13.031
vītahavyopākhyānam
The story of Vītahavya.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
śrutaṃ me mahadākhyānam etat kurukulodvaha। suduṣprāpaṃ bravīṣi tvaṃ brāhmaṇyaṃ vadatāṃ vara ॥13-31-1॥
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)
viśvāmitreṇa ca purā brāhmaṇyaṃ prāptam ity uta। śrūyate vadase tac ca duṣprāpam iti sattama ॥13-31-2॥
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)
vītahavyaś ca rājarṣiḥ śruto me vipratāṃ gataḥ। tad eva tāvad gāṅgeya śrotum icchāmi ahaṃ vibho ॥13-31-3॥
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)
sa kena karmaṇā prāpto brāhmaṇyaṃ rājasattama. vareṇa tapasā vāpi tanme vyākhyātumarhati ॥13-31-4॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
śṛṇu rājanyathā rājā vītahavyo mahāyaśāḥ। kṣatriyaḥ sanpunaḥ prāpto brāhmaṇyaṃ lokasatkṛtam ॥13-31-5॥
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)
manormāhātmanastāta prajādharmeṇa śāsataḥ. babhūva putro dharmātmā śaryātiriti viśrutaḥ ॥13-31-6॥
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)
tasyānvavāye dvau rājan rājānau sambabhūvatuḥ। hehayas tālajaṅghaś ca vatseṣu jayatāṃ vara ॥13-31-7॥
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)
hehayasya tu putrāṇāṃ daśasu strīṣu bhārata। śataṃ babhūva prakhyātaṃ śūrāṇām anivartinām ॥13-31-8॥
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)
tulyarūpaprabhāvāṇāṃ viduṣāṃ yuddhaśālinām। dhanurvede ca vede ca sarvatraiva kṛtaśramāḥ ॥13-31-9॥
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)
kāśiṣv api nṛpo rājan divodāsa-pitāmahaḥ। haryaśva iti vikhyāto babhūva jayatāṃ varaḥ ॥13-31-10॥
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)
sa vītahavyadāyādair āgatya puruṣarṣabha। gaṅgāyamunayor madhye saṅgrāme vinipātitaḥ ॥13-31-11॥
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)
taṃ tu hatvā naravaraṃ hehayāste mahārathāḥ। pratijagmuḥ purīṃ ramyāṃ vatsānāmakutobhayāḥ ॥13-31-12॥
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)
haryaśvasya tu dāyādaḥ kāśirājo'bhyaṣicyata। sudevo devasaṅkāśaḥ sākṣāddharma ivāparaḥ ॥13-31-13॥
But the heir of Haryaśva, the king of Kāśi, was anointed. Sudeva, who resembled a god, was like another Dharma incarnate. (13-31-13)
sa pālayan-neva mahīṃ dharmātmā kāśinandanaḥ। tair vītahavyair āgatya yudhi sarvair vinirjitaḥ ॥13-31-14॥
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)
tam apy ājau vinirjitya pratijagmur yathāgatam। saudevis tv atha kāśīśo divodāso 'bhyaṣicyata ॥13-31-15॥
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)
divodāsastu vijñāya vīryaṃ teṣāṃ mahātmanām। vārāṇasīṃ mahātejā nirmame śakraśāsanāt ॥13-31-16॥
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)
vipra-kṣatriya-sambādhāṃ vaiśya-śūdra-samākulām। naika-dravya-ucchaya-vatīṃ samṛddha-vipaṇāpaṇām ॥13-31-17॥
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)
gaṅgāyā uttarē kūlē vaprāntē rājasattama। gōmatyā dakṣiṇē caiva śakrasyevāmarāvatīm ॥13-31-18॥
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)
tatra taṃ rājaśārdūlaṃ nivasantaṃ mahīpatim। āgatya hehayā bhūyaḥ paryadhāvanta bhārata ॥13-31-19॥
O Bhārata, there, the Hehayas, having come, again surrounded that king, the tiger among kings, who was dwelling there. (13-31-19)
sa niṣpatya dadau yuddhaṃ tebhyo rājā mahābalaḥ। devāsurasamaṃ ghoraṃ divodāso mahādyutiḥ ॥13-31-20॥
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)
sa tu yuddhe mahārāja dinānāṃ daśatīrdaśa। hatavāhanabhūyiṣṭhastato dainyamupāgamat ॥13-31-21॥
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)
hatayodhas tato rājan kṣīṇakośaś ca bhūmipaḥ। divodāsaḥ purīṃ hitvā palāyanaparo'bhavat ॥13-31-22॥
O king, with his warriors slain and his treasury exhausted, the ruler Divodāsa abandoned the city and became intent on flight. (13-31-22)
sa tvāśramam upāgamya bharadvājasya dhīmataḥ। jagāma śaraṇaṃ rājā kṛtāñjalir ariṃdama ॥13-31-23॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
