01.061
Background deities and demons for each of the characters in the Mahabharata war.
Janamejaya said:
O venerable one, I wish to hear about all the gods, demons, yakṣas, rākṣasas, and other beings.
I wish to hear truly about the birth and deeds of these great souls among men, in their proper order.
Vaiśampāyana said:
O king of men, I shall first tell you completely about the celestial beings who were born among men, beginning with the demons.
The demon Vipracitti, known as the foremost among the Dānavas, was reborn as the foremost of men known as Jarāsandha.
O king, the son of Diti, remembered as Hiraṇyakaśipu, was born in the human world as Śiśupāla, the foremost among men.
The one known as Saṁhrāda, the younger brother of Prahlāda, was born as Śalya, the foremost among the Bāhlīkas.
The powerful Anuhrāda, the youngest brother, was born as the king among men known as Dhṛṣṭaketu.
O king, the Daitya named Śibi, widely renowned, was born on earth as the king known as Druma.
The excellent Asura named Bāṣkala was born as Bhagadatta, a great king among men.
Ayaḥśirā, Aśvaśirā, the mighty Ayaḥśaṅku, as well as Gaganamūrdhā, and Vegavān—these five are mentioned here.
O king, these five great and mighty Asuras were born among the Kekayas as noble souls and the foremost of royal princes.
The one known as Ketumān, then another glorious being was born on earth as the king renowned as Amitaujā.
The glorious and great Asura known as Svarbhānu was born as Ugrasena, the fierce-acting king of men.
The glorious great Asura known as Aśva was born as King Aśoka, mighty in strength and valor.
O king, his younger brother, known as Aśvapati, a Daitya, was born as King Hārdikya, the foremost among men.
The great Asura known as Vṛṣaparvan, glorious indeed, was born on earth as the king named Dīrghaprajña.
Ajaka, the younger brother of Vṛṣaparvan, O king, was born on earth as the king known as Malla.
The spirited great Asura known as Aśvagrīva was born on earth as the king named Rocamāna.
The wise and renowned Asura named Sūkṣma, O king, was born on earth as the celebrated king named Bṛhant.
The foremost of Asuras known as Tuhuṇḍa was born as the lord of men called Senābindu.
The exceedingly strong Asura named Isṛpā was born on earth as the king Pāpajit, famed for his valor.
The great Asura known as Ekacakra was born on earth as the celebrated king Prativindhya.
The Daitya Virūpākṣa, a skilled and mighty warrior, was born on earth as the king known as Citravarmā.
The heroic enemy-slayer Hara, the best among Dānavas, was born as Suvāstu, the foremost among men.
The mighty and radiant Ahara, destroyer of enemy hosts, was born on earth as the renowned king named Bāhlīka.
The foremost Asura named Nicandra and Candravaktra was born as the glorious king known as Muñjakeśa.
Nikumbha, undefeated in battle and of great wisdom, was born on earth as the foremost king known as Devādhipa.
Among the Daityas, the great Asura named Śarabha was born here among men as the royal sage Paurava.
The second among those Asuras, Śalabha, was born as the king of men known as Prahlāda, of the Bāhlīkas.
Candra, the foremost among the sons of Diti and like the moon among stars, was born as the royal sage Ṛṣika, the best among kings.
The foremost Asura known as Mṛtapā was born as the king of the western borderlands—know him thus, O best of kings.
The mighty and radiant Asura Gaviṣṭha was born on earth as the renowned king Drumasena.
The glorious great Asura Mayūra was born as Viśva, the ruler of the earth.
The younger brother of Viśva, known as Suparṇa, was born on earth as the king Kālakīrti.
The eminent Asura known as Candrahantā among them was born as the royal sage and king Śunaka.
The great Asura known as Vināśana, destroyer of Candra, was born as the royal sage and king named Jāniki.
Dīrghajihva, O Kauravya, the foremost among Dānavas, was born on earth as the ruler known as the King of Kāśī.
