> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 9
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 9: 'Liberation'

> > *****

> > Chapter Seven: The Descendants of King Mandhata

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > mândhâtuh putra-pravaro

> > yo 'mbarîsah prakîrtitah

> > pitâmahena pravrto

> > yauvanâsvas tu tat-sutah

> > hâritas tasya putro 'bhûn

> > mândhâtr-pravarâ ime

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; mândhâtuh--of Mândhâtâ; putra-pravarah--the prominent son; yah--the one who; ambarîsah--by the name Ambarîsa; prakîrtitah--celebrated; pitâmahena--by his grandfather Yuvanâsva; pravrtah--accepted; yauvanâsvah--named Yauvanâsva; tu--and; tat-sutah--the son of Ambarîsa; hârîtah--by the name Hârîta; tasya--of Yauvanâsva; putrah--the son; abhût--became; mândhâtr--in the dynasty of Mândhâtâ; pravarâh--most prominent; ime--all of them.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: The most prominent among the sons of Mandhata was he who is celebrated as Ambarisa. Ambarisa was accepted as son by his grandfather Yuvanasva. Ambarisa's son was Yauvanasva, and Yauvanasva's son was Harita. In Mandhata's dynasty, Ambarisa, Harita and Yauvanasva were very prominent.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > narmadâ bhrâtrbhir dattâ

> > purukutsâya yoragaih

> > tayâ rasâtalam nîto

> > bhujagendra-prayuktayâ

> > narmadâ--by the name Narmadâ; bhrâtrbhih--by her brothers; dattâ--was given in charity; purukutsâya--unto Purukutsa; yâ--she who; uragaih--by the serpents (sarpa-gana); tayâ--by her; rasâtalam--to the lower region of the universe; nîtah--was brought; bhujaga-indra-prayuktayâ--engaged by Vâsuki, the King of the serpents.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The serpent brothers of Narmada gave Narmada to Purukutsa. Being sent by Vasuki, she took Purukutsa to the lower region of the universe.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > gandharvân avadhît tatra

> > vadhyân vai visnu-sakti-dhrk

> > nâgâl labdha-varah sarpâd

> > abhayam smaratâm idam

> > gandharvân--the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; avadhît--he killed; tatra--there (in the lower region of the universe); vadhyân--who deserved to be killed; vai--indeed; visnu-sakti-dhrk--being empowered by Lord Visnu; nâgât--from the Nâgas; labdha-varah--having received a benediction; sarpât--from the snakes; abhayam--assurances; smaratâm--of those who remember; idam--this incident.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There in Rasatala, the lower region of the universe, Purukutsa, being empowered by Lord Visnu, was able to kill all the Gandharvas who deserved to be killed. Purukutsa received the benediction from the serpents that anyone who remembers this history of his being brought by Narmada to the lower region of the universe will be assured of safety from the attack of snakes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > trasaddasyuh paurukutso

> > yo 'naranyasya deha-krt

> > haryasvas tat-sutas tasmât

> > prâruno 'tha tribandhanah

> > trasaddasyuh--by the name Trasaddasyu; paurukutsah--the son of Purukutsa; yah--who; anaranyasya--of Anaranya; deha-krt--the father; haryasvah--by the name Haryasva; tat-sutah--the son of Anaranya; tasmât--from him (Haryasva); prârunah--by the name Prâruna;atha--then, from Prâruna; tribandhanah--his son, Tribandhana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The son of Purukutsa was Trasaddasyu, who was the father of Anaranya. Anaranya's son was Haryasva, the father of Praruna. Praruna was the father of Tribandhana.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 5-6

> > tasya satyavratah putras

> > trisankur iti visrutah

> > prâptas cândâlatâm sâpâd

> > guroh kausika-tejasâ

> > sasarîro gatah svargam

> > adyâpi divi drsyate

> > pâtito 'vâk-sirâ devais

> > tenaiva stambhito balât

> > tasya--of Tribandhana; satyavratah--by the name Satyavrata; putrah--the son; trisankuh--by the name Trisanku; iti--thus; visrutah--celebrated; prâptah--had obtained; cândâlatâm--the quality of a candâla, lower than a sûdra; sâpât--from the curse; guroh--of his father; kausika-tejasâ--by the prowess of Kausika (Visvâmitra);

