The Mahabharata
Book 1: Adi Parva
Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.
[1883-1896]
SECTION LXVII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Janamejaya said, 'O worshipful one, I wish to hear from thee in detail about
the birth, among men, of the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas,
the lions, the tigers, and the other animals, the snakes, the birds, and in fact,
of all creatures. I wish also to hear about the acts and achievements of those,
in due order, after they became incarnate in human forms.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'O king of men, I shall first tell thee all about those
celestials and Danavas that were born among men--The first of Danavas, who was
known by the name of Viprachitti, became that bull among men, noted as Jarasandha.
And, O king, that son of Diti, who was known as Hiranyakasipu, was known in this
world among men as the powerful Sisupala. He who had been known as Samhlada, the
younger brother of Prahlada, became among men the famous Salya, that bull amongst
Valhikas. The spirited Anuhlada who had been the youngest became noted in the
world as Dhrishtaketu. And, O king, that son of Diti who had been known as Sivi
became on earth the famous monarch Druma. And he who was known as the great Asura
Vashkala became on earth the great Bhagadatta. The five great Asuras gifted with
great energy, Ayahsira, Aswasira, the spirited Aysanku, Gaganamurdhan, and Vegavat,
were all born in the royal line of Kekaya and all became great monarchs. That
other Asura of mighty energy who was known by the name of Ketumat became on earth
the monarch Amitaujas of terrible deeds. That great Asura who was known as Swarbhanu
became on earth the monarch Ugrasena of fierce deeds. That great Asura who was
known as Aswa became on earth the monarch Asoka of exceeding energy and invincible
in battle. And, O king, the younger brother of Aswa who was known as Aswapati,
a son of Diti, became on earth the mighty monarch Hardikya. The great and fortunate
Asura who was known as Vrishaparvan became noted on earth as king Dirghaprajna.
And, O king, the younger brother of Vrishaparvan who was known by the name of
Ajaka became noted on earth as king Salwa. The powerful and mighty Asura who was
known as Aswagriva became noted on earth as king Rochamana. And, O king, the Asura
who was known as Sukshma, endued with great intelligence and whose achievements
also were great, became on earth the famous king Vrihadratha. And that first of
Asuras who was known by the name of Tuhunda, became noted on earth as the monarch,
Senavindu. That Asura of great strength who was known as Ishupa became the monarch
Nagnajita of famous prowess. The great Asura who was known as Ekachakra became
noted on earth as Pritivindhya. The great Asura Virupaksha capable of displaying
various modes of fight became noted on earth as king Chitravarman. The first of
Danavas, the heroic Hara, who humbled the pride of all foes became on earth the
famous and fortunate Suvahu. The Asura Suhtra of great energy and the destroyer
of foemen, became noted on earth as the fortunate monarch, Munjakesa. That Asura
of great intelligence called Nikumbha, who was never vanquished in battle was
born on earth as king Devadhipa, the first among monarchs. That great Asura known
amongst the sons of Diti by the name of Sarabha became on earth the royal sage
called Paurava. And, O king, the great Asura of exceeding energy, the fortunate
Kupatha, was born on earth as the famous monarch Suparswa. The great Asura, O
king, who was called Kratha, was born on earth as the royal sage Parvateya of
form resplendent like a golden mountain. He amongst the Asura who was known as
Salabha the second, became on earth the monarch Prahlada in the country of the
Valhikas. The foremost, among the sons of Diti known by the name of Chandra and
handsome as the lord of the stars himself, became on earth noted as Chandravarman,
the king of the Kamvojas. That bull amongst the Danavas who was known by the name
of Arka became on earth, O king, the royal sage Rishika. That best of Asuras who
was known as Mritapa became on earth, O best of kings, the monarch, Pascimanupaka.