bhagavan vaitahavyair me yuddhe vaṃśaḥ praṇāśitaḥ। aham ekaḥ paridyūno bhavantaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ ॥13-31-24॥
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)
śiṣyasnehen bhagavans māṃ rakṣitumarhasi। niḥśeṣo hi kṛto vaṃśo mama taiḥ pāpakarmabhiḥ ॥13-31-25॥
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)
tam uvāca mahābhāgo bharadvājaḥ pratāpavān। na bhetavyaṃ na bhetavyaṃ saudeva vyetu te bhayam ॥13-31-26॥
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)
aham iṣṭiṃ karomy adya putrārthaṃ te viśāṃ pate। vaitahavyasahasrāṇi yathā tvaṃ prasahiṣyasi ॥13-31-27॥
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)
tata iṣṭiṃ cakāra ṛṣis tasya vai putrakāmikīm। athāsya tanayo jajñe pratardana iti śrutaḥ ॥13-31-28॥
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)
sa jātamātro vavṛdhe samāḥ sadyastrayodaśa। vedaṃ cādhijage kṛtsnaṃ dhanurvedaṃ ca bhārata ॥13-31-29॥
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)
yogena ca samāviṣṭo bharadvājena dhīmatā। tejo laukyaṃ sa saṅgṛhya tasmiṃdeśe samāviśat ॥13-31-30॥
By the power of yoga and with the wise Bharadvāja, having gathered his worldly energy, he entered that place. (13-31-30)
tataḥ sa kavacī dhanvī bāṇī dīpta ivā'nalaḥ। prayayau sa dhanur-dhunvan vivaṛṣur-iva toyadaḥ ॥13-31-31॥
Then he, clad in armor, with bow and arrows, shining like fire, advanced, shaking his bow like a cloud pouring forth. (13-31-31)
taṃ dṛṣṭvā paramaṃ harṣaṃ sudevatanayo yayau। mene ca manasā dagdhān vaitahavyān sa pārthivaḥ ॥13-31-32॥
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)
tatastaṃ yauvarājyena sthāpayitvā pratardanam। kṛtakṛtyaṃ tadātmānaṃ sa rājā abhyanandata ॥13-31-33॥
Then, after installing Pratardana as the crown prince, the king, having accomplished his purpose, rejoiced. (13-31-33)
tatastu vaitahavyānāṃ vadhāya sa mahīpatiḥ। putraṃ prasthāpayāmāsa pratardanam ariṃdamam ॥13-31-34॥
Then, for the destruction of the Vaitahavyas, the king sent his son Pratardana, the destroyer of enemies. (13-31-34)
sarathaḥ sa tu santīrya gaṅgām āśu parākramī। prayayau vītahavyānāṃ purīṃ parapurañjayaḥ ॥13-31-35॥
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)
vaitahavyās tu saṃśrutya rathaghoṣaṃ samuddhatam। niryayur nagarākārai rathaiḥ pararathārujaiḥ ॥13-31-36॥
But the Vaitahavyas, having heard the loud sound of chariots, went out with chariots resembling cities, capable of destroying enemy chariots. (13-31-36)
niṣkramya te naravyāghrā daṃśitāś citrayodhinaḥ। pratardanaṃ samājaghnuḥ śaravarṣair udāyudhāḥ ॥13-31-37॥
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)
astraiś ca vividhākārai rathaughaiś ca yudhiṣṭhira। abhyavarṣanta rājānaṃ himavantam ivāmbudāḥ ॥13-31-38॥
O Yudhishthira, with missiles of various kinds and torrents of chariots, they showered upon the king like clouds upon Mount Himavat. (13-31-38)
astrair astrāṇi saṁvārya teṣāṁ rājā pratardanaḥ। jaghāna tān mahātejā vajrānalasamaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥13-31-39॥
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)
kṛttottamāṅgās te rājan bhallaiḥ śata-sahasraśaḥ। apatan rudhirārdra-aṅgā nikṛttā iva kiṃśukāḥ॥13-31-40॥
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)
hateṣu teṣu sarveṣu vītahavyaḥ suteṣvatha। prādravannagaraṃ hitvā bhṛgorāśramamapyuta ॥13-31-41॥
When all those sons were slain, Vītahavya then fled, abandoning the city and even Bhṛgu's hermitage. (13-31-41)
yayau bhṛguṃ ca śaraṇaṃ vītahavyo narādhipaḥ। abhayaṃ ca dadau tasmai rājñe rājñbhṛgustathā ॥ tato dadāvāsanaṃ ca tasmai śiṣyo bhṛgostadā ॥13-31-42॥
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)
athānupadamevāśu tatrāgacchat pratardanaḥ। sa prāpya cāśramapadaṃ divodāsātmajo'bravīt ॥13-31-43॥
Then Pratardana quickly came there step by step. Having reached the hermitage, the son of Divodāsa spoke. (13-31-43)
