13.031
वीतहव्योपाख्यानम्
The story of Vītahavya.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
श्रुतं मे महदाख्यानमेतत्कुरुकुलोद्वह। सुदुष्प्रापं ब्रवीषि त्वं ब्राह्मण्यं वदतां वर ॥१३-३१-१॥
O uplifter of the Kuru lineage, I have heard this great narrative from you; you speak of Brahminhood, which is very difficult to attain, O best of speakers. (13-31-1)
विश्वामित्रेण च पुरा ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्तमित्युत। श्रूयते वदसे तच्च दुष्प्रापमिति सत्तम ॥१३-३१-२॥
It is heard that formerly Brahminhood was attained by Viśvāmitra, and you say, O best one, that it is difficult to attain. (13-31-2)
वीतहव्यश्च राजर्षिः श्रुतो मे विप्रतां गतः। तदेव तावद्गाङ्गेय श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो ॥१३-३१-३॥
Vītahavya, the royal sage, I have heard, attained the state of a Brāhmaṇa; that very thing, O son of Gangā, I wish to hear from you, O mighty one. (13-31-3)
स केन कर्मणा प्राप्तो ब्राह्मण्यं राजसत्तम। वरेण तपसा वापि तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हति ॥१३-३१-४॥
O best of kings, by what action did he obtain Brahminhood? Was it by a boon, by austerity, or otherwise? Please explain that to me. (13-31-4)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
शृणु राजन्यथा राजा वीतहव्यो महायशाः। क्षत्रियः सन्पुनः प्राप्तो ब्राह्मण्यं लोकसत्कृतम् ॥१३-३१-५॥
Hear, O king, how King Vītahavya, who was greatly renowned, though born a Kṣatriya, again attained the state of a Brāhmaṇa, honored by the world. (13-31-5)
मनोर्महात्मनस्तात प्रजाधर्मेण शासतः। बभूव पुत्रो धर्मात्मा शर्यातिरिति विश्रुतः ॥१३-३१-६॥
O dear one, Śaryāti, the righteous-souled and well-known son of the great-souled Manu, who ruled his subjects with righteousness, was born. (13-31-6)
तस्यान्ववाये द्वौ राजन्राजानौ सम्बभूवतुः। हेहयस्तालजङ्घश्च वत्सेषु जयतां वर ॥१३-३१-७॥
O king, in his lineage, two kings were born together: Hehaya and Tālajaṅgha, the best among the victorious in the Vatsa line. (13-31-7)
हेहयस्य तु पुत्राणां दशसु स्त्रीषु भारत। शतं बभूव प्रख्यातं शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम् ॥१३-३१-८॥
O Bhārata, from the ten wives of Hehaya, a hundred famous sons were born, all of them heroic and never turning back. (13-31-8)
तुल्यरूपप्रभावाणां विदुषां युद्धशालिनाम्। धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च सर्वत्रैव कृतश्रमाः ॥१३-३१-९॥
Those who possess equal form and power, who are learned and skilled in battle, who have exerted themselves in the science of archery and in the Veda, and indeed everywhere, are those who have made effort. (13-31-9)
काशिष्वपि नृपो राजन्दिवोदासपितामहः। हर्यश्व इति विख्यातो बभूव जयतां वरः ॥१३-३१-१०॥
O king, among the Kāśis also, there was a king named Haryaśva, the grandfather of Divodāsa, who became well-known as the best among the victorious. (13-31-10)
स वीतहव्यदायादैरागत्य पुरुषर्षभ। गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये सङ्ग्रामे विनिपातितः ॥१३-३१-११॥
O best of men, he was slain in battle by the descendants of Vītahavya, having come to the region between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā. (13-31-11)
तं तु हत्वा नरवरं हेहयास्ते महारथाः। प्रतिजग्मुः पुरीं रम्यां वत्सानामकुतोभयाः ॥१३-३१-१२॥
