A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 41

Ambarisha with his wife once undertook to perform Dvadasi Vrata for one year. (Dvadasi is the twelfth day of the Moon. The Vrata consists in fasting on the eleventh day of the Moon and in breaking the fast on the 12th day). On one occasion he fasted for 3 consecutive days. He bathed himself in the Yamuna and worshipped Vishnu at Mathura. He gave plenty of riches and cattle to the Brahmanas. He then fed the Brahmanas and asked their permission to eat himself. At the time Durvasas appeared as his guest. The king received him duly and requested him to take his meals. The Rishi consented and went to bathe himself in the river and perform his daily rites. The king waited long for him but he did not return. There was only half a muhurta now remaining of Dvadasi. If the king did not eat any thing, his Vrata would not be observed. If he ate, he would shew disregard to a Brahmana. At this juncture, the king decided to serve both ends by taking a little water, for the Brahmanas call that both eating and non-eating. Durvasas came back. By spiritual vision, he knew what had happened and became highly enraged. He tore up a hair tuft and charged it to kill Ambarisha. The king remained unmoved.

The chakra of Vishnu consumed the destructive force sent by Durvasas and went even to destroy him. The Rishi ran in every direction. The Chakra followed him wherever he went. He went to Brahma and prayed to be saved.

"It is not in my power to save thee" said Brahma. "Thou hast offended a votary of Vishnu." He went to Siva. "Child" said Siva "this weapon of Vishnu is too much for me even. Go thou to Vishnu." Durvasas went to Vishnu and prayed to be pardoned and saved. Said Vishnu: "O Brahmana, I am dependent on my Bhaktas. I am not free. My heart is in the possession of my Bhaktas. I am dear to them. Without these my Bhaktas I do not even want myself, nor my absolute powers, for I am their sole and supreme resort. They forsake their wives, homes, children and wealth for my sake. How can I forsake them. Their heart is chained to me. They look on all with equal eyes. By devotion they win me even as chaste wives win their husbands. My service is all in all to them. They do not even desire the four Muktis, Salokya and others, though these come within their easy reach. What perishable objects can they have desire for? The Sadhus are my heart. I am the heart of the Sadhus. They do not know any one besides me nor do I know any one besides them. O Brahmana, hear what is thy only remedy. Without delay go to him who has caused this fear in thee. When force is used against Sadhus, it reacts on him who uses the force. True asceticism and wisdom are both for the salvation of the Brahmanas. But in one untrained, they produce the contrary effect.

Therefore go thou to the son of Nabhaga. Beg his pardon and thou shalt be saved." Durvasas went back to Ambarisha and touched the feet of the king. Ambarisha became non-plussed at this act of a Brahmana and knowing the object of the Rishi, he prayed to the Chakra to desist from its course and to save the Brahmana. The Chakra had just commenced its work of destruction, but it withdrew its energies upon the prayer of Ambarisha. Durvasas was extremely thankful and he thus praised the king.

"I see this day the greatness of Vaishnavas, O king. Thou didst pray for my welfare, though I had offended thee. There is nothing strange for those that have conquered Vishnu Himself. Thou hast been very kind to me. Thou hast favored me much. Thou didst not even think of my offence, but thou hast saved my life." The king had waited for Durvasas all this time. He now fell at the feet of the Rishi and requested him to take his meals. The Rishi gladly did so, and also made the king take his food.

Durvasas then went to Brahma Loka. He did not return for one year and the King lived upon water only all this time, being so anxious to see the Rishi back. Such is the holy story of Ambarisha.

Ambarisha --+-------------------+--+----------------+-- Virupa Ketumat Sambhu Prishadasva Rathitara

Rathitara had no children. At his request Rishi Angiras produced certain sons by his wife. They were known both as Rathitaras and angirasas.

[Durvasas had cursed Indra, and Indra lost all power. But after the great churning, times were changed. The divine law favoured the Devas and the worshippers of Vishnu. Those who a.s.sumed a power, independently of Vishnu, were sure to find disappointment, however eminent their position might be.]

(I) IKSHVaKU.

SKANDHA IX. CHAPS. 6-13.

