Chapter Two

                  The Dynasties of the Sons of Manu

 

   This Second Chapter describes the dynasties of the sons of Manu, headed by Karusa.

   After Sudyumna accepted the order of vanaprastha and departed for the forest, Vaivasvata Manu, being desirous of sons, worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead and consequently begot ten sons like Maharaja Iksvaku, all of whom were like their father. One of these sons, Prsadhra, was engaged in the duty of protecting cows at night with a sword in his hand. Following the order of his spiritual master, he would stand in this way for the entire night. Once, in the darkness of night, a tiger seized a cow from the cowshed, and when Prsadhra came to know this, he took a sword in his hand and followed the tiger. Unfortunately, when he finally approached the tiger, he could not distinguish between the cow and the tiger in the dark, and thus he killed the cow. Because of this, his spiritual master cursed him to take birth in a sudra family, but Prsadhra practiced mystic yoga, and in bhakti-yoga he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then he voluntarily entered a blazing forest fire, thus relinquishing his material body and going back home, back to Godhead.

   Kavi, the youngest son of Manu, was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from his very childhood. From Manu's son known as Karusa, a sect of ksatriyas known as Karusas was generated. Manu also had a son known as Dhrsta, from whom another sect of ksatriyas was generated, but although they were born of one who had the qualities of a ksatriya, they became brahmanas. From Nrga, another son of Manu, came the sons and grandsons known as Sumati, Bhutajyoti and Vasu. From Vasu, in succession, came Pratika, and from him came Oghavan. Descending in order from the seminal dynasty of Narisyanta, another son of Manu, were Citrasena, Rksa, Midhvan, Purna, Indrasena, Vitihotra, Satyasrava, Urusrava, Devadatta and Agnivesya. From the ksatriya known as Agnivesya came the celebrated brahmana dynasty known as Agnivesyayana. From the seminal dynasty of Dista, another son of Manu, came Nabhaga, and from him in succession came Bhalandana, Vatsapriti, Pramsu, Pramati, Khanitra, Caksusa, Vivimsati, Rambha, Khaninetra, Karandhama, Aviksit, Marutta, Dama, Rajyavardhana, Sudhrti, Nara, Kevala, Dhundhuman, Vegavan, Budha and Trnabindu. In this way, many sons and grandsons were born in this dynasty. From Trnabindu came a daughter named Ilavila, from whom Kuvera took birth. Trnabindu also had three sons, named Visala, Sunyabandhu and Dhumraketu. The son of Visala was Hemacandra, his son was Dhumraksa, and his son was Samyama. The sons of Samyama were Devaja and Krsasva. Krsasva's son, Somadatta, performed an Asvamedha sacrifice, and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, he achieved the supreme perfection of going back home, back to Godhead.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

                       evam gate 'tha sudyumne

                        manur vaivasvatah sute

                        putra-kamas tapas tepe

                        yamunayam satam samah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam--thus; gate--had accepted the order of vanaprastha; atha--thereafter; sudyumne--when Sudyumna; manuh vaivasvatah--Vaivasvata Manu, known as Sraddhadeva; sute--his son; putra-kamah--desiring to get sons; tapah tepe--executed severe austerities; yamunayam--on the bank of the Yamuna; satam samah--for one hundred years.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thereafter, when his son Sudyumna had thus gone to the forest to accept the order of vanaprastha, Vaivasvata Manu [Sraddhadeva], being desirous of getting more sons, performed severe austerities on the bank of the Yamuna for one hundred years.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tato 'yajan manur devam

                      apatyartham harim prabhum

                       iksvaku-purvajan putran

                        lebhe sva-sadrsan dasa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--thereafter; ayajat--worshiped; manuh--Vaivasvata Manu; devam--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; apatya-artham--with a desire to get sons; harim--unto Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prabhum--the Lord; iksvaku-purva-jan--of whom the eldest was named Iksvaku; putran--sons; lebhe--got; sva-sadrsan--exactly like himself; dasa--ten.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Then, because of this desire for sons, the Manu known as Sraddhadeva worshiped the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the demigods. Thus he got ten sons exactly like himself. Among them all, Iksvaku was the eldest.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       prsadhras tu manoh putro

