Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class
VERSE 9.16.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
pitropaśikṣito rāmas
tatheti kuru-nandana
saṁvatsaraṁ tīrtha-yātrāṁ
caritvāśramam āvrajat
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; pitrā — by his father; upaśikṣitaḥ — thus advised; rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; tathā iti — let it be so; kuru-nandana — O son of the Kuru dynasty, Mahārāja Parīkṣit; saṁvatsaram — for one complete year; tīrtha-yātrām — traveling to all the holy places; caritvā — after executing; āśramam — to his own residence; āvrajat — returned.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, son of the Kuru dynasty, when Lord Paraśurāma 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.
VERSE 9.16.2
kadācid reṇukā yātā
gaṅgāyāṁ padma-mālinam
gandharva-rājaṁ krīḍantam
apsarobhir apaśyata
SYNONYMS
kadācit — once upon a time; reṇukā — Jamadagni’s wife, the mother of Lord Paraśurāma; yātā — went; gaṅgāyām — to the bank of the river Ganges; padma-mālinam — decorated with a garland of lotus flowers; gandharva-rājam — the King of the Gandharvas; krīḍantam — sporting; apsarobhiḥ — with the Apsarās (heavenly society girls); apaśyata — she saw.
TRANSLATION
Once when Reṇukā, 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 [Apsarās].
VERSE 9.16.3
vilokayantī krīḍantam
udakārthaṁ nadīṁ gatā
homa-velāṁ na sasmāra
kiñcic citraratha-spṛhā
SYNONYMS
vilokayantī — while looking at; krīḍantam — the King of the Gandharvas, engaged in such activities; udaka-artham — for getting some water; nadīm — to the river; gatā — as she went; homa-velām — the time for performing the homa, fire sacrifice; na sasmāra — did not remember; kiñcit — very little; citraratha — of the King of the Gandharvas, known as Citraratha; spṛhā — 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.
VERSE 9.16.4
kālātyayaṁ taṁ vilokya
muneḥ śāpa-viśaṅkitā
āgatya kalaśaṁ tasthau
purodhāya kṛtāñjaliḥ
SYNONYMS
kāla-atyayam — passing the time; tam — that; vilokya — observing; muneḥ — of the great sage Jamadagni; śāpa-viśaṅkitā — being afraid of the curse; āgatya — returning; kalaśam — the waterpot; tasthau — stood; purodhāya — putting in front of the sage; kṛta-añjaliḥ — with folded hands.
TRANSLATION
Later, understanding that the time for offering the sacrifice had passed, Reṇukā feared a curse from her husband. Therefore when she returned she simply put the waterpot before him and stood there with folded hands.
VERSE 9.16.5
vyabhicāraṁ munir jñātvā
patnyāḥ prakupito ’bravīt
ghnataināṁ putrakāḥ pāpām
ity uktās te na cakrire
SYNONYMS
vyabhicāram — adultery; muniḥ — the great sage Jamadagni; jñātvā — could understand; patnyāḥ — of his wife; prakupitaḥ — he became angry; abravīt — he said; ghnata — kill; enām — her; putrakāḥ — my dear sons; pāpām — sinful; iti uktāḥ — 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.
VERSE 9.16.6
rāmaḥ sañcoditaḥ pitrā
bhrātṝn mātrā sahāvadhīt
prabhāva-jño muneḥ samyak
samādhes tapasaś ca saḥ
SYNONYMS
rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; sañcoditaḥ — being encouraged (to kill his mother and brothers); pitrā — by his father; bhrātṝn — all his brothers; mātrā saha — with the mother; avadhīt — killed immediately; prabhāva-jñaḥ — aware of the prowess; muneḥ — of the great sage; samyak — completely; samādheḥ — by meditation; tapasaḥ — by austerity; ca — also; saḥ — he.
TRANSLATION
Jamadagni then ordered his youngest son, Paraśurāma, to kill his brothers, who had disobeyed this order, and his mother, who had mentally committed adultery. Lord Paraśurāma, knowing the power of his father, who was practiced in meditation and austerity, killed his mother and brothers immediately.