Ikshvaku was born out of the nostrils of Manu when sneezing. He had one hundred sons. Vikukshi, Nimi, and Dandaka were the eldest born. Twenty five of them ruled on the east of aryavarta, twenty five on the west and twenty five in the middle. The others ruled else where. For the performance of Ashtaka Sraddha, Ikshvaku once ordered Vikukshi to get some good flesh. Vikukshi had a bagful of good game. But he was hungry and ate one rabbit out of his store.

Vasishtha found fault with this and Ikshvaku had to reject the whole of the game. The King became angry at this and he expelled his son from the kingdom. When Ikshvaku died, Vikukshi returned. He succeeded his father as king and was known as Sasada or Rabbiteater. Puranjaya was the son of Sasada. He was also called Indravaha and Kakutstha. The Devas had a fight with the Asuras and Indra asked for the help of Puranjaya.

Puranjaya wanted Indra to be his carrier, and the King of the Devas became a bull. Puranjaya ascended the bull on its hump. He is therefore called Indravaha or Indra-vehicled and Kakutstha or the mounter on the hump. He defeated the Asuras.

Ikshvaku --+--------------------+-----+-----------------------+--- Vikukshi Nimi 98 other sons (Sasada) Puranjaya (Indra vahu Kakutstha) Anena Prithu Visvagandhi Chandra Yuvanasva Sravasta (He built the town Sravasti) Brihadasva Kuvalayasva (Dhundhumara.)

With his 21 thousand sons, Kuvalayasva killed an Asura called Dhundhu, for the good of Rishi Utanka. But the Asura killed all his sons, except three, with fire from his mouth. Those three were Dridhasva, Kapilasva and Bhadrasva.

Kuvalayasva or Dhundhumara.

---+--------------------+-+-----------------------+---- Dridhasva. Kapilasva. Bhadrasva.

Haryasva Nik.u.mbha Bahulasva Krisasva Senajit Yuvanasva.

Yuvanasva had no son. So the Rishis performed a sacrifice directed to Indra. One night Yuvanasva became very thirsty and entered the Yajna house. He found all the Rishis sleeping at the time. He thought it improper to rouse the Rishis and drank whatever water he found near at hand. By chance that happened to be the consecrated water with the power of producing a son. When the Rishis rose up they did not find the water.

On enquiry, when they knew what had happened, every one wondered what the outcome would be. In time the king brought forth a son from his right side. The little thing cried out for milk. Indra said "Do not weep, child, you shall _drink wine_ ('_Man Dhata_')" So saying he offered the child his fore finger. From this, the child was called Mandhata. Yuvanasva, by the blessing of the Rishis, did not meet with death at delivery. Mandhata was a very powerful king. The thieves dreaded him much. He performed many sacrifices and made many gifts. He married Indumati, daughter of Sasabindu. He had three sons Purukutsa, Ambarisha, and the Yogin Muchukunda. He had also fifty daughters.

Rishi Soubhari made Tapas in the waters of the Yamuna. One day he saw the pairing of a couple of fish and became excited. He requested king Mandhata to give him one daughter in marriage. The king said: "By Svayamvara, you may get my daughter" (_i.e._ the girl must choose her own husband from amongst a number of men offering themselves as husbands.) The Rishi thought because he was old and decrepit therefore the king wanted to put him off. So Soubhari by yogic powers became young and beautiful. All the fifty daughters then accepted him for their husband. The Rishi prepared for himself all the enjoyments of life and pa.s.sed his days in company with his 50 wives. He then became disgusted with this sensual life and afterwards attained Moksha with his wives.

Yuvanasva adopted his grand son Ambarisha. Ambarisha had one son Youvanasva. His son was Harita. These three, Ambarisha, Youvanasva and Harita were the founders of the chief clans of the Mandhata Dynasty.

The elemental serpents gave their sister Narmoda in marriage to Purukutsa. Purukutsa accompanied Narmoda to Rasatala at the request of Vasuki. There he killed such Gandharvas as deserved to be killed. Those who remember this story have no fear from serpents. Such was the blessing of the elemental serpents.

