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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti

In this Twenty-third Chapter the dynasties of Anu, Druhyu, Turvasu and Yadu, as well as the story of Jyāmagha, are described.

The sons of Yayāti’s fourth son, Anu, were Sabhānara, Cakṣu and Pareṣṇu. Of these three, the sons and grandsons of Sabhānara were, in succession, Kālanara, Sṛñjaya, Janamejaya, Mahāśāla and Mahāmanā. The sons of Mahāmanā were Uśīnara and Titikṣu. Uśīnara had four sons, namely Śibi, Vara, Kṛmi and Dakṣa. Śibi also had four sons — Vṛṣādarbha, Sudhīra, Madra and Kekaya. The son of Titikṣu was Ruṣadratha, who begot a son named Homa. From Homa came Sutapā and from Sutapā, Bali. In this way the dynasty continued. Begotten by Dīrghatamā in the womb of the wife of Bali were Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Suhma, Puṇḍra and Oḍra, all of whom became kings.

From Aṅga came Khalapāna, whose dynasty included Diviratha, Dharmaratha and Citraratha, also called Romapāda, one after another. Mahārāja Daśaratha gave in charity one of his daughters, by the name Śāntā, to his friend Romapāda because Romapāda had no sons. Romapāda accepted Śāntā as his daughter, and the great sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga married her. By the mercy of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Romapāda had a son named Caturaṅga. The son of Caturaṅga was Pṛthulākṣa, who had three sons — Bṛhadratha, Bṛhatkarmā and Bṛhadbhānu. From Bṛhadratha came a son named Bṛhadmanā, whose sons and grandsons in succession were Jayadratha, Vijaya, Dhṛti, Dhṛtavrata, Satkarmā and Adhiratha. Adhiratha accepted the son rejected by Kuntī, namely Karṇa, and Karṇa’s son was Vṛṣasena.

The son of Yayāti’s third son, Druhyu, was Babhru, whose son and grandsons were Setu, Ārabdha, Gāndhāra, Dharma, Dhṛta, Durmada and Pracetā.

The son of Yayāti’s second son, Turvasu, was Vahni, whose seminal dynasty included Bharga, Bhānumān, Tribhānu, Karandhama and Maruta. The childless Maruta accepted Duṣmanta, who belonged to the Pūru dynasty, as his adopted son. Mahārāja Duṣmanta was anxious to have his kingdom returned, and so he went back to the Pūru-vaṁśa.

Of the four sons of Yadu, Sahasrajit was the eldest. The son of Sahasrajit was named Śatajit. He had three sons, of whom one was Haihaya. The sons and grandsons in the dynasty of Haihaya were Dharma, Netra, Kunti, Sohañji, Mahiṣmān, Bhadrasenaka, Dhanaka, Kṛtavīrya, Arjuna, Jayadhvaja, Tālajaṅgha and Vītihotra.

The son of Vītihotra was Madhu, whose eldest son was Vṛṣṇi. Because of Yadu, Madhu and Vṛṣṇi, their dynasties are known as Yādava, Mādhava and Vṛṣṇi. Another son of Yadu was Kroṣṭā, and from him came Vṛjinavān, Svāhita, Viṣadgu, Citraratha, Śaśabindu, Pṛthuśravā, Dharma, Uśanā and Rucaka. Rucaka had five sons, one of whom was known as Jyāmagha. Jyāmagha was sonless, but by the mercy of the demigods his childless wife gave birth to a son named Vidarbha.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
अनो: सभानरश्चक्षु: परेष्णुश्च त्रय: सुता: ।
सभानरात् कालनर: सृञ्जयस्तत्सुतस्तत: ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
anoḥ sabhānaraś cakṣuḥ
pareṣṇuś ca trayaḥ sutāḥ
sabhānarāt kālanaraḥ
sṛñjayas tat-sutas tataḥ

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; anoḥ — of Anu, the fourth of the four sons of Yayāti; sabhānaraḥ — Sabhānara; cakṣuḥ — Cakṣu; pareṣṇuḥ — Pareṣṇu; ca — also; trayaḥ — three; sutāḥ — sons; sabhānarāt — from Sabhānara; kālanaraḥ — Kālanara; sṛñjayaḥ — Sṛñjaya; tat-sutaḥ — son of Kālanara; tataḥ — thereafter.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Anu, the fourth son of Yayāti, had three sons, named Sabhānara, Cakṣu and Pareṣṇu. O King, from Sabhānara came a son named Kālanara, and from Kālanara came a son named Sṛñjaya.

Devanagari

जनमेजयस्तस्य पुत्रो महाशालो महामना: ।
उशीनरस्तितिक्षुश्च महामनस आत्मजौ ॥ २ ॥

Text

janamejayas tasya putro
mahāśālo mahāmanāḥ
uśīnaras titikṣuś ca
mahāmanasa ātmajau

Synonyms

janamejayaḥ — Janamejaya; tasya — of him (Janamejaya); putraḥ — a son; mahāśālaḥ — Mahāśāla; mahāmanāḥ — (from Mahāśāla) a son named Mahāmanā; uśīnaraḥ — Uśīnara; titikṣuḥ — Titikṣu; ca — and; mahāmanasaḥ — from Mahāmanā; ātmajau — two sons.

Translation

From Sṛñjaya came a son named Janamejaya. From Janamejaya came Mahāśāla; from Mahāśāla, Mahāmanā; and from Mahāmanā two sons, named Uśīnara and Titikṣu.

