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Mahabharata
Anshavatarana Parva
Introduction of Mahabharata. Vyasa comes to serpent sacrifice and request to narrate the story of Mahabharata. Brief account of origin of Vyasa. Brief account of incarnation of gods.
Shaunaka said:
O child, O Sauti, you have narrated to me this great and extensive history of the Bhrigu race from the birth of Bhrigu. I am much pleased with you.
O son of Suta, I ask you now to recite to me that wonderful and varied narrations composed by Vyasa, which were recited by the illustrious Sadasyas in the intervals of the long-extending ceremony (Snake-sacrifice).
O son of Suta, I wish to learn from you the object of those narrations. Therefore, recite them to me in full.
Sauti said:
The Brahmanas spoke of many things, founded on the Vedas, in the intervals of their duties, but Vyasa recited the wonderful and great history, called the Bharata.
Shaunaka said :
I desire to hear that sacred history, called Mahabharata, that spreader of the fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna Dvaipayana, asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited in the intervals of the sacrifice.
It was born in the ocean-like mind of the great Rishi of purified soul. O best of men, recite it to me, for, O son of Suta, my thirst has not been appeased by all that you have narrated.
Sauti said:
I shall recite from the beginning the great and excellent history, called Mahabharata, composed by Krishna Dvaipayana.
Listen to it in full, O Brahmana, as I recite it. I myself feel a great pleasure in reciting it.
Sauti said:
Having heard that Janamejaya has been installed in the Snake- sacrifice, the learned Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana went there.
The grandfather of the Pandavas, (Krishna Dvaipayana) was born in an island of the Yamuna, in the womb of the maiden Kali by Shakti's son Parashara.
As soon as born, the illustrious man developed his body by his will alone and mastered the Vedas and the Vedangas and all the histories.
He achieved that which could not be achieved by asceticism, or by the study of the Vedas, by vows, by fasts, by progeny of by sacrifice.
The best of the best Veda-knowing men first divided the Vedas into four parts. He was a great Brahma-knowing Rishi, a great poet, a truthful man, a holy ascetic.
That great Rishi of sacred deeds and great fame, in order to continue the line of Shantanu begot Pandu, Dhritarashtra and Vidura.
This illustrious man accompanied by his disciple, learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, entered the sacrificial grounds of the royal sage Janamejaya.
He saw there seated king Janamejaya surrounded by his numerous Sadasya like a Indra surrounded by the celestial.
He was surrounded by kings of various countries who had undergone the sacred baths and by competent Ritvijas, like Brahma, himself all seated comfortably in the sacrificial grounds.
The best of the Bharata race, the royal sage Janamejaya, seeing the Rishi approaching, advanced quickly in great joy with all his relatives and followers.
The king, with the approval of the Sadasyas, offered a golden seat to the Rishi as did Indra to (his preceptor) Brihaspati.
When the boon-granting and the adored of the celestial, the Rishis (Vyasa) took his seat, the king of kings (Janamejaya) worshipped him according to the ordinances.
The king then offered to his grandfather Krishna (Dvaipayana) in due form water to wash his feet and mouth, Argha and kine.
Vyasa was much pleased on accepting the offerings from the Pandava Janamejaya and he ordered that the kine should not be slaughtered.
Thus having worshipped him the king bowed to his greatest grandfather. And having seated himself in joy, he asked him about his welfare.
The illustrious Rishi, also looked (graciously) at him and asked him about his welfare. He then worshipped the Sadasyas who had already worshipped him.
Thereupon with joined hands, Janamejaya, with all his Sadasyas, addressed the best of the Brahmanas (Vyasa) thus:
Janamejaya said:
O Brahmana, you saw with your own eyes the great deeds of the Kurus and the Pandavas. I desire to hear them narrated by you.
What was the cause of the quarrel between them? They were all of great deeds and virtuous mind. Why did that great battle, which was the cause of the death of countless men, occur among my grandfathers, their sense being (surely) over-clouded by Fate? O best of Brahmanas, tell me all this in full as they happened.
Sauti said:
Having heard these words of Janamejaya, Krishna Dvaipayana addressed his disciple Vaishampayana, seated by his side saying,
Vyasa said:
Repeat, exactly as you heard from me the account of the quarrel between the Kurus and the Pandavas of old.
Sauti said:
That best of Brahmanas, (Vaishampayana), having been thus commanded by his preceptor, recited the whole of that old history,
To the king, to the Sadasyas and to all the chiefs and potentates present there. He told them all about the quarrel and the utter extinction of the Kurus and the Pandavas.
Vaishampayana said:
Bowing down first to my preceptor with the eight parts of my body touching the ground and then worshipping with devotion, reverence and singleness of mind all the Brahmanas and learned men (present here), I shall now recite in full the narration, I heard from the best of intelligent men, the high-souled great Rishi, Vyasa.
O king, you are a proper person to hear the history ofBharata. I feel no fear to perform this great act (reciting the Bharata) encouraged as I am by my preceptor.
