01.089
saṃbhavaparva
The section of origin.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
bhagavañśrotumicchāmi pūrorvaṃśakarānnṛpān। yadvīryā yādṛśāścaiva yāvanto yatparākramāḥ॥01-89-1॥
O venerable one, I desire to hear about the kings—the descendants of Pūru—what was their might, what sort of men they were, how many there were, and what was their valor. (01-89-1)
na hy asmin śīlahīno vā nirvīryo vā narādhipaḥ। prajāvirahito vā api bhūtapūrvaḥ kadācana॥01-89-2॥
Indeed, at no time was there among these a king who was devoid of virtue, devoid of energy, without subjects, or merely a former (ruler). (01-89-2)
teṣāṃ prathitavṛttānāṃ rājñāṃ vijñānaśālinām। caritaṃ śrotum icchāmi vistareṇa tapodhana ॥01-89-3॥
O possessor of austerity, I wish to hear in detail the deeds of those kings of discerning wisdom whose conduct is renowned. (01-89-3)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi। pūror vaṃśadharān vīrān śakra-pratima-tejasaḥ ॥01-89-4॥
Indeed, I shall tell you, as you ask me, about the heroic descendants of Pururavas, whose brilliance is equal to Indra's. (01-89-4)
pravīreśvararaudrāśvāstrayaḥ putrā mahārathāḥ। pūroḥ pauṣṭyāmajāyanta pravīrastatra vaṃśakṛt॥01-89-5॥
Pravīra, Īśvara, and Raudrāśva—the three sons and great chariot-warriors—were born to Pūru in Pauṣṭyā; there, Pravīra became the progenitor of the lineage. (01-89-5)
manasyur abhavat tasmāc chūraḥ śyenīsutaḥ prabhuḥ। pṛthivyāś caturantāyā goptā rājīvalocanaḥ॥01-89-6॥
Manasyu was born; from him came a brave hero, the son of Śyenī, a lord, protector of the four-cornered earth, the lotus-eyed one. (01-89-6)
subhrūḥ saṃhanano vāgmī sauvīrītanayāstrayaḥ। manasyorabhavanputrāḥ śūrāḥ sarve mahārathāḥ॥01-89-7॥
The three sons of Sauvīrītanaya—who were of beautiful eyebrows, well-built, and eloquent—were the sons of Manasyu; they all were valiant great chariot-warriors. (01-89-7)
raudrāśvasya maheṣvāsā daśāpsarasi sūnavaḥ। yajvāno jajñire śūrāḥ prajāvanto bahuśrutāḥ॥ sarve sarvāstra-vidvāṃsaḥ sarve dharma-parāyaṇāḥ॥01-89-8॥
Ten sons of Raudrāśva, who were great archers, were born from the Apsaras—performers of sacrifice, heroic, prolific, and well-learned. All were skilled in all weapons, and all were devoted to righteousness. (01-89-8)
ṛcepuratha kakṣepuḥ kr̥kaṇepuś ca vīryavān। sthaṇḍilepurvanepuś ca sthalepuś ca mahārathaḥ॥01-89-9॥
Ṛcepuratha, Kakṣepu, Kṛkaṇepu—who was powerful—Sthaṇḍilepurvanepu, and Sthalepu were all great chariot-warriors. (01-89-9)
teje-pur-balavān-dhīmān-satye-puś-cendra-vikramaḥ। dharme-puḥ saṃnate-puś-ca daśamo deva-vikramaḥ॥ anādhṛṣṭi-sutās-tāta rājasūyāśvamedhinaḥ॥01-89-10॥
Endowed with splendor, strength, intellect, truthfulness, and the might of Indra; possessing righteousness, humility, the tenth, with the valor of a god; O dear one, the sons of Anādhrṣṭi were performers of Rājasūya and Ashvamedha sacrifices. (01-89-10)
matināras tato rājā vidvāñś carceputo ’bhavat। matinārasutā rājaṁś catvāro ’mitavikramāḥ ॥ taṁ sur mahān atiratho druhyuś cāpratima-dyutiḥ ॥01-89-11॥