Devanagari

शिबिर्वर: कृमिर्दक्षश्चत्वारोशीनरात्मजा: ।
वृषादर्भ: सुधीरश्च मद्र: केकय आत्मवान् ॥ ३ ॥
शिबेश्चत्वार एवासंस्तितिक्षोश्च रुषद्रथ: ।
ततो होमोऽथ सुतपा बलि: सुतपसोऽभवत् ॥ ४ ॥

Text

śibir varaḥ kṛmir dakṣaś
catvārośīnarātmajāḥ
vṛṣādarbhaḥ sudhīraś ca
madraḥ kekaya ātmavān
śibeś catvāra evāsaṁs
titikṣoś ca ruṣadrathaḥ
tato homo ’tha sutapā
baliḥ sutapaso ’bhavat

Synonyms

śibiḥ — Śibi; varaḥ — Vara; kṛmiḥ — Kṛmi; dakṣaḥ — Dakṣa; catvāraḥ — four; uśīnara-ātmajāḥ — the sons of Uśīnara; vṛṣādarbhaḥ — Vṛṣādarbha; sudhīraḥ ca — as well as Sudhīra; madraḥ — Madra; kekayaḥ — Kekaya; ātmavān — self-realized; śibeḥ — of Śibi; catvāraḥ — four; eva — indeed; āsan — there were; titikṣoḥ — of Titikṣu; ca — also; ruṣadrathaḥ — a son named Ruṣadratha; tataḥ — from him (Ruṣadratha); homaḥ — Homa; atha — from him (Homa); sutapāḥ — Sutapā; baliḥ — Bali; sutapasaḥ — of Sutapā; abhavat — there was.

Translation

The four sons of Uśīnara were Śibi, Vara, Kṛmi and Dakṣa, and from Śibi again came four sons, named Vṛṣādarbha, Sudhīra, Madra and ātma-tattva-vit Kekaya. The son of Titikṣu was Ruṣadratha. From Ruṣadratha came Homa; from Homa, Sutapā; and from Sutapā, Bali.

Devanagari

अङ्गवङ्गकलिङ्गाद्या: सुह्मपुण्ड्रौड्रसंज्ञिता: ।
जज्ञिरे दीर्घतमसो बले: क्षेत्रे महीक्षित: ॥ ५ ॥

Text

aṅga-vaṅga-kaliṅgādyāḥ
suhma-puṇḍrauḍra-saṁjñitāḥ
jajñire dīrghatamaso
baleḥ kṣetre mahīkṣitaḥ

Synonyms

aṅga — Aṅga; vaṅga — Vaṅga; kaliṅga — Kaliṅga; ādyāḥ — headed by; suhma — Suhma; puṇḍra — Puṇḍra; oḍra — Oḍra; saṁjñitāḥ — known as such; jajñire — were born; dīrghatamasaḥ — by the semen of Dīrghatamā; baleḥ — of Bali; kṣetre — in the wife; mahī-kṣitaḥ — of the king of the world.

Translation

By the semen of Dīrghatamā in the wife of Bali, the emperor of the world, six sons took birth, namely Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Suhma, Puṇḍra and Oḍra.

Devanagari

चक्रु: स्वनाम्ना विषयान् षडिमान् प्राच्यकांश्च ते ।
खलपानोऽङ्गतो जज्ञे तस्माद् दिविरथस्तत: ॥ ६ ॥

Text

cakruḥ sva-nāmnā viṣayān
ṣaḍ imān prācyakāṁś ca te
khalapāno ’ṅgato jajñe
tasmād divirathas tataḥ

Synonyms

cakruḥ — they created; sva-nāmnā — by their own names; viṣayān — different states; ṣaṭ — six; imān — all these; prācyakān ca — on the eastern side (of India); te — those (six kings); khalapānaḥ — Khalapāna; aṅgataḥ — from King Aṅga; jajñe — took birth; tasmāt — from him (Khalapāna); divirathaḥ — Diviratha; tataḥ — thereafter.

Translation

These six sons, headed by Aṅga, later became kings of six states in the eastern side of India. These states were known according to the names of their respective kings. From Aṅga came a son named Khalapāna, and from Khalapāna came Diviratha.

Devanagari

सुतो धर्मरथो यस्य जज्ञे चित्ररथोऽप्रजा: ।
रोमपाद इति ख्यातस्तस्मै दशरथ: सखा ॥ ७ ॥
शान्तां स्वकन्यां प्रायच्छद‍ृष्यश‍ृङ्ग उवाह याम् ।
देवेऽवर्षति यं रामा आनिन्युर्हरिणीसुतम् ॥ ८ ॥
नाट्यसङ्गीतवादित्रैर्विभ्रमालिङ्गनार्हणै: ।
स तु राज्ञोऽनपत्यस्य निरूप्येष्टिं मरुत्वते ॥ ९ ॥
प्रजामदाद् दशरथो येन लेभेऽप्रजा: प्रजा: ।
चतुरङ्गो रोमपादात् पृथुलाक्षस्तु तत्सुत: ॥ १० ॥

Text

suto dharmaratho yasya
jajñe citraratho ’prajāḥ
romapāda iti khyātas
tasmai daśarathaḥ sakhā
śāntāṁ sva-kanyāṁ prāyacchad
ṛṣyaśṛṅga uvāha yām
deve ’varṣati yaṁ rāmā
āninyur hariṇī-sutam
nāṭya-saṅgīta-vāditrair
vibhramāliṅganārhaṇaiḥ
sa tu rājño ’napatyasya
nirūpyeṣṭiṁ marutvate
prajām adād daśaratho
yena lebhe ’prajāḥ prajāḥ
caturaṅgo romapādāt
pṛthulākṣas tu tat-sutaḥ