Yuvanasva Mandhata --+----------------------+--+-----------------------+--- Purukuta Ambarisha Muchukunda m. Narmoda (adopted by Yuvanasva) (Yogin) Trasadasya Youvanasva Anaranya Harita Horyasva Praruna Tribandhana Satyavrata or Tri Sanku

Tri Sanku became a Chandala by the curse of his father. Rishi Visvamitra lifted him up to Svarga in his own mortal body. Tri Sanku is still visible in the heavens. The devas turned him with his head downwards and attempted to throw him down. Visvamitra by his power has retained him there.

[Tri Sanku is a constellation in the southern hemisphere.]:

Tri Sanku Haris Chandra

Haris Chandra had at first no issue. He prayed to Varuna for a son, promising to offer him as a sacrifice to the Water-G.o.d. The king had a son named Rohita (Red). Varuna asked for his victim. Ten days pa.s.sed away. "Without teething the child will not be pure." There was teething.

"When these milk teeth fall away, then will be the time." The milk teeth fell off. "Let other teeth grow." Other teeth did grow. "But he is a Kshatriya boy. He can be pure only when he is fit to put his armour on."

The king put off Varuna from time to time in this way, out of affection for his son. Rohita came to know of his father's promise. To save himself, he took a bow and went to the forest. There he learned that his father had an attack of dropsy, the disease caused by Varuna. So he prepared himself to go back, but Indra prevented him by persuasive words. He was put back from year to year by Indra, till his 6th. year.

He then made his way to the king. He purchased from Ajigarta his second son Sunahsepha. He saluted his father and offered the child. King Haris Chandra appeased Varuna by human sacrifice and got rid of his dropsy. In that sacrifice, Visvamitra was the Hota, Jamadagni was the Adhvaryu, Vasistha Brahma and Ayasya was the Udgata. Indra being pleased gave a golden chariot to the king. Visvamitra taught atma Vidya to Haris Chandra and he attained liberation.

[The story of Haris Chandra in this Purana follows the vedic version.

The gist of the story is that in the course of further evolution the Devas were to be propitiated by human sacrifice. But this sacrifice did not mean killing. It was the complete offering of oneself up to the service of the G.o.ds. The mission of the human victim is to constantly work for the good of the Universe and to extinguish his own personality.

Sunahsepha was not killed in the sacrifice. He was offered up to the service of the G.o.ds. After the sacrifice, he was called Devarata _i.e._ one offered to the Devas. Visvamitra adopted Devarata as his own son and he asked his hundred sons to accept him as their eldest brother. He disowned those sons that did not obey him (Bhagavata IX-16). Therefore Visvamitra took the princ.i.p.al part in this sacrifice and not Vasistha, though he was the family preceptor.]

Haris Chandra Rohita Harita Champa (founder of Champa) Sudeva Vijaya Bharuka Vrika Bahuka

His enemies dispossesed Bahuka of his kingdom. He went to the forest accompanied by his wives. When he died, the eldest queen prepared herself for death also. Rishi Aurva knew her to be big with child, and dissuaded her from accompanying her husband on to the funeral pyre. The co-wives of the queen, out of jealousy, gave her poison. The child was born with this poison, therefore he was called Sagara (Sa = with, gara = poison.) Sagara became a great king. The Seas were dug by his sons. He was prevented by Rishi Aurva from taking the lives of the Talajanghas, Yavanas, Sakas, Haihayas, and Barbars. But he made them change their outward look. He performed an Asvamedha sacrifice as advised by Aurva and Indra stole the sacrificial horse.

Sagara had two wives Sumati and Kesini. The 60 thousand sons of Sumati searched for the horse on all sides. They dug the earth's surface and made the Seas. They found the horse near Kapila. They took him to be the stealer of the horse and abused him. For this they were all burnt up.

Kesini had one son Asamanjas by Sagara. Ansumat was son of Asamanjas. He was attached to his grandfather Sagara. Asamanjas was a Yogin in his former birth. He therefore wanted to avoid company by means of provoking acts. He threw down some children into the Saraju. His father Sagara was thus compelled to forsake him. By Yogic powers, be brought back the children thrown into the Saraju, and left his father for ever.

Ansumat was also sent by Sagara to search for the horse. He found the horse and a heap of ashes near Kapila. He saluted Kapila and glorified him. The Avatara was pleased. He permitted Ansumat to take away the horse. He also informed him that his burnt-up Pitris could only he saved by the water of the Ganga.

