VISHNU PURANA. BOOK IV.  CHAP. XVI,xvii,xviii,xix,xx 

 

Descendants of Turvasu.

 

PARAS'ARA.--I shall now summarily give you an account of the descendants of Turvasu.

 

The son of Turvasu was Vahni; his son was Gobanu; his son was Trais'amba; his son was Karandhama; his son was Marutta. Marutta had no children, and he therefore adopted Dushyanta, of the family of Puru; by which the line of Turvasu merged into that of Puru. This took place in consequence of the malediction denounced on his son by Yayati.

 

CHAP. XVII.

 

Descendants of Druhyu.

 

THE son of Druhyu was Babhru; his son was Setu; his son was Aradwat; his son was Gandhara; his son was Dharma; his son was Dhrita [*4]; his son was Duryaman; his son was Prachetas, who had a hundred sons, and they were the princes of the lawless Mlechchhas or barbarians of the north.

 

CHAP. XVIII.

 

Descendants of Anu. Countries and towns named after some of them, as Anga, Banga, and others.

 

ANU, the fourth son of Yayati, had three sons, Sabhanara, Chakshusha, and Paramekshu. The son of the first was Kalanara; his son was S'rinjaya; his son was Puranjaya; his son was Janamejaya; his son was Mahamani; his son was Mahamanas, who had two sons, Us'inara and Titikshu. Us'inara had five sons, S'ivi, Trina, Gara, Krimi, Darvan. S'ivi had four sons, Vrishadarbha, Suvira, Kaikeya, and Madra. Titikshu had one son, Ushadratha; his son was Hema; his son was Sutapas; his son was Bali, on whose wife five sons were begotten by Dirghatamas, or Anga, Banga, Kalinga, Suhma, and Pundra; and their descendants, and the five countries they inhabited, were known by the same names.

 

The son of Anga was Para; his son was Divaratha; his son was Dharmaratha; his son was Chitraratha; his son was Romapada, also called Das'aratha, to whom, being childless, Das'aratha, the son of Aja, gave his daughter S'anta to be adopted. After this, Romapada had a son named Chaturanga; his son was Prithulaksha; his son was Champa, who founded the city of Champa. The son of Champa was Haryyanga; his son was Bhadraratha, who had two sons, Vrihatkarman and Vrihadratha. The son of the first was Vrihadbhanu; his son was Vrihanmanas; his son was Jayadratha, who, by a wife who was the daughter of a Kshatriya father and Brahmani mother, had a son named Vijaya; his son was Dhriti; his son was Dhritavrata; his son was Satyakarman; his son was Adhiratha, who found Karna in a basket on the banks of the Ganges, where he had been exposed by his mother, Pritha. The son of Karna was Vrishasena. These were the Anga kings. You shall next hear who were the descendants of Puru.

 

CHAP. XIX.

 

Descendants of Puru. Birth of Bharata, the son of Dushyanta: his sons killed: adopts Bharadwaja or Vitatha. Hastin, founder of Hastinapur. Sons of Ajamidha, and the races derived from them, as Panchalas, &c. Kripa and Kripi found by S'antanu. Descendants of Riksha, the son of Ajamidha. Kurukshetra named from Kuru. Jarasandha and others, kings of Magadha.

 

THE son of Puru was Janamejaya; his son was Prachinvat; his son was Pravira; his son was Manasyu; his son was Bhayada; his son was Sudyumna; his son was Bahugava; his son was Samyati; his son was Ahamyati; his son was Raudras'wa, who had ten sons, Riteyu, Kaksheyu, Sthandileyu, Ghriteyu, Jaleyu, Sthaleyu, Santateyu, Dhaneyu, Vaneyu, and Vrateyu. The son of Riteyu was Rantinara, whose sons were Tansu, Apratiratha, and Dhruva. The son of the second of these was Kanwa, and his son was Medhatithi, from whom the Kanwayana Brahmanas descended. Anila was the son of Tansu, and he had four sons, of whom Dushyanta was the elder. The son of Dushyanta was the emperor Bharata; a verse explanatory of his name is chaunted by the gods; "The mother is only the receptacle; it is the father by whom a son is begotten. Cherish thy son, Dushyanta; treat not S'akuntala with disrespect. Sons, who are born from the paternal loins, rescue their progenitors from the infernal regions. Thou art the parent of this boy; S'akuntala has spoken truth." From the expression 'cherish,' Bharaswa, the prince was called Bharata.