> > sasarîrah--while in this body; gatah--went; svargam--to the heavenly planet; adya api--until today; divi--in the sky; drsyate--can be seen; pâtitah--having fallen down; avâk-sirâh--with his head hanging downward; devaih--by the prowess of the demigods; tena--by Visvâmitra; eva--indeed; stambhitah--fixed; balât--by superior power.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The son of Tribandhana was Satyavrata, who is celebrated by the name Trisanku. Because he kidnapped the daughter of a brahmana when she was being married, his father cursed him to become a candala, lower than a sudra. Thereafter, by the influence of Visvamitra, he went to the higher planetary system, the heavenly planets, in his material body, but because of the prowess of the demigods he fell back downward. Nonetheless, by the power of Visvamitra, he did not fall all the way down; even today he can still be seen hanging in the sky, head downward.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > traisankavo hariscandro

> > visvâmitra-vasisthayoh

> > yan-nimittam abhûd yuddham

> > paksinor bahu-vârsikam

> > traisankavah--the son of Trisanku; hariscandrah--by the name Hariscandra; visvâmitra-vasisthayoh--between Visvâmitra and Vasistha; yat-nimittam--because of Hariscandra; abhût--there was; yuddham--a great fight; paksinoh--both of whom had been converted into birds; bahu-vârsikam--for many years.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The son of Trisanku was Hariscandra. Because of Hariscandra there was a quarrel between Visvamitra and Vasistha, who for many years fought one another, having been transformed into birds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > so 'napatyo visannâtmâ

> > nâradasyopadesatah

> > varunam saranam yâtah

> > putro me jâyatâm prabho

> > sah--that Hariscandra; anapatyah--being without a son; visanna-âtmâ--therefore very morose; nâradasya--of Nârada; upadesatah--by the advice; varunam--unto Varuna; saranam yâtah--took shelter; putrah--a son; me--of me; jâyatâm--let there be born; prabho--O my lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Hariscandra had no son and was therefore extremely morose. Once, therefore, following the advice of Narada, he took shelter of Varuna and said to him "My lord I have no son. Would you kindly give me one?"

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > yadi vîro mahârâja

> > tenaiva tvâm yaje iti

> > tatheti varunenâsya

> > putro jâtas tu rohitah

> > yadi--if; vîrah--there is a son; mahârâja--O Mahârâja Parîksit; tena eva--even by that son; tvâm--unto you; yaje--I shall offer sacrifice; iti--thus; tathâ--as you desire; iti--thus accepted; varunena--by Varuna; asya--of Mahârâja Hariscandra; putrah--a son; jâtah--was born; tu--indeed; rohitah--by the name Rohita.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, Hariscandra begged Varuna, "My lord, if a son is born to me, with that son I shall perform a sacrifice for your satisfaction." When Hariscandra said this, Varuna replied, "Let it be so." Because of Varuna's benediction, Hariscandra begot a son named Rohita.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > jâtah suto hy anenânga

> > mâm yajasveti so 'bravît

> > yadâ pasur nirdasah syâd

> > atha medhyo bhaved iti

> > jâtah--has been born; sutah--a son; hi--indeed; anena--by this son; anga--O Hariscandra; mâm--unto me; yajasva--offer sacrifice; iti--thus; sah--he, Varuna; abravît--said; yadâ--when; pasuh--an animal; nirdasah--has passed ten days; syât--should become; atha--then; medhyah--suitable for offering in sacrifice; bhavet--becomes; iti--thus (Hariscandra said).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, when the child was born, Varuna approached Hariscandra and said, "Now you have a son. With this son you can offer me a sacrifice." In answer to this, Hariscandra said, "After ten days have passed since an animal's birth, the animal becomes fit to be sacrificed."