Hear, O king, why the quarrel between the Kurus and the Pandavas occurred and how occurred the exile (of the Pandavas) as the result of the game at dice, prompted by the desire of the Kurus to gain the kingdom,
And how the battle was fought to exterminate all men. O best of the Bharata race, I shall relate all this to you as you ask me.
On the death of their father, these heroes (the Pandavas) came back to their own home from the forest. They became experts in the science of archery within a very short time.
The Kauravas became jealous of the Pandavas, who were all gifted with great physical strength, energy and power of mind. They were also very popular with the citizens.
Thereupon, the wicked-minded Duryodhana, with Kama and the son of Subala, (Shakuni), tried to banish them and persecuted them in various ways.
The wicked-minded Duryodhana, guided by the bird of the evil omen, (Shakuni), persecuted the Pandavas by various means in order to have the undisputed possession of the kingdom.
That wretch of the son of Dhritarashtra gave poison to Bhima with his food, but that hero digested it.
That wretch one day bound the sleeping Bhima on the bank of the Ganges and throwing him into the water, went away.
But when the strong-armed Bhima, the son of Kunti, awoke, he tore up the strings with which he was bound and his pains were all gone.
While asleep, he was caused to be bitten in every part of his body by black snakes of virulent poisons, but that chastiser of foes did not still perish.
In all these various persecutions of the Pandavas by the Kurus, the high-souled Vidura was always engaged in counter-acting their evil designs and in saving the persecuted Pandavas.
As Indra keeps the heavens and earth in happiness, so did Vidura always keep the Pandavas in happiness.
When Duryodhana found himself incapable of destroying the Pandavas who were protected by Fate and kept alive for graver objects, by various secret and open means he called together his councillors, Kama,
Dushasana and others. He then caused a house of lac to be built with the knowledge of Dhritarashtra.
That king, the son of Ambika, (Dhritarashtra), out of affection for his sons and being tempted by the desire of sovereignty, sent them (the Pandavas) to exile.
They (the Pandavas) went away with their mother from Hastinapur and when they went away, the son of the Vaisya woman (Vidura) became the adviser of those illustrious men.
Being saved through him from the house of lac, they fled at the dead of night to a deep forest. They, the sons of Kunti, came to a city, called Varanavata;
And those chastisers of foes, those illustrious men, lived there with their mother in the house of lac, as commanded by Dhritarashtra.
They lived in the house for one year, watchfully protecting themselves from Purochana. In the meantime they dug a subterranean passage according to the directions of Vidura.
They then set fire to the house of lac and burnt Purochana. They, those chastisers of foes, then fled with their mother in anxiety and in fear.
They saw, near a fountain in the forest, a fearful Rakshasa named Hidimba. They killed that king of Rakshasas. They, the sons of Pritha, afraid of the sons of Dhritarashtra, then fled in the darkness, so that they might not run the risk of being seen by any body. Here did Bhima acquire Hidimba of whom Ghatotkacha was born.
The Pandavas of rigid vows, learned in the Vedas, then came to a place called Ekachakra and lived there as Brahmacharies.
They those best of men, with their mother lived there for some time in the house of a Brahmana, in temperance and in abstinence.
It was here that the mighty-armed Bhima met with a greatly powerful and hungry man-eating Rakshasa, named Baka.
The best of men, the son of Pandu, Bhima, soon killed him with the strength of his arms and thus made the citizens safe and fearless.
They then heard of the Sayamvara of Krishna, (Draupadi) the daughter of the king of Panchala. Having heard it, they went there and obtained her.
Having obtained Draupadi, they lived there for a year. And then those chastisers of foes, having been known, went back to Hastinapur.
They were then told by the son of Shantanu, king Dhritarashtra, as follows : "O dear children, so that dissensions may not take place among you all brothers and cousins,
We have settled that Khandavaprastha will be your abode. Therefore, casting of all jealousies go to live at Khandavaprastha, which contains many towns and broad roads, "Having heard these words, they (the Pandavas), with all their friends and followers, went to Khandavaprastha, taking with them many jewels and precious stones. And the sons of Pritha lived there for many years.
They brought by the force of their arms many chiefs and potentates under their subjugation. Setting their hearts on virtue and firmly adhering to truth,
Being unexcited by wrath, being calm in demeanour and putting down numerous evils, the Pandavas gradually rose in power. The greatly illustrious Bhima subjugated the East.
The heroic Arjuna conquered the North;
Nakula the West and the slayer of heroic foes, Sahadeva, the South.
Having done this their kingdom extended over the whole world. Each like a sun in splendour, they looked like five suns;
And the earth appeared to have six suns on account of the presence of the heroic Pandavas. Then for some reasons the just king Yudhishthira sent to the forest his greatly powerful and heroic brother Savyasachi (Arjuna), dearer to him than life itself.
That best of men, the self-controlled and virtuous (Arjuna) lived in the forest for eleven years and ten months.
Thus roving about in many places, on one occasion, he went to Krishna in Dwarka and he obtained there for his wife the lotus-eyed,
And sweet-speeched younger sister of Krishna, named Subhadra. Like Sachi with the great Indra and like Lakshmi with Krishna.