That great Asura of surpassing energy known as Garishtha became noted on earth
as king Drumasena. The great Asura who was known as Mayura became noted on earth
as the monarch Viswa. He who was the younger brother of Mayura and called Suparna
became noted on earth as the monarch, Kalakirti. The mighty Asura who was known
as Chandrahantri became on earth the royal sage Sunaka. The great Asura who was
called Chandravinasana became noted on earth as the monarch, Janaki. That bull
amongst the Danavas, O prince of the Kuru race, who was called Dhirghajihva, became
noted on earth as Kasiraja. The Graha who was brought forth by Sinhika and who
persecuted the Sun and the Moon became noted on earth as the monarch Kratha. The
eldest of the four sons of Danayu, who was known by the name of Vikshara, became
known on earth the spirited monarch, Vasumitra. The second brother of Vikshara,
the great Asura, was born on earth as the king of the country, called Pandya.
That best of Asuras who was known by the name of Valina became on earth the monarch
Paundramatsyaka. And, O king, that great Asura who was known as Vritra became
on earth the royal sage known by the name of Manimat. That Asura who was the younger
brother of Vritra and known as Krodhahantri became noted on earth as king Danda.
That other Asura who was known by the name Krodhavardhana became noted on earth
as the monarch, Dandadhara. The eight sons of the Kaleyas that were born on earth
all became great kings endued with the prowess of tigers. The eldest of them all
became king Jayatsena in Magadha. The second of them, in prowess, like Indra,
became noted on earth as Aparajita. The third of them, endued with great energy
and power of producing deception, was born on earth as the king of the Nishadas
gifted with great prowess. That other amongst them who was known as the fourth
was noted on earth as Srenimat, that best of royal sages. That great Asura amongst
them who was the fifth, became noted on earth as king Mahanjas, the oppressor
of enemies. That great Asura possessing great intelligence who was the sixth of
them became noted on earth as Abhiru, that best of royal sages. The seventh of
them became known throughout earth, from the centre to the sea, as king Samudrasena
well acquainted with the truths of the scriptures. The eighth of the Kaleyas known
as Vrihat became on earth a virtuous king ever engaged in the good of all creatures.
The mighty Danava known by the name of Kukshi became on earth as Parvatiya from
his brightness as of a golden mountain. The mighty Asura Krathana gifted with
great energy became noted on earth as the monarch Suryaksha. The great Asura of
handsome features known by the name of Surya, became on earth the monarch of the
Valhikas by name Darada, that foremost of all kings. And, O king, from the tribe
of Asuras called Krodhavasa, of whom I have already spoken to thee, were born
many heroic kings on earth. Madraka, and Karnaveshta, Siddhartha, and also Kitaka;
Suvira, and Suvahu, and Mahavira, and also Valhika, Kratha, Vichitra, Suratha,
and the handsome king Nila; and Chiravasa, and Bhumipala; and Dantavakra, and
he who was called Durjaya; that tiger amongst kings named Rukmi; and king Janamejaya,
Ashada, and Vayuvega, and also Bhuritejas; Ekalavya, and Sumitra, Vatadhana, and
also Gomukha; the tribe of kings called the Karushakas, and also Khemadhurti;
Srutayu, and Udvaha, and also Vrihatsena; Kshema, Ugratirtha, the king of the
Kalingas; and Matimat, and he was known as king Iswara; these first of kings were
all born of the Asura class called Krodhavasa.
"There was also born on earth a mighty Asura known amongst the Danavas by the
name of Kalanemi, endued with great strength, of grand achievements, and blessed
with a large share of prosperity. He became the mighty son of Ugrasena and was
known on earth by the name of Kansa. And he who was known among the Asuras by
the name of Devaka and was besides in splendour like unto Indra himself, was born
on earth as the foremost king of the Gandharvas. And, O monarch, know thou that
Drona, the son of Bharadwaja, not born of any woman, sprung from a portion of
the celestial Rishi Vrihaspati of grand achievements. And he was the prince of
all bowmen, conversant with all weapons, of mighty achievements, of great energy.