Then, Matināra, a wise king and son of Carca, became (king); and, O king, Matināra had four sons of immeasurable valor. Among them, the noble and great warrior Druhyu possessed unmatched brilliance. (01-89-11)
teṣāṃ taṃ su-mahā-vīryaḥ pauravaṃ vaṃśam-udvahan। ājahāra yaśo dīptaṃ jigāya ca vasundharām॥01-89-12॥
Of those, that most valiant one, upholding the Paurava line, acquired shining fame and conquered the earth. (01-89-12)
ilinaṁ tu sutaṁ taṁ sur janayāmāsa vīryavān। so'pi kṛtsnām imāṁ bhūmiṁ vijigye jayatāṁ varaḥ ॥01-89-13॥
But the god, powerful, generated him as Ilina's son; and he, the best among the victorious, also conquered this entire earth. (01-89-13)
rathantaryāṃ sutānpan̄ca pan̄cabhūtopamāṃstataḥ। ilino janayāmāsa duḥṣantaprabhṛtīn nṛpa ॥01-89-14॥
O king, Ilina begot in Rathantari five sons like the five elements, namely Duhshanta and others. (01-89-14)
duḥṣantaṃ śūrabhīmau ca prapūrvaṃ vasumeva ca। teṣāṃ jyeṣṭho'bhavad rājā duḥṣanto janamejaya ॥01-89-15॥
O Janamejaya, among Duḥṣanta, Śūra, Bhīma, Prapūrva, and Vasu, the eldest, Duḥṣanta, became king. (01-89-15)
duḥṣantādbharato jajñe vidvāñśākuntalo nṛpaḥ। tasmādbharatavaṃśasya vipratasthe mahadyaśaḥ॥01-89-16॥
Bharata, the wise king, son of Śakuntalā, was born from Duḥṣanta. From him, the great fame of the Bharata dynasty spread forth. (01-89-16)
bharataḥ tisṛṣu strīṣu nava putrān ajījanat। nābhyanandanta tān rājā nānurūpā mama iti uta ॥01-89-17॥
Bharata begot nine sons through three wives. The king did not welcome them, thinking, “They are not worthy of me.” (01-89-17)
tato mahadbhiḥ kratu-bhir-ijāno bharatas-tadā। lebhe putraṃ bharadvājād bhūmanyuṃ nāma bhārata ॥01-89-18॥
Then, after performing great sacrifices, Bharata obtained a son named Bhūmanyu from Bharadvāja, O Bhārata. (01-89-18)
tataḥ putriṇam ātmānaṃ jñātvā paurava-nandanaḥ। bhūmanyuṃ bharata-śreṣṭha yauvarājye'bhiṣecayata ॥01-89-19॥
Then, realizing that he himself had a son, the descendant of Puru anointed Bhūmanyu, the best of the Bharatas, as crown prince. (01-89-19)
tatas tasya mahīndrasya vitathaḥ putrako ’bhavat। tataḥ sa vitatho nāma bhumanyor abhavat sutaḥ ॥01-89-20॥
Then Vitatha became the son of that great king; thereafter, that Vitatha by name became the son of Bhuman. (01-89-20)
suhotraś ca suhotā ca suhaviḥ suyajus tathā। puṣkariṇyām ṛcīkasya bhumanyor abhavan sutāḥ॥01-89-21॥
Suhoṭra, Suhotā, Suhavi, and Suyaju likewise became the sons of Ṛcīka and Bhumanī in Puṣkariṇī. (01-89-21)
teṣāṃ jyeṣṭhaḥ suhotras tu rājyam āpa mahīkṣitām। rājasūyāśvamedhādyaiḥ so'ayajad bahubhiḥ savaiḥ॥01-89-22॥
Among them, the eldest Suhotra obtained the kingdom of the earth's rulers. He performed many sacrifices, including the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha rites. (01-89-22)
suhotraḥ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ bubhuje sāgarāmbarām। pūrṇāṃ hastigavāśvasya bahuratnasamākulām ॥01-89-23॥
Su Hotra ruled over the entire earth, surrounded by the ocean, which was full of elephants, cows, and horses, and abounding in many gems. (01-89-23)
