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