VERSE 9.16.7
vareṇa cchandayām āsa
prītaḥ satyavatī-sutaḥ
vavre hatānāṁ rāmo ’pi
jīvitaṁ cāsmṛtiṁ vadhe
SYNONYMS
vareṇa cchandayām āsa — asked to take a benediction as he liked; prītaḥ — being very pleased (with him); satyavatī-sutaḥ — Jamadagni, the son of Satyavatī; vavre — said; hatānām — of my dead mother and brothers; rāmaḥ — Paraśurāma; api — also; jīvitam — let them be alive; ca — also; asmṛtim — no remembrance; vadhe — of their having been killed by me.
TRANSLATION
Jamadagni, the son of Satyavatī, was very much pleased with Paraśurāma and asked him to take any benediction he liked. Lord Paraśurāma replied, “Let my mother and brothers live again and not remember having been killed by me. This is the benediction I ask.”
VERSE 9.16.8
uttasthus te kuśalino
nidrāpāya ivāñjasā
pitur vidvāṁs tapo-vīryaṁ
rāmaś cakre suhṛd-vadham
SYNONYMS
uttasthuḥ — got up immediately; te — Lord Paraśurāma’s mother and brothers; kuśalinaḥ — being happily alive; nidrā-apāye — at the end of sound sleep; iva — like; añjasā — very soon; pituḥ — of his father; vidvān — being aware of; tapaḥ — austerity; vīryam — power; rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; cakre — executed; suhṛt-vadham — killing of his family members.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, by the benediction of Jamadagni, Lord Paraśurāma’s mother and brothers immediately came alive and were very happy, as if awakened from sound sleep. Lord Paraśurāma had killed his relatives in accordance with his father’s order because he was fully aware of his father’s power, austerity and learning.
VERSE 9.16.9
ye ’rjunasya sutā rājan
smarantaḥ sva-pitur vadham
rāma-vīrya-parābhūtā
lebhire śarma na kvacit
SYNONYMS
ye — those who; arjunasya — of Kārtavīryārjuna; sutāḥ — sons; rājan — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; smarantaḥ — always remembering; sva-pituḥ vadham — their father’s having been killed (by Paraśurāma); rāma-vīrya-parābhūtāḥ — defeated by the superior power of Lord Paraśurāma; lebhire — achieved; śarma — happiness; na — not; kvacit — at any time.
TRANSLATION
My dear King Parīkṣit, the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, who were defeated by the superior strength of Paraśurāma, never achieved happiness, for they always remembered the killing of their father.
VERSE 9.16.10
ekadāśramato rāme
sabhrātari vanaṁ gate
vairaṁ siṣādhayiṣavo
labdha-cchidrā upāgaman
SYNONYMS
ekadā — once upon a time; āśramataḥ — from the āśrama of Jamadagni; rāme — when Lord Paraśurāma; sa-bhrātari — with his brothers; vanam — into the forest; gate — having gone; vairam — revenge for past enmity; siṣādhayiṣavaḥ — desiring to fulfill; labdha-chidrāḥ — taking the opportunity; upāgaman — they came near the residence of Jamadagni.
TRANSLATION
Once when Paraśurāma left the āśrama for the forest with Vasumān and his other brothers, the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna took the opportunity to approach Jamadagni’s residence to seek vengeance for their grudge.
VERSE 9.16.11
dṛṣṭvāgny-āgāra āsīnam
āveśita-dhiyaṁ munim
bhagavaty uttamaśloke
jaghnus te pāpa-niścayāḥ
SYNONYMS
dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; agni-āgāre — at the place where the fire sacrifice is performed; āsīnam — sitting; āveśita — completely absorbed; dhiyam — by intelligence; munim — the great sage Jamadagni; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; uttama-śloke — who is praised by the best of selected prayers; jaghnuḥ — killed; te — the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna; pāpa-niścayāḥ — determined to commit a greatly sinful act, or the personified sins.
TRANSLATION
The sons of Kārtavīryārjuna were determined to commit sinful deeds. Therefore when they saw Jamadagni sitting by the side of the fire to perform yajña and meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is praised by the best of selected prayers, they took the opportunity to kill him.
VERSE 9.16.12
yācyamānāḥ kṛpaṇayā
rāma-mātrātidāruṇāḥ
prasahya śira utkṛtya
ninyus te kṣatra-bandhavaḥ
SYNONYMS
yācyamānāḥ — being begged for the life of her husband; kṛpaṇayā — by the poor unprotected woman; rāma-mātrā — by the mother of Lord Paraśurāma; ati-dāruṇāḥ — very cruel; prasahya — by force; śiraḥ — the head of Jamadagni; utkṛtya — having separated; ninyuḥ — took away; te — the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna; kṣatra-bandhavaḥ — not kṣatriyas, but the most abominable sons of kṣatriyas.