 

Bharata had by different wives nine sons, but they were put to death by their own mothers, because Bharata remarked that they bore no resemblance to him, and the women were afraid that he would therefore desert them. The birth of his sons being thus unavailing, Bharata sacrificed to the Maruts, and they gave him Bharadwaja, the son of Vrihaspati by Mamata the wife of Utathya, expelled by the kick of Dirghatamas, his half brother, before his time. This verse explains the purport of his appellation; "'Silly woman,' said Vrihaspati, 'cherish this child of two fathers' (bhara dwa-jam). 'No, Vrihaspati,' replied Mamata, 'do you take care of him.' So saying, they both abandoned him; but from their expressions the boy was called Bharadwaja." He was also termed Vitatha, in allusion to the unprofitable (vitatha) birth of the sons of Bharata. The son of Vitatha was Bhavanmanyu; his sons were many, and amongst them the chief were Vrihatkshatra, Mahaviryya, Nara, and Garga. The son of Nara was Sankriti; his sons were Ruchiradhi and Rantideva. The son of Garga was Sini, and their descendants called Gargyas and S'ainyas, although Kshatriyas by birth, became Brahmans. The son of Mahaviryya was Urukshaya, who had three sons, Trayyaruna, Pushkarin, and Kapi; the last of whom became a Brahman. The son of Vrihatkshatra was Suhotra, whose son was Hastin, who founded the city of Hastinapur. The sons of Hastin were Ajamidha, Dwimidha, and Purumidha. One son of Ajamidha was Kanwa, whose son was Medhatithi; his other son was Vrihadishu, whose son was Vrihadvasu; his son was Vrihatkarman; his son was Jayadratha; his son was Vis'wajit; his son was Senajit, whose sons were Ruchiras'wa, Kas'ya, Dridhadhanush, and Vasahanu. The son of Ruchiras'wa was Prithusena; his son was Para; his son was Nipa; he had a hundred sons, of whom Samara, the principal, was the ruler of Kampilya. Samara had three sons, Para, Sampara, Sadas'wa. The son of Para was Prithu; his son was Sukriti; his son was Vibhratra; his son was Anuha, who married Kritwi, the daughter of S'uka (the son of Vyasa), and had by her Brahmadatta; his son was Vis'waksena; his son was Udaksena; and his son was Bhallata.

 

The son of Dwimidha was Yavinara; his son was Dhritimat; his son was Satyadhriti; his son was Dridhanemi; his son was Supars'wa; his son was Sumati; his son was Sannatimat; his son was Krita, to whom Hiranyanabha taught the philosophy of the Yoga, and he compiled twenty-four Sanhitas (or compendia) for the use of the eastern Brahmans, who study the Sama-veda. The son of Krita was Ugrayudha, by whose prowess the Nipa race of Kshatriyas was destroyed; his son was Kshemya; his son was Suvira; his son was Nripanjaya; his son was Bahuratha. These were all called Pauravas.

 

Ajamidha had a wife called Nilini, and by her he had a son named Nila; his son was S'anti; his son was S'us'anti; his son was Purujanu; his son was Chakshu; his son was Haryyas'wa, who had five sons, Mudgala, S'rinjaya, Vrihadishu, Pravira, and Kampilya. Their father said, "These my five (pancha) sons are able (alam) to protect the countries;" and hence they were termed the Panchalas. From Mudgala descended the Maudgalya Brahmans: he had also a son named Bahwas'wa, who had two children, twins, a son and daughter, Divodasa and Ahalya. The son of S'aradwat or Gautama by Ahalya was S'atananda; his son was Satyadhriti, who was a proficient in military science. Being enamoured of the nymph Urvas'i, Satyadhriti was the parent of two children, a boy and a girl. S'antanu, a Raja, whilst hunting, found these children exposed in a clump of long S'ara grass; and, compassionating their condition, took them, and brought them up. As they were nurtured through pity (kripa), they were called Kripa and Kripi. The latter became the wife of Drona, and the mother of Aswatthaman.

 

The son of Divodasa was Mitrayu; his son was Chyavana; his son was Sudasa; his son was Saudasa, also called Sahadeva; his son was Somaka; he had a hundred sons, of whom Jantu was the eldest, and Prishata the youngest. The son of Prishata was Drupada; his son was Dhrishtadyumna; his son was Drishtaketu.

 

Another son of Ajamidha was named Riksha; his son was Samvarana; his son was Kuru, who gave his name to the holy district Kurukshetra; his sons were Sudhanush, Jahnu, Parikshit, and many others. The son of Sudhanush was Suhotra; his son was Chyavana; his son was Kritaka; his son was Uparichara the Vasu, who had seven children, Vrihadratha, Pratyagra, Kus'amba, Mavella, Matsya, and others. The son of Vrihadratha was Kus'agra; his son was Rishabha [*58]; his son was Pushpavat; his son was Satyadhrita; his son was Sudhanwan; and his son was Jantu. Vrihadratha had another son, who being born in two parts, which were put together (sandhita) by a female friend named Jara, he was denominated Jarasandha; his son was Sahadeva; his son was Somapi; his son was Srutas'ravas. These were kings of Magadha.

 

 

CHAP. XX.