Synonyms

sutaḥ — a son; dharmarathaḥ — Dharmaratha; yasya — of whom (Diviratha); jajñe — was born; citrarathaḥ — Citraratha; aprajāḥ — without any sons; romapādaḥ — Romapāda; iti — thus; khyātaḥ — celebrated; tasmai — unto him; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; sakhā — friend; śāntām — Śāntā; sva-kanyām — Daśaratha’s own daughter; prāyacchat — delivered; ṛṣyaśṛṅgaḥ — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; uvāha — married; yām — unto her (Śāntā); deve — the demigod in charge of rainfall; avarṣati — did not shower any rain; yam — unto whom (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); rāmāḥ — prostitutes; āninyuḥ — brought; hariṇī-sutam — that Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, who was the son of a doe; nāṭya-saṅgīta-vāditraiḥ — by dancing, by singing and by a musical display; vibhrama — bewildering; āliṅgana — by embracing; arhaṇaiḥ — by worshiping; saḥ — he (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga); tu — indeed; rājñaḥ — from Mahārāja Daśaratha; anapatyasya — who was without issue; nirūpya — after establishing; iṣṭim — a sacrifice; marutvate — of the demigod named Marutvān; prajām — issue; adāt — delivered; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; yena — by which (as a result of the yajña); lebhe — achieved; aprajāḥ — although he had no sons; prajāḥ — sons; caturaṅgaḥ — Caturaṅga; romapādāt — from Citraratha; pṛthulākṣaḥ — Pṛthulākṣa; tu — indeed; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Caturaṅga.

Translation

From Diviratha came a son named Dharmaratha, and his son was Citraratha, who was celebrated as Romapāda. Romapāda, however, was without issue, and therefore his friend Mahārāja Daśaratha gave him his own daughter, named Śāntā. Romapāda accepted her as his daughter, and thereafter she married Ṛṣyaśṛṅga. When the demigods from the heavenly planets failed to shower rain, Ṛṣyaśṛṅga was appointed the priest for performing a sacrifice, after being brought from the forest by the allurement of prostitutes, who danced, staged theatrical performances accompanied by music, and embraced and worshiped him. After Ṛṣyaśṛṅga came, the rain fell. Thereafter, Ṛṣyaśṛṅga performed a son-giving sacrifice on behalf of Mahārāja Daśaratha, who had no issue, and then Mahārāja Daśaratha had sons. From Romapāda, by the mercy of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Caturaṅga was born, and from Caturaṅga came Pṛthulākṣa.

Devanagari

बृहद्रथो बृहत्कर्मा बृहद्भ‍ानुश्च तत्सुता: ।
आद्याद् बृहन्मनास्तस्माज्जयद्रथ उदाहृत: ॥ ११ ॥

Text

bṛhadratho bṛhatkarmā
bṛhadbhānuś ca tat-sutāḥ
ādyād bṛhanmanās tasmāj
jayadratha udāhṛtaḥ

Synonyms

bṛhadrathaḥ — Bṛhadratha; bṛhatkarmā — Bṛhatkarmā; bṛhadbhānuḥ — Bṛhadbhānu; ca — also; tat-sutāḥ — the sons of Pṛthulākṣa; ādyāt — from the eldest (Bṛhadratha); bṛhanmanāḥ — Bṛhanmanā was born; tasmāt — from him (Bṛhanmanā); jayadrathaḥ — a son named Jayadratha; udāhṛtaḥ — celebrated as his son.

Translation

The sons of Pṛthulākṣa were Bṛhadratha, Bṛhatkarmā and Bṛhadbhānu. From the eldest, Bṛhadratha, came a son named Bṛhanmanā, and from Bṛhanmanā came a son named Jayadratha.

Devanagari

विजयस्तस्य सम्भूत्यां ततो धृतिरजायत ।
ततो धृतव्रतस्तस्य सत्कर्माधिरथस्तत: ॥ १२ ॥

Text

vijayas tasya sambhūtyāṁ
tato dhṛtir ajāyata
tato dhṛtavratas tasya
satkarmādhirathas tataḥ

Synonyms

vijayaḥ — Vijaya; tasya — of him (Jayadratha); sambhūtyām — in the womb of the wife; tataḥ — thereafter (from Vijaya); dhṛtiḥ — Dhṛti; ajāyata — took birth; tataḥ — from him (Dhṛti); dhṛtavrataḥ — a son named Dhṛtavrata; tasya — of him (Dhṛtavrata); satkarmā — Satkarmā; adhirathaḥ — Adhiratha; tataḥ — from him (Satkarmā).

Translation

The son of Jayadratha, by the womb of his wife Sambhūti, was Vijaya, and from Vijaya, Dhṛti was born. From Dhṛti came Dhṛtavrata; from Dhṛtavrata, Satkarmā; and from Satkarmā, Adhiratha.

Devanagari

योऽसौ गङ्गातटे क्रीडन् मञ्जूषान्तर्गतं शिशुम् ।
कुन्त्यापविद्धं कानीनमनपत्योऽकरोत् सुतम् ॥ १३ ॥

Text

yo ’sau gaṅgā-taṭe krīḍan
mañjūṣāntargataṁ śiśum
kuntyāpaviddhaṁ kānīnam
anapatyo ’karot sutam

Synonyms

yaḥ asau — one who (Adhiratha); gaṅgā-taṭe — on the bank of the Ganges; krīḍan — while playing; mañjūṣa-antaḥgatam — packed in a basket; śiśum — a baby was found; kuntyā apaviddham — this baby had been abandoned by Kuntī; kānīnam — because the baby was born during her maiden state, before her marriage; anapatyaḥ — this Adhiratha, being sonless; akarot — accepted the baby; sutam — as his son.

Translation

While playing on the bank of the Ganges, Adhiratha found a baby wrapped up in a basket. The baby had been left by Kuntī because he was born before she was married. Because Adhiratha had no sons, he raised this baby as his own. [This son was later known as Karṇa.]

