> > 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 Sixteen: Lord Parasurâma Destroys the World's Ruling Class

> > When Jamadagni was killed by the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna, as described in this chapter, Parasurâma rid the entire world of ksatriyas twenty-one times. This chapter also describes the descendants of Visvamitra.

> > When Jamadagni's wife, Renuka, went to bring water from the Ganges and saw the King of the Gandharvas enjoying the company of Apsaras, she was captivated, and she slightly desired to associate with him. Because of this sinful desire, she was punished by her husband. Parasurâma killed his mother and brothers, but later, by dint of the austerities of Jamadagni, they were revived. The sons of Kârtavîryârjuna, however, remembering the death of their father, wanted to take revenge against Lord Parasurâma, and therefore when Parasurâma was absent from the asrama, they killed Jamadagni, who was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Parasurâma returned to the asrama and saw his father killed, he was very sorry, and after asking his brothers to take care of the dead body, he went out with determination to kill all the ksatriyas on the surface of the world. Taking up his axe, he went to Mahismati-pura, the capital of Kârtavîryârjuna, and killed all of Kârtavîryârjuna's sons, whose blood became a great river. Parasurâma, however, was not satisfied with killing only the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna; later, when the ksatriyas became disturbing, he killed them twenty-one times, so that there were no ksatriyas on the surface of the earth. Thereafter, Parasurâma joined the head of his father to the dead body and performed various sacrifices to please the Supreme Lord. Thus Jamadagni got life again in his body, and later he was promoted to the higher planetary system known as Saptarsi-mandala. Parasurâma, the son of Jamadagni, still lives in Mahendra-parvata. In the next manvantara, he will become a preacher of Vedic knowledge.

> > In the dynasty of Gadhi, the most powerful Visvamitra took birth. By dint of his austerity and penance, he became a brahmana. He had 101 sons, who were celebrated as the Madhucchandas. In the sacrificial arena of Hariscandra, the son of Ajigarta named Sunahsepha was meant to be sacrificed, but by the mercy of the Prajapatis he was released. Thereafter, he became Devarata in the dynasty of Gadhi. The fifty elder sons of Visvamitra, however, did not accept Sunahsepha as their elder brother, and therefore Visvamitra cursed them to become mlecchas, unfaithful to the Vedic civilization. Visvamitra's fifty-first son, along with his younger brothers, then accepted Sunahsepha as their eldest brother, and their father, Visvamitra, being satisfied, blessed them. Thus Devarata was accepted in the dynasty of Kausika, and consequently there are different divisions of that dynasty.

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > pitropasiksito râmas

> > tatheti kuru-nandana

> > samvatsaram tîrtha-yâtrâm

> > caritvâsramam âvrajat

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; pitrâ--by his father; upasiksitah--thus advised; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; tathâ iti--let it be so; kuru-nandana--O son of the Kuru dynasty, Mahârâja Parîksit; samvatsaram--for one complete year; tîrtha-yâtrâm--traveling to all the holy places; caritvâ--after executing; âsramam--to his own residence; âvrajat--returned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear Maharaja Pariksit, son of the Kuru dynasty, when Lord Parasurâma was given this order by his father, he immediately agreed, saying, "Let it be so." For one complete year he traveled to holy places. Then he returned to his father's residence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > kadâcid renukâ yâtâ

> > gangâyâm padma-mâlinam

> > gandharva-râjam krîdantam

> > apsarobhir apasyata

> > kadâcit--once upon a time; renukâ--Jamadagni's wife, the mother of Lord Parasurâma; yâtâ--went; gangâyâm--to the bank of the River Ganges; padma-mâlinam--decorated with a garland of lotus flowers; gandharva-râjam--the King of the Gandharvas; krîdantam--sporting; apsarobhih--with the Apsarâs (heavenly society girls); apasyata--she saw.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once when Renuka, the wife of Jamadagni, went to the bank of the Ganges to get water, she saw the King of the Gandharvas, decorated with a garland of lotuses and sporting in the Ganges with celestial women [Apsaras].

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > vilokayantî krîdantam

> > udakârtham nadîm gatâ

> > homa-velâm na sasmâra

> > kincic citraratha-sprhâ

> > vilokayantî--while looking at; krîdantam--the King of the Gandharvas, engaged in such activities; udaka-artham--for getting some water; nadîm--to the river; gatâ--as she went; homa-velâm--the time for performing the homa, fire sacrifice; na sasmâra--did not remember; kincit--very little; citraratha--of the King of the Gandharvas, known as Citraratha; sprhâ--did desire the company.

