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Chapter Seven
The Descendants of King Mandhata
In this chapter the descendants of King Mandhata are described, and in this connection the histories of Purukutsa and Hariscandra are also given.
The most prominent son of Mandhata was Ambarisa, his son was Yauvanasva, and Yauvanasva's son was Harita. These three personalities were the best in the dynasty of Mandhata. Purukutsa, another son of Mandhata, married the sister of the snakes (sarpa-gana) named Narmada. The son of Purukutsa was Trasaddasyu, whose son was Anaranya. Anaranya's son was Haryasva, Haryasva's son was Praruna, Praruna's son was Tribandhana, and Tribandhana's son was Satyavrata, also known as Trisanku. When Trisanku kidnapped the daughter of a brahmana, his father cursed him for this sinful act, and Trisanku became a candala, worse than a sudra. Later, by the influence of Visvamitra, he was brought to the heavenly planets, but by the influence of the demigods he fell back downward. He was stopped in his fall, however, by the influence of Visvamitra. The son of Trisanku was Hariscandra. Hariscandra once performed a Rajasuya-yajna, but Visvamitra cunningly took all of Hariscandra's possessions as a daksina contribution and chastised Hariscandra in various ways. Because of this, a quarrel arose between Visvamitra and Vasistha. Hariscandra had no sons, but on the advice of Narada he worshiped Varuna and in this way got a son named Rohita. Hariscandra promised that Rohita would be used to perform a Varuna-yajna. Varuna reminded Hariscandra repeatedly about this yajna, but the King, because of affection for his son, gave various arguments to avoid sacrificing him. Thus time passed, and gradually the son grew up. To safeguard his life, the boy then took bow and arrows in hand and went to the forest. Meanwhile, at home, Hariscandra suffered from dropsy because of an attack from Varuna. When Rohita received the news that his father was suffering, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra prevented him from doing so. Following the instructions of Indra, Rohita lived in the forest for six years and then returned home. Rohita purchased Sunahsepha, the second son of Ajigarta, and gave him to his father, Hariscandra, as the sacrificial animal. In this way, the sacrifice was performed, Varuna and the other demigods were pacified, and Hariscandra was freed from disease. In this sacrifice, Visvamitra was the hota priest, Jamadagni was the adhvaryu, Vasistha was the brahma, and Ayasya was the udgata. King Indra, being very satisfied by the sacrifice, gave Hariscandra a golden chariot, and Visvamitra gave him transcendental knowledge. Thus Sukadeva Gosvami describes how Hariscandra achieved perfection.
TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
mandhatuh putra-pravaro
yo 'mbarisah prakirtitah
pitamahena pravrto
yauvanasvas tu tat-sutah
haritas tasya putro 'bhun
mandhatr-pravara ime
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; mandhatuh--of Mandhata; putra-pravarah--the prominent son; yah--the one who; ambarisah--by the name Ambarisa; prakirtitah--celebrated; pitamahena--by his grandfather Yuvanasva; pravrtah--accepted; yauvanasvah--named Yauvanasva; tu--and; tat-sutah--the son of Ambarisa; haritah--by the name Harita; tasya--of Yauvanasva; putrah--the son; abhut--became; mandhatr--in the dynasty of Mandhata; pravarah--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
TEXT
narmada bhratrbhir datta
purukutsaya yoragaih
taya rasatalam nito
bhujagendra-prayuktaya
SYNONYMS
narmada--by the name Narmada; bhratrbhih--by her brothers; datta--was given in charity; purukutsaya--unto Purukutsa; ya--she who; uragaih--by the serpents (sarpa-gana); taya--by her; rasatalam--to the lower region of the universe; nitah--was brought; bhujaga-indra-prayuktaya--engaged by Vasuki, 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.
PURPORT
Before describing the descendants of Purukutsa, the son of Mandhata, Sukadeva Gosvami first describes how Purukutsa was married to Narmada, who was induced to take him to the lower region of the universe.