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > nirdase ca sa âgatya

> > yajasvety âha so 'bravît

> > dantâh pasor yaj jâyerann

> > atha medhyo bhaved iti

> > nirdase--after ten days; ca--also; sah--he, Varuna; âgatya--coming there; yajasva--now sacrifice; iti--thus; âha--said; sah--he, Hariscandra; abravît--replied; dantâh--the teeth; pasoh--of the animal; yat--when; jâyeran--have appeared; atha--then; medhyah--fit for being sacrificed; bhavet--will become; iti--thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After ten days, Varuna came again and said to Hariscandra, "Now you can perform the sacrifice." Hariscandra replied, "When an animal grows teeth, then it becomes pure enough to be sacrificed."

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > dantâ jâtâ yajasveti

> > sa pratyâhâtha so 'bravît

> > yadâ patanty asya dantâ

> > atha medhyo bhaved iti

> > dantâh--the teeth; jâtâh--have grown; yajasva--now sacrifice; iti--thus; sah--he, Varuna; pratyâha--said; atha--thereupon; sah--he, Hariscandra; abravît--replied; yadâ--when; patanti--fall out; asya--his; dantâh--teeth; atha--then; medhyah--fit for sacrifice; bhavet--will become; iti--thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the teeth grew, Varuna came and said to Hariscandra, "Now the animal has grown teeth, and you can perform the sacrifice." Hariscandra replied, "When all its teeth have fallen out, then it will be fit for sacrifice."

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > pasor nipatitâ dantâ

> > yajasvety âha so 'bravît

> > yadâ pasoh punar dantâ

> > jâyante 'tha pasuh sucih

> > pasoh--of the animal; nipatitâh--have fallen out; dantâh--the teeth; yajasva--now sacrifice him; iti--thus; âha--said (Varuna); sah--he, Hariscandra; abravît--replied; yadâ--when; pasoh--of the animal; punah--again; dantâh--the teeth; jâyante--grow; atha--then; pasuh--the animal; sucih--is purified for being sacrificed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the teeth had fallen out, Varuna returned and said to Hariscandra, "Now the animal's teeth have fallen out, and you can perform the sacrifice." But Hariscandra replied, "When the animal's teeth grow in again, then he will be pure enough to be sacrificed."

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > punar jâtâ yajasveti

> > sa pratyâhâtha so 'bravît

> > sânnâhiko yadâ râjan

> > râjanyo 'tha pasuh sucih

> > punah--again; jâtâh--have grown; yajasva--now you offer the sacrifice; iti--thus; sah--he, Varuna; pratyâha--replied; atha--thereafter; sah--he, Hariscandra; abravît--said; sânnâhikah--able to equip himself with a shield; yadâ--when; râjan--O King Varuna; râjanyah--the ksatriya; atha--then; pasuh--the sacrificial animal; sucih--becomes purified.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the teeth grew in again, Varuna came and said to Hariscandra, "Now you can perform the sacrifice." But Hariscandra then said, "O King, when the sacrificial animal becomes a ksatriya and is able to shield himself to fight with the enemy, then he will be purified."

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > iti putrânurâgena

> > sneha-yantrita-cetasâ

> > kâlam vancayatâ tam tam

> > ukto devas tam aiksata

> > iti--in this way; putra-anurâgena--because of affection for the son; sneha-yantrita-cetasâ--his mind being controlled by such affection; kâlam--time; vancayatâ--cheating; tam--unto him; tam--that; uktah--said; devah--the demigod Varuna; tam--unto him, Hariscandra; aiksata--waited for the fulfillment of his promise.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Hariscandra was certainly very much attached to his son. Because of this affection, he asked the demigod Varuna to wait. Thus Varuna waited and waited for the time to come.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > rohitas tad abhijnâya

> > pituh karma cikîrsitam

> > prâna-prepsur dhanus-pânir

> > aranyam pratyapadyata

> > rohitah--the son of Hariscandra; tat--this fact; abhijnâya--having thoroughly understood; pituh--of his father; karma--action; cikîrsitam--which he was practically doing; prâna-prepsuh--wishing to save his life; dhanuh-pânih--taking his bow and arrows; aranyam--to the forest; pratyapadyata--left.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Rohita could understand that his father intended to offer him as the animal for sacrifice. Therefore, just to save himself from death, he equipped himself with bow and arrows and went to the forest.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > pitaram varuna-grastam