> > TRANSLATION

> > She had gone to bring water from the Ganges, but when she saw Citraratha, the King of the Gandharvas, sporting with the celestial girls, she was somewhat inclined toward him and failed to remember that the time for the fire sacrifice was passing.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > kâlâtyayam tam vilokya

> > muneh sâpa-visankitâ

> > âgatya kalasam tasthau

> > purodhâya krtânjalih

> > kâla-atyayam--passing the time; tam--that; vilokya--observing; muneh--of the great sage Jamadagni; sâpa-visankitâ--being afraid of the curse; âgatya--returning; kalasam--the waterpot; tasthau--stood; purodhâya--putting in front of the sage; krta-anjalih--with folded hands.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Later, understanding that the time for offering the sacrifice had passed, Renuka feared a curse from her husband. Therefore when she returned she simply put the waterpot before him and stood there with folded hands.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > vyabhicâram munir jnatva

> > patnyah prakupito 'bravit

> > ghnatainam putrakah papam

> > ity uktas te na cakrire

> > vyabhicaram--adultery; munih--the great sage Jamadagni; jnâtvâ--could understand; patnyâh--of his wife; prakupitah--he became angry; abravît--he said; ghnata--kill; enâm--her; putrakâh--my dear sons; pâpâm--sinful; iti uktâh--being thus advised; te--all the sons; na--did not; cakrire--carry out his order.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Jamadagni understood the adultery in the mind of his wife. Therefore he was very angry and told his sons, "My dear sons, kill this sinful woman!" But the sons did not carry out his order.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > râmah sancoditah pitrâ

> > bhrâtrn mâtrâ sahâvadhît

> > prabhâva-jno muneh samyak

> > samâdhes tapasas ca sah

> > râmah--Lord Parasurâma; sancoditah--being encouraged (to kill his mother and brothers); pitrâ--by his father; bhrâtrn--all his brothers; mâtrâ saha--with the mother; avadhît--killed immediately; prabhâva-jnah--aware of the prowess; muneh--of the great sage; samyak--completely; samâdheh--by meditation; tapasah--by austerity; ca--also; sah--he.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Jamadagni then ordered his youngest son, Parasurâma, to kill his brothers, who had disobeyed this order, and his mother, who had mentally committed adultery. Lord Parasurâma, knowing the power of his father, who was practiced in meditation and austerity, killed his mother and brothers immediately.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > varena cchandayâm âsa

> > prîtah satyavatî-sutah

> > vavre hatânâm râmo 'pi

> > jîvitam câsmrtim vadhe

> > varena cchandayâm âsa--asked to take a benediction as he liked; prîtah--being very pleased (with him); satyavatî-sutah--Jamadagni, the son of Satyavatî; vavre--said; hatânâm--of my dead mother and brothers; râmah--Parasurâma; api--also; jîvitam--let them be alive; ca--also; asmrtim--no remembrance; vadhe--of their having been killed by me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Jamadagni, the son of Satyavati, was very much pleased with Parasurâma and asked him to take any benediction he liked. Lord Parasurâma replied, "Let my mother and brothers live again and not remember having been killed by me. This is the benediction I ask."

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > uttasthus te kusalino

> > nidrâpâya ivânjasâ

> > pitur vidvâms tapo-vîryam

> > râmas cakre suhrd-vadham

> > uttasthuh--got up immediately; te--Lord Parasurâma's mother and brothers; kusalinah--being happily alive; nidrâ-apâye--at the end of sound sleep; iva--like; anjasâ--very soon; pituh--of his father; vidvân--being aware of; tapah--austerity; vîryam--power; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; cakre--executed; suhrt-vadham--killing of his family members.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, by the benediction of Jamadagni, Lord Parasurâma's mother and brothers immediately came alive and were very happy, as if awakened from sound sleep. Lord Parasurâma had killed his relatives in accordance with his father's order because he was fully aware of his father's power, austerity and learning.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > ye 'rjunasya sutâ râjan