TRANSLATION
With pitiable prayers, Reṇukā, the mother of Paraśurāma and wife of Jamadagni, begged for the life of her husband. But the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, being devoid of the qualities of kṣatriyas, were so cruel that despite her prayers they forcibly cut off his head and took it away.
VERSE 9.16.13
reṇukā duḥkha-śokārtā
nighnanty ātmānam ātmanā
rāma rāmeti tāteti
vicukrośoccakaiḥ satī
SYNONYMS
reṇukā — Reṇukā, the wife of Jamadagni; duḥkha-śoka-artā — being very much aggrieved in lamentation (over her husband’s death); nighnantī — striking; ātmānam — her own body; ātmanā — by herself; rāma — O Paraśurāma; rāma — O Paraśurāma; iti — thus; tāta — O my dear son; iti — thus; vicukrośa — began to cry; uccakaiḥ — very loudly; satī — the most chaste woman.
TRANSLATION
Lamenting in grief for the death of her husband, the most chaste Reṇukā struck her own body with her hands and cried very loudly, “O Rāma, my dear son Rāma!”
VERSE 9.16.14
tad upaśrutya dūrasthā
hā rāmety ārtavat svanam
tvarayāśramam āsādya
dadṛśuḥ pitaraṁ hatam
SYNONYMS
tat — that crying of Reṇukā; upaśrutya — upon hearing; dūra-sthāḥ — although staying a long distance away; hā rāma — O Rāma, O Rāma; iti — thus; ārta-vat — very aggrieved; svanam — the sound; tvarayā — very hastily; āśramam — to the residence of Jamadagni; āsādya — coming; dadṛśuḥ — saw; pitaram — the father; hatam — killed.
TRANSLATION
Although the sons of Jamadagni, including Lord Paraśurāma, were a long distance from home, as soon as they heard Reṇukā loudly calling “O Rāma, O my son,” they hastily returned to the āśrama, where they saw their father already killed.
VERSE 9.16.15
te duḥkha-roṣāmarṣārti-
śoka-vega-vimohitāḥ
hā tāta sādho dharmiṣṭha
tyaktvāsmān svar-gato bhavān
SYNONYMS
te — all the sons of Jamadagni; duḥkha — of grief; roṣa — anger; amarṣa — indignation; ārti — affliction; śoka — and lamentation; vega — with the force; vimohitāḥ — bewildered; hā tāta — O father; sādho — the great saint; dharmiṣṭha — the most religious person; tyaktvā — leaving; asmān — us; svaḥ-gataḥ — have gone to the heavenly planets; bhavān — 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!”
VERSE 9.16.16
vilapyaivaṁ pitur dehaṁ
nidhāya bhrātṛṣu svayam
pragṛhya paraśuṁ rāmaḥ
kṣatrāntāya mano dadhe
SYNONYMS
vilapya — lamenting; evam — like this; pituḥ — of his father; deham — the body; nidhāya — entrusting; bhrātṛṣu — to his brothers; svayam — personally; pragṛhya — taking; paraśum — the axe; rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; kṣatra-antāya — to put an end to all the kṣatriyas; manaḥ — the mind; dadhe — fixed.
TRANSLATION
Thus lamenting, Lord Paraśurāma entrusted his father’s dead body to his brothers and personally took up his axe, having decided to put an end to all the kṣatriyas on the surface of the world.
VERSE 9.16.17
gatvā māhiṣmatīṁ rāmo
brahma-ghna-vihata-śriyam
teṣāṁ sa śīrṣabhī rājan
madhye cakre mahā-girim
SYNONYMS
gatvā — going; māhiṣmatīm — to the place known as Māhiṣmatī; rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; brahma-ghna — because of the killing of a brāhmaṇa; vihata-śriyam — doomed, bereft of all opulences; teṣām — of all of them (the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna and the other kṣatriya inhabitants); saḥ — he, Lord Paraśurāma; śīrṣabhiḥ — by the heads cut off from their bodies; rājan — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; madhye — within the jurisdiction of Māhiṣmatī; cakre — made; mahā-girim — a great mountain.