                         go-palo guruna krtah

                         palayam asa ga yatto

                       ratryam virasana-vratah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   prsadhrah tu--among them, Prsadhra; manoh--of Manu; putrah--the son; go-palah--herding cows; guruna--by the order of his spiritual master; krtah--having been engaged; palayam asa--he protected; gah--cows; yattah--so engaged; ratryam--at night; virasana-vratah--taking the vow of virasana, standing with a sword.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Among these sons, Prsadhra, following the order of his spiritual master, was engaged as a protector of cows. He would stand all night with a sword to give the cows protection.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   One who becomes virasana takes the vow to stand all night with a sword to give protection to the cows. Because Prsadhra was engaged in this way, it is to be understood that he had no dynasty. We can further understand from this vow accepted by Prsadhra how essential it is to protect the cows. Some son of a ksatriya would take this vow to protect the cows from ferocious animals, even at night. What then is to be said of sending cows to slaughterhouses? This is the most sinful activity in human society.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        ekada pravisad gostham

                         sardulo nisi varsati

                         sayana gava utthaya

                      bhitas ta babhramur vraje

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ekada--once upon a time; pravisat--entered; gostham--the land of the cowshed; sardulah--a tiger; nisi--at night; varsati--while it was raining; sayanah--lying down; gavah--cows; utthaya--getting up; bhitah--fearing; tah--all of them; babhramuh--scattered here and there; vraje--in the land surrounding the cowshed.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Once at night, while it was raining, a tiger entered the land of the cowshed. Upon seeing the tiger, all the cows, who were lying down, got up in fear and scattered here and there on the land.

 

                              TEXTS 5-6

 

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                         ekam jagraha balavan

                         sa cukrosa bhayatura

                      tasyas tu kranditam srutva

                        prsadhro 'nusasara ha

 

                         khadgam adaya tarasa

                         pralinodu-gane nisi

                       ajanann acchinod babhroh

                        sirah sardula-sankaya

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ekam--one of the cows; jagraha--seized; balavan--the strong tiger; sa--that cow; cukrosa--began to cry; bhaya-atura--in distress and fear; tasyah--of her; tu--but; kranditam--the screaming; srutva--hearing; prsadhrah--Prsadhra; anusasara ha--followed; khadgam--sword; adaya--taking; tarasa--very hastily; pralina-udu-gane--when the stars were covered by clouds; nisi--at night; ajanan--without knowledge; acchinot--cut off; babhroh--of the cow; sirah--the head; sardula-sankaya--mistaking it for the head of the tiger.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the very strong tiger seized the cow, the cow screamed in distress and fear, and Prsadhra, hearing the screaming, immediately followed the sound. He took up his sword, but because the stars were covered by clouds, he mistook the cow for the tiger and mistakenly cut off the cows' head with great force.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      vyaghro 'pi vrkna-sravano

                       nistrimsagrahatas tatah

                       niscakrama bhrsam bhito

                       raktam pathi samutsrjan

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vyaghrah--the tiger; api--also; vrkna-sravanah--its ear being cut off; nistrimsa-agra-ahatah--because of being cut by the tip of the sword; tatah--thereafter; niscakrama--fled (from that place); bhrsam--very much; bhitah--being afraid; raktam--blood; pathi--on the road; samutsrjan--discharging.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Because the tiger's ear had been cut by the edge of the sword, the tiger was very afraid, and it fled from that place, while bleeding on the street.

 

                                TEXT 8

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       manyamano hatam vyaghram

                        prsadhrah para-vira-ha

                      adraksit sva-hatam babhrum

                       vyustayam nisi duhkhitah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   manyamanah--thinking that; hatam--has been killed; vyaghram--the tiger; prsadhrah--Manu's son Prsadhra; para-vira-ha--although quite able to punish the enemy; adraksit--saw; sva-hatam--had been killed by him; babhrum--the cow; vyustayam nisi--when the night had passed (in the morning); duhkhitah--became very much unhappy.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the morning, when Prsadhra, who was quite able to subdue his enemy, saw that he had killed the cow although at night he thought he had killed the tiger, he was very unhappy.