Devanagari

वृषसेन: सुतस्तस्य कर्णस्य जगतीपते ।
द्रुह्योश्च तनयो बभ्रु: सेतुस्तस्यात्मजस्तत: ॥ १४ ॥

Text

vṛṣasenaḥ sutas tasya
karṇasya jagatīpate
druhyoś ca tanayo babhruḥ
setus tasyātmajas tataḥ

Synonyms

vṛṣasenaḥ — Vṛṣasena; sutaḥ — a son; tasya karṇasya — of that same Karṇa; jagatī pate — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; druhyoḥ ca — of Druhyu, the third son of Yayāti; tanayaḥ — a son; babhruḥ — Babhru; setuḥ — Setu; tasya — of him (Babhru); ātmajaḥ tataḥ — a son thereafter.

Translation

O King, the only son of Karṇa was Vṛṣasena. Druhyu, the third son of Yayāti, had a son named Babhru, and the son of Babhru was known as Setu.

Devanagari

आरब्धस्तस्य गान्धारस्तस्य धर्मस्ततो धृत: ।
धृतस्य दुर्मदस्तस्मात् प्रचेता: प्राचेतस: शतम् ॥ १५ ॥

Text

ārabdhas tasya gāndhāras
tasya dharmas tato dhṛtaḥ
dhṛtasya durmadas tasmāt
pracetāḥ prācetasaḥ śatam

Synonyms

ārabdhaḥ — Ārabdha (was the son of Setu); tasya — of him (Ārabdha); gāndhāraḥ — a son named Gāndhāra; tasya — of him (Gāndhāra); dharmaḥ — a son known as Dharma; tataḥ — from him (Dharma); dhṛtaḥ — a son named Dhṛta; dhṛtasya — of Dhṛta; durmadaḥ — a son named Durmada; tasmāt — from him (Durmada); pracetāḥ — a son named Pracetā; prācetasaḥ — of Pracetā; śatam — there were one hundred sons.

Translation

The son of Setu was Ārabdha, Ārabdha’s son was Gāndhāra, and Gāndhāra’s son was Dharma. Dharma’s son was Dhṛta, Dhṛta’s son was Durmada, and Durmada’s son was Pracetā, who had one hundred sons.

Devanagari

म्‍लेच्छाधिपतयोऽभूवन्नुदीचीं दिशमाश्रिता: ।
तुर्वसोश्च सुतो वह्निर्वह्नेर्भर्गोऽथ भानुमान् ॥ १६ ॥

Text

mlecchādhipatayo ’bhūvann
udīcīṁ diśam āśritāḥ
turvasoś ca suto vahnir
vahner bhargo ’tha bhānumān

Synonyms

mleccha — of the lands known as Mlecchadeśa (where Vedic civilization was not present); adhipatayaḥ — the kings; abhūvan — became; udīcīm — on the northern side of India; diśam — the direction; āśritāḥ — accepting as the jurisdiction; turvasoḥ ca — of Turvasu, the second son of Mahārāja Yayāti; sutaḥ — the son; vahniḥ — Vahni; vahneḥ — of Vahni; bhargaḥ — the son named Bharga; atha — thereafter, his son; bhānumān — Bhānumān.

Translation

The Pracetās [the sons of Pracetā] occupied the northern side of India, which was devoid of Vedic civilization, and became kings there. Yayāti’s second son was Turvasu. The son of Turvasu was Vahni; the son of Vahni, Bharga; the son of Bharga, Bhānumān.

Devanagari

त्रिभानुस्तत्सुतोऽस्यापि करन्धम उदारधी: ।
मरुतस्तत्सुतोऽपुत्र: पुत्रं पौरवमन्वभूत् ॥ १७ ॥

Text

tribhānus tat-suto ’syāpi
karandhama udāra-dhīḥ
marutas tat-suto ’putraḥ
putraṁ pauravam anvabhūt

Synonyms

tribhānuḥ — Tribhānu; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Bhānumān; asya — of him (Tribhānu); api — also; karandhamaḥ — Karandhama; udāra-dhīḥ — who was very magnanimous; marutaḥ — Maruta; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Karandhama; aputraḥ — being without issue; putram — as his son; pauravam — a son of the Pūru dynasty, Mahārāja Duṣmanta; anvabhūt — adopted.

Translation

The son of Bhānumān was Tribhānu, and his son was the magnanimous Karandhama. Karandhama’s son was Maruta, who had no sons and who therefore adopted a son of the Pūru dynasty [Mahārāja Duṣmanta] as his own.

Devanagari

दुष्मन्त: स पुनर्भेजे स्ववंशं राज्यकामुक: ।
ययातेर्ज्येष्ठपुत्रस्य यदोर्वंशं नरर्षभ ॥ १८ ॥
वर्णयामि महापुण्यं सर्वपापहरं नृणाम् ।
यदोर्वंशं नर: श्रुत्वा सर्वपापै: प्रमुच्यते ॥ १९ ॥

Text

duṣmantaḥ sa punar bheje
sva-vaṁśaṁ rājya-kāmukaḥ
yayāter jyeṣṭha-putrasya
yador vaṁśaṁ nararṣabha
varṇayāmi mahā-puṇyaṁ
sarva-pāpa-haraṁ nṛṇām
yador vaṁśaṁ naraḥ śrutvā
sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Synonyms

duṣmantaḥ — Mahārāja Duṣmanta; saḥ — he; punaḥ bheje — again accepted; sva-vaṁśam — his original dynasty (the Pūru dynasty); rājya-kāmukaḥ — because of desiring the royal throne; yayāteḥ — of Mahārāja Yayāti; jyeṣṭha-putrasya — of the first son, Yadu; yadoḥ vaṁśam — the dynasty of Yadu; nara-ṛṣabha — O best of human beings, Mahārāja Parīkṣit; varṇayāmi — I shall describe; mahā-puṇyam — supremely pious; sarva-pāpa-haram — vanquishes the reactions of sinful activities; nṛṇām — of human society; yadoḥ vaṁśam — the description of the dynasty of Yadu; naraḥ — any person; śrutvā — simply by hearing; sarva-pāpaiḥ — from all reactions of sinful activities; pramucyate — is freed.