mamajjeva mahī tasya bhūribhārāvapīḍitā। hasty-aśva-ratha-sampūrṇā manuṣya-kalilā bhṛśam ॥01-89-24॥
The earth itself seemed to sink under his immense weight, heavily burdened, teeming with elephants, horses, chariots, and densely crowded with people. (01-89-24)
suhotre rājani tadā dharmataḥ śāsati prajāḥ। caityayūpāṅkitā cāsīdbhūmiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ॥ pravṛddhajanasasyā ca sahadevā vyarocata॥01-89-25॥
When Suhotra was king, at that time, ruling his subjects according to dharma, the land was marked with countless sanctuaries and sacrificial posts. With abundant people, crops, and with the gods, it shone splendidly. (01-89-25)
aikṣvākī janayāmāsa suhotrāt pṛthivī-pateḥ। ajamīḍhaṃ sumīḍhaṃ ca purumīḍhaṃ ca bhārata॥01-89-26॥
O Bhārata, Aikṣvākī, from Suhotra, the lord of the earth, bore Ajamīḍha, Sumīḍha, and Purumīḍha. (01-89-26)
ajamīḍho varas teṣāṃ tasmin vaṃśaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ। ṣaṭputrān so'py ajanayat tisṛṣu strīṣu bhārata॥01-89-27॥
Ajamīḍha, the best among them, was the one in whom the lineage was established. He also fathered six sons through three wives, O Bhārata. (01-89-27)
ṛkṣaṃ dhūminy atho nīlī duḥṣantaparameṣṭhinau. keśiny ajanayaj jahnum ubhau ca janarūpiṇau ॥01-89-28॥
Riksha, from Dhūminī, and then Nīlī gave birth to Duḥṣanta and Parameṣṭhin; and Keśinī gave birth to both Jahnu and another, both in human form. (01-89-28)
tatheme sarvapāñcālā duḥṣantaparameṣṭhinoḥ| anvayāḥ kuśikā rājan jahnor amitatejasaḥ॥01-89-29॥
Thus, O king, herein are all the Pāñcālas, descendants of Duḥṣanta and Parameṣṭhin, the Kuśikas, and those of Jahnu of boundless radiance. (01-89-29)
janarūpiṇayor jyeṣṭham ṛkṣam āhur janādhipam। ṛkṣāt saṁvaraṇo jajñe rājan vaṁśakaras tava ॥01-89-30॥
Among the two who assumed human form, the eldest is known as Ṛkṣa, the lord of the people. From Ṛkṣa, Saṁvaraṇa was born, O king, the founder of your dynasty. (01-89-30)
ārkṣe saṁvaraṇe rājan praśāsati vasundharām। saṅkṣayaḥ sumahān āsīt prajānām iti śuśrumaḥ॥01-89-31॥
O king, we have heard that while Saṁvaraṇa was ruling the earth during the time of Ṛkṣa, there was a great destruction of the people. (01-89-31)
vyaśīryata tato rāṣṭraṃ kṣayairnānāvidhaistathā। kṣunmṛtyubhyāmanāvṛṣṭyā vyādhibhiśca samāhatam ॥ abhyaghnanbhāratāṃścaiva sapatnānāṃ balāni ca ॥01-89-32॥
Then the kingdom was being ruined by various kinds of destruction, suffering from hunger, death, drought, and disease. The Bharatas and the forces of their enemies were all afflicted. (01-89-32)
cālayan vasudhāṃ caiva balena caturaṅgiṇā। abhyayāt taṃ ca pāñcālyo vijitya tarasā mahīm॥ akṣauhiṇībhiḥ daśabhiḥ sa enaṃ samare'jayat॥01-89-33॥
Moving the earth with the power of his fourfold army, he approached; and the son of Panchala, having conquered the earth by strength, defeated him in battle with ten akshauhinis. (01-89-33)
tataḥ sadāraḥ sāmātyaḥ saputraḥ sasuhṛjjanaḥ। rājā saṃvaraṇastas mātpalāyata mahābhayāt॥01-89-34॥