 

                                TEXT 9

 

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                        tam sasapa kulacaryah

                          krtagasam akamatah

                    na ksatra-bandhuh sudras tvam

                         karmana bhavitamuna

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--him (Prsadhra); sasapa--cursed; kula-acaryah--the family priest, Vasistha; krta-agasam--because of committing the great sin of killing a cow; akamatah--although he did not want to do it; na--not; ksatra-bandhuh--the family member of a ksatriya; sudrah tvam--you have behaved like a sudra; karmana--therefore by your fruitive reaction; bhavita--you shall become a sudra; amuna--because of killing the cow.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although Prsadhra had committed the sin unknowingly, his family priest, Vasistha, cursed him, saying, "In your next life you shall not be able to become a ksatriya. Instead, you shall take birth as a sudra because of killing the cow."

 

                               PURPORT

 

   It appears that Vasistha was not free from tamo-guna, the mode of ignorance. As the family priest or spiritual master of Prsadhra, Vasistha should have taken Prsadhra's offense very lightly, but instead Vasistha cursed him to become a sudra. It is the duty of a family priest not to curse a disciple but to give him relief through the performance of some sort of atonement. Vasistha, however, did just the opposite. Therefore Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that he was durmati; in other words, his intelligence was not very good.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        evam saptas tu guruna

                       pratyagrhnat krtanjalih

                        adharayad vratam vira

                       urdhva-reta muni-priyam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--in this way; saptah--having been cursed; tu--but; guruna--by his spiritual master; pratyagrhnat--he (Prsadhra) accepted; krta-anjalih--with folded hands; adharayat--took up, assumed; vratam--the vow of brahmacarya; virah--that hero; urdhva-retah--having controlled his senses; muni-priyam--which is approved by the great sages.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the hero Prsadhra was thus cursed by his spiritual master, he accepted the curse with folded hands. Then, having controlled his senses, he took the vow of brahmacarya, which is approved by all great sages.

 

                             TEXTS 11-13

 

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                          vasudeve bhagavati

                        sarvatmani pare 'male

                       ekantitvam gato bhaktya

                       sarva-bhuta-suhrt samah

 

                       vimukta-sangah santatma

                        samyatakso 'parigrahah

                         yad-rcchayopapannena

                       kalpayan vrttim atmanah

 

                        atmany atmanam adhaya

                        jnana-trptah samahitah

                         vicacara mahim etam

                        jadandha-badhirakrtih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vasudeve--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavati--unto the Lord; sarva-atmani--unto the Supersoul; pare--unto the Transcendence; amale--unto the Supreme person, who is without material contamination; ekantitvam--rendering devotional service without diversion; gatah--being situated in that position; bhaktya--because of pure devotion; sarva-bhuta-suhrt samah--because of being a devotee, friendly and equal to everyone; vimukta-sangah--without material contamination; santa-atma--a peaceful attitude; samyata--self-controlled; aksah--the vision of whom; aparigrahah--without accepting any charity from anyone else; yat-rcchaya--by the grace of the Lord; upapannena--by whatever was available for bodily necessities; kalpayan--in this way arranging; vrttim--the necessities of the body; atmanah--for the benefit of the soul; atmani--within the mind; atmanam--the Supreme Soul, the Personality of Godhead; adhaya--keeping always; jnana-trptah--fully satisfied in transcendental knowledge; samahitah--always in trance; vicacara--traveled all over; mahim--the earth; etam--this; jada--dumb; andha--blind; badhira--deaf; akrtih--appearing as if.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thereafter, Prsadhra gained relief from all responsibilities, became peaceful in mind, and established control over all his senses. Being unaffected by material conditions, being pleased with whatever was available by the grace of the Lord to maintain body and soul together, and being equal toward everyone, he gave full attention to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, who is the transcendental Supersoul, free from material contamination. Thus Prsadhra, fully satisfied in pure knowledge, always keeping his mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, achieved pure devotional service to the Lord and began traveling all over the world, without affection for material activities, as if he were deaf, dumb and blind.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        evam vrtto vanam gatva

