mūlakaḥ — Mūlaka, the progenitor of the kṣatriyas; abhavat — he became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From Aśmaka, Bālika took birth. Because Bālika was surrounded by women and was therefore saved from the anger of Paraśurāma, he was known as Nārīkavaca ["one who is protected by women"]. When Paraśurāma vanquished all the kṣatriyas, Bālika became the progenitor of more kṣatriyas. Therefore he was known as Mūlaka, the root of the kṣatriya dynasty.

 

9.9.41

tato daśarathas tasmāt

putra aiḍaviḍis tataḥ

rājā viśvasaho yasya

khaṭvāńgaś cakravarty abhūt

 

tataḥ — from Bālika; daśarathaḥ — a son named Daśaratha; tasmāt — from him; putraḥ — a son; aiḍaviḍiḥ — named Aiḍaviḍi; tataḥ — from him; rājā viśvasahaḥ — the famous King Viśvasaha was born; yasya — of whom; khaṭvāńgaḥ — the king named Khaṭvāńga; cakravartī — emperor; abhūt — became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From Bālika came a son named Daśaratha, from Daśaratha came a son named Aiḍaviḍi, and from Aiḍaviḍi came King Viśvasaha. The son of King Viśvasaha was the famous Mahārāja Khaṭvāńga.

 

9.9.42

yo devair arthito daityān

avadhīd yudhi durjayaḥ

muhūrtam āyur jñātvaitya

sva-puraḿ sandadhe manaḥ

 

yaḥ — King Khaṭvāńga who; devaiḥ — by the demigods; arthitaḥ — being requested; daityān — the demons; avadhīt — killed; yudhi — in a fight; durjayaḥ — very fierce; muhūrtam — for a second only; āyuḥ — duration of life; jñātvā — knowing; etya — approached; sva-puram — his own abode; sandadhe — fixed; manaḥ — the mind.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Khaṭvāńga was unconquerable in any fight. Requested by the demigods to join them in fighting the demons, he won victory, and the demigods, being very pleased, wanted to give him a benediction. The King inquired from them about the duration of his life and was informed that he had only one moment more. Thus he immediately left his palace and went to his own residence, where he engaged his mind fully on the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

9.9.43

na me brahma-kulāt prāṇāḥ

kula-daivān na cātmajāḥ

na śriyo na mahī rājyaḿ

na dārāś cātivallabhāḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; me — my; brahma-kulāt — than the groups of brāhmaṇas; prāṇāḥ — life; kula-daivāt — than the personalities worshipable for my family; na — not; ca — also; ātmajāḥ — sons and daughters; na — nor; śriyaḥ — opulence; na — nor; mahī — the earth; rājyam — kingdom; na — nor; dārāḥ — wife; ca — also; ati-vallabhāḥ — extremely dear.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Khaṭvāńga thought: Not even my life is dearer to me than the brahminical culture and the brāhmaṇas, who are worshiped by my family. What then is to be said of my kingdom, land, wife, children and opulence? Nothing is dearer to me than the brāhmaṇas.

 

9.9.44

na bālye 'pi matir mahyam

adharme ramate kvacit

nāpaśyam uttamaślokād

anyat kiñcana vastv aham

 

na — not; bālye — in childhood; api — indeed; matiḥ — attraction; mahyam — of me; adharme — in irreligious principles; ramate — enjoys; kvacit — at any time; na — nor; apaśyam — I saw; uttamaślokāt — than the Personality of Godhead; anyat — anything else; kiñcana — anything; vastu — substance; aham — I.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I was never attracted, even in my childhood, by insignificant things or irreligious principles. I did not find anything more substantial than the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

9.9.45

devaiḥ kāma-varo datto

mahyaḿ tri-bhuvaneśvaraiḥ

na vṛṇe tam ahaḿ kāmaḿ

bhūtabhāvana-bhāvanaḥ

 

devaiḥ — by the demigods; kāma-varaḥ — the benediction to have whatever he wanted; dattaḥ — was given; mahyam — unto me; tri-bhuvana-īśvaraiḥ — by the demigods, the protectors of the three worlds (who can do whatever they like within this material world); na vṛṇe — did not accept; tam — that; aham — I; kāmam — everything desirable within this material world; bhūtabhāvana-bhāvanaḥ — being fully absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead (and therefore not interested in anything material).

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demigods, the directors of the three worlds, wanted to give me whatever benediction I desired. I did not want their benedictions, however, because I am interested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who created everything in this material world. I am more interested in the Supreme Personality of Godhead than in all material benedictions.

 

9.9.46

ye vikṣiptendriya-dhiyo

devās te sva-hṛdi sthitam

na vindanti priyaḿ śaśvad

ātmānaḿ kim utāpare

 

ye — which personalities; vikṣipta-indriya-dhiyaḥ — whose senses, mind and intelligence are always agitated because of material conditions; devāḥ — like the demigods; te — such persons; sva-hṛdi — in the core of the heart; sthitam — situated; na — not; vindanti — know; priyam — the dearmost Personality of Godhead; śaśvat — constantly, eternally; ātmānam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kim uta — what to speak of; apare — others (like human beings).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even though the demigods have the advantages of being situated in the higher planetary system, their minds, senses and intelligence are agitated by material conditions. Therefore, even such elevated persons fail to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally situated in the core of the heart. What then is to be said of others, such as human beings, who have fewer advantages?

 

9.9.47

atheśa-māyā-raciteṣu sańgaḿ

guṇeṣu gandharva-puropameṣu

rūḍhaḿ prakṛtyātmani viśva-kartur

bhāvena hitvā tam ahaḿ prapadye

 

atha — therefore; īśa-māyā — by the external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; raciteṣu — in things manufactured; sańgam — attachment; guṇeṣu — in the modes of material nature; gandharva-pura-upameṣu — which are compared to the illusion of a gandharva-pura, a town or houses seen in the forest or on a hill; rūḍham — very powerful; prakṛtyā — by material nature; ātmani — unto the Supersoul; viśva-kartuḥ — of the creator of the whole universe; bhāvena — by devotional service; hitvā — giving up; tam — unto Him (the Lord); aham — I; prapadye — surrender.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore I should now give up my attachment for things created by the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I should engage in thought of the Lord and should thus surrender unto Him. This material creation, having been created by the external energy of the Lord, is like an imaginary town visualized on a hill or in a forest. Every conditioned soul has a natural attraction and attachment for material things, but one must simply give up this attachment and surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

9.9.48

iti vyavasito buddhyā

nārāyaṇa-gṛhītayā

hitvānya-bhāvam ajñānaḿ

tataḥ svaḿ bhāvam āsthitaḥ

 

iti — thus; vyavasitaḥ — having firmly decided; buddhyā — by proper intelligence; nārāyaṇa-gṛhītayā — completely controlled by the mercy of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hitvā — giving up; anya-bhāvam — consciousness other than Kṛṣṇa consciousness; ajñānam — which is nothing but constant ignorance and darkness; tataḥ — thereafter; svam — his original position as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa; bhāvam — devotional service; āsthitaḥ — situated.