Subhadra was much pleased to be united with Arjuna, the son of Pandu. O best of kings, the son of Kunti with Krishna then gratified Agni by giving him the Khandava to burn. The task did not at all appear heavy to Arjuna, assisted as he was by Krishna.
As nothing is a heavy task to Vishnu, in the matter of destroying his enemies. Agni gave to the son of Pritha the excellent bow Gandiva.
An inexhaustible quiver and one war-chariot, bearing an ape as its standard. On this occasion did Arjuna rescue the frightened great Asura Maya.
And he (Maya) built the beautiful assembly-room, adorned with all sorts of jewels and precious stones. Seeing this building, the wicked Duryodhana was tempted to possess it.
Thereupon he deceived Yudhishthira by means of a game, played by the son of Subala (Shakuni) and he sent him to the forest for twelve years.
And another additional year to live in concealment, thus making the period (of banishment) complete thirteen years. On the fourteenth year, when they (the Pandavas) returned and claimed their kingdom,
O King, they did not get it. Thereupon war was declared and the Pandavas, after exterminating the whole race of Kshatriyas and killing king Duryodhana obtained back their kingdom. This is the history of the Pandavas, who never acted under the influence of evil passions. O best of kings, this is the account of the dissension that ended in the loss of their kingdom by the Kurus and of the victory of the Pandavas.
Janamejaya said:
O best of Brahmanas, you have told me in brief the history called Mahabharata, containing the great deeds of the Kurus.
O great ascetic, recite now fully this wonderful history. I feel a great curiosity to hear it.
You should, therefore, recite it in full. I am not satisfied with hearing in the abstract this great history.
It could not be a trifling cause for which the virtuous Pandavas killed those whom they should not have killed and for which they are still praised by men.
Why did those best of men, (the Pandavas), capable of avenging themselves on their enemies, though innocent, quietly suffered the persecutions of the wicked Kurus?
O best of Brahmanas, why did the mighty armed Bhima, having the strength of ten thousand elephants, though persecuted, patiently kept his anger down?
Why did not the chaste Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, though persecuted by the wicked (Kurus), burn the sons of Dhritarashtra by her angry eyes, capable as she was to do it?
Why did the two sons of Pritha, (Bhima and Arjuna) and the two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva) those best of men, though persecuted by the wretches, follow Yudhishthira, who was addicted to the evil habit gaming?
Why did Yudhishthira, the best of all virtuous men and the son of Dharma himself, though acquainted with all duties, suffer great afflictions?
Why did the son of Pandu, Arjuna, Krishna himself being his chariot and who could by his arrows send to the other world hosts of fighting men, suffer so many persecutions?
O great, Rishi, tell me all this as they happened. (Tell me) everything that those highly mighty car-warriors did.
Vaishampayana said:
O great king, appoint a time (to hear it). This history is very extensive. This is but the beginning. I shall recite the whole of this history, composed by the illustrious Krishna Dvaipayana, the great Rishi, Vyasa of immeasurable mental power, who is adored by all the world.
This (Bharata) contains one lac sacred slokas, composed by the son of Satyavati, Vyasa of immeasurable mental power.
The learned man who reads it to others and those that hear it read, go to the world of Brahma and become equal to the celestial.
This (Bharata) is equal to the Vedas; it is holy and excellent; it is the worthiest of all that should by listened to. It is a Purana, adored by the Rishis.
It contains many useful instructions on Artha and Kama. This sacred history makes the heart desire to attain salvation.
The learned men earn much wealth by reciting this Veda to those who are noble, liberal, truthful and believing.
Sins, even of killing embryo, is destroyed by (reading or hearing) it. Even a greatly sinful man, by hearing this history, escapes from all his sins, like the sun from Rahu. This history is called Jaya (victory); it should be heard by those that desire victory.
Hearing it, a king can bring the whole world under his subjection and defeat all his foes. It is a mighty act of propitiation; it is a great sacrifice, productive of blessed fruits.
It should be heard by the crown-princes with their wives, for then they beget a heroic son and a daughter who occupies a throne.
It is the Dharma Shastra, it is also the sacred Artha Shastra, it is also the great Moksha Shastra, so said Vyasa of immeasurable intelligence.
It is recited in the present age and will be recited in future ages. He, who hears it, gets sons and survivors, who perform their favourite works.
He who hears it escapes immediately from all his sins that are committed by him in body, word or mind.
He who hears the history of the Bharata race without being fault-finding, can have no fear from diseases, let alone the fear of the other world.
In order to extend the fame of the high-souled Pandavas and other Kshatriyas, learned in all branches of knowledge, high-spirited and already famous in the world for their great deeds, Krishna Dvaipayana, moved by the desire of benefiting the world, has composed this excellent, sacred and big work which spreads one's fame and gives one a lengthy life. He who, from the desire of acquiring virtue, causes this history to be heard in this world by holy Brahmanas, gains inexhaustible virtue. He who recites the history of the Kurus, becomes immediately pure and holy.
He acquires large family and becomes respected in the world. The Brahmana, who reads the holy Bharata, regularly,
For the four rainy months of the year, is cleansed of all his sins. He, who has read the Bharata, may be regarded as one who has studied the Vedas.