bho bhoḥ ke'trāśrame santi bhṛgoḥ śiṣyā mahātmanaḥ। draṣṭumicche munimahaṃ tasyācakṣata mām iti ॥13-31-44॥
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)
sa taṃ viditvā tu bhṛgur niścakrāmāśramāt tadā। pūjayāmāsa ca tato vidhinā parameṇa ha ॥13-31-45॥
Having recognized him, Bhrigu then departed from the hermitage. Afterwards, he worshipped him with the highest procedure indeed. (13-31-45)
uvāca cainaṃ rājendra kiṃ kāryamiti pārthivam। sa covāca nṛpastasmai yadāgamanakāraṇam ॥13-31-46॥
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)
ayaṃ brahman nito rājā vītahavyo visarjyatām। asya putrair hi me brahman kṛtsno vaṃśaḥ praṇāśitaḥ ॥ utsāditaś ca viṣayaḥ kāśīnāṃ ratnasañcayaḥ ॥13-31-47॥
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)
etasya vīryadṛptasya hataṃ putraśataṃ mayā। asyedānīṃ vadhādbrahmanbhaviṣyāmyanṛṇaḥ pituḥ ॥13-31-48॥
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)
tam uvāca kṛpāviṣṭo bhṛgur dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ। nehāsti kṣatriyaḥ kaścit sarve hīme dvijātayaḥ ॥13-31-49॥
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)
evaṃ tu vacanaṃ śrutvā bhṛgos tathyaṃ pratardanaḥ। pādāv upaspṛśya śanaiḥ prahasan vākyam abravīt ॥13-31-50॥
Having thus heard the truthful speech of Bhṛgu, Pratardana gently touched his feet, smiled, and spoke these words. (13-31-50)
evam apy asmi bhagavan kṛtakṛtyo na saṁśayaḥ। yad eṣa rājā vīryeṇa svajātiṁ tyājito mayā ॥13-31-51॥
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)
anujānīhi māṃ brahma-dhyāyasva ca śivena mām। tyājito hi mayā jātim eṣa rājā bhṛgūdvaha ॥13-31-52॥
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)
tatastenābhyanujñāto yayau rājā pratardanaḥ। yathāgataṃ mahārāja muktvā viṣamivoragaḥ ॥13-31-53॥
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)
bhṛgor vacanamātreṇa sa ca brahmarṣitāṃ gataḥ। vītahavyo mahārāja brahmavāditvameva ca ॥13-31-54॥
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)
tasya gṛtsamadaḥ putro rūpeṇendra ivāparaḥ। śakrastvamiti yo daityairnigṛhītaḥ kilābhavat ॥13-31-55॥
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)
ṛgvede vartate cāgryā śrutiratra viśāṃ pate। yatra gṛtsamado brahmanbrāhmaṇaiḥ sa mahīyate ॥13-31-56॥
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)
sa brahmacārī viprarṣiḥ śrīmān gṛtsamado'bhavat। putro gṛtsamadasyāpi sucetā abhavad dvijaḥ ॥13-31-57॥
He, the celibate and prosperous brāhmaṇa sage, became Gṛtsamada. The son of Gṛtsamada, Suceṭā, also became a twice-born. (13-31-57)
varcāḥ sutejasaḥ putro vihavyas tasya cātmajaḥ। vihavyasya tu putras tu vitatyas tasya cātmajaḥ ॥13-31-58॥
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)
vitatyasya sutaḥ satyaḥ santaḥ satyasya cātmajaḥ। śravāstasya sutaś carṣiḥ śravasaś cābhavat tamaḥ ॥13-31-59॥
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)
tamasaś ca prakāśo'bhūt tanayo dvijasattamaḥ। prakāśasya ca vāg indro babhūva jayatāṃ varaḥ ॥13-31-60॥
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)
tasyātmajaś ca pramatir veda-vedāṅga-pāragaḥ। ghṛtācyāṃ tasya putras tu rurur nāmodapadyata ॥13-31-61॥
His son Pramati, who was well-versed in the Veda and Vedāṅgas; in Ghṛtācī, his son named Ruru was born. (13-31-61)
pramadvaryāṃ tu ruroḥ putraḥ samudapadyata। śunako nāma viprarṣir yasya putro'tha śaunakaḥ ॥13-31-62॥
But in Pramadvara, Ruru had a son. He was the brāhmaṇa-sage named Śunaka, whose son was then Śaunaka. (13-31-62)
evaṃ vipratvam agamad vītahavyo narādhipaḥ। bhṛgoḥ prasādād rājendra kṣatriyaḥ kṣatriyarṣabha ॥13-31-63॥
Thus, O king, Vītahavya, the kṣatriya and foremost among kṣatriyas, attained brāhmaṇa-hood by the grace of Bhṛgu. (13-31-63)
tathaiva kathito vaṃśo mayā gārtsamadas tava। vistareṇa mahārāja kim anyad anupṛcchasi ॥13-31-64॥
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)