But after slaying him, the best of men, the Hehaya great chariot-warriors returned to the beautiful city of the Vatsas, free from any fear. (13-31-12)
हर्यश्वस्य तु दायादः काशिराजोऽभ्यषिच्यत। सुदेवो देवसङ्काशः साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः ॥१३-३१-१३॥
But the heir of Haryaśva, the king of Kāśi, was anointed. Sudeva, who resembled a god, was like another Dharma incarnate. (13-31-13)
स पालयन्नेव महीं धर्मात्मा काशिनन्दनः। तैर्वीतहव्यैरागत्य युधि सर्वैर्विनिर्जितः ॥१३-३१-१४॥
While he, the righteous king of Kāśi, was protecting the earth, he was completely conquered in battle by all the Vītahavyas who came there. (13-31-14)
तमप्याजौ विनिर्जित्य प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्। सौदेविस्त्वथ काशीशो दिवोदासोऽभ्यषिच्यत ॥१३-३१-१५॥
Having conquered him as well in battle, they returned the way they had come. Then Saudevi, the king of Kāśī, Divodāsa, was anointed. (13-31-15)
दिवोदासस्तु विज्ञाय वीर्यं तेषां महात्मनाम्। वाराणसीं महातेजा निर्ममे शक्रशासनात् ॥१३-३१-१६॥
But Divodāsa, having understood the strength of those great-souled ones, established the mighty city of Vārāṇasī by the command of Śakra (Indra). (13-31-16)
विप्रक्षत्रियसम्बाधां वैश्यशूद्रसमाकुलाम्। नैकद्रव्योच्चयवतीं समृद्धविपणापणाम् ॥१३-३१-१७॥
It was crowded with brāhmaṇas and warriors, filled with merchants and servants, abounding in heaps of many goods, and prosperous with markets and shops. (13-31-17)
गङ्गाया उत्तरे कूले वप्रान्ते राजसत्तम। गोमत्या दक्षिणे चैव शक्रस्येवामरावतीम् ॥१३-३१-१८॥
O best of kings, on the northern bank of the Gaṅgā at the edge of the embankment, and on the southern bank of the Gomati, there is a city like the Amaravati of Śakra (Indra). (13-31-18)
तत्र तं राजशार्दूलं निवसन्तं महीपतिम्। आगत्य हेहया भूयः पर्यधावन्त भारत ॥१३-३१-१९॥
O Bhārata, there, the Hehayas, having come, again surrounded that king, the tiger among kings, who was dwelling there. (13-31-19)
स निष्पत्य ददौ युद्धं तेभ्यो राजा महाबलः। देवासुरसमं घोरं दिवोदासो महाद्युतिः ॥१३-३१-२०॥
Having come forth, the mighty king Divodāsa, radiant with great splendor, gave them battle—a terrible conflict equal to that between the gods and asuras. (13-31-20)
स तु युद्धे महाराज दिनानां दशतीर्दश। हतवाहनभूयिष्ठस्ततो दैन्यमुपागमत् ॥१३-३१-२१॥
But he, O great king, after fighting in battle for one hundred and ten days, with most of the vehicles destroyed, then fell into misery. (13-31-21)
हतयोधस्ततो राजन्क्षीणकोशश्च भूमिपः। दिवोदासः पुरीं हित्वा पलायनपरोऽभवत् ॥१३-३१-२२॥
O king, with his warriors slain and his treasury exhausted, the ruler Divodāsa abandoned the city and became intent on flight. (13-31-22)
स त्वाश्रममुपागम्य भरद्वाजस्य धीमतः। जगाम शरणं राजा कृताञ्जलिररिंदम ॥१३-३१-२३॥
But he, the king and destroyer of enemies, having approached the hermitage of the wise Bharadvāja with joined palms, sought refuge there. (13-31-23)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
भगवन्वैतहव्यैर्मे युद्धे वंशः प्रणाशितः। अहमेकः परिद्यूनो भवन्तं शरणं गतः ॥१३-३१-२४॥
O Lord, my family has been destroyed in battle by the Vaitahavyas; I am left alone and bereft, and have come to you for refuge. (13-31-24)
शिष्यस्नेहेन भगवन्स मां रक्षितुमर्हसि। निःशेषो हि कृतो वंशो मम तैः पापकर्मभिः ॥१३-३१-२५॥
