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2024-03-28, 6:12 PM |
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Chapter 2: The
Dynasties of Six of the Sons of Manu
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'After Sudyumna, thus had disappeared, Vaivasvata Manu, his father desiring a(nother) son, executed austerities
at the Yamunâ for a hundred years. (2) After for the purpose of offspring having worshiped the Godhead,
Lord Hari, Manu begot ten sons who were like him and of whom the eldest
was named Ikshvâku [see
also 8.13: 2-3]. (3) Prishadhra was among the sons of Manu by his
guru ordered to herd cows. For that purpose he had taken the vow of vîrâsana
['to stand
prepared with a sword'] to protect them at night [see also 4.6:
38]. (4)
One night when it was raining, a tiger entered the land of
the cowshed. Out of fear all the cows lying down, got up and
spread all around the field. (5-6) When
the strong animal seized
one of the cows it began to cry
out of distress and fear. Prishadhra hearing the screaming took his sword and hastily
followed the sound but
because the clouds covered the stars that night, he mistook the cow for the tiger and by mistake
cut off its head. (7) The
tiger also being hit by the sword had its ear cut off and most afraid fled leaving a blood trail. (8) Prishadhra
thinking
that
he
had
killed
the tiger, to his dismay discovered the
next morning that he being a hero, with his sword
had killed the cow. (9) The family preceptor [Vasishthha] cursed him
for the unintended sinful deed saying: 'Having acted like a s'ûdra,
you
cannot
belong
to
the
kshatriyas. Because of that unholy
deed it is your karma to become a
s'ûdra.' (10) The
hero thus being cursed by his guru accepted the words with folded hands
and took the vow of celibacy as wanted by the sages. (11-13) Exclusively
devoted
to
Vâsudeva,
the
Supreme
Lord and Soul of all, the
Transcendence and Purity in person, he was equal and
kindhearted towards all living beings. Freed from attachments, peaceful
within and self-controlled, he was, free from possessions, of a vision
in which he could accept whatever that was available for his physical
needs, the way it for the
benefit of the soul was arranged
by His grace.
Always with his mind focussed on the Supreme Self within and thus fully
absorbed
being satisfied in spiritual realization, he traveled all over the
earth
appearing to others as if he were deaf, dumb and blind. (14) After
thus being engaged he
entered the forest and as a saint achieved
the
ultimate transcendental goal the moment he out there ran into a forest
fire which he allowed to consume himself [see also B.G. 4: 9].
(15) Another son, Kavi [or Vasumân], the
youngest one, had no attachments to material pleasures. After giving up
his father's kingdom along with his friends, he, still a young man,
entered the forest and reached the transcendental world by always
keeping the effulgent Supreme Person in his heart.
(16) From the
son of
Manu Karûsha [or Tarûsha] there was a dynasty of kshatriyas
called the Kârûshas who as kings of the northern realm were
highly religious protectors of the brahminical culture.
(17) From Dhrishtha [or Shrishtha] a
caste of kshatriyas originated who in the world having achieved
the
position of brahmins, were named the Dhârshthas. From Nriga there
was the succession of first Sumati, Bhûtajyoti and thereafter
Vasu. (18) From
Vasu's son Pratîka there was
one
named
Oghavân ['the uninterrupted tradition'] who fathered another son
named
Oghavân who had a daughter who also carried that name:
Oghavatî.
She married with Sudars'ana.
(19) From Narishyanta there was Citrasena, Riksha
was his son and he begot Mîdhvân.
Mîdhvân's
son
was
Pûrna
and
Indrasena
was
Pûrna's son. (20) Because
of
Indrasena
there
was
Vîtihotra,
from
him there was
Satyas'ravâ, Urus'ravâ was his son and Devadatta was his son. (21) Devadatta's
son
became
the
most
powerful
Agnives'ya
who was Agni in person. He was a mahârishi,
a
great saint, also
known as Kânîna and Jâtûkarnya. (22)
From Agnives'ya a dynasty of
brahmins came forth known as the Âgnives'yâyanas. Oh
King, I
have thus described the descendants of Narishyanta, let me now tell you
about Dishtha's
dynasty.
(23-24) Dishtha's son was Nâbhâga
[not to confuse with his uncles Nabhaga or the Nâbhâga who
was also
called Nriga]. He in contrast answered to the vocation of the vais'yas
[a merchant, see 7.11: 23]. His son was Bhalandana and from him there
was
Vatsaprîti. His son was named Prâms'u and Pramati was his son. Khanitra is known as Pramati's
successor. He on his turn was succeeded by Câkshusha and his son
was Vivims'ati. (25)
Vivims'ati's son was Rambha and his son Khanînetra was
most religious. From him there was the scion
Karandhama oh great King. (26) Avîkshit
was his son and his son
Marutta became
emperor. The great mystic Samvarta, the son of Angirâ, engaged
him in performing a yajña. (27) The like of
Marutta's sacrifice has never been observed since, because all that he
used was made
of gold and everything that he had was of the greatest beauty. (28) Indra was
delighted to drink the soma-rasa,
the brahmins were generously compensated, the demigods [the Maruts] offered
foodstuffs
and
all
the
gods
of the universe were part of the
assembly. (29) Dama
was Marutta's son and from him
there was
a son with the power to expand the kingdom: Râjyavardhana. From
his
son Sudhriti a son was born named Nara. (30) Nara's
son was called Kevala and he fathered
Dhundhumân. Vegavân was there because of him and Vegavân's
son Budha had
Trinabindu for his son who was a great king. (31) Alambushâ
accepted
him
as
her
husband.
She
was an adorable goddess, a girl from heaven and
a reservoir of all good qualities who gave birth to a couple of sons
and a
daughter named Ilavilâ. (32) Vis'ravâ,
was
a
saint
and
master
of yoga. He received transcendental knowledge from his
father and
begot Kuvera in Ilavilâ: he who brings wealth. (33) Vis'âla,
S'ûnyabandhu
en
Dhûmraketu
were
the
sons
of Trinabindu. Vis'âla built a city named Vais'âlî and founded a dynasty. (34) Hemacandra
was
his
son
who
fathered
one called
Dhûmrâksha. From his son Samyama there were [two
sons called] Kris'âs'va and Devaja. (35-36) From Kris'âs'va there
was a son named Somadatta. By worshiping the best one of all, the Lord
of all Praises, the Original Person [Vishnu]
in an as'vamedha sacrifice, he achieved the
supreme destination where all the masters of yoga have their refuge. A son of Somadatta named Sumati thereupon
begot a son called
Janamejaya. All these kings of Vais'âlî sustained the reputation of King Trinabindu.'
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