> > smarantah sva-pitur vadham

> > râma-vîrya-parâbhûtâ

> > lebhire sarma na kvacit

> > ye--those who; arjunasya--of Kârtavîryârjuna; sutâh--sons; râjan--O Mahârâja Parîksit; smarantah--always remembering; sva-pituh vadham--their father's having been killed (by Parasurâma); râma-vîrya-parâbhûtâh--defeated by the superior power of Lord Parasurâma; lebhire--achieved; sarma--happiness; na--not; kvacit--at any time.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King Pariksit, the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna, who were defeated by the superior strength of Parasurâma, never achieved happiness, for they always remembered the killing of their father.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > ekadâsramato râme

> > sabhrâtari vanam gate

> > vairam sisâdhayisavo

> > labdha-cchidrâ upâgaman

> > ekadâ--once upon a time; âsramatah--from the âsrama of Jamadagni; râme--when Lord Parasurâma; sa-bhrâtari--with his brothers; vanam--into the forest; gate--having gone; vairam--revenge for past enmity; sisâdhayisavah--desiring to fulfill; labdha-chidrâh--taking the opportunity; upâgaman--they came near the residence of Jamadagni.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once when Parasurâma left the asrama for the forest with Vasuman and his other brothers, the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna took the opportunity to approach Jamadagni's residence to seek vengeance for their grudge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > drstvâgny-âgâra âsînam

> > âvesita-dhiyam munim

> > bhagavaty uttamasloke

> > jaghnus te pâpa-niscayâh

> > drstvâ--by seeing; agni-âgâre--at the place where the fire sacrifice is performed; âsînam--sitting; âvesita--completely absorbed; dhiyam--by intelligence; munim--the great sage Jamadagni; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; uttama-sloke--who is praised by the best of selected prayers; jaghnuh--killed; te--the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna; pâpa-niscayâh--determined to commit a greatly sinful act, or the personified sins.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sons of Kârtavîryârjuna were determined to commit sinful deeds. Therefore when they saw Jamadagni sitting by the side of the fire to perform yajna and meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is praised by the best of selected prayers, they took the opportunity to kill him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > yâcyamânâh krpanayâ

> > râma-mâtrâtidârunâh

> > prasahya sira utkrtya

> > ninyus te ksatra-bandhavah

> > yâcyamânâh--being begged for the life of her husband; krpanayâ--by the poor unprotected woman; râma-mâtrâ--by the mother of Lord Parasurâma; ati-dârunâh--very cruel; prasahya--by force; sirah--the head of Jamadagni; utkrtya--having separated; ninyuh--took away; te--the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna; ksatra-bandhavah--not ksatriyas, but the most abominable sons of ksatriyas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > With pitiable prayers, Renuka, the mother of Parasurâma and wife of Jamadagni, begged for the life of her husband. But the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna, being devoid of the qualities of ksatriyas, were so cruel that despite her prayers they forcibly cut off his head and took it away.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > renukâ duhkha-sokârtâ

> > nighnanty âtmânam âtmanâ

> > râma râmeti tâteti

> > vicukrosoccakaih satî

> > renukâ--Renukâ, the wife of Jamadagni; duhkha-soka-artâ--being very much aggrieved in lamentation (over her husband's death); nighnantî--striking; âtmânam--her own body; âtmanâ--by herself; râma--O Parasurâma; râma--O Parasurâma; iti--thus; tâta--O my dear son; iti--thus; vicukrosa--began to cry; uccakaih--very loudly; satî--the most chaste woman.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lamenting in grief for the death of her husband, the most chaste Renuka struck her own body with her hands and cried very loudly, "O Rama, my dear son Rama!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > tad upasrutya dûrasthâ

> > hâ râmety ârtavat svanam

> > tvarayâsramam âsâdya

> > dadrsuh pitaram hatam

> > tat--that crying of Renukâ; upasrutya--upon hearing; dûra-sthâh--although staying a long distance away; hâ râma--O Râma, O Râma; iti--thus; ârta-vat--very aggrieved; svanam--the sound; tvarayâ--very hastily; âsramam--to the residence of Jamadagni; âsâdya--coming; dadrsuh--saw; pitaram--the father; hatam--killed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although the sons of Jamadagni, including Lord Parasurâma, were a long distance from home, as soon as they heard Renuka loudly calling "O Rama, O my son," they hastily returned to the asrama, where they saw their father already killed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > te duhkha-rosâmarsârti-

> > soka-vega-vimohitâh

> > hâ tâta sâdho dharmistha

> > tyaktvâsmân svar-gato bhavân

> > te--all the sons of Jamadagni; duhkha--of grief; rosa--anger; amarsa--indignation; ârti--affliction; soka--and lamentation; vega--with the force; vimohitâh--bewildered; hâ tâta--O father; sâdho--the great saint; dharmistha--the most religious person; tyaktvâ--leaving; asmân--us; svah-gatah--have gone to the heavenly planets; bhavân--you.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Virtually bewildered by grief, anger, indignation, affliction and lamentation, the sons of Jamadagni cried, "O father, most religious, saintly person, you have left us and gone to the heavenly planets !"