Translation

Mahārāja Duṣmanta, desiring to occupy the throne, returned to his original dynasty [the Pūru dynasty], even though he had accepted Maruta as his father. O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, let me now describe the dynasty of Yadu, the eldest son of Mahārāja Yayāti. This description is supremely pious, and it vanquishes the reactions of sinful activities in human society. Simply by hearing this description, one is freed from all sinful reactions.

Devanagari

यत्रावतीर्णो भगवान् परमात्मा नराकृति: ।
यदो: सहस्रजित्क्रोष्टा नलो रिपुरिति श्रुता: ॥ २० ॥
चत्वार: सूनवस्तत्र शतजित् प्रथमात्मज: ।
महाहयो रेणुहयो हैहयश्चेति तत्सुता: ॥ २१ ॥

Text

yatrāvatīrṇo bhagavān
paramātmā narākṛtiḥ
yadoḥ sahasrajit kroṣṭā
nalo ripur iti śrutāḥ
catvāraḥ sūnavas tatra
śatajit prathamātmajaḥ
mahāhayo reṇuhayo
haihayaś ceti tat-sutāḥ

Synonyms

yatra — wherein, in which dynasty; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; paramātmā — who is the Supersoul of all living entities; nara-ākṛtiḥ — a person, exactly resembling a human being; yadoḥ — of Yadu; sahasrajit — Sahasrajit; kroṣṭā — Kroṣṭā; nalaḥ — Nala; ripuḥ — Ripu; iti śrutāḥ — thus they are celebrated; catvāraḥ — four; sūnavaḥ — sons; tatra — therein; śatajit — Śatajit; prathama-ātmajaḥ — of the first sons; mahāhayaḥ — Mahāhaya; reṇuhayaḥ — Reṇuhaya; haihayaḥ — Haihaya; ca — and; iti — thus; tat-sutāḥ — his sons (the sons of Śatajit).

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the Supersoul in the hearts of all living entities, descended in His original form as a human being in the dynasty or family of Yadu. Yadu had four sons, named Sahasrajit, Kroṣṭā, Nala and Ripu. Of these four, the eldest, Sahasrajit, had a son named Śatajit, who had three sons, named Mahāhaya, Reṇuhaya and Haihaya.

Purport

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

“Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.” The majority of transcendentalists understand only the impersonal Brahman or localized Paramātmā, for the Personality of Godhead is very difficult to understand. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.3):

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ

“Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” The yogīs and jñānīs — that is, the mystic yogīs and the impersonalists — can understand the Absolute Truth as impersonal or localized, but although such realized souls are above ordinary human beings, they cannot understand how the Supreme Absolute Truth can be a person. Therefore it is said that out of many siddhas, the souls who have already realized the Absolute Truth, one may understand Kṛṣṇa, who exactly resembles a human being (narākṛti). This human form was explained by Kṛṣṇa Himself after He manifested the virāṭ-rūpa. The virāṭ-rūpa is not the original form of the Lord; the Lord’s original form is Dvibhuja-śyāmasundara, Muralīdhara, the Lord with two hands, playing a flute (yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpam). The Lord’s forms are proof of His inconceivable qualities. Although the Lord maintains innumerable universes within the period of His breath, He is dressed with a form exactly like that of a human being. That does not mean, however, that He is a human being. This is His original form, but because He looks like a human being, those with a poor fund of knowledge consider Him an ordinary man. The Lord says:

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā
mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam
paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto
mama bhūta-maheśvaram

“Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be.” (Bg. 9.11) By the Lord’s paraṁ bhāvam, or transcendental nature, He is the all-pervading Paramātmā living in the core of the hearts of all living entities, yet He looks like a human being. Māyāvāda philosophy says that the Lord is originally impersonal but assumes a human form and many other forms when He descends. Actually, however, He is originally like a human being, and the impersonal Brahman consists of the rays of His body (yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi).

Devanagari

धर्मस्तु हैहयसुतो नेत्र: कुन्ते: पिता तत: ।
सोहञ्जिरभवत् कुन्तेर्महिष्मान् भद्रसेनक: ॥ २२ ॥

Text

dharmas tu haihaya-suto
netraḥ kunteḥ pitā tataḥ
sohañjir abhavat kunter
mahiṣmān bhadrasenakaḥ

Synonyms

dharmaḥ tu — Dharma, however; haihaya-sutaḥ — became the son of Haihaya; netraḥ — Netra; kunteḥ — of Kunti; pitā — the father; tataḥ — from him (Dharma); sohañjiḥ — Sohañji; abhavat — became; kunteḥ — the son of Kunti; mahiṣmān — Mahiṣmān; bhadrasenakaḥ — Bhadrasenaka.

Translation

The son of Haihaya was Dharma, and the son of Dharma was Netra, the father of Kunti. From Kunti came a son named Sohañji, from Sohañji came Mahiṣmān, and from Mahiṣmān, Bhadrasenaka.

Devanagari

दुर्मदो भद्रसेनस्य धनक: कृतवीर्यसू: ।
कृताग्नि: कृतवर्मा च कृतौजा धनकात्मजा: ॥ २३ ॥

Text

durmado bhadrasenasya
dhanakaḥ kṛtavīryasūḥ
kṛtāgniḥ kṛtavarmā ca
kṛtaujā dhanakātmajāḥ

Synonyms

durmadaḥ — Durmada; bhadrasenasya — of Bhadrasena; dhanakaḥ — Dhanaka; kṛtavīrya-sūḥ — giving birth to Kṛtavīrya; kṛtāgniḥ — by the name Kṛtāgni; kṛtavarmā — Kṛtavarmā; ca — also; kṛtaujāḥ — Kṛtaujā; dhanaka-ātmajāḥ — sons of Dhanaka.