> > srutvâ jâta-mahodaram

> > rohito grâmam eyâya

> > tam indrah pratyasedhata

> > pitaram--about his father; varuna-grastam--having been attacked with dropsy by Varuna; srutvâ--after hearing; jâta--had grown; mahâ-udaram--inflated abdomen; rohitah--his son Rohita; grâmam eyâya--wanted to come back to the capital; tam--unto him (Rohita); indrah--King Indra; pratyasedhata--forbade to go there.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Rohita heard that his father had been attacked by dropsy due to Varuna and that his abdomen had grown very large, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra forbade him to do so.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > bhûmeh paryatanam punyam

> > tîrtha-ksetra-nisevanaih

> > rohitâyâdisac chakrah

> > so 'py aranye 'vasat samâm

> > bhûmeh--of the surface of the world; paryatanam--traveling; punyam--holy places; tîrtha-ksetra--places of pilgrimage; nisevanaih--by serving or going to and coming from such places; rohitâya--unto Rohita; âdisat--ordered; sakrah--King Indra; sah--he, Rohita; api--also; aranye--in the forest; avasat--lived; samâm--for one year.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Indra advised Rohita to travel to different pilgrimage sites and holy places, for such activities are pious indeed. Following this instruction, Rohita went to the forest for one year.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > evam dvitîye trtîye

> > caturthe pancame tathâ

> > abhyetyâbhyetya sthaviro

> > vipro bhûtvâha vrtra-hâ

> > evam--in this way; dvitîye--on the second year; trtîye--on the third year; caturthe--on the fourth year; pancame--on the fifth year; tathâ--as well as; abhyetya--coming before him; abhyetya--again coming before him; sthavirah--a very old man; viprah--a brâhmana; bhûtvâ--becoming so; âha--said; vrtra-hâ--Indra.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way, at the end of the second, third, fourth and fifth years, when Rohita wanted to return to his capital, the King of heaven, Indra, approached him as an old brahmana and forbade him to return, repeating the same words as in the previous year.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > sastham samvatsaram tatra

> > caritvâ rohitah purîm

> > upavrajann ajîgartâd

> > akrînân madhyamam sutam

> > sunahsepham pasum pitre

> > pradâya samavandata

> > sastham--the sixth; samvatsaram--year; tatra--in the forest; caritvâ--wandering; rohitah--the son of Hariscandra; purîm--in his capital; upavrajan--went there; ajîgartât--from Ajîgarta; akrînât--purchased; madhyamam--the second; sutam--son; sunahsepham--whose name was Sunahsepha; pasum--to use as the sacrificial animal; pitre--unto his father; pradâya--offering; samavandata--respectfully offered his obeisances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, in the sixth year, after wandering in the forest, Rohita returned to the capital of his father. He purchased from Ajigarta his second son, named Sunahsepha. Then he offered Sunahsepha to his father, Hariscandra, to be used as the sacrificial animal and offered Hariscandra his respectful obeisances.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > tatah purusa-medhena

> > hariscandro mahâ-yasâh

> > muktodaro 'yajad devân

> > varunâdîn mahat-kathah

> > tatah--thereafter; purusa-medhena--by sacrificing a man in the yajna; hariscandrah--King Hariscandra; mahâ-yasâh--very famous; mukta-udarah--became free from dropsy; ayajat--offered sacrifices; devân--unto the demigods; varuna-âdîn--headed by Varuna and others; mahat-kathah--famous in history with other exalted personalities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, the famous King Hariscandra, one of the exalted persons in history, performed grand sacrifices by sacrificing a man and pleased all the demigods. In this way his dropsy created by Varuna was cured.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > visvâmitro 'bhavat tasmin