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > vilapyaivam pitur deham

> > nidhâya bhrâtrsu svayam

> > pragrhya parasum râmah

> > ksatrântâya mano dadhe

> > vilapya--lamenting; evam--like this; pituh--of his father; deham--the body; nidhâya--entrusting; bhrâtrsu--to his brothers; svayam--personally; pragrhya--taking; parasum--the axe; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; ksatra-antâya--to put an end to all the ksatriyas; manah--the mind; dadhe--fixed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus lamenting, Lord Parasurâma entrusted his father's dead body to his brothers and personally took up his axe, having decided to put an end to all the ksatriyas on the surface of the world.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > gatvâ mâhismatîm râmo

> > brahma-ghna-vihata-sriyam

> > tesâm sa sîrsabhî râjan

> > madhye cakre mahâ-girim

> > gatvâ--going; mâhismatîm--to the place known as Mâhismatî; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; brahma-ghna--because of the killing of a brâhmana; vihata-sriyam--doomed, bereft of all opulences; tesâm--of all of them (the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna and the other ksatriya inhabitants); sah--he, Lord Parasurâma; sîrsabhih--by the heads cut off from their bodies; râjan--O Mahârâja Parîksit; madhye--within the jurisdiction of Mâhismatî; cakre--made; mahâ-girim--a great mountain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, Lord Parasurâma then went to Mahismati, which was already doomed by the sinful killing of a brahmana. In the midst of that city he made a mountain of heads, severed from the bodies of the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 18-19

> > tad-raktena nadîm ghorâm

> > abrahmanya-bhayâvahâm

> > hetum krtvâ pitr-vadham

> > ksatre 'mangala-kârini

> > trih-sapta-krtvah prthivîm

> > krtvâ nihksatriyâm prabhuh

> > samanta-pancake cakre

> > sonitodân hradân nava

> > tat-raktena--by the blood of the sons of Kârtavîryârjuna; nadîm--a river; ghorâm--fierce; abrahmanya-bhaya-âvahâm--causing fear to the kings who had no respect for brahminical culture; hetum--cause; krtvâ--accepting; pitr-vadham--the killing of his father; ksatre--when the whole royal class; amangala-kârini--was acting very inauspiciously;

> > trih-sapta-krtvah--twenty-one times; prthivîm--the entire world; krtvâ--making; nihksatriyâm--without a ksatriya dynasty; prabhuh--the Supreme Lord, Parasurâma; samanta-pancake--at the place known as Samanta-pancaka; cakre--he made; sonita-udân--filled with blood instead of water; hradân--lakes; nava--nine.

> > TRANSLATION

> > With the blood of the bodies of these sons, Lord Parasurâma created a ghastly river, which brought great fear to the kings who had no respect for brahminical culture. Because the ksatriyas, the men of power in government, were performing sinful activities, Lord Parasurâma, on the plea of retaliating for the murder of his father, rid all the ksatriyas from the face of the earth twenty-one times. Indeed, in the place known as Samanta-pancaka he created nine lakes filled with their blood.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > pituh kâyena sandhâya

> > sira âdâya barhisi

> > sarva-deva-mayam devam

> > âtmânam ayajan makhaih

> > pituh--of his father; kâyena--with the body; sandhâya--joining; sirah--the head; âdâya--keeping; barhisi--upon kusa grass; sarva-deva-mayam--the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the demigods; devam--Lord Vâsudeva; âtmânam--who is present everywhere as the Supersoul; ayajat--he worshiped; makhaih--by offering sacrifices.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Parasurâma joined his father's head to the dead body and placed the whole body and head upon kusa grass. By offering sacrifices, he began to worship Lord Vasudeva, who is the all-pervading Supersoul of all the demigods and of every living entity.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 21-22