Siṁhī gave birth to a being called a “graha,” the subduer of the moon and sun; he became the renowned ruler of men known as Krātha.
Anāyuṣa, the foremost Asura among four sons, was born as the powerful king named Vasumitra.
The second great Asura born from Vikṣara became the renowned king known as the ruler of Pāṁsura kingdom.
The great Asura known as Balavīra was born as the king called Pauṇḍra-Matsyaka.
O king, the great Asura Vṛtra, renowned by that name, was born as the royal sage Maṇimān and became a king of men.
The younger brother of Vṛtra, the Asura named Krodhahantā, was born on earth as the famous ruler known as Daṇḍa.
Another Asura named Krodhavardhana was born as the lord of men known as Daṇḍadhāra.
O tiger among kings, eight sons of Kālakāya were born as kings, all possessing valor equal to tigers.
Among the Magadhas, the glorious king Jayatsena was the foremost of the eight great Kāleya Asuras.
The second among them, glorious and equal to Harihaya in might, became the king of men known as Aparājita.
O great king, the third mighty-armed great Asura was born on earth as the Niṣāda ruler, of terrible valor.
The fourth among them, as declared, was known on earth as Śreṇimān, the best among royal sages.
The fifth and foremost among them, the great Asura, became the renowned Mahaujā, a scorcher of enemies on earth.
The sixth among them, truly intelligent and a great Asura, was born on earth as the royal sage known as Abhīru.
Among them, Samudrasena became a king from that group—renowned on earth in the coastal regions, and a knower of dharma and artha.
The eighth of the Kāleyas, Bṛhannāma, O king, became a righteous-souled king devoted to the welfare of all beings and a scorcher of foes.
O king, from the group named Krodhavaśa, many heroic kings of men were born here on earth.
Nandika, Karṇaveṣṭa, Siddhārtha, Kīṭaka, Suvīra, Subāhu, Mahāvīra, and Bāhlika—these kings were born from that lineage.
Krodha, Vicitya, Surasa, the glorious Nīla and king; Vīradhāmā, O Kaurava, and the ruler of the earth, by name.
Dantavaktra and Durjaya by name, Rukmī the tiger among kings, and King Janamejaya.
Āṣāḍha, swift as the wind, and Bhūritejas of great brilliance; Ekalavya, Sumitra, Vāṭadhāna, and Gomukha.
The Kāruṣaka kings, Kṣemadhūrti likewise; also Śrutāyu, Uddhava, and Bṛhatsena as well.
Kṣemogratīrtha, Kuhara the king among the Kaliṅgas; the wise one, the lord among men, known as Īśvara, famed thus.
Thus from the clan, due to anger, a royal group arose on earth; formerly was born a king of great fame and strength, O great king.
He who was named Devaka, radiant like the king of gods, was born on earth as a king — the chief lord of the Gandharvas.
Know, O Bhārata, that Droṇa was born from a portion of Bṛhaspati, Bṛhatkīrti, the divine sage — Bharadvāja's son, not born from a womb.
O tiger among kings, among bowmen, he who was the supreme knower of all weapons, Bṛhatkīrti of great brilliance, was born here among men.
Whom the knowers of the Veda knew as the foremost in the science of archery and Veda, Droṇa of Indra-like deeds, the enhancer of his own lineage.
O Bhārata, from Mahādeva and Antaka, from desire and anger united, was born a heroic warrior, a scorcher of enemies.
Aśvatthāmā, of great might and the destroyer of enemy ranks, a hero with eyes like lotus petals, dwelled on earth, O king.
The eight Vasus were born as sons of Śantanu in Gaṅgā, due to the curse of Vasiṣṭha and the command of Vāsava.
Bhīṣma, the youngest of them, bringer of courage to the Kurus, wise, eloquent, and knower of the Veda, was the destroyer of enemy ranks.
