Lomasha said: -
1. Thereupon hearing that Chyavana had been turned into a youth, Sharyati, becoming very much pleased, came with his troops to the hermitage of the son of Bhrigu.
2. He saw Chyavana and Sukanya like two celestials children. Sharyati with his wife was as pleased as he would have been, if he had acquired the whole earth.
3. The ruler of earth together with his wife was received honourable by those saints. The king seated himself near the ascetic and entered into a delightful conversation of an auspicious kind.
4. O king, the son of Bhrigu thus spoke to that ruler of worlds these words of a soothing nature, “O king, I shall perform your sacrifice. Let the necessary articles be procured.”
5. Thereupon that ruler of earth, Sharyati was exceedingly delighted. O great king, he expressed his approbation of the proposal made by Chyavana.
6. On an auspicious day, suitable for the commencement of a sacrificial ceremony, Sharyati ordered the erection of an excellent sacrificial shrine. He then splendidly furnished it with all desirable things.
7. O king, Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu performed his sacrifice. Hear the wonderful events which happened at that spot.
8. Chyavana took up some Soma juice, so that he might offer it to the Ashvins who are the physician to the celestials. When he was going to offer it, Indra prevented him.
Indra said: -
9. These two (Ashvins) in my opinion have no right to receive an offering of the Soma juice; they are the physicians to the celestials. As such, they are prevented (from receiving it).
Chyavana said: -
10. O Indra, these two are of great energy, they are high-souled, beautiful and handsome, they have made me eternally young like a celestial.
11. Why should you and the other celestials have a right to the Soma juice and not they? O lord of the celestials, O Purandara, know that the Ashvins are also celestials.
Indra said: -
12. These two are physicians and as such they are but servants. Assuming various forms at pleasure, they roam about the world of the mortals. How can they claim the Soma juice?
Lomasha said: -
13. When these words were said by the king of the celestials, the son of Bhrigu (Chyavana) did not heed them; and he took up the offering of (the soma).
14. Having seen that he was about to take up an excellent portion of Soma to offer it to the Ashvins, the destroyer of Bala Indra thus spoke to him.
15. “If you take up the Soma to offer it to those two celestials, I shall hurl at you my fearful thunder which is superior to all existing weapons.”
16. Having been thus addressed, the son of Bhrigu smilingly looked at Indra and he then took up in due form some excellent Soma juice to offer it to the Ashvins.
17. The husband of Sachi (Indra), then hurled at him the fearful thunder. When he was about to hurl it, the son of Bhrigu paralised it.
18. Having paralised his arms, Chyavana recited sacred hymns and made offerings to the fire. That greatly effulgent one, having gained his object tried to kill the celestials (Indra).
19. Thereupon the Rishi created, by his ascetic power, a great Asura of huge body and exceeding prowess, named Mada.
20. His body was incapable of being measured by the Suras and the Asuras. His mouth was fearful; it was of huge size with teeth of sharpened ends.
21. One of his jaws rested on earth and the other stretched to heaven. He had four fangs extending as far as one hundred yojonas.
22. His other fangs extended as far as one hundred yoyanas. They looked like the towers on a palace. They might be likened to the ends of spears.
23. His two arms were like two hills. They were of equal bulk and extended ten thousand yoyanas. His two eyes resembled the sun and the moon and his countenance looked like the great fire at the universal dissolution.
24. He was licking his mouth with his tongue, which like lightning knew no rest. His mouth was open and his glance was fearful. It appeared as if he would forcibly swallow up the world.
25. He rushed upon Shatakratu (Indra) with the intention of devouring that deity. The worlds resounded with the loud and fearful roaring of that Asura.
Thus ends the hundred and twenty-fourth chapter, the history of Sukanya, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.
Lomasha said: -
1. Having seen the fearful-faced Mada, coming with open mouth like death himself with the intention of devouring him, the deity Shatakratu (Indra).
2. Licked the corner of his mouth when his arms were paralyzed. Being afflicted with fear, the celestials king thus spoke.
3. O son of Bhrigu, O Brahmanas, I truly tell you that from this day the two Ashvins will be entitled to receive the Soma juice. Therefore, be merciful to me.
4. O Brahmana Rishi, your attempts can never be futile. Let this be the rule. I know your act can never be in vain.
5. O son of Bhrigu, these two Ashvins are now entitled to drink the Soma juice as you have made them today. O son of Bhrigu, I have done it to spread the fame of your powers.
6. My object was to spread the fame of the father of Sukanya all over the world. It has been done by me, so that your fame may spread.