> > dadau prâcîm disam hotre

> > brahmane daksinâm disam

> > adhvaryave pratîcîm vai

> > udgâtre uttarâm disam

> > anyebhyo 'vântara-disah

> > kasyapâya ca madhyatah

> > âryâvartam upadrastre

> > sadasyebhyas tatah param

> > dadau--gave as a gift; prâcîm--eastern; disam--direction; hotre--unto the priest known as hotâ; brahmane--unto the priest known as brahmâ; daksinâm--southern; disam--direction; adhvaryave--unto the priest known as adhvaryu; pratîcîm--the western side; vai--indeed; udgâtre--unto the priest known as udgâtâ; uttarâm--northern; disam--side;

> > anyebhyah--unto the others; avântara-disah--the different corners (northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest); kasyapâya--unto Kasyapa Muni; ca--also; madhyatah--the middle portion; âryâvartam--the portion known as Âryâvarta; upadrastre--unto the upadrastâ, the priest acting as overseer to hear and check the mantras; sadasyebhyah--unto the sadasyas, the associate priests; tatah param--whatever remained.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After completing the sacrifice, Lord Parasurâma gave the eastern direction to the hota as a gift, the south to the brahma, the west to the adhvaryu, the north to the udgata, and the four corners--northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest--to the other priests. He gave the middle to Kasyapa and the place known as Aryavarta to the upadrasta. Whatever remained he distributed among the sadasyas, the associate priests.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > tatas câvabhrtha-snâna-

> > vidhûtâsesa-kilbisah

> > sarasvatyâm mahâ-nadyâm

> > reje vyabbhra ivâmsumân

> > tatah--thereafter; ca--also; avabhrtha-snâna--by bathing after finishing the sacrifice; vidhûta--cleansed; asesa--unlimited; kilbisah--whose reactions of sinful activities; sarasvatyâm--on the bank of the great river Sarasvatî; mahâ-nadyâm--one of the biggest rivers in India; reje--Lord Parasurâma appeared; vyabbhrah--cloudless; iva amsumân--like the sun.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, having completed the ritualistic sacrificial ceremonies, Lord Parasurâma took the bath known as the avabhrtha-snana. Standing on the bank of the great river Sarasvati, cleared of all sins, Lord Parasurâma appeared like the sun in a clear, cloudless sky.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > sva-deham jamadagnis tu

> > labdhvâ samjnâna-laksanam

> > rsînâm mandale so 'bhût

> > saptamo râma-pûjitah

> > sva-deham--his own body; jamadagnih--the great sage Jamadagni; tu--but; labdhvâ--regaining; samjnâna-laksanam--showing full symptoms of life, knowledge and remembrance; rsînâm--of the great rsis; mandale--in the group of seven stars; sah--he, Jamadagni; abhût--later became; saptamah--the seventh; râma-pûjitah--because of being worshiped by Lord Parasurâma.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus Jamadagni, being worshiped by Lord Parasurâma, was brought back to life with full remembrance, and he became one of the seven sages in the group of seven stars.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > jâmadagnyo 'pi bhagavân

> > râmah kamala-locanah

> > âgâminy antare râjan

> > vartayisyati vai brhat

> > jâmadagnyah--the son of Jamadagni; api--also; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; râmah--Lord Parasurâma; kamala-locanah--whose eyes are like lotus petals; âgâmini--coming; antare--in the manvantara, the time of one Manu; râjan--O King Parîksit; vartayisyati--will propound; vai--indeed; brhat--Vedic knowledge.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King Pariksit, in the next manvantara the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead Lord Parasurâma, the son of Jamadagni, will be a great propounder of Vedic knowledge. In other words, he will be one of the seven sages.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > âste 'dyâpi mahendrâdrau

> > nyasta-dandah prasânta-dhîh

> > upagîyamâna-caritah

> > siddha-gandharva-câranaih

> > âste--is still existing; adya api--even now; mahendra-adrau--in the hilly country known as Mahendra; nyasta-dandah--having given up the weapons of a ksatriya (the bow, arrows and axe); prasânta--now fully satisfied as a brâhmana; dhîh--in such intelligence;upagîyamâna-caritah--being worshiped and adored for his exalted character and activities; siddha-gandharva-câranaih--by such celestial persons as the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, Siddhaloka and Câranaloka.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Parasurâma still lives as an intelligent brahmana in the mountainous country known as Mahendra. Completely satisfied, having given up all the weapons of a ksatriya, he is always worshiped, adored and offered prayers for his exalted character and activities by such celestial beings as the Siddhas, Caranas and Gandharvas.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > evam bhrgusu visvâtmâ

