01.091
Mahabhisha’s fall and the pact between Ganga and Vasus.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ikṣvāku-vaṁśa-prabhavo rājā āsīt pṛthivī-patiḥ। mahābhiṣa iti khyātaḥ satya-vāk satya-vikramaḥ॥1॥
There was a king named Mahābhiṣa, born in the Ikṣvāku lineage, a lord of the earth, renowned for truth in speech and valor.
saḥ aśvamedha-sahasreṇa vājapeya-śatena ca। toṣayām āsa devendram svargaṁ lebhe tataḥ prabhuḥ॥2॥
He performed a thousand aśvamedha and a hundred vājapeya sacrifices, pleasing Indra, and thus the mighty king attained heaven.
tataḥ kadācit brahmāṇam upāsāṁ cakrire surāḥ। tatra rājarṣayaḥ āsan sa ca rājā mahābhiṣaḥ॥3॥
Then once, the gods assembled to worship Brahmā, where many royal sages were present, including King Mahābhiṣa.
atha gaṅgā sarit-śreṣṭhā samupāyāt pitāmaham। tasyā vāsaḥ samuddhūtaṁ mārutena śaśi-prabham॥4॥
Then Gaṅgā, the supreme river, approached Brahmā; her moon-like radiant garment was lifted by the wind.
tato 'bhavan suragaṇāḥ sahasā vāṅmukhāḥ tadā। mahābhiṣaḥ tu rājarṣiḥ aśaṅkaḥ dṛṣṭavān nadīm॥5॥
Then all the gods turned their faces away in modesty, but Mahābhiṣa, the royal sage, gazed unashamed at the river goddess Gaṅgā.
apadhyāto bhagavatā brahmaṇā sa mahābhiṣaḥ। uktaś ca jāto martyeṣu punar lokān avāpsyasi॥6॥
Mahābhiṣa was condemned by Brahmā and told, “Being born among mortals, you shall once again attain the heavenly worlds.”
sa cintayitvā nṛpatir nṛpān sarvān tapa-dhanān। pratīpaṁ rocayām āsa pitaraṁ bhūri-varcasam॥7॥
That king, reflecting on all the great and ascetic kings, chose the radiant Pratīpa to be his father.
mahābhiṣaṁ tu taṁ dṛṣṭvā nadī dhairyāt cyutaṁ nṛpam। tam eva manasādhyāyaṁ upāvartat sarid-varā॥8॥
Seeing Mahābhiṣa, the king who had lost composure, the best of rivers fixed her mind on him and turned toward him.
sā tu vidhvasta-vapuṣaḥ kaśmalābhi-hata-ojasāḥ। dadarśa pathi gacchantī vasūn devān divaukasaḥ॥9॥
As she went along the path, she saw the Vasus — gods of heaven — whose forms were ruined and brilliance diminished by sin.
tathā-rūpān ca tān dṛṣṭvā papraccha saritāṁ varā। kim idaṁ naṣṭa-rūpāḥ stha kac cit kṣemaṁ divaukasām॥10॥
Seeing them in such a ruined state, the best of rivers asked, “What is this? Have you lost your forms? Is all well with the gods?”
tām ūcur vasavo devāḥ śaptāḥ smo vai mahā-nadi। alpe aparādhe saṁrambhāt vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā॥11॥
The Vasus said to her, “We are cursed, O great river, by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, out of wrath, for a minor offense.”
vimūḍhā hi vayaṁ sarve pracchannam ṛṣi-sattamam। sandhyāṁ vasiṣṭham āsīnaṁ tam atya-bhisṛtāḥ purā॥12॥
We, being deluded, once intruded upon the great sage Vasiṣṭha, who sat hidden in twilight, unaware of who he was.
tena kopād vayaṁ śaptā yonau sambhavata iti ha। na śakyam anyathā kartuṁ yad uktaṁ brahma-vādinā॥13॥
Thus, out of anger, he cursed us: “Be born in the womb.” What is declared by a knower of Brahman cannot be undone.
tvaṁ tasmāt mānuṣī bhūtvā sūṣva putrān vasūn bhuvi। na mānuṣīṇāṁ jaṭharaṁ praviśema aśubhaṁ vayam॥14॥
Therefore, become a human woman and bear the Vasus as your sons on earth, for we do not wish to enter the inauspicious wombs of mortal women.
ity uktā tān vasūn gaṅgā tathā iti uktvā abravīt idam। martyeṣu puruṣa-śreṣṭhaḥ ko vaḥ kartā bhaviṣyati॥15॥
Thus addressed, Gaṅgā replied to the Vasus, “So be it,” and asked, “Among mortals, who shall be the best of men to become your father?”
vasava ūcuḥ॥
The Vasus said:
pratīpasya suto rājā śantanuḥ nāma dhārmikaḥ। bhavitā mānuṣe loke sa naḥ kartā bhaviṣyati॥16॥
Śantanu, the righteous king and son of Pratīpa, shall be born in the human world—he will be our father.
gaṅgo uvāca॥
Gaṅgā said:
mamāpi evaṁ mataṁ devā yathā avadata māna-ghāḥ। priyaṁ tasya kariṣyāmi yuṣmākaṁ ca etat īpśitam॥17॥
O sinless gods, my view is also the same as yours. I shall do what pleases him and fulfill your desire as well.
vasava ūcuḥ॥
The Vasus said:
jātān kumārān svān apsu prakṣeptuṁ vai tvam arhasi। yathā na cirakālaṁ naḥ niṣkṛtiḥ syāt triloka-ge॥18॥
You should cast your newborn sons into the waters, O Gaṅgā of the three worlds, so our atonement may come swiftly.
gaṅgo uvāca॥
Gaṅgā said:
evam etat kariṣyāmi putraḥ tasya vidhīyatām। nāsya moghaḥ saṅgamaḥ syāt putra-hetor mayā saha॥19॥
I shall do accordingly. Let a son be ordained for him, and let our union not be in vain—for the sake of that son.
vasava ūcuḥ॥
The Vasus said:
turīya-ardhaṁ pradāsyāmo vīryasya ekaikaśaḥ vayam। tena vīryeṇa putraḥ te bhavitā tasya ca ipsitaḥ॥20॥
Each of us will give a fourth of our power. With that strength, your son shall be born — desired by you and by him.
na sampatsyati martyeṣu punaḥ tasya tu santatiḥ। tasmāt aputraḥ putraḥ te bhaviṣyati sa vīryavān॥21॥
His lineage shall not continue among mortals; therefore, though your son, he will remain without sons—yet he shall be powerful.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evaṁ te samayaṁ kṛtvā gaṅgayā vasavaḥ saha। jagmuḥ prahṛṣṭa-mānasaḥ yathā-saṅkalpam añjasā॥22॥
Thus, having made the agreement with Gaṅgā, the Vasus departed with joyful hearts, directly according to their intent.