In it have been described the celestial, the royal sages, the holy and regenerate Rishis, the sinless Keshava (Krishna).
The god of gods, (Mahadeva) the goddess Parvati, the birth of Kartikeya, who had many mothers,
And the greatness of Brahmanas and kine. It is a collection of all Shrutis and a work worthy to be heard by virtuous- minded men.
The learned man, who recites it to Brahmanas during the sacred Parvas (lunar changes), is cleansed of all his sins and being victorious over heaven (not caring for it) attains to an union with Brahma.
He who causes even a single line of it to be heard by Brahmanas at a Shraddha, that Shraddha becomes inexhaustible and the Pitris (ancestors) become gratified with food presented to them.
The sins that are committed daily by our senses and by our mind and those that are committed knowingly or unknowingly by any man.
Are all destroyed by hearing the Mahabharata, The history of the great births of the Bharata princes is called Mahabharata.
He who known the etymology of the name (Bharata is cleansed of all his sins. As this history of the Bharata race is wonderful.
Therefore, when recited, it purifies men from their sins. The Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana completed it in three years.
Rising daily (in the morning), purifying himself (by ablutions) and performing all his religious duties, (he composed this Mahabharata).
Therefore, the Brahmanas should hear, with prescribed rules, this holy history, this excellent narration of Bharata, composed by Krishna (Dvaipayana.)
The Brahmanas who recite it for others to hear it and those who hear it, in whatever state they may be, can never be affected by the fruits of good or bad deeds.
The man, who is desirous of acquiring virtue, should hear it all. It is equal to all histories in the world and he who hears it acquires purity of heart.
The bless that one enjoys in attaining heaven is scarcely equal to that which one derives from hearing this greatly holy history.
The virtuous man, who hears or causes it to be heard with reverence, obtains the fruits of a Rajasuya or Ashvamedha sacrifice.
This Bharata is said to be a mine of gems, as the illustrious ocean or the great mountain.
This (Bharata) is sacred and excellent and it equals the Vedas in sanctity. It is worthy of being heard, it is pleasing to the ear, it is sin-cleansing and virtue-increasing.
O king, he who gives a copy of Mahabharata to one who asks for it, does give (not a copy of a book, but) the whole of the earth having a belt of seas.
O son of Parikshit, this pleasant and sacred history that secures victory, (to the hearer), I shall now recite to you in full. Listen to it.
The Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana, regularly rising (every morning) for three years, composed this wonderful history, called Mahabharata.
O best of the Bharata race, whatever about Dharma, Artha and Kama, that is contained in this Bharata, may be met with elsewhere; but whatever is not in it, is not to be found anywhere.
Vaishampayana said:
There was a king, ever devoted to virtue, named Uparichara. He was very much addicted to hunting.
That son of Paurava, (Uparichara) called also Vasu, directed by Indra, conquered the beautiful and excellent kingdom of Chedi.
The king, sometime after, giving up the use of arms and dwelling in a secluded retreat, practised severe asceticism. The celestial with Indra at their head one day came to the king.
Believing that he sought to be the king of the celestial by practising severe austerities, the celestial, appearing before him, succeeded with sweet words in winning him from his asceticism.
The celestial said:
O king of the world, you should see that piety may not sustain a diminution in your hands. Protected by you, piety will protect the universe.
Indra said:
Protect attentively and rigidly piety on earth. Protecting virtue on earth, you will see many sacred regions (in after-life).
Though I belong to heaven and you to earth, yet you are my friend and you are dear to me. O king of men, live in that place in earth which is delightful, which is full of animals, wealth and corn, which is sacred, which is well-protected like heaven and which is blessed with fertility, which has agreeable climate and every object of enjoyment.
O king of Chedi, this Chedi, your kingdom, is full of riches, gems and precious stones. It contains much mineral wealth.
The cities in this kingdom are all devoted to virtue. The people are honest and contented. They never speak falsehood even in jest.
The sons never divide their wealth here with their fathers. They are always mindful of their parent's welfare. Lean kine are never yoked to the plough or to the cart engaged in carrying merchandise.
They are all well-fed and fat. O reverencer of the celestial, the for (four) castes are engaged in doing their respective duties in Chedi. Let nothing in the three worlds remain unknown to you.
I shall give you an excellent and great crystal car, which the celestial alone possess and which is capable of carrying you through the sky.
You only, among all mortals on earth, will ride on that best of cars and go through the sky like a celestial, though possessing a physical body.
I shall also give you a victory producing garland of unfading lotuses, wearing which you shall not be wounded by weapons.
O king of men, this excellent, matchless and great garland, widely known as Indra's garland, will be your distinctive badge.
Vaishampayana said:
The slayer of Vitra (Indra) gave him also a bamboo-stick to protect the honest and the peaceful.
After the expiration of a year, the king planted it on the ground for the purpose of worshipping the giver, (Indra.)
O king, from that day up to this day, all kings, following the example of Yasu, began to plant a bamboo-stick on the ground to worship Indra.
After planting the stick, they cover it with golden cloths, perfume it with scents and decorate it with garlands and various ornaments.
