01.058
Library: How Kshatriya race was revived; later danavas and devas took birth on earth.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
य एते कीर्तिता ब्रह्मन्ये चान्ये नानुकीर्तिताः। सम्यक्ताञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि राज्ञश्चान्यान्सुवर्चसः ॥१-५८-१॥
O Brahman, who are these praised ones and others not mentioned? I wish to hear about them properly, and about other illustrious kings.
यदर्थमिह सम्भूता देवकल्पा महारथाः। भुवि तन्मे महाभाग सम्यगाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१-५८-२॥
O fortunate one, you should properly tell me the purpose for which these god-like great warriors were born on earth.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
रहस्यं खल्विदं राजन्देवानामिति नः श्रुतम्। तत्तु ते कथयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्वा स्वयम्भुवे ॥१-५८-३॥
O King, we have indeed heard this secret of the gods. However, I will reveal it to you after offering my salutations to the self-born.
त्रिःसप्तकृत्वः पृथिवीं कृत्वा निःक्षत्रियां पुरा। जामदग्न्यस्तपस्तेपे महेन्द्रे पर्वतोत्तमे ॥१-५८-४॥
Parashurama, the son of Jamadagni, after ridding the earth of Kshatriyas twenty-one times in the past, performed penance on the great Mahendra mountain.
तदा निःक्षत्रिये लोके भार्गवेण कृते सति। ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रिया राजन्गर्भार्थिन्योऽभिचक्रमुः ॥१-५८-५॥
Then, when the world was devoid of kshatriyas due to the actions of Bhargava, the Kshatriya women, desiring offspring, approached the Brahmins, O king.
ताभिः सह समापेतुर्ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः। ऋतावृतौ नरव्याघ्र न कामान्नानृतौ तथा ॥१-५८-६॥
The Brahmins of firm vows arrived together with them, O tiger among men, adhering to truth and conduct, not driven by desires or falsehood.
तेभ्यस्तु लेभिरे गर्भान्क्षत्रियास्ताः सहस्रशः। ततः सुषुविरे राजन्क्षत्रियान्वीर्यसंमतान् ॥ कुमारांश्च कुमारीश्च पुनः क्षत्राभिवृद्धये ॥१-५८-७॥
To them, the Kshatriyas indeed obtained thousands of embryos. Then, O king, they gave birth to valor-approved Kshatriyas, sons and daughters, for the continued growth of the Kshatriya lineage.
एवं तद्ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रं क्षत्रियासु तपस्विभिः। जातमृध्यत धर्मेण सुदीर्घेणायुषान्वितम् ॥ चत्वारोऽपि तदा वर्णा बभूवुर्ब्राह्मणोत्तराः ॥१-५८-८॥
Thus, the Kshatriya class, born and nurtured by Brahmins and ascetics, flourished under the principles of dharma, endowed with long life. At that time, all four castes existed with Brahmins being the foremost.
अभ्यगच्छन्नृतौ नारीं न कामान्नानृतौ तथा। तथैवान्यानि भूतानि तिर्यग्योनिगतान्यपि ॥ ऋतौ दारांश्च गच्छन्ति तदा स्म भरतर्षभ ॥१-५८-९॥
O best of the Bharatas, beings approach their mates in season, not out of desire, and this is true for other creatures born in lower species as well. In season, they go to their wives.
ततोऽवर्धन्त धर्मेण सहस्रशतजीविनः। ताः प्रजाः पृथिवीपाल धर्मव्रतपरायणाः ॥ आधिभिर्व्याधिभिश्चैव विमुक्ताः सर्वशो नराः ॥१-५८-१०॥
Then, O protector of the earth, those subjects grew in righteousness, living for hundreds of thousands of years, and were completely free from all mental sufferings and diseases, devoted to the vow of righteousness.
अथेमां सागरापाङ्गां गां गजेन्द्रगताखिलाम्। अध्यतिष्ठत्पुनः क्षत्रं सशैलवनकाननाम् ॥१-५८-११॥
Then, this earth, bordered by the ocean and entirely under the control of the elephant, was once again ruled by the kings along with its mountains, forests, and groves.