TEXT 3
TEXT
gandharvan avadhit tatra
vadhyan vai visnu-sakti-dhrk
nagal labdha-varah sarpad
abhayam smaratam idam
SYNONYMS
gandharvan--the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; avadhit--he killed; tatra--there (in the lower region of the universe); vadhyan--who deserved to be killed; vai--indeed; visnu-sakti-dhrk--being empowered by Lord Visnu; nagat--from the Nagas; labdha-varah--having received a benediction; sarpat--from the snakes; abhayam--assurances; smaratam--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
TEXT
trasaddasyuh paurukutso
yo 'naranyasya deha-krt
haryasvas tat-sutas tasmat
praruno 'tha tribandhanah
SYNONYMS
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; tasmat--from him (Haryasva); prarunah--by the name Praruna; atha--then, from Praruna; 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
TEXT
tasya satyavratah putras
trisankur iti visrutah
praptas candalatam sapad
guroh kausika-tejasa
sasariro gatah svargam
adyapi divi drsyate
patito 'vak-sira devais
tenaiva stambhito balat
SYNONYMS
tasya--of Tribandhana; satyavratah--by the name Satyavrata; putrah--the son; trisankuh--by the name Trisanku; iti--thus; visrutah--celebrated; praptah--had obtained; candalatam--the quality of a candala, lower than a sudra; sapat--from the curse; guroh--of his father; kausika-tejasa--by the prowess of Kausika (Visvamitra); sasarirah--while in this body; gatah--went; svargam--to the heavenly planet; adya api--until today; divi--in the sky; drsyate--can be seen; patitah--having fallen down; avak-sirah--with his head hanging downward; devaih--by the prowess of the demigods; tena--by Visvamitra; eva--indeed; stambhitah--fixed; balat--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
TEXT
traisankavo hariscandro
visvamitra-vasisthayoh
yan-nimittam abhud yuddham
paksinor bahu-varsikam
SYNONYMS
traisankavah--the son of Trisanku; hariscandrah--by the name Hariscandra; visvamitra-vasisthayoh--between Visvamitra and Vasistha; yat-nimittam--because of Hariscandra; abhut--there was; yuddham--a great fight; paksinoh--both of whom had been converted into birds; bahu-varsikam--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.
PURPORT
Visvamitra and Vasistha were always inimical. Formerly, Visvamitra was a ksatriya, and by undergoing severe austerities he wanted to become a brahmana, but Vasistha would not agree to accept him. In this way there was always disagreement between the two. Later, however, Vasistha accepted him because of Visvamitra's quality of forgiveness. Once Hariscandra performed a yajna for which Visvamitra was the priest, but Visvamitra, being angry at Hariscandra, took away all his possessions, claiming them as a contribution of daksina. Vasistha, however, did not like this, and therefore a fight arose between Vasistha and Visvamitra. The fighting became so severe that each of them cursed the other. One of them said, "May you become a bird," and the other said, "May you become a duck." Thus both of them became birds and continued fighting for many years because of Hariscandra. We can see that such a great mystic yogi as Saubhari became a victim of sense gratification, and such great sages as Vasistha and Visvamitra became birds. This is the material world. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna. Within this material world, or within this universe, however elevated one may be in material qualities, one must suffer the conditions of birth, death, old age and disease (janma-mrtyu jara-vyadhi). Therefore Krsna says that this material world is simply miserable (duhkhalayam asasvatam). The Bhagavatam says, padam padam yad vipadam: at every step here there is danger. Therefore, because the Krsna consciousness movement provides the opportunity for the human being to get out of this material world simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, this movement is the greatest benediction in human society.