The god Indra was thus worshipped in due form with garlands and ornaments. The god, assuming the form of a swan, came himself to accept the worship thus offered. The great Indra was much pleased to see the auspicious worship thus made by Vasu, the best of kings and said to him, “Those men and kings who will worship me,
And will observe this my festival like the king of Chedi, will gain wealth and victory for their countries and kingdoms.
Their cities will also expand and will be ever in joy." O king, Vasu, the great monarch, was thus blessed by the high-souled chief of the celestial, Maghavat Indra. Those men, who cause this festival of Indra to be observed.
With the gifts of lands, gems and precious stones, like king Vasu, become much respected in the worlds.
Vasu, the King of Chedi, thus being blessed by Indra and bestowing boons and performing great sacrifices, continued to observe the festival of Indra. He had five greatly powerful and immeasurably effulgent sons.
The emperor (Vasu) installed his sons in many kingdoms. His illustrious son Brihadratha, a great car-warrior, was installed in the kingdom of Magadha.
His other sons were Pratyagraha and Kushamba, who was also called Manivahana. Two others were Mavailla and Yadu who was greatly powerful and invincible in battle.
O king, these were the sons of that greatly effulgent royal sage. The five sons founded kingdoms and cities after their names.
And they thus created separate dynasties that lasted for long ages. When he travelled through space in the crystal car,
The Gandharvas and Apsaras came to adore that illustrious man. And because he moved through the upper regions (in his car), he was called Uparichara.
The river which flowed by his capital, was once attacked by a living mountain called Kolahala Shuktimati, who was maddened by lust.
The mountains was kicked by Vasu and the river came out of the embrace of the mountain by the indentation caused by his kick.
From this embrace of the mountain, the river gave birth to a twin, a son and a daughter and the river, grateful to Vasu, gave them both to him.
The best of royal sages and the giver of wealth and the punisher of enemies, (Vasu) made the son of the river the generalissimo of his army.
The king made the daughter of the river who was called Girika his wife; and Girika, the wife of Vasu, purifying herself by a bath when her season of impurity came, told her state to her husband. But that very day the ancestors of Vasu came to him;
And they asked that best of kings and foremost of wise men to kill deer to perform their Shradha; and the King, thinking that the command of his ancestors should not be disobeyed,
Went out to hunt (the deer), thinking of Girika who was exceedingly beautiful and was like Sree herself.
There were (in the forest in which the king went to hunt) many Ashoka, Champaka, Chutas, Atimuktas, Punnagas, Kamikaras Bakula, Divya-patala.
Patala, Narikela, Chandana, Arjuna and various other beautiful, sacred and great trees, full of fragrant flowers and sweet fruits.
The whole forest was maddened by the sweet notes of Kokilas and echoed with the hum of intoxicated bees. It was the season of spring and the forest in which the king was roaming was as beautiful as the gardens of Kubera.
The king was filled with desire, but he did not find Girika by him. Maddened by desire the king roamed here and there; and he saw,
A beautiful Ashoka tree, decked with immense foliage and its branches so covered with flowers that they can not be seen.
The king comfortably seated himself under its cool shade and enjoyed the sweet fragrance of the flowers mixed with the fragrance of honey.
He breathed the delicious breeze blowing slowly all over the forest. He became so much excited. So, the semen of the king discharged in that forest.
Having discharged the semen, the king Uparichara collected that semen on the leaf of a tree, to save its utility. The king thought that his semen might not be wasted and also the time of the menses of his wife would not pass uselessly.
Thinking on it repeatedly the king Vasu firmly determinded to make the semen infalliable. After looking for the proper time to send it to his wife, he consecrated by mantras the semen which was very strong for the origin of any progeny.
The king, learned in the subtle truths of Dharma, Artha and Kama, saw a swift hawk resting very near him. He addressed the bird thus.
"O amiable one, take this to my wife Girika and give it to her. She is now in her season. The swift hawk took it from the king and flew rapidly through the sky.
When he was thus flying through the sky, he was seen by another hawk and thinking that he was carrying some meat he flew at him.
The two birds fought together with their beaks and when they were thus fighting, the seed fell into the waters of the Yamuna.
There in the Yamuna lived an Apsara, known by the name Adrika, who dwelt in the water of the river as a fish, it was the result of the curse of a Brahmana on her.
The fish, Adrika, rapidly came to the spot where Vasu's seed fell from the claws of the hawk and she swallowed it at once.
Some time after, this fish (Adrika) was caught by the fishermen. O best of the Bharata race, it was the tenth month after she swallowed the seed.
There came out from the stomach of this fish two children of human, form, one a boy and the other was a girl. The fishermen were very much astonished (to see this wonderful phenomenon) and they went to king Uparichara (Vasu).
They said, "O king, these two, (the boy and the girl) have been born in the womb of a fish. The king Uparichara took the male child.
That child became afterwards the virtuous and powerful monarch, named Matsya. The Apsara was also released from her form as soon as the children were born,
Because she had been told before by the illustrious one that she would be released from her piscatorial form after giving birth to two human children.