                       drstva davagnim utthitam

                          tenopayukta-karano

                       brahma prapa param munih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam vrttah--being situated in such an order of life; vanam--to the forest; gatva--after going; drstva--when he saw; dava-agnim--a forest fire; utthitam--existing there; tena--by that (fire); upayukta-karanah--engaging all the senses of the body by burning; brahma--transcendence; prapa--he achieved; param--the ultimate goal; munih--as a great saintly person.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   With this attitude, Prsadhra became a great saint, and when he entered the forest and saw a blazing forest fire, he took this opportunity to burn his body in the fire. Thus he achieved the transcendental, spiritual world.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.9):

 

                       janma karma ca me divyam

                       evam yo vetti tattvatah

                      tyaktva deham punar janma

                       naiti mam eti so 'rjuna

 

   "One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." Prsadhra, because of his karma, was cursed to take his next birth as a sudra, but because he took to saintly life, specifically concentrating his mind always upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a pure devotee. Immediately after giving up his body in the fire, he reached the spiritual world, as mentioned in Bhagavad-gita (mam eti), as a result of his devotional situation. Devotional service performed by thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so powerful that although Prsadhra was cursed he avoided the terrible consequence of becoming a sudra and instead returned home, back to Godhead. As stated in Brahma-samhita (5.54):

 

            yas tv indra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-

                 bandhanurupa-phala-bhajanam atanoti

               karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

   Those who engage in devotional service are unaffected by the results of their material activities. Otherwise, everyone, from the smallest microbe up to the King of heaven, Indra, is subject to the laws of karma. A pure devotee, being always engaged in the service of the Lord, is exempt from these laws.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

                   kavih kaniyan visayesu nihsprho

                 visrjya rajyam saha bandhubhir vanam

                  nivesya citte purusam sva-rocisam

                   vivesa kaisora-vayah param gatah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   kavih--another son, known as Kavi; kaniyan--who was the youngest; visayesu--in material enjoyments; nihsprhah--being without attachment; visrjya--after giving up; rajyam--his father's property, the kingdom; saha bandhubhih--accompanied by friends; vanam--the forest; nivesya--keeping always; citte--within the core of the heart; purusam--the Supreme Person; sva-rocisam--self-effulgent; vivesa--entered; kaisora-vayah--a young man not fully in youth; param--the transcendental world; gatah--entered.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Being reluctant to accept material enjoyment, Manu's youngest son, whose name was Kavi, gave up the kingdom before attaining full youth. Accompanied by his friends, he went to the forest, always thinking of the self-effulgent Supreme Personality of Godhead within the core of his heart. Thus he attained perfection.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

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                         karusan manavad asan

                        karusah ksatra-jatayah

                         uttara-patha-goptaro

                      brahmanya dharma-vatsalah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   karusat--from Karusa; manavat--from the son of Manu; asan--there was; karusah--called the Karusas; ksatra-jatayah--a group of ksatriyas; uttara--northern; patha--of the direction; goptarah--kings; brahmanyah--celebrated protectors of the brahminical culture; dharma-vatsalah--extremely religious.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From Karusa, another son of Manu, came the Karusa dynasty, a family of ksatriyas. The Karusa ksatriyas were the kings of the northern direction. They were celebrated protectors of brahminical culture and were all firmly religious.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