TRANSLATION
O King, Lord Paraśurāma then went to Māhiṣmatī, which was already doomed by the sinful killing of a brāhmaṇa. In the midst of that city he made a mountain of heads, severed from the bodies of the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna.
VERSE 9.16.18-19
tad-raktena nadīṁ ghorām
abrahmaṇya-bhayāvahām
hetuṁ kṛtvā pitṛ-vadhaṁ
kṣatre ’maṅgala-kāriṇi
triḥ-sapta-kṛtvaḥ pṛthivīṁ
kṛtvā niḥkṣatriyāṁ prabhuḥ
samanta-pañcake cakre
śoṇitodān hradān nava
SYNONYMS
tat-raktena — by the blood of the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna; nadīm — a river; ghorām — fierce; abrahmaṇya-bhaya-āvahām — causing fear to the kings who had no respect for brahminical culture; hetum — cause; kṛtvā — accepting; pitṛ-vadham — the killing of his father; kṣatre — when the whole royal class; amaṅgala-kāriṇi — was acting very inauspiciously; triḥ-sapta-kṛtvaḥ — twenty-one times; pṛthivīm — the entire world; kṛtvā — making; niḥkṣatriyām — without a kṣatriya dynasty; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord, Paraśurāma; samanta-pañcake — at the place known as Samanta-pañcaka; cakre — he made; śoṇita-udān — filled with blood instead of water; hradān — lakes; nava — nine.
TRANSLATION
With the blood of the bodies of these sons, Lord Paraśurāma created a ghastly river, which brought great fear to the kings who had no respect for brahminical culture. Because the kṣatriyas, the men of power in government, were performing sinful activities, Lord Paraśurāma, on the plea of retaliating for the murder of his father, rid all the kṣatriyas from the face of the earth twenty-one times. Indeed, in the place known as Samanta-pañcaka he created nine lakes filled with their blood.
VERSE 9.16.20
pituḥ kāyena sandhāya
śira ādāya barhiṣi
sarva-devamayaṁ devam
ātmānam ayajan makhaiḥ
SYNONYMS
pituḥ — of his father; kāyena — with the body; sandhāya — joining; śiraḥ — the head; ādāya — keeping; barhiṣi — upon kuśa grass; sarva-deva-mayam — the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the demigods; devam — Lord Vāsudeva; ātmānam — who is present everywhere as the Supersoul; ayajat — he worshiped; makhaiḥ — by offering sacrifices.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Paraśurāma joined his father’s head to the dead body and placed the whole body and head upon kuśa grass. By offering sacrifices, he began to worship Lord Vāsudeva, who is the all-pervading Supersoul of all the demigods and of every living entity.
VERSE 9.16.21-22
dadau prācīṁ diśaṁ hotre
brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṁ diśam
adhvaryave pratīcīṁ vai
udgātre uttarāṁ diśam
anyebhyo ’vāntara-diśaḥ
kaśyapāya ca madhyataḥ
āryāvartam upadraṣṭre
sadasyebhyas tataḥ param
SYNONYMS
dadau — gave as a gift; prācīm — eastern; diśam — direction; hotre — unto the priest known as hotā; brahmaṇe — unto the priest known as brahmā; dakṣiṇām — southern; diśam — direction; adhvaryave — unto the priest known as adhvaryu; pratīcīm — the western side; vai — indeed; udgātre — unto the priest known as udgātā; uttarām — northern; diśam — side; anyebhyaḥ — unto the others; avāntara-diśaḥ — the different corners (northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest); kaśyapāya — unto Kaśyapa Muni; ca — also; madhyataḥ — the middle portion; āryāvartam — the portion known as Āryāvarta; upadraṣṭre — unto the upadraṣṭā, the priest acting as overseer to hear and check the mantras; sadasyebhyaḥ — unto the sadasyas, the associate priests; tataḥ param — whatever remained.
TRANSLATION
After completing the sacrifice, Lord Paraśurāma gave the eastern direction to the hotā as a gift, the south to the brahmā, the west to the adhvaryu, the north to the udgātā, and the four corners — northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest — to the other priests. He gave the middle to Kaśyapa and the place known as Āryāvarta to the upadraṣṭā. Whatever remained he distributed among the sadasyas, the associate priests.