> > hotâ câdhvaryur âtmavân

> > jamadagnir abhûd brahmâ

> > vasistho 'yâsyah sâma-gah

> > visvâmitrah--the great sage and mystic Visvâmitra; abhavat--became; tasmin--in that great sacrifice; hotâ--the chief priest to offer oblations; ca--also; adhvaryuh--a person who recites hymns from the Yajur Veda and performs ritualistic ceremonies; âtmavân--fully self-realized; jamadagnih--Jamadagni; abhût--became; brahmâ--acting as the chief brâhmana; vasisthah--the great sage; ayâsyah--another great sage; sâma-gah--engaged as the reciter of the Sâma Veda mantras.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In that great human sacrifice, Visvamitra was the chief priest to offer oblations, the perfectly self-realized Jamadagni had the responsibility for chanting the mantras from the Yajur Veda, Vasistha was the chief brahminical priest, and the sage Ayasya was the reciter of the hymns of the Sama Veda.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > tasmai tusto dadâv indrah

> > sâtakaumbhamayam ratham

> > sunahsephasya mâhâtmyam

> > uparistât pracaksyate

> > tasmai--unto him, King Hariscandra; tustah--being very pleased; dadau--delivered; indrah--the King of heaven; sâtakaumbha-mayam--made of gold; ratham--a chariot; sunahsephasya--about Sunahsepha; mâhâtmyam--glories; uparistât--in the course of describing the sons of Visvâmitra; pracaksyate--will be narrated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Indra, being very pleased with Hariscandra, offered him a gift of a golden chariot. Sunahsepha's glories will be presented along with the description of the son of Visvamitra.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > satyam sâram dhrtim drstvâ

> > sabhâryasya ca bhûpateh

> > visvâmitro bhrsam prîto

> > dadâv avihatâm gatim

> > satyam--truthfulness; sâram--firmness; dhrtim--forbearance; drstvâ--by seeing; sa-bhâryasya--with his wife; ca--and; bhûpateh--of Mahârâja Hariscandra; visvâmitrah--the great sage Visvâmitra; bhrsam--very much; prîtah--being pleased; dadau--gave him; avihatâm gatim--imperishable knowledge.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Visvamitra saw that Maharaja Hariscandra, along with his wife, was truthful, forbearing and concerned with the essence. Thus he gave them imperishable knowledge for fulfillment of the human mission.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 25-26

> > manah prthivyâm tâm adbhis

> > tejasâpo 'nilena tat

> > khe vâyum dhârayams tac ca

> > bhûtâdau tam mahâtmani

> > tasmin jnâna-kalâm dhyâtvâ

> > tayâjnânam vinirdahan

> > hitvâ tâm svena bhâvena

> > nirvâna-sukha-samvidâ

> > anirdesyâpratarkyena

> > tasthau vidhvasta-bandhanah

> > manah--the mind (full of material desires for eating, sleeping, mating and defending); prthivyâm--in the earth; tâm--that; adbhih--with water; tejasâ--and with fire; apah--the water; anilena--in the fire; tat--that; khe--in the sky; vâyum--the air; dhârayan--amalgamating; tat--that; ca--also; bhûta-âdau--in the false ego, the origin of material existence; tam--that (false ego); mahâ-âtmani--in the mahat-tattva, the total material energy;

> > tasmin--in the total material energy; jnâna-kalâm--spiritual knowledge and its different branches; dhyâtvâ--by meditating; tayâ--by this process; ajnânam--ignorance; vinirdahan--specifically subdued; hitvâ--giving up; tâm--material ambition; svena--by self-realization; bhâvena--in devotional service; nirvâna-sukha-samvidâ--by transcendental bliss, putting an end to material existence; anirdesya--imperceptible; apratarkyena--inconceivable; tasthau--remained; vidhvasta--completely freed from; bandhanah--material bondage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maharaja Hariscandra first purified his mind, which was full of material enjoyment, by amalgamating it with the earth. Then he amalgamated the earth with water, the water with fire, the fire with the air, and the air with the sky. Thereafter, he amalgamated the sky with the total material energy, and the total material energy with spiritual knowledge. This spiritual knowledge is realization of one's self as part of the Supreme Lord. When the self-realized spiritual soul is engaged in service to the Lord, he is eternally imperceptible and inconceivable. Thus established in spiritual knowledge, he is completely freed from material bondage.

> > Back to the running text