13.004
Bhīṣma said.
Listen, O Pārtha, to how Viśvāmitra, in truth, attained Brahminhood and also became a Brahmarṣi in former times, dear one. (13-4-1)
In the lineage of Bharata, there was a king named Ajamīḍha, who was the best among the Bharatas, a performer of sacrifices, and the foremost among the upholders of dharma. (13-4-2)
His son was the great Jahnu, lord of men. Gaṅgā, of his great soul, attained the status of daughter. (13-4-3)
His son, Sindhudvīpa, who was equal in qualities and of great fame. From Sindhudvīpa was born the royal sage Balākāśva, who was of great strength. (13-4-4)
His beloved son was, as it were, another Dharma incarnate; Kuśika, his son, was as radiant as Indra, the thousand-eyed. (13-4-5)
Gādhi, the prosperous son of Kuśika and lord of the people, who was sonless and mighty-armed, dwelt in the forest. (13-4-6)
A maiden was born as his daughter while he was residing in the forest; she was named Satyavati, and in beauty she was without equal on earth. (13-4-7)
The prosperous Bhārgava, lord Ṛcīka, son of Cyavana, who is well-known and established in abundant penance, chose her. (13-4-8)
He did not give her to Ṛcīka, the great-souled one; thinking him to be poor, Gādhi, the destroyer of enemies, indeed withheld her. (13-4-9)
Having rejected (your request), as you were departing again, the best of kings said: "Let the bride-price be given to me; then you will obtain my daughter." (13-4-10)
Ṛcīka said.
O king, what bride-price shall I give you? Tell me regarding your daughter; since the mother is not attached, the decision is yours. (13-4-11)
Gādhi said.
O Bhārgava, give a thousand dark-eared horses, shining like moon-rays and swift as the wind, on one side. (13-4-12)
Bhishma said.
Then, the illustrious son of Cyavana, the tiger among the Bhṛgus, addressed Varuṇa, the god Āditya, the lord of the waters. (13-4-13)
O best of the gods, I request you for a thousand moon-bright, black-eared horses of wind-speed from one side. (13-4-14)
Varuṇa, the god Āditya, said to the best of the Bhṛgus: "Thus it is." Where your hymn is, there the steeds will arise. (13-4-15)
As soon as Ṛcīka meditated, a thousand horses of great strength and moon-like lustre arose from the waters of the Gaṅgā. (13-4-16)
Not far from Kanyakubja, there is an excellent bank of the Ganga called Aśvatīrtha, which even today people refer to as such. (13-4-17)
Then, O father, Ṛcīka, the best among reciters, being pleased, gave a thousand auspicious horses to Gādhi as the bride-price. (13-4-18)
Then, the astonished King Gādhi, out of fear of the curse, adorned his daughter and gave her to the son of Bhṛgu. (13-4-19)
The foremost of the Brahmarṣis took his hand in accordance with the rite; and she, having gained him as her husband, experienced the highest joy. (13-4-20)
O Bhārata, the sage among Brāhmaṇas was pleased with her conduct and offered the beautiful-complexioned woman a boon. (13-4-21)
The maiden told her mother everything about the best of kings. Then the mother, seeing her daughter somewhat downcast, spoke to her. (13-4-22)
O daughter, my husband too is worthy to grant you favor. He, the great ascetic, is capable of bestowing offspring by his power. (13-4-23)
Then she quickly went and reported everything. Ṛcīka then spoke to her, O king, about what her mother intended to do. (13-4-24)
You and she will indeed beget a virtuous child; O auspicious one, let there not be any other affection for your mother. (13-4-25)
O auspicious one, a son of yours, who will praise virtues, will be born. He will be prosperous, continue our lineage, and your brother will also be a continuer of the lineage. (13-4-26)
O auspicious one, after your purificatory bath, you and the aśvattha tree, and the udumbara tree, should embrace each other; then you both will obtain your desired result. (13-4-27)
O pure-smiling one, you and she should both partake of these two portions of sacrificial food, purified by mantra; then you both will obtain two sons. (13-4-28)
Then Satyavati, delighted, spoke to her mother. She also told her about what Ṛcīka had said, regarding the two offerings. (13-4-29)
Then the mother said to her daughter Satyavati: "O daughter, do my bidding for one who has bowed her head in refuge." (13-4-30)
This offering, which has been given to you by your husband and is preceded by mantras, please give this to me, and you accept what is mine as well. (13-4-31)