Thou shouldst know he was also well-acquainted with the Vedas and the science
of arms. And he was of wonderful deeds and the pride of his race. And, O king,
his son the heroic Aswatthaman, of eyes like the lotus-petals, gifted with surpassing
energy, and the terror of all foes, the great oppressor of all enemies, was born
on earth, of the united portions of Mahadeva, Yama, Kama, and Krodha. And from
the curse of Vasishtha and the command also of Indra, the eight Vasus were born
of Ganga by her husband Santanu. The youngest of them was Bhishma, the dispeller
of the fears of the Kurus, gifted with great intelligence, conversant with the
Vedas, the first speakers, and the thinner of the enemy's ranks. And possessed
of mighty energy and the first of all persons acquainted with weapons, he encountered
the illustrious Rama himself, the son of Jamadagni of the Bhrigu race. And, O
king, that Brahman sage who, on earth, was known by the name of Kripa and was
the embodiment of all manliness was born of the tribe of the Rudras. And the mighty
chariot-fighter and king who on earth was known by the name of Sakuni, that crusher
of foes, thou shouldst know, O king, was Dwapara himself (the third yuga). And
he who was Satyaki of sure aim, that upholder of the pride of Vrishni race, that
oppressor of foes, begotten of the portion of gods called the Maruts. And that
royal sage Drupada who on earth was a monarch, the first among all persons bearing
arms, was also born of the same tribe of the celestials. And, O king, thou shouldst
also know that Kritavarman, that prince among men, of deeds unsurpassed by any
one, and the foremost of all bulls amongst Kshatriyas, was born of the portion
of the same celestials. And that royal sage also, Virata by name, the scorcher
of the kingdoms of others, and the great oppressor of all foes, was born of the
portion of the same gods. That son of Arishta who was known by the name of Hansa,
was born in the Kuru race and became the monarch of the Gandharvas. He who was
known as Dhritarashtra born of the seed of Krishna-Dwaipayana, and gifted with
long arms and great energy, also a monarch, of the prophetic eye, became blind
in consequence of the fault of his mother and the wrath of the Rishi. His younger
brother who was possessed of great strength and was really a great being known
as Pandu, devoted to truth and virtue, was Purity's self. And, O king, thou shouldst
know that he who was known on earth as Vidura, who was the first of all virtuous
men, who was the god of Justice himself, was the excellent and greatly fortunate
son of the Rishi Atri. The evil-minded and wicked king Duryodhana, the destroyer
of the fair fame of the Kurus, was born of a portion of Kali on earth. He it was
who caused all creatures to be slain and the earth to be wasted; and he it was
who fanned the flame of hostility that ultimately consumed all. They who had been
the sons of Pulastya (the Rakshasas) were born on earth among men of Duryodhana's
brothers, that century of wicked individuals commencing with Duhasasana as their
first. And, O bull among the Bharata princes, Durmukha, Duhsaha, and others whose
names I do not mention, who always supported Duryodhana (in all his schemes),
were, indeed, the sons of Pulastya. And over and above these hundred, Dhritarashtra
had one son named Yuyutsu born of a Vaisya wife.'
"Janamejaya said, 'O illustrious one, tell me the names of Dhritarashtra's
sons according to the order of their birth beginning from the eldest.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'O king, they are as follows: Duryodhana, and Yuyutsu,
and also Duhsasana; Duhsaha and Duhshala, and then Durmukha; Vivinsati, and Vikarna,
Jalasandha, Sulochna, Vinda and Anuvinda, Durdharsha, Suvahu, Dushpradharshana;
Durmarshana, and Dushkarna, and Karna; Chitra and Vipachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra,
and Angada, Durmada, and Dushpradharsha, Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama; Urananabha, and
Padmanabha, Nanda and Upanandaka; Sanapati, Sushena, Kundodara; Mahodara; Chitravahu,
and Chitravarman, Suvarman, Durvirochana; Ayovahu, Mahavahu, Chitrachapa and Sukundala,
Bhimavega, Bhimavala, Valaki, Bhimavikrama, Ugrayudha, Bhimaeara, Kanakayu, Dridhayudha,
Dridhavarman, Dridhakshatra Somakirti, Anadara; Jarasandha, Dridhasandha, Satyasandha,
Sahasravaeh; Ugrasravas, Ugrasena, and Kshemamurti; Aprajita, Panditaka, Visalaksha,
Duradhara, Dridhahasta, and Suhasta, Vatavega, and Suvarchasa; Adityaketu, Vahvasin,
Nagadatta and Anuyaina; Nishangi, Kuvachi, Dandi, Dandadhara, Dhanugraha; Ugra,
Bhimaratha, Vira, Viravahu, Alolupa; Abhaya, and Raudrakarman, also he who was
Dridharatha; Anadhrishya, Kundaveda, Viravi, Dhirghalochana; Dirghavahu; Mahavahu;
Vyudhoru, Kanakangana; Kundaja and Chitraka. There was also a daughter named Duhsala
who was over and above the hundred. And Yuyutsu who was Dhritarashtra's son by
a Vaisya wife, was also over and above the hundred. Thus, O king, have I recited
the names of the hundred sons and also that of the daughter (of Dhritarashtra).
