The Sages said:
1. Why was the world (hermitage) of the noble-souled Apava burnt by Kartavirya forcibly?! Please explain it to us who ask.
1. Verses 1-13 explain in details again why the hermitage of Apava Vasişhtha was burnt by Kārtavirya. As these verses deal with the curse of Apava, they should have formed a part of the last chapter after v. 39. Vv. 1-13 hereof are unrelated to the present chapter (Race of Kroshtu)
2. We have heard that the saintly king was a protector of his subjects. Being a guardian, therefore, why did he destroy that hermitage?
Sūta said:
3. Aditya (the Sun-god) desirous of satisfaction (of hunger) approached Kärtavirya in the guise of a Brāhmaṇa (and said), “Please give me food. Undoubtedly I am Aditya.”
The King said:
4. O Lord Sun, please tell me with what you will be satisfied. What type of food I should give to you; I shall serve it.
The Sun said:
5. O most excellent one among donors, give unto me all the immobile beings as my food. I shall be satisfied only there by O king, and not by anything else,
The King said:
6. O the most excellent one among those who blaze, no fiery splendour of human beings can burn down all immobile beings. I bow unto you.
Aditya replied:
7. I am delighted. I shall give you an inexhaustible quiver of arrows that are conducive to all happiness* and that never fail. When discharged they will burn because they are charged with my brilliance.
* sarvato-mukhăn ‘capable of facing i.e. going in all direction in Bd.P. 2.3.70.7 is a better reading than sarvatosukhān hereof.
8. When it is commanded, it will dry up the clouds and the oceans. When it is dry, I will reduce it to ashes and shall be delighted thereby, O king!
9-11. Then Aditya gave Arjuna those arrows. Securing them, (Arjuna) burnt all the great immobile beings, hermitages, villages, cowherd colonies, cities, penance groves, beautiful forests and parks etc. and then circumambulated the Sun-god. The earth burnt down by the splendour of the Sun, became tree-less and grass-less.
12-13. In the meantime, the great sage (Apava) who had been residing under water for ten thousand years, completed his holy observance. Then the ascetic of great splendour emerged out (from water). The great sage then saw his hermitage burnt down by Arjuna. Out of anger he cursed the saintly king as already recounted by me to you.
Sūta said:
14. Listen to the race of the saintly king Kroşhtu consisting of excellent men. In his family was born Vrushni, the founder of the dynasty of Vrushnis.
15. Kroshtu had only one son Vrujinivan of great fame. (The people) liked the son of Vrujinivän, Svähi, the foremost among those possessing Svähä (i.e. performers of Yajñas wherein “Svāha’ is repeated).
16. King Rashadu, the foremost among donors was the son of Svähi. (The people) liked Ghrutamprasūta, the eldest and the best son of Raśhādu.
17. He performed many types of great Yajñas with adequate Dakşhiņās. His son Chitraratha was also endowed with the inclination) to perform diverse holy rites.
18. Thus the heroic Chitraratha performed many Yajñas giving vast wealth as Dakşhiņā. His successor was Shaśhabindu, who followed (the footsteps) of saintly kings.
19. He was an emperor of great prowess. He was very powerful and he had many children. In this connection, this genealogical verse has been cited by those who know ancient traditions.
20. “Shashabindu had ten thousand sons. They were all very intelligent. They possessed vast wealth and great splendour. They were worthy (of their father).
21-22. Six of them were very important; they were known as Pruthushatkas’ (six men who had the word Pruthu i.e. great added on to their name). They were-Pruthuśhravas, Pruhthuyashas, Pruthuñjaya, Pruşhthukirti and Pruthundāta. All the sons of Shashabindu were kings. All the Purānas praise Antara who was the son of Pruthushravas. He was the same Antara as was the son of Yajña formerly.”
23. After getting the earth (i.e. having become king) the same pious-souled excellent, righteous (king) performed a hundred horse-sacrifices.
24. His son was Marutta1 who followed (the footsteps of) saintly kings. Heroic Kambalabarhis is remembered as Marutta’s son.
