03.126
māndhātrupākhyānam
The story of Māndhātṛ.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said;
māndhātā rājaśārdūlas triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ। kathaṁ jāto mahābrahman yauvanāśvo nṛpottamaḥ॥ kathaṁ caitāṁ parāṁ kāṣṭhāṁ prāptavānamitadyutiḥ॥03-126-1॥
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)
yasya lokās trayo vaśyā viṣṇor iva mahātmanaḥ। etad icchāmy ahaṃ śrotuṃ caritaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ ॥03-126-2॥
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)
yathā māndhātṛ-śabdaś ca tasya śakra-sama-dyuteḥ। janma ca aprativīryasya kuśalo hy asi bhāṣitum ॥03-126-3॥
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)
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomaśa said.
śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājan rājñas tasya mahātmanaḥ। yathā mādhn̄dhātṛśabdo vai lokeṣu parigīyate ॥03-126-4॥
Listen attentively, O king, to how the name of that great-souled king Mandhātṛ is indeed sung in the world. (03-126-4)
ikṣvāku-vaṃśa-prabhavo yuvanāśvo mahīpatiḥ. so'ayajat pṛthivī-pāla kratu-bhiḥ bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ ॥03-126-5॥
Yuvanāśva, a king born in the Ikṣvāku lineage, performed sacrifices with abundant gifts as offerings. (03-126-5)
aśvamedhasahasraṃ ca prāpya dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ। anyaiś ca kratu-bhir mukhyair vividhair āpta-dakṣiṇaiḥ॥03-126-6॥
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)
anapatyastu rājarṣiḥ sa mahātmā dṛḍhavrataḥ। mantriṣv ādhāya tad rājyaṃ vananityo babhūva ha ॥03-126-7॥
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)
śāstra-dṛṣṭena vidhinā saṃyojyātmānam ātmanā। pipāsā-śuṣka-hṛdayaḥ praviveśāśramaṃ bhṛgoḥ ॥03-126-8॥
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)
tāmeva rātriṃ rājendra mahātmā bhṛgunandanaḥ। iṣṭiṃ cakāra saudyumnermaharṣiḥ putrakāraṇāt॥03-126-9॥
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)
sambhṛto mantra-pūtena vāriṇā kalaśo mahān। tatrātiṣṭhata rājendra pūrvam-eva samāhitaḥ॥ yat prāśya prasavet tasya patnī śakra-samaṃ sutam॥03-126-10॥
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)
taṁ nyasya vedyāṁ kalaśaṁ suṣupuste maharṣayaḥ. rātrijāgaraṇaśrāntāḥ saudyumniḥ samatītya tān ॥03-126-11॥
After they placed the pot on the altar, the great sages, weary from their night vigil, slept; Saudyumni having reached them. (03-126-11)
śuṣkakaṇṭhaḥ pipāsārtaḥ pāṇīyārthī bhṛśaṃ nṛpaḥ। taṃ praviśyāśramaṃ śrāntaḥ pāṇīyaṃ so'bhyayācata॥03-126-12॥
The king, whose throat was dry, tormented by thirst and eagerly seeking water, entered the hermitage, exhausted, and requested water. (03-126-12)
tasya śrāntasya śuṣkeṇa kaṇṭhena krośatas tadā। nāśrauṣīt kaścana tadā śakuner iva vāśitam ॥03-126-13॥
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)
tatas taṁ kalaśaṁ dṛṣṭvā jala-pūrṇaṁ sa pārthivaḥ। abhyadravata vegena pītvā cāmbho vyavāsṛjat ॥03-126-14॥
Then, having seen that pot full of water, the king quickly rushed, drank, and discharged the water. (03-126-14)
sa pītvā śītalaṃ toyaṃ pipāsārto mahīpatiḥ। nirvāṇam agamad dhīmān su-sukhī ca abhavat tadā॥03-126-15॥
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)
tatas te pratyabudhyanta ṛṣayaḥ sanarādhipāḥ। nistoyaṃ taṃ ca kalaśaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarva eva te ॥03-126-16॥
Then the sages, along with the kings, awoke. They all saw that pitcher completely empty of water. (03-126-16)
kasya karmedam iti ca paryapṛcchansamāgatāḥ। yuvanāśvo mayety eva satyaṃ samabhipadyata ॥03-126-17॥
"Whose deed is this?" — thus all who had assembled inquired; "It is Yuvanāśva, in me," — thus the truth was indeed accepted. (03-126-17)
na yuktam iti taṃ prāha bhagavān bhārgavas tadā। sutārthaṃ sthāpitā hy āpas tapasā caiva sambhṛtāḥ ॥03-126-18॥
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)
mayā hy atrāhitaṃ brahma tapa āsthāya dāruṇam। putrārthaṃ tava rājarṣe mahābalaparākrama ॥03-126-19॥
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)
mahābalo mahāvīryas tapobalasamanvitaḥ। yaḥ śakram api vīryeṇa gamayed yamasādanam ॥03-126-20॥
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)
anena vidhinā rājan mayaitad upapāditam। abbhakṣaṇaṃ tvayā rājan nayuktaṃ kṛtam adya vai ॥03-126-21॥