O pure-smiling one, let us also exchange the two trees, if my word is authoritative, O blameless one born of my mother. (13-4-32)
This has been manifested by the Lord and done here in this way; thus it will be. Therefore, O slender-waisted one, my feeling is at your feet and in the tree. Consider how your brother may become distinguished. (13-4-33)
Thus, having done so, the mother Satyavati and she. Then, when pregnancy had not occurred, both of them, O Yudhishthira, indeed. (13-4-34)
Seeing that his wife Satyavati had conceived, the great sage, the foremost of the Bhṛgus, spoke to her with a troubled mind. (13-4-35)
By your exchange, the offering you used will become evident. The exchange on the tree has also been very clearly performed by you, O auspicious one. (13-4-36)
Indeed, I have placed the universe, which is Brahman, at your feet; and all the power of the kṣatriya has been placed at her feet. (13-4-37)
You will beget a brāhmaṇa whose qualities are renowned throughout the three worlds, and she will beget a distinguished kṣatriya. Therefore, this has been done by me. (13-4-38)
But since you have made this exchange with the mother in this way, therefore, she, the best among Brāhmaṇas, will give birth to you. (13-4-39)
But you, O auspicious one, will give birth to a warrior of fierce deeds. Indeed, what you have done out of motherly affection is not good, O passionate lady. (13-4-40)
O king, Satyavati, of excellent complexion, having heard, afflicted by grief, fell to the ground like a beautiful creeper that has been cut. (13-4-41)
Having regained her senses and bowing her head in reverence, Gādhi's daughter, the wife, spoke to her husband, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas. (13-4-42)
O best among the knowers of Brahman, as my wife is propitiating you and I am also beseeching you, please show your favor, O best of Brāhmaṇas, so that my son may not be a Kṣatriya. (13-4-43)
Indeed, my descendant of fierce deeds may be worthy to become a grandson, but let him not be my son, O Brahman; let this boon be granted to me. (13-4-44)
He said to his own wife, who was endowed with great austerity, "Let it be so." Then she gave birth to Jamadagni, an auspicious son. (13-4-45)
O king, the illustrious wife of Gādhi gave birth to Viśvāmitra, who, by the power of the sage, became a Brahmarṣi and a speaker of Brahman. (13-4-46)
Then Viśvāmitra, the great ascetic, attained Brāhmaṇa-hood. That Kṣatriya also thus became the progenitor of the Brāhmaṇa lineage. (13-4-47)
His sons were great-souled, increasers of the Brahma lineage, ascetics, knowers of Brahman, and indeed creators of lineages. (13-4-48)
Madhuccanda, the venerable Devarāta, the mighty one, the undiminished, Śakunta, Babhru, and likewise Kālapatha. (13-4-49)
Yājñavalkya, the well-known one, as well as Sthūṇa, the great vow-holder, Ulūka, the messenger of Yama, and likewise the sage Saindhavāyana. (13-4-50)
Karṇajaṅgha, the venerable Gālava, the great sage Vajra, and also Śālaṅkāyana were present. (13-4-51)
Lālāṭya, Nārada, and likewise Kūrcamukha are remembered; Vāduli, Musala, and likewise Rakṣogrīva are also mentioned. (13-4-52)
One who is at the feet, who bears many, and indeed the stone altar, white, pure, having a wheel, to be worshipped by wind, destroyer of wind, then the descendant of Aśvalāyana. (13-4-53)
Śyāmāyana, then Gārgya, Jābāli, Suśruta also, Kārīṣi, then Saṃśrutya, and the descendants of Parapaurava. (13-4-54)
The great sage and Kapila, as well as the sage Tārakāyana; likewise, Upagahana and the sage Arjunāyana. (13-4-55)
Mārgamitri, Hiraṇyākṣa, Jaṅghāri, Babhruvāhana, Sūti, Vibhūti, Sūta, and Suraṅga likewise. (13-4-56)
Ārāddhi by name, and also Cāmpeya and Ujjayana likewise; Navatantu, Bakanakha, and Śayonarati as well. (13-4-57)
Śayoruha, Ārumatsya, Śirīṣī, and then Gārdabhi; Ujjayonih, Adāpekṣī, Nāradi, and the great sage—all sons of Viśvāmitra, sages who expound on Brahman. (13-4-58)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, this Viśvāmitra, the great ascetic, is not a kṣatriya; by Ṛcīka, the supreme Brahman was established in him. (13-4-59)
O best of the Bharatas, all this has been truly told to you: the birth of Viśvāmitra, indeed, is from the energies of Soma, Sūrya, and Agni. (13-4-60)
O best of kings, wherever you have any further doubt, there and there tell me; I am the remover of your doubts. (13-4-61)