1. Our text has dropped two generations between Antara (Akşhara in Bd.P.) and Marutta-vide Bd.P. 2.3.70.23-25.
25-26. Scholarly Rukmakavacha was the son of Kambala barhis. This Rukmakavacha had formerly attained excellent glory by killing (many) warriors wearing coats of mail and armed with bows, with his sharp arrows. He attained great fame as a performer of horse-sacrifices and gave profuse wealth (as Dakşhiņā) to Brahmaņas.
27. From king Rukmakavacha were born five very strong sons of great prowess who killed heroic enemies without turning away (from the battlefield).
28. They were Rukmeşhu, Pruthurukma, Jyāmagha, Parigha and Hari. The father established Hari and Parigha in the land called) Videha.
29. Brahmeşhu1 (? Rukmeşhu) became king, and Pruthurukma became his dependent. Banished from the kingdom by them, Jyāmagha2 lived in a hermitage.
1. Brahmeşhu is a mistake for Rukmeşhu. In AIHT p. 146 Parāvrut is named as the successor of Rukmakavacha.
2. Jyamagha’s dynasty was famous but he is personally noted as a henpecked husband in Puranas, vide vv. 32-34, also Bd.P. 2.3.70. 33-36.
30. He was quiescent (by temperament). He lived in the terrible forest but he was actuated by a Brahmaņa. Taking up his bow he went to the middle of the land, seated in his chariot and waving his flag.
31. He (wandered) along in the marshy place on the banks of Narmadā. After passing through Mekala mountains and the mountain Rukşhavan, he entered Shuktimanya (?)
32. Jyåmagha’s wife was Shaibya, who was very strong. Though the king had no son, he did not take a second wife.
33. He became victorious in a battle and won a girl therein. The king then came to his wife and said, “Here is your daughter-in-law”.
34. On being addressed thus she said, “This daughter-in law of yours is loveable. She will be the wife of your son who will be born (who is yet to be born).”
35. By performing a severe penance, the beautiful chaste lady Shaibyā gave birth to his son Vidarbha in her old age.
36. Vidarbha begot of that daughter-in-law two scholarly princes, Krathu and Kaushika who were heroic and experts in battles.
37. The very virtuous (king Vidarbha) later begot a third son Lomapäda. Vastu was the son of Lomapada and his son was Ahruti.
38. Chidi was the son of Kaushika. The Chaidya kings are remembered as his descendants. Kunti was the son of Krathu who was Vidarbha’s son.
39. Dhrushta was born as the son of Kunti. He was very proud and valorous. Dhrushta’s son was the pious-souled Nirvruti, the slayer of brave enemies.
40. His son was Daśhärha who was very strong and valiant. Daśhärha’s son was Vyoman and his son is called Jimūta.
41. Jimūta’s son was Vikruti and his son was Bhimaratha. Bhimaratha’s son was Rathavara.
42. He was a donor interested in Dharma (holy rite) perpetually. He was well-behaved and invariably truthful. His son was Navaratha. Dasharatha came after him.
43. His son was Ekādaśharatha. Shakuni was his son. From him was born the archer Karambhaka. Devarata came thereafter.
44. King Devakşhatra of great fame was the son of Devarāta. Devana, the delighter of Kshatriyas, was born as the son of Devakşhatra.
45-46. Madhu was born of Devana. His son was Medhartha-sambhava. Madhu had other sons as well, viz. Manu of great brilliance, Manuvasha, Nandana of great splendour and Mahāpuruvašha. Purudvān, the most excellent man, was the son of Puruvasha.
47. Purūdvaha was born of Bhadravati as the son of Purūdyan. Aikṣhāki was the wife (of Purudván). Sattva was born of her. From Sattva was born Såttvata who was endowed with Sattvaguņa. He increased the fame of the race).
48. After perfectly understanding this creation (race) of the noble-souled Jyāmagha, one obtains children and attains Säyujya (identity) with the intelligent king Soma.