Translation

The sons of Bhadrasena were known as Durmada and Dhanaka. Dhanaka was the father of Kṛtavīrya and also of Kṛtāgni, Kṛtavarmā and Kṛtaujā.

Devanagari

अर्जुन: कृतवीर्यस्य सप्तद्वीपेश्वरोऽभवत् ।
दत्तात्रेयाद्धरेरंशात् प्राप्तयोगमहागुण: ॥ २४ ॥

Text

arjunaḥ kṛtavīryasya
sapta-dvīpeśvaro ’bhavat
dattātreyād dharer aṁśāt
prāpta-yoga-mahāguṇaḥ

Synonyms

arjunaḥ — Arjuna; kṛtavīryasya — of Kṛtavīrya; sapta-dvīpa — of the seven islands (the whole world); īśvaraḥ abhavat — became the emperor; dattātreyāt — from Dattātreya; hareḥ aṁśāt — from he who was the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prāpta — obtained; yoga-mahāguṇaḥ — the quality of mystic power.

Translation

The son of Kṛtavīrya was Arjuna. He [Kārtavīryārjuna] became the emperor of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, and received mystic power from Dattātreya, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he obtained the mystic perfections known as aṣṭa-siddhi.

Devanagari

न नूनं कार्तवीर्यस्य गतिं यास्यन्ति पार्थिवा: ।
यज्ञदानतपोयोगै: श्रुतवीर्यदयादिभि: ॥ २५ ॥

Text

na nūnaṁ kārtavīryasya
gatiṁ yāsyanti pārthivāḥ
yajña-dāna-tapo-yogaiḥ
śruta-vīrya-dayādibhiḥ

Synonyms

na — not; nūnam — indeed; kārtavīryasya — of Emperor Kārtavīrya; gatim — the activities; yāsyanti — could understand or achieve; pārthivāḥ — everyone on the earth; yajña — sacrifices; dāna — charity; tapaḥ — austerities; yogaiḥ — mystic powers; śruta — education; vīrya — strength; dayā — mercy; ādibhiḥ — by all these qualities.

Translation

No other king in this world could equal Kārtavīryārjuna in sacrifices, charity, austerity, mystic power, education, strength or mercy.

Devanagari

पञ्चाशीतिसहस्राणि ह्यव्याहतबल: समा: ।
अनष्टवित्तस्मरणो बुभुजेऽक्षय्यषड्‍वसु ॥ २६ ॥

Text

pañcāśīti sahasrāṇi
hy avyāhata-balaḥ samāḥ
anaṣṭa-vitta-smaraṇo
bubhuje ’kṣayya-ṣaḍ-vasu

Synonyms

pañcāśīti — eighty-five; sahasrāṇi — thousands; hi — indeed; avyāhata — inexhaustible; balaḥ — the strength of whom; samāḥ — years; anaṣṭa — without deterioration; vitta — material opulences; smaraṇaḥ — and memory; bubhuje — enjoyed; akṣayya — without deterioration; ṣaṭ-vasu — six kinds of enjoyable material opulence.

Translation

For eighty-five thousand years, Kārtavīryārjuna continuously enjoyed material opulences with full bodily strength and unimpaired memory. In other words, he enjoyed inexhaustible material opulences with his six senses.

Devanagari

तस्य पुत्रसहस्रेषु पञ्चैवोर्वरिता मृधे ।
जयध्वज: शूरसेनो वृषभो मधुरूर्जित: ॥ २७ ॥

Text

tasya putra-sahasreṣu
pañcaivorvaritā mṛdhe
jayadhvajaḥ śūraseno
vṛṣabho madhur ūrjitaḥ

Synonyms

tasya — of him (Kārtavīryārjuna); putra-sahasreṣu — among the one thousand sons; pañca — five; eva — only; urvaritāḥ — remained alive; mṛdhe — in a fight (with Paraśurāma); jayadhvajaḥ — Jayadhvaja; śūrasenaḥ — Śūrasena; vṛṣabhaḥ — Vṛṣabha; madhuḥ — Madhu; ūrjitaḥ — and Ūrjita.

Translation

Of the one thousand sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, only five remained alive after the fight with Paraśurāma. Their names were Jayadhvaja, Śūrasena, Vṛṣabha, Madhu and Ūrjita.

Devanagari

जयध्वजात् तालजङ्घस्तस्य पुत्रशतं त्वभूत् ।
क्षत्रं यत् तालजङ्घाख्यमौर्वतेजोपसंहृतम् ॥ २८ ॥

Text

jayadhvajāt tālajaṅghas
tasya putra-śataṁ tv abhūt
kṣatraṁ yat tālajaṅghākhyam
aurva-tejopasaṁhṛtam

Synonyms

jayadhvajāt — of Jayadhvaja; tālajaṅghaḥ — a son named Tālajaṅgha; tasya — of him (Tālajaṅgha); putra-śatam — one hundred sons; tu — indeed; abhūt — were born; kṣatram — a dynasty of kṣatriyas; yat — which; tālajaṅgha-ākhyam — were known as the Tālajaṅghas; aurva-tejaḥ — being very powerful; upasaṁhṛtam — were killed by Mahārāja Sagara.

Translation

Jayadhvaja had a son named Tālajaṅgha, who had one hundred sons. All the kṣatriyas in that dynasty, known as Tālajaṅgha, were annihilated by the great power received by Mahārāja Sagara from Aurva Ṛṣi.