प्रशासति पुनः क्षत्रे धर्मेणेमां वसुन्धराम्। ब्राह्मणाद्यास्तदा वर्णा लेभिरे मुदमुत्तमाम् ॥१-५८-१२॥
Once again, the kshatriya, ruling the earth with righteousness, brought supreme joy to the brahmins and other castes.
कामक्रोधोद्भवान्दोषान्निरस्य च नराधिपाः। दण्डं दण्ड्येषु धर्मेण प्रणयन्तोऽन्वपालयन् ॥१-५८-१३॥
The kings, by eliminating the faults born of desire and anger, administered justice by punishing the guilty and ensured the protection of their subjects.
तथा धर्मपरे क्षत्रे सहस्राक्षः शतक्रतुः। स्वादु देशे च काले च ववर्षाप्याययन्प्रजाः ॥१-५८-१४॥
Thus, in the field of supreme duty, the thousand-eyed Indra, known as Śatakratu, rained sweetly in the region and at the right time, nourishing all creatures.
न बाल एव म्रियते तदा कश्चिन्नराधिप। न च स्त्रियं प्रजानाति कश्चिदप्राप्तयौवनः ॥१-५८-१५॥
O King, at that time, no child dies, nor does anyone know a woman who has not yet reached her youth.
एवमायुष्मतीभिस्तु प्रजाभिर्भरतर्षभ। इयं सागरपर्यन्ता समापूर्यत मेदिनी ॥१-५८-१६॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, this earth, extending to the ocean, was populated by the long-lived subjects.
ईजिरे च महायज्ञैः क्षत्रिया बहुदक्षिणैः। साङ्गोपनिषदान्वेदान्विप्राश्चाधीयते तदा ॥१-५८-१७॥
The warriors performed great sacrifices with many gifts, and the learned studied the Vedas along with their limbs and Upanishads at that time.
न च विक्रीणते ब्रह्म ब्राह्मणाः स्म तदा नृप। न च शूद्रसमाभ्याशे वेदानुच्चारयन्त्युत ॥१-५८-१८॥
O king, the Brahmins do not sell the sacred knowledge, nor do they recite the Vedas in the presence of Shudras.
कारयन्तः कृषिं गोभिस्तथा वैश्याः क्षिताविह। न गामयुञ्जन्त धुरि कृशाङ्गाश्चाप्यजीवयन् ॥१-५८-१९॥
Here on earth, the merchants engaged in agriculture with cows, but they did not yoke the emaciated cows to the plow and also took care of them.
फेनपांश्च तथा वत्सान्न दुहन्ति स्म मानवाः। न कूटमानैर्वणिजः पण्यं विक्रीणते तदा ॥१-५८-२०॥
Humans did not milk the calves along with the froth. Merchants did not sell goods with false measures at that time.
कर्माणि च नरव्याघ्र धर्मोपेतानि मानवाः। धर्ममेवानुपश्यन्तश्चक्रुर्धर्मपरायणाः ॥१-५८-२१॥
O tiger among men, the humans, endowed with righteousness, performed their duties with a focus solely on dharma, being devoted to it.
स्वकर्मनिरताश्चासन्सर्वे वर्णा नराधिप। एवं तदा नरव्याघ्र धर्मो न ह्रसते क्वचित् ॥१-५८-२२॥
O King, all classes were engaged in their own duties. Thus, O tiger among men, the duty never diminishes anywhere.
काले गावः प्रसूयन्ते नार्यश्च भरतर्षभ। फलन्त्यृतुषु वृक्षाश्च पुष्पाणि च फलानि च ॥१-५८-२३॥
O best of the Bharatas, in due time, cows give birth and women too. Trees bear flowers and fruits in their seasons.
एवं कृतयुगे सम्यग्वर्तमाने तदा नृप। आपूर्यत मही कृत्स्ना प्राणिभिर्बहुभिर्भृशम् ॥१-५८-२४॥
During the Krita Yuga, when everything was in perfect order, the earth was abundantly populated with numerous beings, O king.