Thou hast now known their names according to the order of their births. All of
them were heroes and great car-warriors, and skilled in the art of warfare. Besides,
all of them were versed in the Vedas, and, O king, all of them had got through
the scriptures. All of them were mighty in attack and defence, and all were graced
with learning. And, O monarch, all of them had wives suitable to them in grace
and accomplishments. And, O king, when the time came, the Kaurava monarch bestowed
his daughter Duhsala on Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus, agreeably to the
counsels of Sakuni.
"And, O monarch, learn that king Yudhishthira was a portion of Dharma; that
Bhimasena was of the deity of wind; that Arjuna was of Indra, the chief of the
celestials; and that Nakula and Sahadeva, the handsomest beings among all creatures,
and unrivalled for beauty on earth, were similarly portions of the twin Aswins.
And he who was known as the mighty Varchas, the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu
of wonderful deeds, the son of Arjuna. And before his incarnation, O king, the
god Soma had said these words to the celestials, 'I cannot give (part with) my
son. He is dearer to me than life itself. Let this be the compact and let it be
not transgressed. The destruction of the Asuras on earth is the work of the celestials,
and, therefore, it is our work as well. Let this Varchas, therefore, go thither,
but let him not stay there long. Nara, whose companion is Narayana, will be born
as Indra's son and indeed, will be known as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. This
boy of mine shall be his son and become a mighty car-warrior in his boyhood. And
let him, ye best of immortals, stay on earth for sixteen years. And when he attaineth
to his sixteenth year, the battle shall take place in which all who are born of
your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But a certain
encounter shall take place without both Nara and Narayana (taking any part in
it). And, indeed, your portions, ye celestials, shall fight, having made that
disposition of the forces which is known by the name of the Chakra-vyuha. And
my son shall compel all foes to retreat before him. The boy of mighty arms having
penetrated the impenetrable array, shall range within it fearlessly and send a
fourth part of the hostile force, in course of half a day, unto the regions of
the king of the dead. Then when numberless heroes and mighty car-warriors will
return to the charge towards the close of the day, my boy of mighty arms, shall
reappear before me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line, who shall continue
the almost extinct Bharata race.' Hearing these words of Soma, the dwellers in
heaven replied, 'So be it.' And then all together applauded and worshipped (Soma)
the king of stars. Thus, O king, have I recited to thee the (particulars of the)
birth of thy father's father.
"Know also, O monarch, that the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna was a portion
of Agni. And know also that Sikhandin, who was at first a female, was (the incarnation
of) a Rakshasa. And, O bull in Bharata's race, they who became the five sons of
Draupadi, those bulls amongst the Bharata princes, were the celestials known as
the Viswas. Their names were Pritivindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakirti, Satanika, Nakula,
and Srutasena, endued with mighty energy.
"Sura, the foremost of the Yadus, was the father of Vasudeva. He had a daughter
called Pritha, who for her beauty, was unrivalled on earth. And Sura, having promised
in the presence of fire that he would give his firstborn child to Kuntibhoja,
the son of his paternal aunt, who was without offspring, gave his daughter unto
the monarch in expectation of his favours. Kuntibhoja thereupon made her his daughter.
