03.126
मान्धात्रुपाख्यानम्
The story of Māndhātṛ.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said;
मान्धाता राजशार्दूलस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः। कथं जातो महाब्रह्मन्यौवनाश्वो नृपोत्तमः ॥ कथं चैतां परां काष्ठां प्राप्तवानमितद्युतिः ॥०३-१२६-१॥
How was Māndhātā, the tiger among kings, who is renowned in the three worlds, born from Yauvanāśva, O great Brāhman, best of kings? And how did this illustrious one attain such a supreme state? (03-126-1)
यस्य लोकास्त्रयो वश्या विष्णोरिव महात्मनः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं चरितं तस्य धीमतः ॥०३-१२६-२॥
I wish to hear the deeds of that wise one, of whom the three worlds are subject, even as they are to Viṣṇu, the great-souled one. (03-126-2)
यथा मान्धातृशब्दश्च तस्य शक्रसमद्युतेः। जन्म चाप्रतिवीर्यस्य कुशलो ह्यसि भाषितुम् ॥०३-१२६-३॥
Just as you are skilled in describing the name of Māndhātṛ, whose brilliance equals Indra and whose birth is without equal in heroism, so too you are indeed able to narrate it. (03-126-3)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः। यथा मान्धातृशब्दो वै लोकेषु परिगीयते ॥०३-१२६-४॥
Listen attentively, O king, to how the name of that great-souled king Mandhātṛ is indeed sung in the world. (03-126-4)
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो युवनाश्वो महीपतिः। सोऽयजत्पृथिवीपाल क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः ॥०३-१२६-५॥
Yuvanāśva, a king born in the Ikṣvāku lineage, performed sacrifices with abundant gifts as offerings. (03-126-5)
अश्वमेधसहस्रं च प्राप्य धर्मभृतां वरः। अन्यैश्च क्रतुभिर्मुख्यैर्विविधैराप्तदक्षिणैः ॥०३-१२६-६॥
Having attained a thousand aśvamedha sacrifices, and being the best among the upholders of dharma, and through other chief and various sacrifices endowed with due offerings. (03-126-6)
अनपत्यस्तु राजर्षिः स महात्मा दृढव्रतः। मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद्राज्यं वननित्यो बभूव ह ॥०३-१२६-७॥
But that royal sage, the great-souled and steadfast one, having no offspring, entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and indeed became one who always lived in the forest. (03-126-7)
शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना संयोज्यात्मानमात्मना। पिपासाशुष्कहृदयः प्रविवेशाश्रमं भृगोः ॥०३-१२६-८॥
Following the procedure laid down in the śāstra, uniting himself with self, his heart parched by thirst, he entered the hermitage of Bhṛgu. (03-126-8)
तामेव रात्रिं राजेन्द्र महात्मा भृगुनन्दनः। इष्टिं चकार सौद्युम्नेर्महर्षिः पुत्रकारणात् ॥०३-१२६-९॥
On that very night, O king, the great-souled descendant of Bhṛgu, the sage, performed a sacrifice for Saudymna for the purpose of obtaining a son. (03-126-9)
सम्भृतो मन्त्रपूतेन वारिणा कलशो महान्। तत्रातिष्ठत राजेन्द्र पूर्वमेव समाहितः ॥ यत्प्राश्य प्रसवेत्तस्य पत्नी शक्रसमं सुतम् ॥०३-१२६-१०॥
O king, a large pot filled with water purified by mantras had been earlier placed and carefully prepared there. By drinking (from it), his wife would give birth to a son equal to Indra. (03-126-10)
तं न्यस्य वेद्यां कलशं सुषुपुस्ते महर्षयः। रात्रिजागरणश्रान्ताः सौद्युम्निः समतीत्य तान् ॥०३-१२६-११॥
After they placed the pot on the altar, the great sages, weary from their night vigil, slept; Saudyumni having reached them. (03-126-11)
शुष्ककण्ठः पिपासार्तः पाणीयार्थी भृशं नृपः। तं प्रविश्याश्रमं श्रान्तः पाणीयं सोऽभ्ययाचत ॥०३-१२६-१२॥
The king, whose throat was dry, tormented by thirst and eagerly seeking water, entered the hermitage, exhausted, and requested water. (03-126-12)
तस्य श्रान्तस्य शुष्केण कण्ठेन क्रोशतस्तदा। नाश्रौषीत्कश्चन तदा शकुनेरिव वाशितम् ॥०३-१२६-१३॥
Although he was exhausted and shouted with a dry throat at that time, no one heard him then, just like the cry of a bird. (03-126-13)
ततस्तं कलशं दृष्ट्वा जलपूर्णं स पार्थिवः। अभ्यद्रवत वेगेन पीत्वा चाम्भो व्यवासृजत् ॥०३-१२६-१४॥
Then, having seen that pot full of water, the king quickly rushed, drank, and discharged the water. (03-126-14)
स पीत्वा शीतलं तोयं पिपासार्तो महीपतिः। निर्वाणमगमद्धीमान्सुसुखी चाभवत्तदा ॥०३-१२६-१५॥
Having drunk the cool water, the king—who was suffering from thirst—attained relief; the wise man became very happy at that time. (03-126-15)