7. Therefore, be merciful to me. Let it be as you desire.” Having been thus addressed by Indra, the high-souled son of Bhrigu.
8. Was soon appeased; and he set free Purandara (Indra). O king, that mighty Rishi distributed Mada and put it piece-meal in drinks, in women.
9. In gambling and in the field of sports. This Mada was formerly created again and again. Having thus thrown away Mada, he adored Indra with Soma.
10. He then assisted that king (Sharyati) to perform sacrifices to all the celestials together with the Ashvins. That foremost of speakers thus spread his fame all over the world.
11. O king, he then happily lived with his loving wife Sukanya in the forest. This is, O king, his lake resounding with the voice of the birds.
12. You must with you brothers offer oblations here to the Pitris and the celestials. O ruler of earth, O descendant of Bharata, having seen it and Sikataksha.
13. You should then go to the Saindhava forest and see many artificial rivers there. O great king, you should touch the waters of all the currents there.
14. And then, O descendant of Bharata, uttering the mantras of Sthanu, you will attain to ascetic success. O foremost of men, it is the time of junction between Treta and Dapara Yugas.
15. O son of Pritha, by seeing it, one is cleansed of all his sins. Perform your oblations here in this place which is capable of destroying all sins.
16. Yonder is the Archika hill, inhabited by cultured men. Fruits of all seasons grow here at all times and the streams run forever. It is an excellent place.
17. O Yudhishthira, there are may caverns here of various forms made by the celestials. This is the Tirtha of the moon and it is surrounded on all sides by the Rishis, who are the Vaisyas, the Valkhilyas, the Pavakas and the Vajuvakhas.
18. There are three peaks and three sacred springs; you may walk round them all one by one; you can perform your oblations at pleasure.
19. O king of kings, O ruler of men, Santanu, Sanaka and Nara and Narayana, have obtained eternal regions from this place.
20. O Yudhishthira, here did the Pitris, the celestials and the great Rishis always lie down. They all performed asceticism on the Archika mountain. Perform sacrifice here.
21. O king, here did they cook charu (rice with milk) with the Rishis; here is also the Yamuna of everlasting current where Krishna engaged himself in asceticism.
22. O son of Pandu, O chastiser of foes, the twins, Bhimasena and Krishna (Draupadi) and all of us will accompany you to this spot.
23. O ruler of men, this is the sacred spring of Indra where Dhata, Vidhata and Varuna rose upwards.
24. O king, here do they live observing forbearance and practising the greatest virtue. This excellent and auspicious mountain is fit for kind and candid persons.
25. This is that Famuna, O king which is frequented by the great Rishis, the scene of many sacrifices, it is holy and it destroys all fear of sin.
26. O son of Kunti, here did the great bow-man, king Mandhata, himself perform sacrifices, so did also Somaka, the son of Sahadeva, that foremost of all boon-givers.
Thus ends the hundred and twenty-fifth chapter, the history of Sukanya, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.
Yudhishthira said: -
1. O great Brahmana, how was born that excellent king, that foremost of monarchs, the son of Yuvanashva, Mandhata, celebrated over the three worlds?
2. Here did that immeasurably effulgent one attain to the highest regal power, for all the three worlds were as much under his rule as they were under that of the high-souled Vishnu?
3. I am desirous to hear all about the life and achievements of that intelligent king. I should also like to hear when and how his name became Mandhata, belonging as it did to the greatly effulgent Indra and how that matchlessly powerful hero was born, you are greatly-skilled in the art of narrating all events, (narrate all this to me).
Lomasha said: -
4. O king, hear with attention how the name of Mandhata, that high-souled king, came to be famous all over the world.
5. The king Yuvanashva was born in the race of Ikshvaku. O ruler of earth, he performed many sacrifices in which Dakshinas (gifts) were large.
6. That foremost of all virtuous men, performed one thousand horse-sacrifices. He also performed many other sacrifices in which Dakshinas were in abundance.
7. But that royal sage had no son and Therefore, that high-souled and greatly vow-observing king made over to his ministers the duties of the state and went to live in the forest.
8. That high-souled king devoted himself to the pursuits, enjoined in the Shastras; and one day, O king, that monarch was much afflicted with observing a fast.
9-11. He was suffering from the pangs of hunger and his inner soul seemed perched with thirst. He then entered the hermitage of Bhrigu. O king of kings, on that very night, the great Rishi, .who was the delight of Bhrigu's race, had performed a religious ceremony with the object of getting a son born to Sudyumana. A large vessel was there filled with water which was consecrated with mantras and which had been previously deposited there. The water was endued with the virtue of making the wife of Yuvanashava conceive a son equal to Indra.