He, the best among the learned, of great brilliance, fought with the noble Bhārgava Rāma, son of Jamadagni.
O king, know that Kṛpa, named among men as a great sage, was born from the group of Rudras, and was supremely heroic.
Śakuni, the mighty chariot-warrior king in this world—know, O king, that he was born of Dvāpara, the subduer of foes.
Sātyaki, the truthful and noble warrior of the Vṛṣṇi line, was born from the side of the Maruts, the enemy-crushing gods.
Drupada, the royal sage, was also born from that divine group in the human world, O king, as the best among all weapon-bearers.
Know, O king, that Kṛtavarmā, the lord of men, was born thereafter—unmatched in prowess and foremost among the best of warrior Kṣatriyas.
Know that Virāṭa, the royal sage and subduer of enemy kingdoms, was born from the host of the Maruts as a destroyer of foes.
Haṁsa, the renowned son of Ariṣṭā, was born as the lord of Gandharvas, an enhancer of the Kuru lineage.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, long-armed, full of brilliance, and wise-eyed, though born from Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, was known to the world as blind — due to his mother's fault and the sage's anger.
Know Vidura, the most virtuous and wisest of men, born in this world as the highly fortunate son of Atri and the best among the wise.
Duryodhana, the king, was born on earth from a portion of Kali — wicked in intellect and mind, and the cause of disgrace to the Kuru line.
That man of Kali, hated by all the world, who destroyed the entire earth—the lowest among men, by whom enmity was kindled, causing great destruction to living beings.
All the brothers of the Paulastya line were born among men here—the hundred cruel-hearted sons, including Duḥśāsana and others.
Durmukha, Duḥsaha, and others unnamed—all were allies of Duryodhana, of the Paulastya race, O best of the Bharatas.
Know, O king, that Yudhiṣṭhira is the portion of Dharma, Bhīmasena of Vāyu, and Arjuna of the king of gods.
Nakula and Sahadeva, the two portions of the Aśvins, were born on earth with incomparable beauty, enchanting all the worlds.
He who was known as Suvarcā, the valiant son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of great fame, the son of Arjuna.
Know Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the mighty charioteer, to be a portion of Agni; and know Śikhaṇḍin, O king, of dual gender, to be a Rākṣasa.
O best of the Bharatas, know the five sons of Draupadī to be incarnations of the Viśve-deva group, O king.
Know Karṇa, the great chariot-warrior born with armor, to be the unsurpassed portion of the sun-god.
He who is called Nārāyaṇa, the eternal god of gods—his glorious portion among men was Vāsudeva.
Know, O king, that Baladeva, greatly powerful, was a portion of Śeṣa the serpent, and Pradyumna, of great energy, was Sanatkumāra.
Thus, O king of men, many portions of the gods were born in the family of Vasudeva, enhancing the glory of the lineage.
O king, the host of Apsarases I have mentioned—portions of them were born on earth by the will and command of Indra.
O king, sixteen thousand goddesses became women in the human world, accepted as consorts by Nārāyaṇa.
The portion of Śrī was born on earth for the sake of love—as the flawless daughter of Drupada, arising from the altar.
She was neither too short nor tall, fragrant like the blue lotus, with wide lotus-like eyes, lovely hips, and long dark hair.
Endowed with all auspicious traits, gem-like in radiance, she enchanted the hearts of the five royal heroes in secret union.
Siddhi and Dhṛti, the two divine mothers of the five, were born as Kuntī and Mādrī; and Mati was born as Subala’s daughter.
Thus, O king, has been recounted the descent of the partial incarnations of gods, demons, Gandharvas, Apsarases, and Rākṣasas.
The kings born on earth, maddened by war, and the noble Yādavas born in a great lineage—all these have been described.
This narration of divine descents brings glory, long life, offspring, and victory; it should be heard without envy.
The wise one, knowing the rise and fall of gods, Gandharvas, and Rākṣasas, having heard of their divine descents, does not despair in hardship.