                    dhrstad dharstam abhut ksatram

                      brahma-bhuyam gatam ksitau

                        nrgasya vamsah sumatir

                        bhutajyotis tato vasuh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   dhrstat--from Dhrsta, another son of Manu; dharstam--a caste of the name Dharsta; abhut--was produced; ksatram--belonging to the ksatriya group; brahma-bhuyam--the position of brahmanas; gatam--had achieved; ksitau--on the surface of the world; nrgasya--of Nrga, another son of Manu; vamsah--the dynasty; sumatih--of the name Sumati; bhutajyotih--of the name Bhutajyoti; tatah--thereafter; vasuh--by the name Vasu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From the son of Manu named Dhrsta came a ksatriya caste called Dharsta, whose members achieved the position of brahmanas in this world. Then, from the son of Manu named Nrga came Sumati. From Sumati came Bhutajyoti, and from Bhutajyoti came Vasu.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Here it is said, ksatram brahma-bhuyam gatam ksitau: although the Dharstas belonged to the ksatriya caste, they were able to convert themselves into brahmanas. This gives clear evidence supporting the following statement by Narada (Bhag. 7.11.35):

 

                      yasya yal laksanam proktam

                       pumso varnabhivyanjakam

                        yad anyatrapi drsyeta

                        tat tenaiva vinirdiset

 

   If the qualities of one group are found in the men of another, those men should be recognized by their qualities, by their symptoms, not by the caste of the family in which they were born. Birth is not at all important; it is one's qualities that are stressed in all Vedic literature.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       vasoh pratikas tat-putra

                         oghavan oghavat-pita

                        kanya caughavati nama

                         sudarsana uvaha tam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vasoh--of Vasu; pratikah--named Pratika; tat-putrah--his son; oghavan--named Oghavan; oghavat-pita--who was the father of Oghavan; kanya--his daughter; ca--also; oghavati--Oghavati; nama--by the name; sudarsanah--Sudarsana; uvaha--married; tam--that daughter (Oghavati).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The son of Vasu was Pratika, whose son was Oghavan. Oghavan's son was also known as Oghavan, and his daughter was Oghavati. Sudarsana married that daughter.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        citraseno narisyantad

                       rksas tasya suto 'bhavat

                      tasya midhvams tatah purna

                       indrasenas tu tat-sutah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   citrasenah--one named Citrasena; narisyantat--from Narisyanta, another son of Manu; rksah--Rksa; tasya--of Citrasena; sutah--the son; abhavat--became; tasya--of him (Rksa); midhvan--Midhvan; tatah--from him (Midhvan); purnah--Purna; indrasenah--Indrasena; tu--but; tat-sutah--the son of him (Purna).

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From Narisyanta came a son named Citrasena and from him a son named Rksa. From Rksa came Midhvan, from Midhvan came Purna, and from Purna came Indrasena.

 

                               TEXT 20

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       vitihotras tv indrasenat

                        tasya satyasrava abhut

                        urusravah sutas tasya

                       devadattas tato 'bhavat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vitihotrah--Vitihotra; tu--but; indrasenat--from Indrasena; tasya--of Vitihotra; satyasravah--known by the name Satyasrava; abhut--there was; urusravah--Urusrava; sutah--was the son; tasya--of him (Satyasrava); devadattah--Devadatta; tatah--from Urusrava; abhavat--there was.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From Indrasena came Vitihotra, from Vitihotra came Satyasrava, from Satyasrava came the son named Urusrava, and from Urusrava came Devadatta.

 

                               TEXT 21

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tato 'gnivesyo bhagavan

                       agnih svayam abhut sutah

                         kanina iti vikhyato

                        jatukarnyo mahan rsih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--from Devadatta; agnivesyah--a son named Agnivesya; bhagavan--the most powerful; agnih--the fire-god; svayam--personally; abhut--became; sutah--the son; kaninah--Kanina; iti--thus; vikhyatah--was celebrated; jatukarnyah--Jatukarnya; mahan rsih--the great saintly person.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From Devadatta came a son known as Agnivesya, who was the fire-god Agni himself. This son, who was a celebrated saint, was well known as Kanina and Jatukarnya.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Agnivesya was also known as Kanina and Jatukarnya.

