01.098
Core-Pancharatra:Example of what to do during calamity.
[The story of Utatya, could be part of Library, while that of Jamadagni, part of the core.]
Bhīṣma said:
Rāma, the son of Jamadagni, unable to bear his father's slaying, slew the Haihaya king in anger; indeed, ten hundred arms of Arjuna were severed.
Again, taking up his bow and releasing great weapons, he repeatedly burned down the kṣatriya race while conquering the earth in his chariot.
Thus, with various great and small weapons, the great Bhārgava made the earth devoid of kṣatriyas twenty-one times in ancient times.
Then, uniting with the kṣatriya women from all quarters, disciplined brāhmaṇas begot offspring.
It is established in the Vedas that the son is of the one who accepts the hand (husband); having fixed dharma in their minds, they approached the brāhmaṇas. Even in the world, the rebirth of the kṣatriyas is seen to have been practiced.
Then there was a wise seer named Utathya in ancient times. His wife, greatly cherished, was named Mamatā.
Bṛhaspati, the younger brother of Utathya, the priest of the gods and of great splendor, approached Mamatā with desire.
Mamatā said to him, the younger brother-in-law and best of speakers, “I am pregnant by your elder brother — let me be spared.”
And, O greatly fortunate Bṛhaspati, this son of mine, in the womb itself, is already studying the Veda with its six limbs.
You, whose seed is never in vain, ought certainly to be so; therefore, in such a situation now, you ought to desist.
Thus properly addressed by her, the radiant Bṛhaspati, dominated by desire, could not restrain his own self.
Then, the desirous one united with the unwilling woman, and as he released his semen, the child dwelling in the womb spoke.
O revered one, speak as you would to a maiden: there can be no union between us both; your seed is unfailing, and I have already arrived here before you.
Then, thus addressed, the angry Bṛhaspati cursed the son of Utathya who was still in the womb, rebuking him, the revered seer.
Because you spoke thus at such a moment, though it was desired by all beings, therefore you shall enter a long darkness.
Thus, due to the curse, the seer named Dīrghatamā was born — the son of Bṛhaspati, renowned, and powerful like Bṛhaspati himself.
He, greatly renowned, begot sons like Gautama and others for the seer Utathya, in order to continue the family line.
Overcome by greed and delusion, his sons — Gautama and the rest — placed him in a wooden casket and cast him into the Ganges.
They thought, “He is blind and old — he should not have to be maintained”; and so, those cruel ones returned to their homes.
Floating with the current, O king, the blind seer then drifted and reached many regions, carried along in that vessel.
The king named Bali, well-versed in all dharma, saw him floating near the current, immersed in the waters.
The righteous and truly valiant Bali seized him, and having recognized him, sought him then for begetting sons, O best of men.
O greatly fortunate one, in my wives, you ought to beget sons skilled in dharma and artha, for the sake of progeny, O giver of honor.
Thus addressed, the brilliant seer replied “So be it,” and then the king sent his own wife Sudeṣṇā to him.
Thinking him to be blind and old, the queen did not go to him herself, but instead sent her own maidservant to the old seer.
In that maidservant, the self-controlled and righteous seer begot eleven sons, including Kāksīvata and others, in the śūdra womb.
Seeing all those sons like Kāksīvata engaged in study, the vigorous king said to the seer, “These are mine.”
The great seer said, “No, these are mine indeed; Kāksīvata and the rest were born by me in a śūdra womb.”
Thinking me to be blind and old, your queen Sudeṣṇā, in her folly, disregarded me and gave me her śūdra maidservant.
Then king Bali again appeased that excellent seer, and sent his wife Sudeṣṇā to him once more.
Having touched her limbs, Dīrghatamā said to the queen, “You will have a brilliant and truth-speaking son.”
There, a royal sage named Aṅga was born of Sudeṣṇā. In this way, other great bowmen — kṣatriyas — were born of brāhmaṇas on earth.
Born were men supremely knowledgeable in dharma, powerful and of great strength. Hearing this, you too, O mother, act as you desire in this matter.