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)
na tvadya śakyam asmābhir etat kartum ato'nyathā। nūnaṃ daivakṛtaṃ hy etad yad evaṃ kṛtavān asi ॥03-126-22॥
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)
pipāsitena yāḥ pītā vidhimantrapuraskṛtāḥ। āpastvayā mahārāja mattapovīryasambhṛtāḥ ॥ tābhyastvamātmanā putramevaṃvīryaṃ janiṣyasi ॥03-126-23॥
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)
vidhāsyāmo vayaṃ tatra taveṣṭiṃ paramādbhutām। yathā śakrasamaṃ putraṃ janayiṣyasi vīryavān ॥03-126-24॥
We will perform your most excellent and wondrous sacrifice there, so that you may beget a son as powerful as Indra. (03-126-24)
tato varṣaśate pūrṇe tasya rājño mahātmanaḥ। vāmaṃ pārśvaṃ vinirbhidya sutaḥ sūrya iva aparaḥ॥03-126-25॥
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)
niścakrāma mahāte jā na ca taṃ mṛtyur āviśat। yuvanāśvaṃ narapatiṃ tad adbhutam ivābhavat॥03-126-26॥
The one of great brilliance emerged, and death did not enter him; Yuvanāśva the king—this became truly like a wonder. (03-126-26)
tataḥ śakro mahātejās taṃ didṛkṣur upāgamat। pradeśinīṃ tato'syāsye śakraḥ samabhisandadhe ॥03-126-27॥
Then Śakra (Indra), of great splendor, approached wishing to see him. Then Śakra inserted an indicator (finger) into his mouth. (03-126-27)
mām ayaṁ dhāsyatīti evaṁ paribhāṣṭaḥ sa vajriṇā। māndhāteti ca nāmāsya cakruḥ sendrā divaukasaḥ॥03-126-28॥
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)
pradeśinīṃ śakra-dattām-āsvādya sa śiśus-tadā। avardhata mahīpāla kiṣkūṇāṃ ca trayodaśa ॥03-126-29॥
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)
vedās taṃ sadhanur vedā divyāny astrāṇi ca īśvaram। upatasthur mahārāja dhyāta-mātrāṇi sarvaśaḥ॥03-126-30॥
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)
dhanur ājagavaṃ nāma śarāḥ śṛṅgodbhavāś ca ye। abhedyaṃ kavacaṃ caiva sadyas tam upasaṃśrayan ॥03-126-31॥
He immediately took up the bow called Ājagava, arrows made from horn, and an impenetrable armor.
so'bhisiṣṭo maghavatā svayaṃ śakreṇa bhārata। dharmeṇa vyajayallokāṃstrīnviṣṇuriva vikramaiḥ ॥03-126-32॥
O Bhārata, he, anointed by Maghavan himself, by Śakra, conquered the three worlds by righteousness, like Viṣṇu by his strides. (03-126-32)
tasyāpratihataṃ cakraṃ prāvartata mahātmanaḥ। ratnāni caiva rājarṣiṃ svayamevopatasthire॥03-126-33॥
The unobstructed wheel of that great-souled one began to turn; and the jewels themselves indeed approached the royal sage. (03-126-33)
tasyeyaṃ vasusampūrṇā vasudhā vasudhādhipa. teneṣṭaṃ vividhairyajñairbahubhiḥ svāptadakṣiṇaiḥ ॥03-126-34॥
O lord of the earth, this treasure-filled earth was offered by him through many kinds of sacrifices, with abundant gifts. (03-126-34)
citacaitiyo mahātejā dharmaṃ prāpya ca puṣkalam| śakrasyārdhāsanaṃ rājaṃllabdhavānamitadyutiḥ ॥03-126-35॥
O king, the conscious and splendid one, having attained abundant righteousness, obtained half of Śakra's throne, possessing immeasurable brilliance. (03-126-35)
ekāhnā pṛthivī tena dharmanityena dhīmatā। nirjitā śāsanādeva saratnākara-pattanā ॥03-126-36॥
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)
tasya cityair mahārāja kratūnāṁ dakṣiṇāvatām. catur-antā mahī vyāptā nā āsīt kiñcid anāvṛtam ॥03-126-37॥
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)
tena padmasahasrāṇi gavāṃ daśa mahātmanā। brāhmaṇebhyo mahārāja dattānīti pracakṣate ॥03-126-38॥
O great king, they declare that the great-souled one gave ten thousand padmas of cows to the Brāhmaṇas. (03-126-38)
tena dvādaśa-vārṣikyām anāvṛṣṭyām mahātmanā। vṛṣṭaṃ sasya-vivṛddhy-arthaṃ miṣato vajrapāṇinaḥ ॥03-126-39॥
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)
tena somakulotpanno gāndhārādhipatir mahān। garjann iva mahāmeghaḥ pramathya nihataḥ śaraiḥ ॥03-126-40॥
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)
prajāś caturvidhās tena jitā rājan mahātmanā। tena-ātmatapasā lokāḥ sthāpitāś ca api tejasā ॥03-126-41॥
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)
tasyaitad devayajanaṃ sthānam ādityavarcasaḥ। paśya puṇyatame deśe kurukṣetrasya madhyataḥ॥03-126-42॥
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)
etatte sarvam ākhyātaṃ māndhātuścaritaṃ mahat। janma cāgryaṃ mahīpāla yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi ॥03-126-43॥
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)