O Lord, out of affection for your disciple, you ought to protect me. My entire lineage has indeed been destroyed by their evil deeds. (13-31-25)
तमुवाच महाभागो भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं सौदेव व्येतु ते भयम् ॥१३-३१-२६॥
The greatly fortunate and powerful Bharadvāja said to him: "Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, O Saudeva, let your fear go away." (13-31-26)
अहमिष्टिं करोम्यद्य पुत्रार्थं ते विशां पते। वैतहव्यसहस्राणि यथा त्वं प्रसहिष्यसि ॥१३-३१-२७॥
Today I perform a sacrifice for you, O lord of the peoples, for the sake of a son, so that you may overcome thousands of Vaitahavyas. (13-31-27)
तत इष्टिं चकारर्षिस्तस्य वै पुत्रकामिकीम्। अथास्य तनयो जज्ञे प्रतर्दन इति श्रुतः ॥१३-३१-२८॥
Then the sage performed a sacrifice for the sake of obtaining a son for him. Thereafter, his son was born, who is known as Pratardana. (13-31-28)
स जातमात्रो ववृधे समाः सद्यस्त्रयोदश। वेदं चाधिजगे कृत्स्नं धनुर्वेदं च भारत ॥१३-३१-२९॥
O Bhārata, as soon as he was born, he grew to thirteen years in an instant, and mastered the entire Veda and the science of archery. (13-31-29)
योगेन च समाविष्टो भरद्वाजेन धीमता। तेजो लौक्यं स सङ्गृह्य तस्मिन्देशे समाविशत् ॥१३-३१-३०॥
By the power of yoga and with the wise Bharadvāja, having gathered his worldly energy, he entered that place. (13-31-30)
ततः स कवची धन्वी बाणी दीप्त इवानलः। प्रययौ स धनुर्धुन्वन् विवर्षुरिव तोयदः ॥१३-३१-३१॥
Then he, clad in armor, with bow and arrows, shining like fire, advanced, shaking his bow like a cloud pouring forth. (13-31-31)
तं दृष्ट्वा परमं हर्षं सुदेवतनयो ययौ। मेने च मनसा दग्धान्वैतहव्यान्स पार्थिवः ॥१३-३१-३२॥
Seeing him, the son of Sudeva was filled with supreme joy and departed; and the king thought in his mind that the Vaitahavyas had been destroyed. (13-31-32)
ततस्तं यौवराज्येन स्थापयित्वा प्रतर्दनम्। कृतकृत्यं तदात्मानं स राजा अभ्यनन्दत ॥१३-३१-३३॥
Then, after installing Pratardana as the crown prince, the king, having accomplished his purpose, rejoiced. (13-31-33)
ततस्तु वैतहव्यानां वधाय स महीपतिः। पुत्रं प्रस्थापयामास प्रतर्दनमरिंदमम् ॥१३-३१-३४॥
Then, for the destruction of the Vaitahavyas, the king sent his son Pratardana, the destroyer of enemies. (13-31-34)
सरथः स तु सन्तीर्य गङ्गामाशु पराक्रमी। प्रययौ वीतहव्यानां पुरीं परपुरञ्जयः ॥१३-३१-३५॥
But he, with his chariot, quickly crossed the Ganga; the mighty conqueror of enemy cities went to the city of the Vītahavyas. (13-31-35)
वैतहव्यास्तु संश्रुत्य रथघोषं समुद्धतम्। निर्ययुर्नगराकारै रथैः पररथारुजैः ॥१३-३१-३६॥
But the Vaitahavyas, having heard the loud sound of chariots, went out with chariots resembling cities, capable of destroying enemy chariots. (13-31-36)
निष्क्रम्य ते नरव्याघ्रा दंशिताश्चित्रयोधिनः। प्रतर्दनं समाजघ्नुः शरवर्षैरुदायुधाः ॥१३-३१-३७॥
Having emerged, those tiger-like men, who were wounded and were distinguished warriors, together attacked Pratardana with showers of arrows and raised weapons. (13-31-37)
अस्त्रैश्च विविधाकारै रथौघैश्च युधिष्ठिर। अभ्यवर्षन्त राजानं हिमवन्तमिवाम्बुदाः ॥१३-३१-३८॥
O Yudhishthira, with missiles of various kinds and torrents of chariots, they showered upon the king like clouds upon Mount Himavat. (13-31-38)