> > bhagavân harir îsvarah

> > avatîrya param bhâram

> > bhuvo 'han bahuso nrpân

> > evam--in this way; bhrgusu--in the dynasty of Bhrgu; visva-âtmâ--the soul of the universe, the Supersoul; bhagavân--the Supreme personality of Godhead; harih--the Lord; îsvarah--the supreme controller; avatîrya--appearing as an incarnation; param--great; bhâram--the burden; bhuvah--of the world; ahan--killed; bahusah--many times; nrpân--kings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way the supreme soul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord and the supreme controller, descended as an incarnation in the Bhrgu dynasty and released the universe from the burden of undesirable kings by killing them many times.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > gâdher abhûn mahâ-tejâh

> > samiddha iva pâvakah

> > tapasâ ksâtram utsrjya

> > yo lebhe brahma-varcasam

> > gâdheh--from Mahârâja Gâdhi; abhût--was born; mahâ-tejâh--very powerful; samiddhah--inflamed; iva--like; pâvakah--fire; tapasâ--by austerities and penances; ksâtram--the position of a ksatriya; utsrjya--giving up; yah--one who (Visvâmitra); lebhe--achieved; brahma-varcasam--the quality of a brâhmana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Visvamitra, the son of Maharaja Gadhi, was as powerful as the flames of fire. From the position of a ksatriya, he achieved the position of a powerful brahmana by undergoing penances and austerities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > visvâmitrasya caivâsan

> > putrâ eka-satam nrpa

> > madhyamas tu madhucchandâ

> > madhucchandasa eva te

> > visvâmitrasya--of Visvâmitra; ca--also; eva--indeed; âsan--there were; putrâh--sons; eka-satam--101; nrpa--O King Parîksit; madhyamah--the middle one; tu--indeed; madhucchandâh--known as Madhucchandâ; madhucchandasah--named the Madhucchandâs; eva--indeed; te--all of them.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, Visvamitra had 101 sons, of whom the middle one was known as Madhucchanda. In relation to him, all the other sons were celebrated as the Madhucchandas.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > putram krtvâ sunahsepham

> > devarâtam ca bhârgavam

> > âjîgartam sutân âha

> > jyestha esa prakalpyatâm

> > putram--a son; krtvâ--accepting; sunahsepham--whose name was Sunahsepha; devarâtam--Devarâta, whose life was saved by the demigods; ca--also; bhârgavam--born in the Bhrgu dynasty; âjîgartam--the son of Ajîgarta; sutân--to his own sons; âha--ordered; jyesthah--the eldest; esah--Sunahsepha; prakalpyatâm--accept as such.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Visvamitra accepted the son of Ajigarta known as Sunahsepha, who was born in the Bhrgu dynasty and was also known as Devarata, as one of his own sons. Visvamitra ordered his other sons to accept Sunahsepha as their eldest brother.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > yo vai hariscandra-makhe

> > vikrîtah purusah pasuh

> > stutvâ devân prajesâdîn

> > mumuce pâsa-bandhanât

> > yah--he who (Sunahsepha); vai--indeed; hariscandra-makhe--in the sacrifice performed by King Hariscandra; vikrîtah--was sold; purusah--man; pasuh--sacrificial animal; stutvâ--offering prayers; devân--to the demigods; prajâ-îsa-âdîn--headed by Lord Brahmâ; mumuce--was released; pâsa-bandhanât--from being bound with ropes like an animal.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sunahsepha's father sold Sunahsepha to be sacrificed as a man-animal in the yajna of King Hariscandra. When Sunahsepha was brought into the sacrificial arena, he prayed to the demigods for release and was released by their mercy.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > yo râto deva-yajane

> > devair gâdhisu tâpasah

> > deva-râta iti khyâtah

> > sunahsephas tu bhârgavah

> > yah--he who (Sunahsepha); râtah--was protected; deva-yajane--in the arena for worshiping the demigods; devaih--by the same demigods; gâdhisu--in the dynasty of Gâdhi; tâpasah--advanced in executing spiritual life; deva-râtah--protected by the demigods; iti--thus; khyâtah--celebrated; sunahsephah tu--as well as Sunahsepha; bhârgavah--in the dynasty of Bhrgu.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although Sunahsepha was born in the Bhargava dynasty, he was greatly advanced in spiritual life, and therefore the demigods involved in the sacrifice protected him. Consequently he was also celebrated as the descendant of Gadhi named Devarata.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > ye madhucchandaso jyesthâh