12. Having been much fatigued by keeping up nights, those great Rishis placed that jar on the altar and went to sleep.
13. The king was suffering from thirst, his palate was dry and he was eagerly looking for water. Entering the hermitage, greatly tired as he was, he asked for water.
14. With fatigue and with a perched throat, he cried in a feeble voice which resembled like the inarticulate notes of a bird. Therefore, none heard his voice.
15. Thereupon the king, seeing the jar filled with water, quickly ran towards it. He drank the water and put the jar down.
16. That intelligent king, who was very thirsty, drank that cool water; his thirst being quenched he became greatly happy.
17. Those ascetic Rishis then awoke from their sleep and all of them saw that the water of the jar was gone.
18. They assembled all together and asked one another who had done this. Then Yuvanashva told the truth saying, “It was done by me.”
19. The illustrious son of Bhrigu then said to him, O royal sage, O greatly powerful one, “It was not proper. This was kept with the object that a son may be born to you. It was endued with ascetic virtue.
20. Having performed severe asceticism, I infused the virtue of my religious acts in this water, so that a son might be born to you. O royal sage, O greatly powerful one.
21. A son would have been born to you who would have been greatly strong, courageous, endued with the prowess of asceticism and who by his might would have even sent Indra to the abode of Yama.
22. O king, it was thus that this water was prepared by me. By drinking this water, O king, you have done what was not proper.
23. It is impossible now to turn back the incident which happened. What you have done was certainly ordained by Fate.
24-26. O great king, as you, being very thirsty, have drank the water prepared with sacred hymns which was filled with the virtue of my religious labours, you must bring forth out of your own body a son as described above. We shall perform for your sake a sacrifice of wonderful effect, so that you will bring forth a son equal to Indra. You will not feel any pain at the time of the delivery.
27. When one hundred years passed away, a son, as effulgent as the sun, came out by rising the left side of that high-souled king.
28. The greatly effulgent child came out, but king Yuvanashva did not die, it was no doubt a great wonder.
29. Then greatly effulgent, Indra came there with the desire of seeing him. Thereupon the celestials asked Indra, “What is to be sucked by this boy?”
30. Then Indra gave his own fore finger into his mouth (to suck) and the wielder of thunder said, “he will suck me.”
31. Thereupon the dwellers of heaven with Indra gave him the name Mandhattd.
32. Having sucked the fore-finger of Indra, he became greatly strong and he grew to be thirteen cubits.
33. O great king, the whole of the sacred learning together with the holy science of arms was acquired by that greatly intelligent boy by the simple and unassisted power of his thought.
34-35. O descendant of Bharata, the bow, celebrated all over the world by the name of Ajagava and a large number of arrows made of horn, also an impenetrable armour, all came to him on the same day. He was installed on the throne by Indra himself and he then conquered the three worlds in righteous way, as once Vishnu did by three steps.
36. The wheel of that high-souled king's car was irresistible in its course. Gems and jewels came to that royal sage of their own accord.
37. O ruler of earth, this is the region which (once) belonged to him. It abounds in great wealth. He performed may sacrifices in which gifts were in abundance.
38. O king, that great, powerful and immeasurably effulgent king erected many sacred piles and performed greatly pious deeds, by which he obtained the privilege of sitting at Indra's side.
39. That intelligent king conquered and ruled with virtuous laws the earth with cities and with the sea, the abode of gems.
40. O great king, the sacrificial grounds prepared by him were to be found all over the earth. There is not a single spot which is not marked with it.
41. O great king, that greatly powerful king is said to have given away to the Brahmanas ten thousand Padmas and kine.
42. When there was a draught extending for twelve years, disregarding the wielder of thunder, he caused rain to fall for the growth of crops.
43. The greatly powerful king of Gandhara, born in the Lunar dynasty, was terrible like the roaring clouds. Those that foolishly attacked him with arrows were immediately killed by him.
44. O king, that intelligent king protected the four orders of the popple and by virtue of his asceticism and religious rites the world was kept from harm by that greatly powerful king.
45. This is the place where he, as effulgent as the sun, performed sacrifices to the celestials. Look as it. Yonder it is in the middle of Kurukshetra.
46. O ruler of earth, I have thus narrated to you all the great history of Mandhata, the manner in which he was born, a birth which was surely wonderful.”
Vaishampayana said: -
47. O descendant of Bharata, having been thus addressed by the great Rishi Lomasha, the son of Kunti (Yudhishthira) asked other questions about Somaka.
Thus ends the hundred and twenty-sixth chapter, the history of Mandhata, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.