Sagara completed the sacrifice with the horse. He made over the kingdom to Ansumat and attained Mukti.

Ansumat made Tapas for the downward flow of Ganga but without success.

He was followed by his son Dilipa. He also did not succeed. Bhagiratha was the son of Dilipa. He prayed hard and Ganga appeared in person before him. "Child, I am pleased with thee. What boon do you ask for"?

Bhagiratha told her what he prayed for. "But who shall arrest my course, when I fall down. If not arrested I will pierce the earth and reach Rasatala. Again if I pa.s.s over earth, men will wash away their sins in my waters. Where shall I wash away those sins, O King? Therefore do thou ponder well what to do." Said Bhagiratha: - "The touch of Sadhus shall take away thy sins. For Vishnu, the destroyer of sins, remains in them.

Thy downward course shall be arrested by Rudra." Siva was pleased by the prayer of Bhagiratha, and he consented to hold Ganga.

Ganga came rushing down and she was taken by Bhagiratha to where the ashes of his Pitris lay. The very touch of her waters purified the sons of Sagara and they went to Svarga.

Bahuka Sagara m. Sumati m. Kesini --+----------+-------------------+-- 60 thousand Asamanjas sons Ansumat Dilipa Bhagiratha Sruta Nabha Sindhu Dvipa Ayutayu Rituparna (friend of Nala) Sarvakama Sudasa Soudasa or Mitrasaha or Kalmashapada _m_. Madayanti.

Once there lived two Rakshasas. Soudasa killed one and did not kill the other. The surviving Rakshasa, bent on taking revenge, entered the service of Soudasa as a cook. When the king entertained Vasistha, he gave him human flesh to eat. The Rishi became angry and caused Soudasa to become a Rakshasa. When he learned however it was the doing of a Rakshasa, he reduced the king's Rakshasa life to 12 years. The king also held out water for the execration of Vasistha. His queen prevented him.

So he threw the water at his own feet. His feet became black with sin.

While living as a Rakshasa, the king saw a Brahmana and his wife in their privacy, and he attacked the Brahmana. The wife reminded the king of his former birth and requested him not to deprive her of her husband at the time of enjoyment. The king heeded not her words but devoured the Brahmana. The Brahmana woman cursed Soudasa so that he should meet with death whenever he had female connection. On the expiry of 12 years, Soudasa reverted to his former birth, but for fear of the curse he had no connection with women. Vasistha at the request of Soudasa produced a son by his wife, Madayanti. The conception lingered for 7 years.

Vasistha struck the womb with a stone (Asman) and the son was hence called Asmaka. The son of Asmaka was Balika. He was the surviving kshatriya, after the extirpation of that caste by Parasurama. Hence he was called Mulaka also (the root of a race).

Soudasa Asmaka Balika or Mulaka Dasaratha Aidavidi Visvasaha Khatvanga

Khatvanga was a very powerful king. He killed Daityas as a friend of the Devas. The Devas offered him a boon. The king wanted to know how much longer he was to live. Learning it was a Muhurta only, he returned forthwith to his place and concentrated his mind on Bhagavan. He attained Mukti.

Khatvanga Dirgha-bahu Raghu Aja Dasaratha --+-+------+-----------+------------+-- RaMA Lakshmana Bharata Satrughna

(The story of Rama as told in the Ramayana is widely and universally known. It is therefore unnecessary to repeat that story from the Bhagavata Purana.)

Dasaratha --+---+-------------+-------------+--------------+--- RaMA Lakshmana Bharata Satrughna +-----+ --+----+-----+-- --+-------+-- --+--------+-- Kusa Lava Angada Chitraketu Taksha Pushkala Subahu Srutasena.

Pushpa Kusa Dhruva Sandhi At.i.thi Sudarsana Nishada Agni varna Nabha Sighra Pundarika Maru Kshema Dhanvan Devanika Aniha Pariyatra Balasthala Vajra nabha (incarnation of Surya).

Sagana Vidhriti Hiranya nabha (disciple of Jaimini and Yogacharya Teacher of Rishi Yajnavalka in Yoga)

_Manu has matured in Yoga. He now resides at Kalapa._ _Towards the end of Kaliyuga he shall restore the Solar dynasty._