ततः समुदिते लोके मानुषे भरतर्षभ। असुरा जज्ञिरे क्षेत्रे राज्ञां मनुजपुङ्गव ॥१-५८-२५॥
O best of the Bharatas, when the human world emerged, demons appeared in the realm of kings, O noble one.
आदित्यैर्हि तदा दैत्या बहुशो निर्जिता युधि। ऐश्वर्याद्भ्रंशिताश्चापि सम्बभूवुः क्षिताविह ॥१-५८-२६॥
Indeed, then the demons were defeated many times in battle by the Ādityas and were deprived of their power, thus they came to exist here on earth.
इह देवत्वमिच्छन्तो मानुषेषु मनस्विनः। जज्ञिरे भुवि भूतेषु तेषु तेष्वसुरा विभो ॥१-५८-२७॥
Here, O Lord, the wise ones among humans, desiring divinity, were born on earth among beings; those were the demons.
गोष्वश्वेषु च राजेन्द्र खरोष्ट्रमहिषेषु च। क्रव्यादेषु च भूतेषु गजेषु च मृगेषु च ॥१-५८-२८॥
O King, the presence is in cows, horses, donkeys, camels, buffaloes, carnivorous beings, other beings, elephants, and deer.
जातैरिह महीपाल जायमानैश्च तैर्मही। न शशाकात्मनात्मानमियं धारयितुं धरा ॥१-५८-२९॥
O King, here on earth, with those who were born and those being born, the earth itself was unable to support itself.
अथ जाता महीपालाः केचिद्बलसमन्विताः। दितेः पुत्रा दनोश्चैव तस्माल्लोकादिह च्युताः ॥१-५८-३०॥
Then some powerful kings, born as sons of Diti and Danu, have fallen from this world.
वीर्यवन्तोऽवलिप्तास्ते नानारूपधरा महीम्। इमां सागरपर्यन्तां परीयुररिमर्दनाः ॥१-५८-३१॥
The powerful and arrogant warriors, capable of assuming various forms, traversed the earth up to the ocean's edge, destroying their enemies along the way.
ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियान्वैश्याञ्शूद्रांश्चैवाप्यपीडयन्। अन्यानि चैव भूतानि पीडयामासुरोजसा ॥१-५८-३२॥
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, as well as other beings, were tormented with strength.
त्रासयन्तो विनिघ्नन्तस्तांस्तान्भूतगणांश्च ते। विचेरुः सर्वतो राजन्महीं शतसहस्रशः ॥१-५८-३३॥
O king, they roamed the earth in hundreds of thousands, terrifying and annihilating those groups of beings.
आश्रमस्थान्महर्षींश्च धर्षयन्तस्ततस्ततः। अब्रह्मण्या वीर्यमदा मत्ता मदबलेन च ॥१-५८-३४॥
In the hermitages, the non-religious, intoxicated by their own power and pride, repeatedly harassed the great sages.
एवं वीर्यबलोत्सिक्तैर्भूरियं तैर्महासुरैः। पीड्यमाना महीपाल ब्रह्माणमुपचक्रमे ॥१-५८-३५॥
O King, the earth, oppressed by the great demons who were arrogant with their strength and power, sought the help of Brahma.
न हीमां पवनो राजन्न नागा न नगा महीम्। तदा धारयितुं शेकुराक्रान्तां दानवैर्बलात् ॥१-५८-३६॥
At that time, neither the wind, nor the serpents, nor the mountains could support the earth, as it was overwhelmed by the force of the demons, O king.
ततो मही महीपाल भारार्ता भयपीडिता। जगाम शरणं देवं सर्वभूतपितामहम् ॥१-५८-३७॥
Then the earth, burdened by the rule of the king and afflicted with fear, sought refuge in the god, the grandfather of all beings.
सा संवृतं महाभागैर्देवद्विजमहर्षिभिः। ददर्श देवं ब्रह्माणं लोककर्तारमव्ययम् ॥१-५८-३८॥
She, accompanied by the illustrious gods, brahmins, and great sages, beheld the god Brahma, the eternal creator of the universe.
गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च बन्दिकर्मसु निष्ठितैः। वन्द्यमानं मुदोपेतैर्ववन्दे चैनमेत्य सा ॥१-५८-३९॥
The Gandharvas and Apsaras, skilled in singing praises, joyfully praised him, and she approached and bowed to him.
अथ विज्ञापयामास भूमिस्तं शरणार्थिनी। संनिधौ लोकपालानां सर्वेषामेव भारत ॥१-५८-४०॥
Then, O Bharata, the Earth, seeking refuge, appealed to him in the presence of all the protectors of the world.
तत्प्रधानात्मनस्तस्य भूमेः कृत्यं स्वयम्भुवः। पूर्वमेवाभवद्राजन्विदितं परमेष्ठिनः ॥१-५८-४१॥
The supreme lord had already known the duty of the chief soul of the earth, the self-born, O king.
स्रष्टा हि जगतः कस्मान्न सम्बुध्येत भारत। सुरासुराणां लोकानामशेषेण मनोगतम् ॥१-५८-४२॥
O Bhārata, why would the creator of the universe not fully comprehend the thoughts of all the worlds, including those of gods and demons?
तमुवाच महाराज भूमिं भूमिपतिर्विभुः। प्रभवः सर्वभूतानामीशः शम्भुः प्रजापतिः ॥१-५८-४३॥
The omnipresent lord of the earth, Shambhu, who is the source and progenitor of all beings, addressed him, saying, 'O great king, the earth.'
यदर्थमसि सम्प्राप्ता मत्सकाशं वसुन्धरे। तदर्थं संनियोक्ष्यामि सर्वानेव दिवौकसः ॥१-५८-४४॥
O Earth, you have come to me for a purpose, and for that purpose, I will engage all the celestials.
इत्युक्त्वा स महीं देवो ब्रह्मा राजन्विसृज्य च। आदिदेश तदा सर्वान्विबुधान्भूतकृत्स्वयम् ॥१-५८-४५॥
After speaking thus, the god Brahma, having released the earth, commanded all the gods himself, O king, as the creator of beings.
अस्या भूमेर्निरसितुं भारं भागैः पृथक्पृथक्। अस्यामेव प्रसूयध्वं विरोधायेति चाब्रवीत् ॥१-५८-४६॥
He said, "To remove the burden of this earth, be born separately in parts for opposition in this very place."
तथैव च समानीय गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणान्। उवाच भगवान्सर्वानिदं वचनमुत्तमम् ॥ स्वैरंशैः सम्प्रसूयध्वं यथेष्टं मानुषेष्विति ॥१-५८-४७॥
Similarly, the Lord gathered the groups of Gandharvas and Apsaras and addressed them with these excellent words: "Procreate freely with your own parts as you desire among humans."
अथ शक्रादयः सर्वे श्रुत्वा सुरगुरोर्वचः। तथ्यमर्थ्यं च पथ्यं च तस्य ते जगृहुस्तदा ॥१-५८-४८॥
Then all the gods, including Indra, listened to the words of their guru and accepted them as true, beneficial, and wholesome.
अथ ते सर्वशोंऽशैः स्वैर्गन्तुं भूमिं कृतक्षणाः। नारायणममित्रघ्नं वैकुण्ठमुपचक्रमुः ॥१-५८-४९॥
Then they, having prepared themselves completely, began their journey to the earth to approach Narayana, the destroyer of enemies, in Vaikuntha.
यः स चक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासासितप्रभः। पद्मनाभः सुरारिघ्नः पृथुचार्वञ्चितेक्षणः ॥१-५८-५०॥
He is the one who holds the discus and mace, wears yellow garments, has a dark hue, a lotus at his navel, destroys the enemies of the gods, and possesses broad, charming, curved eyes.
तं भुवः शोधनायेन्द्र उवाच पुरुषोत्तमम्। अंशेनावतरस्वेति तथेत्याह च तं हरिः ॥१-५८-५१॥
Indra requested the Supreme Person to descend to purify the earth, and Hari agreed to do so by manifesting a part of himself.