VERSE 9.16.23
tataś cāvabhṛtha-snāna-
vidhūtāśeṣa-kilbiṣaḥ
sarasvatyāṁ mahā-nadyāṁ
reje vyabbhra ivāṁśumān
SYNONYMS
tataḥ — thereafter; ca — also; avabhṛtha-snāna — by bathing after finishing the sacrifice; vidhūta — cleansed; aśeṣa — unlimited; kilbiṣaḥ — whose reactions of sinful activities; sarasvatyām — on the bank of the great river Sarasvatī; mahā-nadyām — one of the biggest rivers in India; reje — Lord Paraśurāma appeared; vyabbhraḥ — cloudless; iva aṁśumān — like the sun.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, having completed the ritualistic sacrificial ceremonies, Lord Paraśurāma took the bath known as the avabhṛtha-snāna. Standing on the bank of the great river Sarasvatī, cleared of all sins, Lord Paraśurāma appeared like the sun in a clear, cloudless sky.
VERSE 9.16.24
sva-dehaṁ jamadagnis tu
labdhvā saṁjñāna-lakṣaṇam
ṛṣīṇāṁ maṇḍale so ’bhūt
saptamo rāma-pūjitaḥ
SYNONYMS
sva-deham — his own body; jamadagniḥ — the great sage Jamadagni; tu — but; labdhvā — regaining; saṁjñāna-lakṣaṇam — showing full symptoms of life, knowledge and remembrance; ṛṣīṇām — of the great ṛṣis; maṇḍale — in the group of seven stars; saḥ — he, Jamadagni; abhūt — later became; saptamaḥ — the seventh; rāma-pūjitaḥ — because of being worshiped by Lord Paraśurāma.
TRANSLATION
Thus Jamadagni, being worshiped by Lord Paraśurāma, was brought back to life with full remembrance, and he became one of the seven sages in the group of seven stars.
VERSE 9.16.25
jāmadagnyo ’pi bhagavān
rāmaḥ kamala-locanaḥ
āgāminy antare rājan
vartayiṣyati vai bṛhat
SYNONYMS
jāmadagnyaḥ — the son of Jamadagni; api — also; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; rāmaḥ — Lord Paraśurāma; kamala-locanaḥ — whose eyes are like lotus petals; āgāmini — coming; antare — in the manvantara, the time of one Manu; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; vartayiṣyati — will propound; vai — indeed; bṛhat — Vedic knowledge.
TRANSLATION
My dear King Parīkṣit, in the next manvantara the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead Lord Paraśurāma, the son of Jamadagni, will be a great propounder of Vedic knowledge. In other words, he will be one of the seven sages.
VERSE 9.16.26
āste ’dyāpi mahendrādrau
nyasta-daṇḍaḥ praśānta-dhīḥ
upagīyamāna-caritaḥ
siddha-gandharva-cāraṇaiḥ
SYNONYMS
āste — is still existing; adya api — even now; mahendra-adrau — in the hilly country known as Mahendra; nyasta-daṇḍaḥ — having given up the weapons of a kṣatriya (the bow, arrows and axe); praśānta — now fully satisfied as a brāhmaṇa; dhīḥ — in such intelligence; upagīyamāna-caritaḥ — being worshiped and adored for his exalted character and activities; siddha-gandharva-cāraṇaiḥ — by such celestial persons as the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, Siddhaloka and Cāraṇaloka.
TRANSLATION
Lord Paraśurāma still lives as an intelligent brāhmaṇa in the mountainous country known as Mahendra. Completely satisfied, having given up all the weapons of a kṣatriya, he is always worshiped, adored and offered prayers for his exalted character and activities by such celestial beings as the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Gandharvas.
VERSE 9.16.27
evaṁ bhṛguṣu viśvātmā
bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
avatīrya paraṁ bhāraṁ
bhuvo ’han bahuśo nṛpān
SYNONYMS
evam — in this way; bhṛguṣu — in the dynasty of Bhṛgu; viśva-ātmā — the soul of the universe, the Supersoul; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ — the Lord; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; avatīrya — appearing as an incarnation; param — great; bhāram — the burden; bhuvaḥ — of the world; ahan — killed; bahuśaḥ — many times; nṛpān — 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 Bhṛgu dynasty and released the universe from the burden of undesirable kings by killing them many times.