Now according to these words, having given birth to the two children and being killed by the fishermen, she left the form of the fish and assumed her own celestial form.
The excellent Apsara then rose on the path trodden by Siddhas, Rishis and Charanas. The fish-smelling daughter of the fish-form Apsara.
Was then given by the king to the fishermen, saying. "Let this (child) be your daughter." She was gifted with great beauty and possessed of every virtue.
That girl of sweet smiles, was known by the name of Satyavati; but owing to her association with fishermen, she was for years of fishy smell.
Wishing to serve her father (the fisherman), she plied a boat on the waters of the Yamuna. Parashara when going to the pilgrimage, saw her one day.
She was exceedingly beautiful, an object of desire with even a Siddha. As soon as the wise Rishi saw the girl of sweet smiles, he desired to have her.
The best of Rishis (Parashara) addressed the daughter of Vasu, the girl of celestial beauty and tapering thighs, saying, "O blessed girl, accept my embraces."
She replied, "O holy Rishi, see, the Rishis are standing on both the banks of the river. Seen by them, how can I grant your wish?"
Thus addressed by her, the illustrious lord (Parashara) created a fog, by which the whole place was covered with darkness.
Seeing the sudden creation of the fog by the great Rishi, the girl was very much astonished and became suffused with blushes of bashfulness.
Satyavati said:
O holy Rishi, know me to be a girl under the control of my, father. O sinless man, my virginity will be sullied by accepting your embraces.
O best of Brahmanas, O Rishi, my virginity being sallied, how shall I be able to return home? I shall not then be able to bear life. O illustrious one, take all this into your (kind) consideration and do what is proper.
Vaishampayana said :
That best of Brahmanas, (Parashara), having been much pleased with all that she said, replied "you shall remain a virgin even after associating with me.
O timid girl, O beauteous maiden, ask from me any boon you desire to have. O beauty of sweet smiles, my favour (boon) has never proved fruitless."
Having been thus addressed, the maiden (Satyavati) asked for the boon that her body might be sweet-scented; and the illustrious Rishi granted that wish other heart.
Having obtained the boon, she became exceedingly pleased. She was in her season and she accepted the embraces of that Rishi of wonderful deeds.
Thenceforth she become known among men by the name of Gandhavati (sweet-scented.) Men could smell sweet scent of her body from a distance of aYojana.
Thence she was also called Yojana-gandha. After all this, the illustrious Parashara went away to his home (hermitage).
Satyavati was exceedingly pleased to receive the excellent boon and she thereupon, on that very day, conceived through the embraces of Parashara.
She gave birth on an island in the Yamuna, a greatly powerful child, begotten on her by Parashara; and the child with the permission of her mother adopted asceticism.
He went away saying, "As soon as I shall be remembered by you on any occasion, I shall (immediately) appear before you." Thus was born Dvaipayana in the womb of Satyavati by Parashara.
Because he was born on an island, he was called Dvaipayana. That learned man (Dvaipayana), knowing that Dharma would become lame by one leg at each Yuga,
And that the period of human life and strength would follow the Yuga (by becoming shorter and lesser) and moved by the desire of obtaining the favour of Brahma and the Brahmanas,
Arranged the Vedas and thence he came to be called Vyasa. He then taught the Vedas and the fifth Veda Mahabharata.
To Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, his own son Shuka and his -disciple Vaishampayana (myself).
The Bharata Sanhita was published by him separately through these men. Then was born in the womb of Ganga by Shantanu, Bhishma,
Of great energy, fame and immeasurable prowess. There was an illustrious and famous Rishi, learned in the interpretation of the Vedas,
That greatly famous man was known by the name of Animandavya. Though innocent, he was accused of theft and was put on a Suli.
Thereupon, the great Rishi called Dharma and addressed him thus, "In my childhood I pierced a little fly with a blade of grass.
O Dharma, I remember this sin of mine; I cannot remember any other. I have since practised asceticism thousand fold. Has not that one sin of mine been expitiated by my great asceticism?
The killing of a Brahmana is more heinous any other sin in the world; (As you kill me) O Dharma, you shall take birth on earth, (and that too) in the Shudra caste.
Thus being cursed, Dharma was born a Shudra as Vidura who was learned, virtuous and pure-bodied.
The Suta, Sanjaya, who was like a Rishi, was begot by Gavalgana and the greatly powerful Kama was begot by Surya of Kunti when was a maid.
He came out of his mother's womb with a natural coat of mail and with a face beautified by ear-rings. For the benefit of the whole world, the world-wide famous.
Vishnu himself, the worshipped deity of all the worlds, was begot by Vasudeva on Devaki. He is the great God without birth and death; he is the creator and lord of the universe.
He is called by the learned the invisible cause of all, he knows no deterioration, he is the first Brahma, he is the abode of the three qualities (Satya, Raja and Tama), he is the great soul, he is undeteriorating, he is the first, the cause of the creation, the Nature, the controlling Lord.