ततस्ते प्रत्यबुध्यन्त ऋषयः सनराधिपाः। निस्तोयं तं च कलशं ददृशुः सर्व एव ते ॥०३-१२६-१६॥
Then the sages, along with the kings, awoke. They all saw that pitcher completely empty of water. (03-126-16)
कस्य कर्मेदमिति च पर्यपृच्छन्समागताः। युवनाश्वो मयेत्येव सत्यं समभिपद्यत ॥०३-१२६-१७॥
"Whose deed is this?" — thus all who had assembled inquired; "It is Yuvanāśva, in me," — thus the truth was indeed accepted. (03-126-17)
न युक्तमिति तं प्राह भगवान्भार्गवस्तदा। सुतार्थं स्थापिता ह्यापस्तपसा चैव सम्भृताः ॥०३-१२६-१८॥
Bhārgava, the revered one, then said to him, "This is not proper." The waters were indeed established and gathered through austerity for the sake of a son. (03-126-18)
मया ह्यत्राहितं ब्रह्म तप आस्थाय दारुणम्। पुत्रार्थं तव राजर्षे महाबलपराक्रम ॥०३-१२६-१९॥
O royal sage of great strength and courage, I have indeed undertaken here a severe austerity, performing a sacred rite, for the sake of obtaining a son for you. (03-126-19)
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तपोबलसमन्वितः। यः शक्रमपि वीर्येण गमयेद्यमसादनम् ॥०३-१२६-२०॥
He who possesses great strength, great heroism, and the power of austerity, who could, by his might, send even Indra to the abode of Yama. (3-126-20)
अनेन विधिना राजन्मयैतदुपपादितम्। अब्भक्षणं त्वया राजन्नयुक्तं कृतमद्य वै ॥०३-१२६-२१॥
O king, by this method this has been accomplished by me. But the drinking of water performed by you today is indeed inappropriate. (03-126-21)
न त्वद्य शक्यमस्माभिरेतत्कर्तुमतोऽन्यथा। नूनं दैवकृतं ह्येतद्यदेवं कृतवानसि ॥०३-१२६-२२॥
We are not able to do this otherwise because of you. Surely, this has been done by destiny, since you have acted thus. (03-126-22)
पिपासितेन याः पीता विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृताः। आपस्त्वया महाराज मत्तपोवीर्यसम्भृताः ॥ ताभ्यस्त्वमात्मना पुत्रमेवंवीर्यं जनिष्यसि ॥०३-१२६-२३॥
O great king, from those waters which you, in your thirst, drank with proper rites and mantras and which were filled with my ascetic power, you will beget a son of such power through your own self. (03-126-23)
विधास्यामो वयं तत्र तवेष्टिं परमाद्भुताम्। यथा शक्रसमं पुत्रं जनयिष्यसि वीर्यवान् ॥०३-१२६-२४॥
We will perform your most excellent and wondrous sacrifice there, so that you may beget a son as powerful as Indra. (03-126-24)
ततो वर्षशते पूर्णे तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः। वामं पार्श्वं विनिर्भिद्य सुतः सूर्य इवापरः ॥०३-१२६-२५॥
Then, when a hundred years had been completed, a son—like another sun—burst forth from the left side of that great-souled king. (03-126-25)
निश्चक्राम महातेजा न च तं मृत्युराविशत्। युवनाश्वं नरपतिं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥०३-१२६-२६॥
The one of great brilliance emerged, and death did not enter him; Yuvanāśva the king—this became truly like a wonder. (03-126-26)
ततः शक्रो महातेजास्तं दिदृक्षुरुपागमत्। प्रदेशिनीं ततोऽस्यास्ये शक्रः समभिसंदधे ॥०३-१२६-२७॥
Then Śakra (Indra), of great splendor, approached wishing to see him. Then Śakra inserted an indicator (finger) into his mouth. (03-126-27)
मामयं धास्यतीत्येवं परिभाष्टः स वज्रिणा। मान्धातेति च नामास्य चक्रुः सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः ॥०३-१२६-२८॥
He was named by the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra) as Māndhātā, meaning "he will bear me," and the gods together with Indra made this his name. (03-126-28)
प्रदेशिनीं शक्रदत्तामास्वाद्य स शिशुस्तदा। अवर्धत महीपाल किष्कूणां च त्रयोदश ॥०३-१२६-२९॥
Having tasted the region’s milk given by Indra, that boy then grew, O king, and (there were) thirteen of the monkeys. (3-126-29)
वेदास्तं सधनुर्वेदा दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चेश्वरम्। उपतस्थुर्महाराज ध्यातमात्राणि सर्वशः ॥०३-१२६-३०॥
O great king, as soon as he was meditated upon, the Vedas, divine weapons with the bow, and even the supreme Lord themselves attended him in every way. (03-126-30)
धनुराजगवं नाम शराः शृङ्गोद्भवाश्च ये। अभेद्यं कवचं चैव सद्यस्तमुपसंश्रयन् ॥०३-१२६-३१॥
He immediately took up the bow called Ājagava, arrows made from horn, and an impenetrable armor.