VERSE 9.16.28
gādher abhūn mahā-tejāḥ
samiddha iva pāvakaḥ
tapasā kṣātram utsṛjya
yo lebhe brahma-varcasam
SYNONYMS
gādheḥ — from Mahārāja Gādhi; abhūt — was born; mahā-tejāḥ — very powerful; samiddhaḥ — inflamed; iva — like; pāvakaḥ — fire; tapasā — by austerities and penances; kṣātram — the position of a kṣatriya; utsṛjya — giving up; yaḥ — one who (Viśvāmitra); lebhe — achieved; brahma-varcasam — the quality of a brāhmaṇa.
TRANSLATION
Viśvāmitra, the son of Mahārāja Gādhi, was as powerful as the flames of fire. From the position of a kṣatriya, he achieved the position of a powerful brāhmaṇa by undergoing penances and austerities.
VERSE 9.16.29
viśvāmitrasya caivāsan
putrā eka-śataṁ nṛpa
madhyamas tu madhucchandā
madhucchandasa eva te
SYNONYMS
viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; ca — also; eva — indeed; āsan — there were; putrāḥ — sons; eka-śatam — 101; nṛpa — O King Parīkṣit; madhyamaḥ — the middle one; tu — indeed; madhucchandāḥ — known as Madhucchandā; madhucchandasaḥ — named the Madhucchandās; eva — indeed; te — all of them.
TRANSLATION
O King Parīkṣit, Viśvāmitra had 101 sons, of whom the middle one was known as Madhucchandā. In relation to him, all the other sons were celebrated as the Madhucchandās.
VERSE 9.16.30
putraṁ kṛtvā śunaḥśephaṁ
devarātaṁ ca bhārgavam
ājīgartaṁ sutān āha
jyeṣṭha eṣa prakalpyatām
SYNONYMS
putram — a son; kṛtvā — accepting; śunaḥśepham — whose name was Śunaḥśepha; devarātam — Devarāta, whose life was saved by the demigods; ca — also; bhārgavam — born in the Bhṛgu dynasty; ājīgartam — the son of Ajīgarta; sutān — to his own sons; āha — ordered; jyeṣṭhaḥ — the eldest; eṣaḥ — Śunaḥśepha; prakalpyatām — accept as such.
TRANSLATION
Viśvāmitra accepted the son of Ajīgarta known as Śunaḥśepha, who was born in the Bhṛgu dynasty and was also known as Devarāta, as one of his own sons. Viśvāmitra ordered his other sons to accept Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother.
VERSE 9.16.31
yo vai hariścandra-makhe
vikrītaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ
stutvā devān prajeśādīn
mumuce pāśa-bandhanāt
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — he who (Śunaḥśepha); vai — indeed; hariścandra-makhe — in the sacrifice performed by King Hariścandra; vikrītaḥ — was sold; puruṣaḥ — man; paśuḥ — sacrificial animal; stutvā — offering prayers; devān — to the demigods; prajā-īśa-ādīn — headed by Lord Brahmā; mumuce — was released; pāśa-bandhanāt — from being bound with ropes like an animal.
TRANSLATION
Śunaḥśepha’s father sold Śunaḥśepha to be sacrificed as a man-animal in the yajña of King Hariścandra. When Śunaḥśepha was brought into the sacrificial arena, he prayed to the demigods for release and was released by their mercy.
VERSE 9.16.32
yo rāto deva-yajane
devair gādhiṣu tāpasaḥ
deva-rāta iti khyātaḥ
śunaḥśephas tu bhārgavaḥ
SYNONYMS
yaḥ — he who (Śunaḥśepha); rātaḥ — was protected; deva-yajane — in the arena for worshiping the demigods; devaiḥ — by the same demigods; gādhiṣu — in the dynasty of Gādhi; tāpasaḥ — advanced in executing spiritual life; deva-rātaḥ — protected by the demigods; iti — thus; khyātaḥ — celebrated; śunaḥśephaḥ tu — as well as Śunaḥśepha; bhārgavaḥ — in the dynasty of Bhṛgu.
TRANSLATION
Although Śunaḥśepha was born in the Bhārgava 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 Gādhi named Devarāta.
VERSE 9.16.33
ye madhucchandaso jyeṣṭhāḥ
kuśalaṁ menire na tat
aśapat tān muniḥ kruddho
mlecchā bhavata durjanāḥ
SYNONYMS
ye — those who; madhucchandasaḥ — sons of Viśvāmitra, celebrated as the Madhucchandās; jyeṣṭhāḥ — eldest; kuśalam — very good; menire — accepting; na — not; tat — that (the proposal that he be accepted as the eldest brother); aśapat — cursed; tān — all the sons; muniḥ — Viśvāmitra Muni; kruddhaḥ — being angry; mlecchāḥ — disobedient to the Vedic principles; bhavata — all of you become; durjanāḥ — very bad sons.