 

                               TEXT 22

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tato brahma-kulam jatam

                         agnivesyayanam nrpa

                       narisyantanvayah prokto

                        dista-vamsam atah srnu

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatah--from Agnivesya; brahma-kulam--a dynasty of brahmanas; jatam--was generated; agnivesyayanam--known as Agnivesyayana; nrpa--O King Pariksit; narisyanta--of Narisyanta; anvayah--descendants; proktah--have been explained; dista-vamsam--the dynasty of Dista; atah--hereafter; srnu--hear.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   O King, from Agnivesya came a brahminical dynasty known as Agnivesyayana. Now that I have described the descendants of Narisyanta, let me describe the descendants of Dista. Please hear from me.

 

                             TEXTS 23-24

 

                                 TEXT

 

                      nabhago dista-putro 'nyah

                       karmana vaisyatam gatah

                       bhalandanah sutas tasya

                       vatsapritir bhalandanat

 

                      vatsapriteh sutah pramsus

                       tat-sutam pramatim viduh

                      khanitrah pramates tasmac

                       caksuso 'tha vivimsatih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   nabhagah--by the name Nabhaga; dista-putrah--the son of Dista; anyah--another; karmana--by occupation; vaisyatam--the order of the vaisyas; gatah--achieved; bhalandanah--by the name Bhalandana; sutah--son; tasya--of him (Nabhaga); vatsapritih--by the name Vatsapriti; bhalandanat--from Bhalandana; vatsapriteh--from Vatsapriti; sutah--the son; pramsuh--was named Pramsu; tat-sutam--the son of him (Pramsu); pramatim--was named Pramati; viduh--you should understand; khanitrah--was named Khanitra; pramateh--from Pramati; tasmat--from him (Khanitra); caksusah--was named Caksusa; atha--thus (from Caksusa); vivimsatih--the son named Vivimsati.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Dista had a son by the name Nabhaga. This Nabhaga, who was different from the Nabhaga described later, became a vaisya by occupational duty. The son of Nabhaga was known as Bhalandana, the son of Bhalandana was Vatsapriti, and his son was Pramsu. Pramsu's son was Pramati, Pramati's son was Khanitra, Khanitra's son was Caksusa, and his son was Vivimsati.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   From Manu, one son became a ksatriya, another a brahmana, and another a vaisya. This confirms the statement by Narada Muni, yasya yal laksanam proktam pumso varnabhivyanjakam (Bhag. 7.11.35). One should always remember that brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas should never be regarded as members of a caste by birth. A brahmana may be changed into a ksatriya, and a ksatriya into a brahmana. Similarly, a brahmana or ksatriya may be changed into a vaisya, and a vaisya into a brahmana or ksatriya. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah). So one is a brahmana, ksatriya or vaisya never by birth, but by quality. There is a great need of brahmanas. Therefore, in the Krsna consciousness movement, we are trying to train some brahmanas to guide human society. Because at present there is a scarcity of brahmanas, the brain of human society is lost. Because practically everyone is a sudra, no one at the present moment can guide the members of society to the proper path by which to achieve perfection in life.

 

                               TEXT 25

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       vivimsateh suto rambhah

                      khaninetro 'sya dharmikah

                         karandhamo maharaja

                         tasyasid atmajo nrpa

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   vivimsateh--from Vivimsati; sutah--the son; rambhah--named Rambha; khaninetrah--named Khaninetra; asya--of Rambha; dharmikah--very religious; karandhamah--named Karandhama; maharaja--O King; tasya--of him (Khaninetra); asit--was; atmajah--the son; nrpa--O King.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The son of Vivimsati was Rambha, whose son was the great and religious King Khaninetra. O King, the son of Khaninetra was King Karandhama.