And she became, thenceforth, in the house of her (adoptive) father, engaged in
attending upon Brahmanas and guests. One day she had to wait upon the wrathful
ascetic of rigid vows, Durvasa by name, acquainted with truth and fully conversant
with the mysteries of religion. And Pritha with all possible care gratified the
wrathful Rishi with soul under complete control. The holy one, gratified with
the attentions bestowed on him by the maiden, told her, 'I am satisfied, O fortunate
one, with thee! By this mantra (that I am about to give thee), thou shall be able
to summon (to thy side) whatever celestials thou likest. And, by their grace,
shall thou also obtain children.' Thus addressed, the girl (a little while after),
seized with curiosity, summoned, during the period of her maiden-hood, the god
Surya. And the lord of light thereupon made her conceive and begot on her a son
who became the first of all wielders of weapons. From fear of relatives she brought
forth in secrecy that child who had come out with ear-rings and coat of mail.
And he was gifted with the beauty of a celestial infant, and in splendour was
like unto the maker of day himself. And every part of his body was symmetrical
and well-adorned. And Kunti cast the handsome child into the water. But the child
thus thrown into the water was taken up by the excellent husband of Radha and
given by him to his wife to be adopted by her as their son. And the couple gave
him the name of Vasusena, by which appellation the child soon became known all
over the land. And, as he grew up, he became very strong and excelled in all weapons.
The first of all successful persons, he soon mastered the sciences. And when the
intelligent one having truth for his strength recited the Vedas, there was nothing
he would not then give to the Brahmanas. At that time Indra, the originator of
all things, moved by the desire of benefiting his own son Arjuna, assumed the
guise of a Brahmana, came to him, and begged of the hero his ear-rings and natural
armour. And the hero taking off his ear-rings and armour gave them unto the Brahmana.
And Sakra (accepting the gift) presented to the giver a dart, surprised (at his
open handedness), and addressed him in these words, 'O invincible one, amongst
the celestials, Asuras, men, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas, he at whom thou
hurlest (this weapon), that one shall certainly be slain.' And the son of Surya
was at first known in the world by the name of Vasusena. But, for his deeds, he
subsequently came to be called Karna. And because that hero of great fame had
taken off his natural armour, therefore was he--the first son of Pritha--called
Kama. And, O best of kings, the hero began to grow up in the Suta caste. And,
O king, know thou that Kama--the first of all exalted men--the foremost of all
wielders of weapons--the slayer of foes--and the best portion of the maker of
day--was the friend and counsellor of Duryodhana. And he, called Vasudeva, endued
with great valour, was among men a portion of him called Narayana--the god of
gods--eternal. And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the Naga, Sesha.
And, O monarch, know that Pradyumna of great energy was Sanatkumara. And in this
way the portion of various other dwellers in heaven became exalted men in the
race of Vasudeva, increasing the glory thereof. And, O king, the portions of the
tribe of Apsaras which I have mentioned already, also became incarnate on earth
according to Indra's commands--And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses
became, O king, in this world of men, the wives of Vasudeva. And a portion of
Sri herself became incarnate on earth, for the gratification of Narayana, in the
line of Bhishmaka. And she was by name the chaste Rukmini. And the faultless Draupadi,
slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of a portion of Sachi (the queen of the
celestials), in the line of Drupada. And she was neither low nor tall in stature.
And she was of the fragrance of the blue lotus, of eyes large as lotus-petals,
of thighs fair and round, of dense masses of black curly hair. And endued with
every auspicious feature and of complexion like that of the emerald, she became
the charmer of the hearts of five foremost of men. And the two goddesses Siddhi
and Dhriti became the mothers of those five, and were called Kunti and Madri.
And she who was Mati became the daughter (Gandhari) of Suvala.
"Thus, O king, have I recited to thee all about the incarnation, according
to their respective portions, of the gods, the Asuras, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras,
and of the Rakshasas. They who were born on earth as monarchs invincible in battle,
those high-souled ones who were born in the wide extended line of the Yadus, they
who were born as mighty monarchs in other lines, they who were born as Brahmanas
and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, have all been recited by me duly. And this account
of the incarnation (of superior beings according to their respective portions)
capable of bestowing wealth, fame, offspring, long life, and success, should always
be listened to in a proper frame of mind. And having listened to this account
of incarnation, according to their portions, of gods, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas,
the hearer becoming acquainted with the creation, preservation, and destruction
of the universe and acquiring wisdom, is never cast down even under the most engrossing
sorrows.'"