Then King Saṃvaraṇa, along with his wife, ministers, son, and friends, fled from there out of great fear. (01-89-34)
sindhor nadasya mahato nikuñje nyavasattadā। nadī-viṣaya-paryante parvatasya samīpataḥ॥ tatrāvasan bahūn kālān bhāratā durgamāśritāḥ॥01-89-35॥
At that time, the Bhāratas took refuge in the dense forest on the banks of the great river Sindhu, near the mountain and the edge of the river’s domain, and there they lived for a long time in a remote and difficult area. (01-89-35)
teṣāṃ nivasatāṃ tatra sahasraṃ parivatsarān। athābhyagacchadbharatānvasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ॥01-89-36॥
While they were residing there for a thousand years, then the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha approached the Bharatas. (01-89-36)
tam-āgataṃ prayatnena pratyudgamya-abhivādya ca। arghyam abhyāharaṃs tasmai te sarve bhāratās tadā ॥ nivedya sarvam ṛṣaye satkāreṇa suvarcase ॥01-89-37॥
Then, all the descendants of Bharata went forth with effort to meet him who had arrived, greeted him, and offered him the arghya (welcoming water). Having presented everything to the sage Suvarcasa with due respect. (01-89-37)
taṃ samāmaṣṭamīmuṣṭaṃ rājā vavre svayaṃ tadā। purohito bhavān no'stu rājyāya prayatāmahe ॥ omityevaṃ vasiṣṭho'pi bhārataānpratyapadyata ॥01-89-38॥
Then the king himself chose him, who was eighth-measured in every way. "Let your honour be our priest—let us strive for kingship." Thus, saying "Om" in this way, Vasiṣṭha also accepted the Bharatas. (01-89-38)
athābhyaṣiñcat sāmrājye sarva-kṣatrasya pauravam। viṣāṇa-bhūtaṃ sarvasyāṃ pṛthivyām iti naḥ śrutam॥01-89-39॥
Then he anointed the descendant of Puru as the emperor over all the Kṣatriyas, having become the foremost in all the earth, thus we have heard. (01-89-39)
bharatādhyuṣitaṃ pūrvaṃ so'dhyatiṣṭhat purottamam। punar balibhṛtaś caiva cakre sarva-mahīkṣitaḥ॥01-89-40॥
He ruled the foremost city, which had previously been inhabited by Bharata. Later, all the earth's rulers, following the lord of Bali, established it again. (01-89-40)
tataḥ sa pṛthivīṃ prāpya punarīje mahābalaḥ। ājamīḍho mahāyajñair bahubhir bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ ॥01-89-41॥
Then, having regained the kingdom, the mighty Ājamīḍha again performed many great sacrifices, all with abundant gifts. (01-89-41)
tataḥ saṁvaraṇāt saurī suṣuve tapatī kurum। rājatve taṁ prajāḥ sarvā dharmajña iti vavrire॥01-89-42॥
Then, from Saṁvaraṇa, Saurī gave birth; Tapatī gave birth to Kuru. In kingship, all subjects chose him, saying 'knower of dharma'. (01-89-42)
tasya nāmnābhivikhyātaṃ pṛthivyāṃ kurujāṅgalam। kurukṣetraṃ sa tapasā puṇyaṃ cakre mahātapāḥ ॥01-89-43॥
By his name, the Kuru forest became well-known on earth. The great ascetic made Kurukṣetra holy by his austerities. (01-89-43)
aśvavantam abhiṣvantam tathā citrarathaṃ munim। janamejayaṃ ca vikhyātaṃ putrāṃś ca asya anuśuśrumaḥ ॥ pañca etān vāhinī putrān vyajāyata manasvinī ॥01-89-44॥