 

                               TEXT 26

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        tasyaviksit suto yasya

                      maruttas cakravarty abhut

                      samvarto 'yajayad yam vai

                       maha-yogy angirah-sutah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasya--of him (Karandhama); aviksit--named Aviksit; sutah--the son; yasya--of whom (Aviksit); maruttah--(the son) named Marutta; cakravarti--the emperor; abhut--became; samvartah--Samvarta; ayajayat--engaged in performing sacrifice; yam--unto whom (Marutta); vai--indeed; maha-yogi--the great mystic; angirah-sutah--the son of Angira.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From Karandhama came a son named Aviksit, and from Aviksit a son named Marutta, who was the emperor. The great mystic Samvarta, the son of Angira, engaged Marutta in performing a sacrifice [yajna].

 

                               TEXT 27

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        maruttasya yatha yajno

                       na tathanyo 'sti kascana

                      sarvam hiranmayam tv asid

                      yat kincic casya sobhanam

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maruttasya--of Marutta; yatha--as; yajnah--performance of sacrifice; na--not; tatha--like that; anyah--any other; asti--there is; kascana--anything; sarvam--everything; hiran-mayam--made of gold; tu--indeed; asit--there was; yat kincit--whatever he had; ca--and; asya--of Marutta; sobhanam--extremely beautiful.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The sacrificial paraphernalia of King Marutta was extremely beautiful, for everything was made of gold. Indeed, no other sacrifice could compare to his.

 

                               TEXT 28

 

                                 TEXT

 

                        amadyad indrah somena

                        daksinabhir dvijatayah

                         marutah parivestaro

                        visvedevah sabha-sadah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   amadyat--became intoxicated; indrah--the King of heaven, Lord Indra; somena--by drinking the intoxicant soma-rasa; daksinabhih--by receiving sufficient contributions; dvijatayah--the brahminical group; marutah--the airs; parivestarah--offering the foodstuffs; visvedevah--universal demigods; sabha-sadah--members of the assembly.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In that sacrifice, King Indra became intoxicated by drinking a large quantity of soma-rasa. The brahmanas received ample contributions, and therefore they were satisfied. For that sacrifice, the various demigods who control the winds offered foodstuffs, and the Visvedevas were members of the assembly.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Because of the yajna performed by Marutta, everyone was pleased, especially the brahmanas and ksatriyas. Brahmanas are interested in receiving contributions as priests, and ksatriyas are interested in drinking. All of them, therefore, were satisfied with their different engagements.

 

                               TEXT 29

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       maruttasya damah putras

                       tasyasid rajyavardhanah

                       sudhrtis tat-suto jajne

                        saudhrteyo narah sutah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   maruttasya--of Marutta; damah--(was named) Dama; putrah--the son; tasya--of him (Dama); asit--there was; rajya-vardhanah--named Rajyavardhana, or one who can expand the kingdom; sudhrtih--was named Sudhrti; tat-sutah--the son of him (Rajyavardhana); jajne--was born; saudhrteyah--from Sudhrti; narah--named Nara; sutah--the son.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Marutta's son was Dama, Dama's son was Rajyavardhana, Rajyavardhana's son was Sudhrti, and his son was Nara.

 

                               TEXT 30

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tat-sutah kevalas tasmad

                      dhundhuman vegavams tatah

                       budhas tasyabhavad yasya

                         trnabindur mahipatih

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tat-sutah--the son of him (Nara); kevalah--was named Kevala; tasmat--from him (Kevala); dhundhuman--a son was born named Dhundhuman; vegavan--named Vegavan; tatah--from him (Dhundhuman); budhah--named Budha; tasya--of him (Vegavan); abhavat--there was; yasya--of whom (Budha); trnabinduh--a son named Trnabindu; mahipatih--the king.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The son of Nara was Kevala, and his son was Dhundhuman, whose son was Vegavan. Vegavan's son was Budha, and Budha's son was Trnabindu, who became the king of this earth.