TEXT 8
TEXT
so 'napatyo visannatma
naradasyopadesatah
varunam saranam yatah
putro me jayatam prabho
SYNONYMS
sah--that Hariscandra; anapatyah--being without a son; visanna-atma--therefore very morose; naradasya--of Narada; upadesatah--by the advice; varunam--unto Varuna; saranam yatah--took shelter; putrah--a son; me--of me; jayatam--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
TEXT
yadi viro maharaja
tenaiva tvam yaje iti
tatheti varunenasya
putro jatas tu rohitah
SYNONYMS
yadi--if; virah--there is a son; maharaja--O Maharaja Pariksit; tena eva--even by that son; tvam--unto you; yaje--I shall offer sacrifice; iti--thus; tatha--as you desire; iti--thus accepted; varunena--by Varuna; asya--of Maharaja Hariscandra; putrah--a son; jatah--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
TEXT
jatah suto hy anenanga
mam yajasveti so 'bravit
yada pasur nirdasah syad
atha medhyo bhaved iti
SYNONYMS
jatah--has been born; sutah--a son; hi--indeed; anena--by this son; anga--O Hariscandra; mam--unto me; yajasva--offer sacrifice; iti--thus; sah--he, Varuna; abravit--said; yada--when; pasuh--an animal; nirdasah--has passed ten days; syat--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
TEXT
nirdase ca sa agatya
yajasvety aha so 'bravit
dantah pasor yaj jayerann
atha medhyo bhaved iti
SYNONYMS
nirdase--after ten days; ca--also; sah--he, Varuna; agatya--coming there; yajasva--now sacrifice; iti--thus; aha--said; sah--he, Hariscandra; abravit--replied; dantah--the teeth; pasoh--of the animal; yat--when; jayeran--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
TEXT
danta jata yajasveti
sa pratyahatha so 'bravit
yada patanty asya danta
atha medhyo bhaved iti
SYNONYMS
dantah--the teeth; jatah--have grown; yajasva--now sacrifice; iti--thus; sah--he, Varuna; pratyaha--said; atha--thereupon; sah--he, Hariscandra; abravit--replied; yada--when; patanti--fall out; asya--his; dantah--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
TEXT
pasor nipatita danta
yajasvety aha so 'bravit
yada pasoh punar danta
jayante 'tha pasuh sucih
SYNONYMS
pasoh--of the animal; nipatitah--have fallen out; dantah--the teeth; yajasva--now sacrifice him; iti--thus; aha--said (Varuna); sah--he, Hariscandra; abravit--replied; yada--when; pasoh--of the animal; punah--again; dantah--the teeth; jayante--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
TEXT
punar jata yajasveti
sa pratyahatha so 'bravit
sannahiko yada rajan
rajanyo 'tha pasuh sucih
SYNONYMS
punah--again; jatah--have grown; yajasva--now you offer the sacrifice; iti--thus; sah--he, Varuna; pratyaha--replied; atha--thereafter; sah--he, Hariscandra; abravit--said; sannahikah--able to equip himself with a shield; yada--when; rajan--O King Varuna; rajanyah--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
TEXT
iti putranuragena
sneha-yantrita-cetasa
kalam vancayata tam tam
ukto devas tam aiksata
SYNONYMS
iti--in this way; putra-anuragena--because of affection for the son; sneha-yantrita-cetasa--his mind being controlled by such affection; kalam--time; vancayata--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
TEXT
rohitas tad abhijnaya
pituh karma cikirsitam
prana-prepsur dhanus-panir
aranyam pratyapadyata
SYNONYMS
rohitah--the son of Hariscandra; tat--this fact; abhijnaya--having thoroughly understood; pituh--of his father; karma--action; cikirsitam--which he was practically doing; prana-prepsuh--wishing to save his life; dhanuh-panih--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
TEXT
pitaram varuna-grastam
srutva jata-mahodaram
rohito gramam eyaya
tam indrah pratyasedhata
SYNONYMS
pitaram--about his father; varuna-grastam--having been attacked with dropsy by Varuna; srutva--after hearing; jata--had grown; maha-udaram--inflated abdomen; rohitah--his son Rohita; gramam eyaya--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
TEXT
bhumeh paryatanam punyam
tirtha-ksetra-nisevanaih
rohitayadisac chakrah
so 'py aranye 'vasat samam
SYNONYMS
bhumeh--of the surface of the world; paryatanam--traveling; punyam--holy places; tirtha-ksetra--places of pilgrimage; nisevanaih--by serving or going to and coming from such places; rohitaya--unto Rohita; adisat--ordered; sakrah--King Indra; sah--he, Rohita; api--also; aranye--in the forest; avasat--lived; samam--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
TEXT
evam dvitiye trtiye
caturthe pancame tatha
abhyetyabhyetya sthaviro
vipro bhutvaha vrtra-ha
SYNONYMS
evam--in this way; dvitiye--on the second year; trtiye--on the third year; caturthe--on the fourth year; pancame--on the fifth year; tatha--as well as; abhyetya--coming before him; abhyetya--again coming before him; sthavirah--a very old man; viprah--a brahmana; bhutva--becoming so; aha--said; vrtra-ha--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
TEXT
sastham samvatsaram tatra
caritva rohitah purim
upavrajann ajigartad
akrinan madhyamam sutam
sunahsepham pasum pitre
pradaya samavandata
SYNONYMS
sastham--the sixth; samvatsaram--year; tatra--in the forest; caritva--wandering; rohitah--the son of Hariscandra; purim--in his capital; upavrajan--went there; ajigartat--from Ajigarta; akrinat--purchased; madhyamam--the second; sutam--son; sunahsepham--whose name was Sunahsepha; pasum--to use as the sacrificial animal; pitre--unto his father; pradaya--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.