He is the Purusha, the Creator himself, he is the centre of Satya Guna, he is infinite, he is incapable of being moved, he is the deity, he is Lord Narayana;
He is Dhata, he is undeteriorating, he is effulgent, he is the best, he is the great combiner, the increate, the invisible essence of all and the great immutable. He is bereft of those attributes that are knowable by the senses, he is the universe itself without beginning, birth and decay.
This great being, possessed of infinite wealth, this Grandsire of all creatures, took his birth in the race of Andhaka Vrishnis, in order to increase the piety in the world.
Satyaki and Kritavarma, learned in the science of arms, possessed of great prowess, well versed in all the Shastras, ever obedient to Narayana,
And expert in the use of arms, were begot by Satyaki and Hridika. The seed of the great ascetic Rishi Bharadvaja was kept in a pot and there it began to develop. From that seed was born Drona. From the seed of Gautama, fallen on a heap of reeds, were born a twin, Kripa of great strength and (Kripi), the mother of Ashvathama; and then was begot mighty Ashvathama by Drona.
Then was born, from the sacrificial fire, Dhristadyumna, as effulgent as the fire itself.
The mighty hero was born, a bow in his hand, in order to kill Drona hereafter. From the sacrificial altar was born Krishna (Draupadi), resplendent and handsome.
A girl of fascinating features and great beauty. Then was born the disciples of Pralhad, namely Nagnajit and Subala.
Subala begot a son, named Shakuni, who through the curse of the celestial, became an enemy of virtue and a destroyer of creatures. And (Subala begot) a daughter,
Who became the mother of Duryodhana and both of them were well versed in acquiring worldly profits. From Krishna Dvaipayana was born Dhritarashtra, the king of men.
And Pandu of great strength, both in the womb of the wife of Vichitravirya and from him was also born in the womb of Shudra woman, the wise and intelligent Vidura, learned in both .Dharma and Artha and free from all sins. Five sons were born of Pandu.
In the wombs of his two wives, Yudhishthira was the son of the eldest. Yudhishthira was born of Dharma, Vrikodara Bhima was born of Maruta;
The first of all, the best wielder of the arms, illustrious Arjuna was born of Indra; and Nakula and Sahadeva of handsome features, ever-engaged in the services of their superiors, were born of the twin Ashvinis. One hundred sons were born to the wise Dhritarashtra,
Namely Duryodhana and others and another son, named Yuyutsu (born of a Vaisya woman).
O descendant of the Bharata race, amongst those one hundred sons, eleven, namely Dushasana, Dussaha, Durmarshana, Vikarna, Chitrasena, Vivingsati, Jaya, Satyavrata, Purumitra and Yuyutsu of Vaisya wife, were all great car-warriors. Abhimanyu was born of Subhadra,
The sister of Vasudeva (Krishna), begot by Arjuna and therefore he was the grandson of Pandu. Five sons were born to the five Pandavas by Draupadi, the daughter of Panchala.
These princes were all very handsome and learned in all the Shastras. From Yudhishthira was born Prativindhya, from Bhima was born Sutasoma,
From Arjuna was born Shrutakirti, from Nakula was born Shatanika and from Sahadeva was born the greatly powerful Shrutasena.
Bhima begot a son in the forest on Hidimba, named Ghatotkacha. Draupadi gave birth to a daughter also, named Shikhandini and she was transformed into a male child.
She was thus transformed into a male child by a Yaksha, named Sthuna, who did it from the desire of doing her good. In that great battle of Kurus assembled many hundred of kings and potentates to fight among one another. I am unable to recount the names of those innumerable hosts. I have named only the principal ones who have been mentioned in this history (Mahabharata).
Janamejaya said:
O Brahmana, I wish to hear in detail the accounts of those that you have named and of those that you have not named and other kings and potentates by thousands.
O great man, you should tell me in full the object for which these great car-warriors, all equal to the celestial, were born on earth.
Vaishampayana said:
O king, we have heard that what you ask is a mystery even to the celestial. I shall however, speak of it, after bowing my head to the Self-Born (Brahma).
The son of Jamadagni, (Parshurama), after making the earth bereft of Kshatriyas for twenty-one times, went to the best of the mountains, named Mahendra and began his penances.
O king, when the earth was thus bereft of Kshatriyas, the Kshatriya women used to come to the Brahmanas for offspring.
O best of men, the Brahmanas had connections with them only at their seasons and not when they were not in their seasons and they the Brahmans did not do it with lust.
Thus thousands of Kshatriya women conceived through these connections with the Brahmanas and O king, thus were born many Kshatriyas of great prowess,
And many boys and girls, in order to thrive the Kshatriya race. Thus sprang the Kshatriya race from Kshatriya women from their connections with ascetic Brahmanas.
The new generation, blessed with long life, began to thrive in virtue and thus were again established the four castes having Brahmanas at their head.
At the time (of which I speak), every man went to his wife only at the time of her season and never from lust or when she was not at her season. Other creatures also, even those that were born in the race of birds, followed this example. O best of the Bharata race, thus were born hundreds and thousands of creatures and they all thrived in virtue.
O lord of the earth, all creatures were virtuous and religious and all men were free from sorrow and disease.
O king having the walk of an elephant, thus once more was governed by the Kshatriya the wide earth, with the ocean for her boundaries, with her mountains and woods and towns.