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य तेषां राजा प्रतर्दनः। जघान तान्महातेजा वज्रानलसमैः शरैः ॥१३-३१-३९॥
King Pratardana, of great energy, warded off their weapons with his own weapons and killed them with arrows as powerful as thunderbolts and fire. (13-31-39)
कृत्तोत्तमाङ्गास्ते राजन्भल्लैः शतसहस्रशः। अपतन्रुधिरार्द्राङ्गा निकृत्ता इव किंशुकाः ॥१३-३१-४०॥
O king, their finest limbs severed by arrows, they fell by the hundreds and thousands, their blood-soaked bodies strewn like butea flowers. (13-31-40)
हतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वीतहव्यः सुतेष्वथ। प्राद्रवन्नगरं हित्वा भृगोराश्रममप्युत ॥१३-३१-४१॥
When all those sons were slain, Vītahavya then fled, abandoning the city and even Bhṛgu's hermitage. (13-31-41)
ययौ भृगुं च शरणं वीतहव्यो नराधिपः। अभयं च ददौ तस्मै राज्ञे राजन्भृगुस्तथा ॥ ततो ददावासनं च तस्मै शिष्यो भृगोस्तदा ॥१३-३१-४२॥
Vītahavya, the king, went to Bhṛgu for refuge. Bhṛgu, O king, granted him fearlessness. Then, Bhṛgu's disciple gave him a seat. (13-31-42)
अथानुपदमेवाशु तत्रागच्छत्प्रतर्दनः। स प्राप्य चाश्रमपदं दिवोदासात्मजोऽब्रवीत् ॥१३-३१-४३॥
Then Pratardana quickly came there step by step. Having reached the hermitage, the son of Divodāsa spoke. (13-31-43)
भो भोः केऽत्राश्रमे सन्ति भृगोः शिष्या महात्मनः। द्रष्टुमिच्छे मुनिमहं तस्याचक्षत मामिति ॥१३-३१-४४॥
O, O! Who are the disciples of the great-souled Bhṛgu here in the hermitage? I wish to see the sage; please tell me about him. (13-31-44)
स तं विदित्वा तु भृगुर्निश्चक्रामाश्रमात्तदा। पूजयामास च ततो विधिना परमेण ह ॥१३-३१-४५॥
Having recognized him, Bhrigu then departed from the hermitage. Afterwards, he worshipped him with the highest procedure indeed. (13-31-45)
उवाच चैनं राजेन्द्र किं कार्यमिति पार्थिवम्। स चोवाच नृपस्तस्मै यदागमनकारणम् ॥१३-३१-४६॥
He said to him, O king, "What is the task?" Thus he asked the king. And the king replied to him the reason for his coming. (13-31-46)
अयं ब्रह्मन्नितो राजा वीतहव्यो विसर्ज्यताम्। अस्य पुत्रैर्हि मे ब्रह्मन्कृत्स्नो वंशः प्रणाशितः ॥ उत्सादितश्च विषयः काशीनां रत्नसञ्चयः ॥१३-३१-४७॥
O Brāhmaṇa, let this king Vītahavya be sent away from here. Indeed, by his sons, my entire lineage has been destroyed, and the territory of the Kāśis, along with their treasure, has been ruined. (13-31-47)
एतस्य वीर्यदृप्तस्य हतं पुत्रशतं मया। अस्येदानीं वधाद्ब्रह्मन्भविष्याम्यनृणः पितुः ॥१३-३१-४८॥
I have killed a hundred sons of this man who is proud of his strength. Now, O Brahman, by killing him, I shall become free from my debt to my father. (13-31-48)
तमुवाच कृपाविष्टो भृगुर्धर्मभृतां वरः। नेहास्ति क्षत्रियः कश्चित्सर्वे हीमे द्विजातयः ॥१३-३१-४९॥
Bhṛgu, the best among the upholders of dharma, filled with compassion, said to him: "There is not a single Kṣatriya here; indeed, all these are twice-born." (13-31-49)
एवं तु वचनं श्रुत्वा भृगोस्तथ्यं प्रतर्दनः। पादावुपस्पृश्य शनैः प्रहसन्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥१३-३१-५०॥
Having thus heard the truthful speech of Bhṛgu, Pratardana gently touched his feet, smiled, and spoke these words. (13-31-50)
एवमप्यस्मि भगवन्कृतकृत्यो न संशयः। यदेष राजा वीर्येण स्वजातिं त्याजितो मया ॥१३-३१-५१॥