We have heard that Vāhinī, the strong-minded lady, bore five sons: Aśvavant, Abhiṣvant, Citraratha the sage, Janamejaya, and the renowned ones. (01-89-44)
abhiṣvataḥ parikṣittu śabalāśvaśca vīryavān। abhirājo virājaśca śalmalaśca mahābalaḥ ॥01-89-45॥
Abhiṣvataḥ, Parikṣittu, Śabalāśva (who was mighty), Abhirāja, Virāja, and Śalmala, all very powerful. (01-89-45)
uccaiḥśravā bhadrakāro jitāriś cāṣṭamaḥ smṛtaḥ। eteṣām anvavāye tu khyātās te karmajaīr guṇaīḥ ॥01-89-46॥
Uccaiḥśravā, Bhadrakāra, Jitāri, and the eighth is remembered. In the lineage of these, they are renowned for their qualities born of their deeds. (01-89-46)
janamejayādayaḥ sapta tathaivānye mahābalāḥ। parikṣito'bhavanputrāḥ sarve dharmārthakovidāḥ॥01-89-47॥
Janamejaya and six others, as well as some other mighty ones, became the sons of Parikṣit; all were skilled in righteousness and prosperity. (01-89-47)
kakṣasenograsenau ca citrasenaś ca vīryavān। indrasenaḥ suṣeṇaś ca bhīmasenaś ca nāmataḥ ॥01-89-48॥
Kakshasena, Ugrasena, Citrasena the mighty, Indrasena, Sushena, and Bhimasena by name. (01-89-48)
janamejayasya tanayā bhuvi khyātā mahābalāḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ prathamajaḥ pāṇḍur bāhlīka eva ca॥01-89-49॥
Of Janamejaya, the sons known on earth as very powerful are: Dhritarashtra, the first-born, Pandu, and Bahlika indeed. (01-89-49)
niṣadhaś ca mahātejās tathā jāmbūnado balī। kuṇḍodaraḥ padātiś ca vasātiś cāṣṭamaḥ smṛtaḥ ॥ sarve dharmārthakuśalāḥ sarve bhūtahite ratāḥ ॥01-89-50॥
Niṣadha, who is of great brilliance; likewise Jāmbūnada, who is powerful; Kuṇḍodara, Padāti, and Vasāti are counted as the eighth. All are skilled in righteousness and material aims, all are devoted to the welfare of beings. (01-89-50)
dhṛtarāṣṭro 'tha rājāsīttasya putro 'tha kuṇḍikaḥ। hastī vitarkaḥ krāthaś ca kuṇḍalaś cāpi pañcamaḥ॥ haviḥśravās tathendrābhaḥ sumanyuś cāparājitaḥ॥01-89-51॥
There was a king named Dhritarashtra; his son was Kundika. Hasti, Vitarka, Kratha, Kundala and the fifth (one); Haviśravas, Indrābha, Sumanyu and Aparājita (were also his descendants). (01-89-51)
pratīpasya trayaḥ putrā jajñire bharatarṣabha। devāpiḥ śantanuś-caiva bāhlīkaś-ca mahārathaḥ ॥01-89-52॥
O best of the Bharatas, three sons were born to Pratīpa: Devāpi, Śantanu, and Bāhlīka, all great chariot-warriors. (01-89-52)
devāpiḥ tu pravavrāja teṣāṃ dharmaparīpsayā। śantanuḥ ca mahīṃ lebhe bāhlīkaḥ ca mahārathaḥ॥01-89-53॥
But Devāpi departed from among them, desiring righteousness; Śantanu obtained the kingdom, and Bāhlīka became a great chariot-warrior. (01-89-53)
bharatasyānvaye jātāḥ sattvavanto mahārathāḥ। devarṣikalpā nṛpate bahavo rājasattamāḥ ॥01-89-54॥
O king, in the lineage of Bharata many excellent kings were born, great chariot-warriors possessing strength and equal to divine sages. (01-89-54)
evaṃvidhāścāpyapare devakalpā mahārathāḥ। jātā manor anvavāye ailavaṃśavivardhanāḥ॥01-89-55॥
Such and others also, godlike great chariot-warriors, were born in the line of Manu, enhancers of the Aila dynasty. (01-89-55)