PURPORT
It appears that in those days a man could be purchased for any purpose. Hariscandra was in need of a person to sacrifice as the animal in a yajna and thus fulfill his promise to Varuna, and a man was purchased from another man for this purpose. Millions of years ago, animal sacrifice and slave trade both existed. Indeed, they have existed since time immemorial.
TEXT 21
TEXT
tatah purusa-medhena
hariscandro maha-yasah
muktodaro 'yajad devan
varunadin mahat-kathah
SYNONYMS
tatah--thereafter; purusa-medhena--by sacrificing a man in the yajna; hariscandrah--King Hariscandra; maha-yasah--very famous; mukta-udarah--became free from dropsy; ayajat--offered sacrifices; devan--unto the demigods; varuna-adin--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
TEXT
visvamitro 'bhavat tasmin
hota cadhvaryur atmavan
jamadagnir abhud brahma
vasistho 'yasyah sama-gah
SYNONYMS
visvamitrah--the great sage and mystic Visvamitra; abhavat--became; tasmin--in that great sacrifice; hota--the chief priest to offer oblations; ca--also; adhvaryuh--a person who recites hymns from the Yajur Veda and performs ritualistic ceremonies; atmavan--fully self-realized; jamadagnih--Jamadagni; abhut--became; brahma--acting as the chief brahmana; vasisthah--the great sage; ayasyah--another great sage; sama-gah--engaged as the reciter of the Sama 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
TEXT
tasmai tusto dadav indrah
satakaumbhamayam ratham
sunahsephasya mahatmyam
uparistat pracaksyate
SYNONYMS
tasmai--unto him, King Hariscandra; tustah--being very pleased; dadau--delivered; indrah--the King of heaven; satakaumbha-mayam--made of gold; ratham--a chariot; sunahsephasya--about Sunahsepha; mahatmyam--glories; uparistat--in the course of describing the sons of Visvamitra; 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
TEXT
satyam saram dhrtim drstva
sabharyasya ca bhupateh
visvamitro bhrsam prito
dadav avihatam gatim
SYNONYMS
satyam--truthfulness; saram--firmness; dhrtim--forbearance; drstva--by seeing; sa-bharyasya--with his wife; ca--and; bhupateh--of Maharaja Hariscandra; visvamitrah--the great sage Visvamitra; bhrsam--very much; pritah--being pleased; dadau--gave him; avihatam 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
TEXT
manah prthivyam tam adbhis
tejasapo 'nilena tat
khe vayum dharayams tac ca
bhutadau tam mahatmani
tasmin jnana-kalam dhyatva
tayajnanam vinirdahan
hitva tam svena bhavena
nirvana-sukha-samvida
anirdesyapratarkyena
tasthau vidhvasta-bandhanah
SYNONYMS
manah--the mind (full of material desires for eating, sleeping, mating and defending); prthivyam--in the earth; tam--that; adbhih--with water; tejasa--and with fire; apah--the water; anilena--in the fire; tat--that; khe--in the sky; vayum--the air; dharayan--amalgamating; tat--that; ca--also; bhuta-adau--in the false ego, the origin of material existence; tam--that (false ego); maha-atmani--in the mahat-tattva, the total material energy; tasmin--in the total material energy; jnana-kalam--spiritual knowledge and its different branches; dhyatva--by meditating; taya--by this process; ajnanam--ignorance; vinirdahan--specifically subdued; hitva--giving up; tam--material ambition; svena--by self-realization; bhavena--in devotional service; nirvana-sukha-samvida--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.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Descendants of King Mandhata."