 

                               TEXT 31

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       tam bheje 'lambusa devi

                         bhajaniya-gunalayam

                        varapsara yatah putrah

                         kanya celavilabhavat

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tam--him (Trnabindu); bheje--accepted as husband; alambusa--the girl Alambusa; devi--goddess; bhajaniya--worthy of accepting; guna-alayam--the reservoir of all good qualities; vara-apsarah--the best of the Apsaras; yatah--from whom (Trnabindu); putrah--some sons; kanya--a daughter; ca--and; ilavila--named Ilavila; abhavat--was born.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The best of the Apsaras, the highly qualified girl named Alambusa, accepted the similarly qualified Trnabindu as her husband. She gave birth to a few sons and a daughter known as Ilavila.

 

                               TEXT 32

 

                                 TEXT

 

                         yasyam utpadayam asa

                        visrava dhanadam sutam

                        pradaya vidyam paramam

                        rsir yogesvarah pituh

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yasyam--in whom (Ilavila); utpadayam asa--gave birth; visravah--Visrava; dhana-dam--Kuvera, or one who gives money; sutam--to a son; pradaya--after receiving; vidyam--absolute knowledge; paramam--supreme; rsih--the great saintly person; yoga-isvarah--master of mystic yoga; pituh--from his father.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   After the great saint Visrava, the master of mystic yoga, received absolute knowledge from his father, he begot in the womb of Ilavila the greatly celebrated son known as Kuvera, the giver of money.

 

                               TEXT 33

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       visalah sunyabandhus ca

                       dhumraketus ca tat-sutah

                        visalo vamsa-krd raja

                        vaisalim nirmame purim

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   visalah--named Visala; sunyabandhuh--named Sunyabandhu; ca--also; dhumraketuh--named Dhumraketu; ca--also; tat-sutah--the sons of Trnabindu; visalah--among the three, King Visala; vamsa-krt--made a dynasty; raja--the king; vaisalim--by the name Vaisali; nirmame--constructed; purim--a palace.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Trnabindu had three sons, named Visala, Sunyabandhu and Dhumraketu. Among these three, Visala created a dynasty and constructed a palace called Vaisali.

 

                               TEXT 34

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       hemacandrah sutas tasya

                      dhumraksas tasya catmajah

                       tat-putrat samyamad asit

                        krsasvah saha-devajah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   hemacandrah--was named Hemacandra; sutah--the son; tasya--of him (Visala); dhumraksah--was named Dhumraksa; tasya--of him (Hemacandra); ca--also; atmajah--the son; tat-putrat--from the son of him (Dhumraksa); samyamat--from he who was named Samyama; asit--there was; krsasvah--Krsasva; saha--along with; devajah--Devaja.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The son of Visala was known as Hemacandra, his son was Dhumraksa, and his son was Samyama, whose sons were Devaja and Krsasva.

 

                             TEXTS 35-36

 

                                 TEXT

 

                       krsasvat somadatto 'bhud

                       yo 'svamedhair idaspatim

                        istva purusam apagryam

                        gatim yogesvarasritam

 

                        saumadattis tu sumatis

                        tat-putro janamejayah

                         ete vaisala-bhupalas

                        trnabindor yasodharah

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   krsasvat--from Krsasva; somadattah--a son named Somadatta; abhut--there was; yah--he who (Somadatta); asvamedhaih--by the performance of asvamedha sacrifices; idaspatim--unto Lord Visnu; istva--after worshiping; purusam--Lord Visnu; apa--achieved; agryam--the best of all; gatim--the destination; yogesvara-asritam--the place occupied by great mystic yogis; saumadattih--the son of Somadatta; tu--but; sumatih--a son named Sumati; tat-putrah--the son of him (Sumati); janamejayah--was named Janamejaya; ete--all of them; vaisala-bhupalah--the kings in the dynasty of Vaisala; trnabindoh yasah-dharah--continued the fame of King Trnabindu.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The son of Krsasva was Somadatta, who performed asvamedha sacrifices and thus satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu. By worshiping the Supreme Lord, he achieved the most exalted post, a residence on the planet to which great mystic yogis are elevated. The son of Somadatta was Sumati, whose son was Janamejaya. All these kings appearing in the dynasty of Visala properly maintained the celebrated position of King Trnabindu.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Second Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Dynasties of the Sons of Manu."


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