TRANSLATION
When requested by their father to accept Śunaḥśepha as the eldest son, the elder fifty of the Madhucchandās, the sons of Viśvāmitra, did not agree. Therefore Viśvāmitra, being angry, cursed them. “May all of you bad sons become mlecchas,” he said, “being opposed to the principles of Vedic culture.”
VERSE 9.16.34
sa hovāca madhucchandāḥ
sārdhaṁ pañcāśatā tataḥ
yan no bhavān sañjānīte
tasmiṁs tiṣṭhāmahe vayam
SYNONYMS
saḥ — the middle son of Viśvāmitra; ha — indeed; uvāca — said; madhucchandāḥ — Madhucchandā; sārdham — with; pañcāśatā — the second fifty of the sons known as the Madhucchandās; tataḥ — then, after the first half were thus cursed; yat — what; naḥ — unto us; bhavān — O father; sañjānīte — as you please; tasmin — in that; tiṣṭhāmahe — shall remain; vayam — all of us.
TRANSLATION
When the elder Madhucchandās were cursed, the younger fifty, along with Madhucchandā himself, approached their father and agreed to accept his proposal. “Dear father,” they said, “we shall abide by whatever arrangement you like.”
VERSE 9.16.35
jyeṣṭhaṁ mantra-dṛśaṁ cakrus
tvām anvañco vayaṁ sma hi
viśvāmitraḥ sutān āha
vīravanto bhaviṣyatha
ye mānaṁ me ’nugṛhṇanto
vīravantam akarta mām
SYNONYMS
jyeṣṭham — the eldest; mantra-dṛśam — a seer of mantras; cakruḥ — they accepted; tvām — you; anvañcaḥ — have agreed to follow; vayam — we; sma — indeed; hi — certainly; viśvāmitraḥ — the great sage Viśvāmitra; sutān — to the obedient sons; āha — said; vīra-vantaḥ — fathers of sons; bhaviṣyatha — become in the future; ye — all of you who; mānam — honor; me — my; anugṛhṇantaḥ — accepted; vīra-vantam — the father of good sons; akarta — you have made; mām — me.
TRANSLATION
Thus the younger Madhucchandās accepted Śunaḥśepha as their eldest brother and told him, “We shall follow your orders.” Viśvāmitra then said to his obedient sons, “Because you have accepted Śunaḥśepha 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.”
VERSE 9.16.36
eṣa vaḥ kuśikā vīro
devarātas tam anvita
anye cāṣṭaka-hārīta-
jaya-kratumad-ādayaḥ
SYNONYMS
eṣaḥ — this (Śunaḥśepha); vaḥ — like you; kuśikāḥ — O Kuśikas; vīraḥ — my son; devarātaḥ — he is known as Devarāta; tam — him; anvita — just obey; anye — others; ca — also; aṣṭaka — Aṣṭaka; hārīta — Hārīta; jaya — Jaya; kratumat — Kratumān; ādayaḥ — and others.
TRANSLATION
Viśvāmitra said, “O Kuśikas [descendants of Kauśika], this Devarāta is my son and is one of you. Please obey his orders.” O King Parīkṣit, Viśvāmitra had many other sons, such as Aṣṭaka, Hārīta, Jaya and Kratumān.
VERSE 9.16.37
evaṁ kauśika-gotraṁ tu
viśvāmitraiḥ pṛthag-vidham
pravarāntaram āpannaṁ
tad dhi caivaṁ prakalpitam
SYNONYMS
evam — in this way (some sons having been cursed and some blessed); kauśika-gotram — the dynasty of Kauśika; tu — indeed; viśvāmitraiḥ — by the sons of Viśvāmitra; pṛthak-vidham — in different varieties; pravara-antaram — differences between one another; āpannam — obtained; tat — that; hi — indeed; ca — also; evam — thus; prakalpitam — ascertained.
TRANSLATION
Viśvāmitra cursed some of his sons and blessed the others, and he also adopted a son. Thus there were varieties in the Kauśika dynasty, but among all the sons, Devarāta was considered the eldest.