Thus, O Lord, I am indeed one who has fulfilled his purpose, without doubt, for this king has been made by me, through strength, to abandon his own race. (13-31-51)
अनुजानीहि मां ब्रह्मन्ध्यायस्व च शिवेन माम्। त्याजितो हि मया जातिमेष राजा भृगूद्वह ॥१३-३१-५२॥
Allow me to go; meditate on Brahman and on me together with Śiva. This king has indeed been forsaken by me, O best of the Bhṛgus. (13-31-52)
ततस्तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो ययौ राजा प्रतर्दनः। यथागतं महाराज मुक्त्वा विषमिवोरगः ॥१३-३१-५३॥
Then, having received permission from him, King Pratardana departed in the same manner as he had come, O great king, leaving it behind like a serpent leaves its poison. (13-31-53)
भृगोर्वचनमात्रेण स च ब्रह्मर्षितां गतः। वीतहव्यो महाराज ब्रह्मवादित्वमेव च ॥१३-३१-५४॥
By the mere word of Bhṛgu, he became a Brahmarṣi. Vītahavya, O great king, also truly attained the status of a Brahman-knower. (13-31-54)
तस्य गृत्समदः पुत्रो रूपेणेन्द्र इवापरः। शक्रस्त्वमिति यो दैत्यैर्निगृहीतः किलाभवत् ॥१३-३१-५५॥
His son Gṛtsamada, who was another Indra in form, was addressed by the Daityas as "You are Śakra" and was indeed restrained by them. (13-31-55)
ऋग्वेदे वर्तते चाग्र्या श्रुतिरत्र विशां पते। यत्र गृत्समदो ब्रह्मन्ब्राह्मणैः स महीयते ॥१३-३१-५६॥
O lord of the people, in the Ṛgveda exists the most excellent revelation here, where Gṛtsamada, O Brāhmaṇa, is honored by the Brāhmaṇas. (13-31-56)
स ब्रह्मचारी विप्रर्षिः श्रीमान्गृत्समदोऽभवत्। पुत्रो गृत्समदस्यापि सुचेता अभवद्द्विजः ॥१३-३१-५७॥
He, the celibate and prosperous brāhmaṇa sage, became Gṛtsamada. The son of Gṛtsamada, Suceṭā, also became a twice-born. (13-31-57)
वर्चाः सुतेजसः पुत्रो विहव्यस्तस्य चात्मजः। विहव्यस्य तु पुत्रस्तु वितत्यस्तस्य चात्मजः ॥१३-३१-५८॥
Varchāḥ was the son of Sutejasa, and his son was Vihavya. Vihavya's son was Vitatya, and his son was (so on). (13-31-58)
वितत्यस्य सुतः सत्यः सन्तः सत्यस्य चात्मजः। श्रवास्तस्य सुतश्चर्षिः श्रवसश्चाभवत्तमः ॥१३-३१-५९॥
Satya was the son of Vitatya; Sant was the son of Satya; Carṣi was the son of Śravāsta; and Tama was the son of Śravas. (13-31-59)
तमसश्च प्रकाशोऽभूत्तनयो द्विजसत्तमः। प्रकाशस्य च वागिन्द्रो बभूव जयतां वरः ॥१३-३१-६०॥
O best of the twice-born, from Tamas was born Prakasha as his son. From Prakasha, Vākindra was born, the best among the victorious. (13-31-60)
तस्यात्मजश्च प्रमतिर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः। घृताच्यां तस्य पुत्रस्तु रुरुर्नामोदपद्यत ॥१३-३१-६१॥
His son Pramati, who was well-versed in the Veda and Vedāṅgas; in Ghṛtācī, his son named Ruru was born. (13-31-61)
प्रमद्वरायां तु रुरोः पुत्रः समुदपद्यत। शुनको नाम विप्रर्षिर्यस्य पुत्रोऽथ शौनकः ॥१३-३१-६२॥
But in Pramadvara, Ruru had a son. He was the brāhmaṇa-sage named Śunaka, whose son was then Śaunaka. (13-31-62)
एवं विप्रत्वमगमद्वीतहव्यो नराधिपः। भृगोः प्रसादाद्राजेन्द्र क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियर्षभ ॥१३-३१-६३॥
Thus, O king, Vītahavya, the kṣatriya and foremost among kṣatriyas, attained brāhmaṇa-hood by the grace of Bhṛgu. (13-31-63)
तथैव कथितो वंशो मया गार्त्समदस्तव। विस्तरेण महाराज किमन्यदनुपृच्छसि ॥१३-३१-६४॥
In this very manner, O great king, I have narrated in detail the lineage of the Gārtsamadas, your ancestors; what else do you wish to ask? (13-31-64)