When thus was earth again governed virtuously by the Kshatriyas, the other castes, having Brahmanas at their head, were filled with great joy.
All the kings (of the world), becoming free from vices born of lust and anger and punishing those that deserved punishment, protected the earth.
And (Indra) the deity that performed one hundred sacrifices and who has one thousand eyes, seeing that all the Kshatriya sovereigns ruled their kingdoms very virtuously, poured down vivifying showers of rains at the proper time and at the proper place and thus protected all creatures.
O king, no one died in early age and none took to wife before attaining to age.
O best of the Bharata race, thus was filled the earth to the very shores of the sea with long-lived men.
The Kshatriyas performed great sacrifices and bestowed much wealth on the Brahmanas and all the Brahmanas also studied the Vedas and the Vedangas and the Upanishads.
O king, no Brahmana ever sold the Vedas and none of them ever read them aloud before a Shudra.
The Vaishyas tilled well the earth with the help of bullocks and they never yoked kine to the plough. They carefully fed the lean ones.
Men never milched the cows as long as the calves could not live on the milk of their mothers. No merchant sold his goods with false scales.
O best of men, all men, thus virtuously inclined, did every thing with their eyes fixed on virtue.
O king, all men of all castes were mindful of the respective duties of their respective castes. O best of men, their virtue never sustained any diminution.
Both women and kine gave birth to offspring at the proper time and trees bore flowers and fruits at their proper seasons.
O king, the Krita (Satya) Yuga having come into the world, the whole earth was filled with numerous creations.
O best of the Bharata race, O lord of men, when such was the happy state of the world, the Asuras began to take birth in royal dynasties.
The sons of Diti, (the Asuras), having been continually defeated by the sons of Aditi, (the celestial) and deprived of sovereignty and heaven, began to take birth on earth.
O king, wishing to enjoy sovereignty in this earth, the powerful Asuras took birth among cows, horses, mules, camels, buffaloes, elephants, deer; they also took birth as Rakshasas and others.
O protector of the world, owing to the birth of those (Asuras) that were already born and those that were being born, the Earth became incapable of supporting herself.
Amongst the sons of Diti and Danu, some, being thrown off from heaven, took birth as men and became proud and insolent monarchs on earth.
Possessed of great prowess, they covered the earth in various shapes. They, becoming great oppressors, filled the earth to the very shores of the sea.
They began to oppress the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras; they began to persecute all other creatures with their strength.
O king, frightening and killing all creatures, they roamed over the earth.
Bereft of virtue and truth, proud of their strength, intoxicated with their insolence, they even insulted the holy Rishis in their hermitages.
O king, the earth, thus oppressed by the Asuras of great strength, energy and abundant means, thought of appealing to Brahma.
The united strength of the Naga Shesha and other creatures (such as the tortoise and the elephant), could not support the earth, attacked by the powerful Danavas.
O protector of the world, thereupon the Earth, afflicted with fear and oppressed by the weight (of the Danavas went to the Grandfather of all creatures and asked his protection.
She saw the divine Brahma, the creator of the worlds, who is undeteriorating, seated (on his seat), surrounded by the celestial and great and illustrious Rishis and adored by the delighted Gandharvas and Apsaras who are always engaged in the services of the celestial.
The Earth adored the Grandsire and O best of the Bharata race, telling him all that had happened, before all the regents of the world she asked his protection.
O king, the object (for which she came) was already known beforehand to the Omniscient, Self-created and Supreme Lord.
O descendant of the Bharata race he is the creator of the universe, why should he not know fully what is in the minds of the creatures, including the very Devas and the Danavas?
O great king, the Lord of the earth, Prajapati, Isha, Shambhu, then thus spoke to her.
Brahma said:
O Vasundhara (the holder of wealth,) I shall appoint all the dwellers of heaven in the work for which you have come to me.
Vaishampayana said:
O king, having thus addressed the Earth, the divine Brahma, bade her farewell. Then the Creator commanded all the celestial, saying, "Go all of you and take your birth on earth to free her from her burden. Go according to your respective parts and seek battles (with the Danavas).
Then the creator of all the creatures, calling all the tribes of the Gandharvas and Apsaras, spoke to them thus, "Go all of you and take your birth amongst men according to your respective parts and in the forms you prefer.
All the celestial with Indra at their head, having heard these words of the lord of the celestial, words that were true, that were desirable under the circumstances and which were fraught with benefit, accepted them.
Having then resolved to take birth on the earth according to their respective parts, they all went to Vaikuntha to the slayer of foes, Narayana,
Who bears the discus and the mace in his hands, who wears yellow coloured cloth, who is greatly effulgent, who has the lotus on his navel, who is the slayer of the foes of the celestial, who is fixedly staring at his wide chest,
Who is the lord of the Prajapati (Brahma) himself, who is the sovereign of all the gods, who is of infinite strength, who has the mark of the auspicious wheel on his breast, who is the central force of every one's faculties and who is adored by all the deities;
To him, this most exalted of all persons, Indra said, "Be incarnate." And Hari replied, "Be it so."
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