Devanagari

तेषां ज्येष्ठो वीतिहोत्रो वृष्णि: पुत्रो मधो: स्मृत: ।
तस्य पुत्रशतं त्वासीद् वृष्णिज्येष्ठं यत: कुलम् ॥ २९ ॥

Text

teṣāṁ jyeṣṭho vītihotro
vṛṣṇiḥ putro madhoḥ smṛtaḥ
tasya putra-śataṁ tv āsīd
vṛṣṇi-jyeṣṭhaṁ yataḥ kulam

Synonyms

teṣām — of all of them; jyeṣṭhaḥ — the eldest son; vītihotraḥ — a son named Vītihotra; vṛṣṇiḥ — Vṛṣṇi; putraḥ — the son; madhoḥ — of Madhu; smṛtaḥ — was well known; tasya — of him (Vṛṣṇi); putra-śatam — one hundred sons; tu — indeed; āsīt — there were; vṛṣṇi — Vṛṣṇi; jyeṣṭham — the eldest; yataḥ — from him; kulam — the dynasty.

Translation

Of the sons of Tālajaṅgha, Vītihotra was the eldest. The son of Vītihotra named Madhu had a celebrated son named Vṛṣṇi. Madhu had one hundred sons, of whom Vṛṣṇi was the eldest. The dynasties known as Yādava, Mādhava and Vṛṣṇi had their origin from Yadu, Madhu and Vṛṣṇi.

Devanagari

माधवा वृष्णयो राजन् यादवाश्चेति संज्ञिता: ।
यदुपुत्रस्य च क्रोष्टो: पुत्रो वृजिनवांस्तत: ।
स्वाहितोऽतो विषद्गुर्वै तस्य चित्ररथस्तत: ॥ ३० ॥
शशबिन्दुर्महायोगी महाभागो महानभूत् ।
चतुर्दशमहारत्नश्चक्रवर्त्यपराजित: ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

mādhavā vṛṣṇayo rājan
yādavāś ceti saṁjñitāḥ
yadu-putrasya ca kroṣṭoḥ
putro vṛjinavāṁs tataḥ
svāhito ’to viṣadgur vai
tasya citrarathas tataḥ
śaśabindur mahā-yogī
mahā-bhāgo mahān abhūt
caturdaśa-mahāratnaś
cakravarty aparājitaḥ

Synonyms

mādhavāḥ — the dynasty beginning from Madhu; vṛṣṇayaḥ — the dynasty beginning from Vṛṣṇi; rājan — O King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); yādavāḥ — the dynasty beginning from Yadu; ca — and; iti — thus; saṁjñitāḥ — are so-called because of those different persons; yadu-putrasya — of the son of Yadu; ca — also; kroṣṭoḥ — of Kroṣṭā; putraḥ — the son; vṛjinavān — his name was Vṛjinavān; tataḥ — from him (Vṛjinavān); svāhitaḥ — Svāhita; ataḥ — thereafter; viṣadguḥ — a son named Viṣadgu; vai — indeed; tasya — of him; citrarathaḥ — Citraratha; tataḥ — from him; śaśabinduḥ — Śaśabindu; mahā-yogī — a great mystic; mahā-bhāgaḥ — most fortunate; mahān — a great personality; abhūt — he became; caturdaśa-mahāratnaḥ — fourteen kinds of great opulences; cakravartī — he possessed as the emperor; aparājitaḥ — not defeated by anyone else.

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, because Yadu, Madhu and Vṛṣṇi each inaugurated a dynasty, their dynasties are known as Yādava, Mādhava and Vṛṣṇi. The son of Yadu named Kroṣṭā had a son named Vṛjinavān. The son of Vṛjinavān was Svāhita; the son of Svāhita, Viṣadgu; the son of Viṣadgu, Citraratha; and the son of Citraratha, Śaśabindu. The greatly fortunate Śaśabindu, who was a great mystic, possessed fourteen opulences and was the owner of fourteen great jewels. Thus he became the emperor of the world.

Purport

In the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa the fourteen kinds of great jewels are described as follows: (1) an elephant, (2) a horse, (3) a chariot, (4) a wife, (5) arrows, (6) a reservoir of wealth, (7) a garland, (8) valuable costumes, (9) trees, (10) a spear, (11) a noose, (12) jewels, (13) an umbrella, and (14) regulative principles. To be the emperor, one must possess all fourteen of these opulences. Śaśabindu possessed them all.

Devanagari

तस्य पत्नीसहस्राणां दशानां सुमहायशा: ।
दशलक्षसहस्राणि पुत्राणां तास्वजीजनत् ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

tasya patnī-sahasrāṇāṁ
daśānāṁ sumahā-yaśāḥ
daśa-lakṣa-sahasrāṇi
putrāṇāṁ tāsv ajījanat

Synonyms

tasya — of Śaśabindu; patnī — wives; sahasrāṇām — of thousands; daśānām — ten; su-mahā-yaśāḥ — greatly famous; daśa — ten; lakṣalakhs (one lakh equals one hundred thousand); sahasrāṇi — thousands; putrāṇām — of sons; tāsu — in them; ajījanat — he begot.

Translation

The famous Śaśabindu had ten thousand wives, and by each he begot a lakh of sons. Therefore the number of his sons was ten thousand lakhs.

Devanagari

तेषां तु षट्‍प्रधानानां पृथुश्रवस आत्मज: ।
धर्मो नामोशना तस्य हयमेधशतस्य याट् ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

teṣāṁ tu ṣaṭ pradhānānāṁ
pṛthuśravasa ātmajaḥ
dharmo nāmośanā tasya
hayamedha-śatasya yāṭ

Synonyms

teṣām — out of so many sons; tu — but; ṣaṭ pradhānānām — of whom there were six foremost sons; pṛthuśravasaḥ — of Pṛthuśravā; ātmajaḥ — the son; dharmaḥ — Dharma; nāma — by the name; uśanā — Uśanā; tasya — his; hayamedha-śatasya — of one hundred aśvamedha sacrifices; yāṭ — he was the performer.

Translation

Among these many sons, six were the foremost, such as Pṛthuśravā and Pṛthukīrti. The son of Pṛthuśravā was known as Dharma, and his son was known as Uśanā. Uśanā was the performer of one hundred horse sacrifices.