सोऽभिषिक्तो मघवता स्वयं शक्रेण भारत। धर्मेण व्यजयल्लोकांस्त्रीन्विष्णुरिव विक्रमैः ॥०३-१२६-३२॥
O Bhārata, he, anointed by Maghavan himself, by Śakra, conquered the three worlds by righteousness, like Viṣṇu by his strides. (03-126-32)
तस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रं प्रावर्तत महात्मनः। रत्नानि चैव राजर्षिं स्वयमेवोपतस्थिरे ॥०३-१२६-३३॥
The unobstructed wheel of that great-souled one began to turn; and the jewels themselves indeed approached the royal sage. (03-126-33)
तस्येयं वसुसम्पूर्णा वसुधा वसुधाधिप। तेनेष्टं विविधैर्यज्ञैर्बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः ॥०३-१२६-३४॥
O lord of the earth, this treasure-filled earth was offered by him through many kinds of sacrifices, with abundant gifts. (03-126-34)
चितचैत्यो महातेजा धर्मं प्राप्य च पुष्कलम्। शक्रस्यार्धासनं राजँल्लब्धवानमितद्युतिः ॥०३-१२६-३५॥
O king, the conscious and splendid one, having attained abundant righteousness, obtained half of Śakra's throne, possessing immeasurable brilliance. (03-126-35)
एकाह्ना पृथिवी तेन धर्मनित्येन धीमता। निर्जिता शासनादेव सरत्नाकरपत्तना ॥०३-१२६-३६॥
By that wise one who was always devoted to dharma, the whole earth with cities extending to the ocean was conquered in a single day, merely by his command. (03-126-36)
तस्य चित्यैर्महाराज क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम्। चतुरन्ता मही व्याप्ता नासीत्किञ्चिदनावृतम् ॥०३-१२६-३७॥
O great king, by his sacrificial altars endowed with gifts, the entire earth in all four directions was covered; there was nothing left unoccupied. (03-126-37)
तेन पद्मसहस्राणि गवां दश महात्मना। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महाराज दत्तानीति प्रचक्षते ॥०३-१२६-३८॥
O great king, they declare that the great-souled one gave ten thousand padmas of cows to the Brāhmaṇas. (03-126-38)
तेन द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां महात्मना। वृष्टं सस्यविवृद्ध्यर्थं मिषतो वज्रपाणिनः ॥०३-१२६-३९॥
During the twelve-year drought, he, the great-souled one, caused rain to fall for the growth of crops, in sight of the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra). (03-126-39)
तेन सोमकुलोत्पन्नो गान्धाराधिपतिर्महान्। गर्जन्निव महामेघः प्रमथ्य निहतः शरैः ॥०३-१२६-४०॥
By him, the great lord of Gandhara, born of the Soma lineage, who was roaring like a great thundercloud, was struck down by arrows after being subdued. (03-126-40)
प्रजाश्चतुर्विधास्तेन जिता राजन्महात्मना। तेनात्मतपसा लोकाः स्थापिताश्चापि तेजसा ॥०३-१२६-४१॥
O king, the great-souled one conquered the four kinds of creatures; by his own austerity and prowess, he also established the worlds. (03-126-41)
तस्यैतद्देवयजनं स्थानमादित्यवर्चसः। पश्य पुण्यतमे देशे कुरुक्षेत्रस्य मध्यतः ॥०३-१२६-४२॥
Here is the worship place of the gods belonging to him, bearing the brilliance of Aditya. Behold it in the most sacred place at the center of Kurukshetra. (03-126-42)
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मान्धातुश्चरितं महत्। जन्म चाग्र्यं महीपाल यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ॥०३-१२६-४३॥
O ruler of the earth, all this has been told to you—the great deeds and the distinguished birth of Māndhātṛ, as you have thoroughly asked me. (03-126-43)