> > kusalam menire na tat

> > asapat tân munih kruddho

> > mlecchâ bhavata durjanâh

> > ye--those who; madhucchandasah--sons of Visvâmitra, celebrated as the Madhucchandâs; jyesthâh--eldest; kusalam--very good; menire--accepting; na--not; tat--that (the proposal that he be accepted as the eldest brother); asapat--cursed; tân--all the sons; munih--Visvâmitra Muni; kruddhah--being angry; mlecchâh--disobedient to the Vedic principles; bhavata--all of you become; durjanâh--very bad sons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When requested by their father to accept Sunahsepha as the eldest son, the elder fifty of the Madhucchandas, the sons of Visvamitra, did not agree. Therefore Visvamitra, being angry, cursed them. "May all of you bad sons become mlecchas," he said, "being opposed to the principles of Vedic culture."

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > sa hovâca madhucchandâh

> > sârdham pancâsatâ tatah

> > yan no bhavân sanjânîte

> > tasmims tisthâmahe vayam

> > sah--the middle son of Visvâmitra; ha--indeed; uvâca--said; madhucchandâh--Madhucchandâ; sârdham--with; pancâsatâ--the second fifty of the sons known as the Madhucchandâs; tatah--then, after the first half were thus cursed; yat--what; nah--unto us; bhavân--O father; sanjânîte--as you please; tasmin--in that; tisthâmahe--shall remain; vayam--all of us.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the elder Madhucchandas were cursed, the younger fifty, along with Madhucchanda himself, approached their father and agreed to accept his proposal. "Dear father," they said, "we shall abide by whatever arrangement you like."

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > jyestham mantra-drsam cakrus

> > tvâm anvanco vayam sma hi

> > visvâmitrah sutân âha

> > vîravanto bhavisyatha

> > ye mânam me 'nugrhnanto

> > vîravantam akarta mâm

> > jyestham--the eldest; mantra-drsam--a seer of mantras; cakruh--they accepted; tvâm--you; anvancah--have agreed to follow; vayam--we; sma--indeed; hi--certainly; visvâmitrah--the great sage Visvâmitra; sutân--to the obedient sons; âha--said; vîra-vantah--fathers of sons; bhavisyatha--become in the future; ye--all of you who; mânam--honor; me--my; anugrhnantah--accepted; vîra-vantam--the father of good sons; akarta--you have made; mâm--me.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus the younger Madhucchandas accepted Sunahsepha as their eldest brother and told him, "We shall follow your orders." Visvamitra then said to his obedient sons, "Because you have accepted Sunahsepha as your eldest brother, I am very satisfied. By accepting my order, you have made me a father of worthy sons, and therefore I bless all of you to become the fathers of sons also."

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > esa vah kusikâ vîro

> > devarâtas tam anvita

> > anye câstaka-hârîta-

> > jaya-kratumad-âdayah

> > esah--this (Sunahsepha); vah--like you; kusikâh--O Kusikas; vîah--my son; devarâtah--he is known as Devarâta; tam--him; anvita--just obey; anye--others; ca--also; astaka--Astaka; hârîta--Hârîta; jaya--Jaya; kratumat--Kratumân; âdayah--and others.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Visvamitra said, "O Kusikas [descendants of Kausika], this Devarata is my son and is one of you. Please obey his orders." O King Pariksit, Visvamitra had many other sons, such as Astaka, Harita, Jaya and Kratuman.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > evam kausika-gotram tu

> > visvâmitraih prthag-vidham

> > pravarântaram âpannam

> > tad dhi caivam prakalpitam

> > evam--in this way (some sons having been cursed and some blessed); kausika-gotram--the dynasty of Kausika; tu--indeed; visvâmitraih--by the sons of Visvâmitra; prthak-vidham--in different varieties; pravara-antaram--differences between one another; âpannam--obtained; tat--that; hi--indeed; ca--also; evam--thus; prakalpitam--ascertained.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Visvamitra cursed some of his sons and blessed the others, and he also adopted a son. Thus there were varieties in the Kausika dynasty, but among all the sons, Devarata was considered the eldest.

> > Back to the running text