Devanagari

तत्सुतो रुचकस्तस्य पञ्चासन्नात्मजा: श‍ृणु ।
पूरुजिद्रुक्‍मरुक्‍मेषुपृथुज्यामघसंज्ञिता: ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

tat-suto rucakas tasya
pañcāsann ātmajāḥ śṛṇu
purujid-rukma-rukmeṣu-
pṛthu-jyāmagha-saṁjñitāḥ

Synonyms

tat-sutaḥ — the son of Uśanā; rucakaḥ — Rucaka; tasya — of him; pañca — five; āsan — there were; ātmajāḥ — sons; śṛṇu — please hear (their names); purujit — Purujit; rukma — Rukma; rukmeṣu — Rukmeṣu; pṛthu — Pṛthu; jyāmagha — Jyāmagha; saṁjñitāḥ — these five sons were named.

Translation

The son of Uśanā was Rucaka, who had five sons — Purujit, Rukma, Rukmeṣu, Pṛthu and Jyāmagha. Please hear of these sons from me.

Devanagari

ज्यामघस्त्वप्रजोऽप्यन्यां भार्यां शैब्यापतिर्भयात् ।
नाविन्दच्छत्रुभवनाद् भोज्यां कन्यामहारषीत् ।
रथस्थां तां निरीक्ष्याह शैब्या पतिममर्षिता ॥ ३५ ॥
केयं कुहक मत्स्थानं रथमारोपितेति वै ।
स्‍नुषा तवेत्यभिहिते स्मयन्ती पतिमब्रवीत् ॥ ३६ ॥

Text

jyāmaghas tv aprajo ’py anyāṁ
bhāryāṁ śaibyā-patir bhayāt
nāvindac chatru-bhavanād
bhojyāṁ kanyām ahāraṣīt
ratha-sthāṁ tāṁ nirīkṣyāha
śaibyā patim amarṣitā
keyaṁ kuhaka mat-sthānaṁ
ratham āropiteti vai
snuṣā tavety abhihite
smayantī patim abravīt

Synonyms

jyāmaghaḥ — King Jyāmagha; tu — indeed; aprajaḥ api — although issueless; anyām — another; bhāryām — wife; śaibyā-patiḥ — because he was the husband of Śaibyā; bhayāt — out of fear; na avindat — did not accept; śatru-bhavanāt — from the enemy’s camp; bhojyām — a prostitute used for sense gratification; kanyām — girl; ahāraṣīt — brought; ratha-sthām — who was seated on the chariot; tām — her; nirīkṣya — seeing; āha — said; śaibyā — Śaibyā, the wife of Jyāmagha; patim — unto her husband; amarṣitā — being very angry; iyam — who is this; kuhaka — you cheater; mat-sthānam — my place; ratham — on the chariot; āropitā — has been allowed to sit; iti — thus; vai — indeed; snuṣā — daughter-in-law; tava — your; iti — thus; abhihite — being informed; smayantī — smilingly; patim — unto her husband; abravīt — said.

Translation

Jyāmagha had no sons, but because he was fearful of his wife, Śaibyā, he could not accept another wife. Jyāmagha once took from the house of some royal enemy a girl who was a prostitute, but upon seeing her Śaibyā was very angry and said to her husband, “My husband, you cheater, who is this girl sitting upon my seat on the chariot?” Jyāmagha then replied, “This girl will be your daughter-in-law.” Upon hearing these joking words, Śaibyā smilingly replied.

Devanagari

अहं बन्ध्यासपत्नी च स्‍नुषा मे युज्यते कथम् ।
जनयिष्यसि यं राज्ञि तस्येयमुपयुज्यते ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

ahaṁ bandhyāsapatnī ca
snuṣā me yujyate katham
janayiṣyasi yaṁ rājñi
tasyeyam upayujyate

Synonyms

aham — I am; bandhyā — sterile; asa-patnī — I have no co-wife; ca — also; snuṣā — daughter-in-law; me — my; yujyate — could be; katham — how; janayiṣyasi — you will give birth to; yam — which son; rājñi — O my dear Queen; tasya — for him; iyam — this girl; upayujyate — will be very suitable.

Translation

Śaibyā said, “I am sterile and have no co-wife. How can this girl be my daughter-in-law? Please tell me.” Jyāmagha replied, “My dear Queen, I shall see that you indeed have a son and that this girl will be your daughter-in-law.”

Devanagari

अन्वमोदन्त तद्विश्वेदेवा: पितर एव च ।
शैब्या गर्भमधात् काले कुमारं सुषुवे शुभम् ।
स विदर्भ इति प्रोक्त उपयेमे स्‍नुषां सतीम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Text

anvamodanta tad viśve-
devāḥ pitara eva ca
śaibyā garbham adhāt kāle
kumāraṁ suṣuve śubham
sa vidarbha iti prokta
upayeme snuṣāṁ satīm

Synonyms

anvamodanta — accepted; tat — that statement predicting the birth of a son; viśvedevāḥ — the Viśvedeva demigods; pitaraḥ — the Pitās or forefathers; eva — indeed; ca — also; śaibyā — the wife of Jyāmagha; garbham — pregnancy; adhāt — conceived; kāle — in due course of time; kumāram — a son; suṣuve — gave birth to; śubham — very auspicious; saḥ — that son; vidarbhaḥ — Vidarbha; iti — thus; proktaḥ — was well known; upayeme — later married; snuṣām — who was accepted as daughter-in-law; satīm — very chaste girl.

Translation

Long, long ago, Jyāmagha had satisfied the demigods and Pitās by worshiping them. Now, by their mercy, Jyāmagha’s words came true. Although Śaibyā was barren, by the grace of the demigods she became pregnant and in due course of time gave birth to a child named Vidarbha. Before the child’s birth, the girl had been accepted as a daughter-in-law, and therefore Vidarbha actually married her when he grew up.

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Dynasties of the Sons of Yayāti.”