 

Descendants of Kuru. Devapi abdicates the throne: assumed by S'antanu: he is confirmed by the Brahmans: Bhishma his son by Ganga: his other sons. Birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. The hundred sons of Dhritarashtra. The five sons of Pandu: married to Draupadi: their posterity. Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna, the reigning king.

 

PARIKSHIT, the son of Kuru, had four sons, Janamejaya, S'rutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. The son of Jahnu was Suratha; his son was Viduratha; his son was Sarvabhauma; his son was Jayasena Aravin; his son was Ayutayus; his son was Akrodhana; one of his sons was Devatithi, and another was called Riksha; his son was Dilipa; his son was Pratipa, who had three sons, Devapi, S'antanu, and Bahlika. The first adopted in childhood a forest life, and S'antanu became king. Of him this verse is spread through the earth; "S'antanu is his name, because if he lays his hands upon an old man, he restores him to youth, and by him men obtain tranquillity (s'anti)."

 

In the kingdom over which S'antanu ruled there was no rain for twelve years. Apprehensive that the country would become a desert, the king assembled the Brahmans, and asked them why no rain fell, and what fault he had committed. They told him that he was as it were a younger brother married before an elder, for he was in the enjoyment of the earth, which was the right of his elder brother Devapi. "What then am I to do?" said the Raja: to which they replied, "Until the gods shall be displeased with Devapi, by his declining from the path of righteousness, the kingdom is his, and to him therefore you should resign it." When the minister of the king, Asmarisarin, heard this, he collected a number of ascetics who taught doctrines opposed to those of the Vedas, and sent them into the forest; where meeting with Devapi, they perverted the understanding of the simple-minded prince, and led him to adopt heretical notions. In the meantime, S'antanu being much distressed to think that he had been guilty of the offence intimated by the Brahmans, sent them before him into the woods, and then proceeded thither himself, to restore the kingdom to his elder brother. When the Brahmans arrived at the hermitage of Devapi, they informed him, that, according to the doctrines of the Vedas, succession to a kingdom was the right of the elder brother: but he entered into discussion with them, and in various ways advanced arguments which had the defect of being contrary to the precepts of the Vedas. When the Brahmans heard this, they turned to S'antanu, and said, "Come hither, Raja; you need give yourself no further trouble in this matter; the dearth is at an end: this man is fallen from his state, for he has uttered words of disrespect to the authority of the eternal, untreated Veda; and when the elder brother is degraded, there is no sin in the prior espousals of his junior." S'antanu thereupon returned to his capital, and administered the government as before; and his elder brother Devapi being degraded from his caste by repeating doctrines contrary to the Vedas, Indra poured down abundant rain, which was followed by plentiful harvests.

 

The son of Bahlika was Somadatta, who had three sons, Bhuri, Bhuris'ravas, and S'ala.

 

The son of S'antanu was the illustrious and learned Bhishma, who was born to him by the holy river-goddess, Ganga; and he had by his wife Satyavati two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitraviryya. Chitrangada, whilst yet a youth, was killed in a conflict with a Gandharba, also called Chitrangada. Vichitraviryya married Amba and Ambalika, the daughters of the king of Kas'i; and indulging too freely in connubial rites, fell into a consumption, of which he died. By command of Satyavati, my son Krishna-dwaipayana, ever obedient to his mother's wishes [*4], begot upon the widows of his brother the princes Dhritarashtra and Pandu, and upon a female servant, Vidura. Dhritarashtra had Duryodhana, Duhsas'ana, and other sons, to the cumber of a hundred. Pandu having incurred the curse of a deer, whose mate he had killed in the chase, was deterred from procreating children; and his wife Kunti, bare to him in consequence three sons, who were begotten by the deities Dharma, Vayu, and Indra; namely, Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna: and his wife Madri had two sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, by the celestial sons of As'wini. These had each a son by Draupadi. The son of Yudhishthira was Prativindhya; of Bhima, S'rutasoma; of Arjuna, S'rutakirtti; of Nakula, S'atanika; and of Sahadeva, S'rutakarman. The Pandavas had also other sons. By his wife Yaudheyi, Yudhishthira had Devaka.

 

The son of Bhima by Hidimba was Ghatotkacha, and he had also Sarvatraga by his wife Kas'i. The son of Sahadeva by Vijaya was Suhotra; and Niramitra was the son of Nakula by Karenumati. Arjuna had Iravat by the serpent-nymph Ulupi; Babhruvahana, who was adopted as the son of his maternal grandfather, by the daughter of the king of Manipura; and, by his wife Subhadra Abhimanyu, who even in extreme youth was renowned for his valour and his strength, and crushed the chariots of his foes in fight. The son of Abhimanyu by his wife Uttara was Parikshit, who, after the Kurus were all destroyed, was killed in his mother's womb by the magic Brahma weapon, hurled by Aswatthaman: he was however restored to life by the clemency of that being whose feet receive the homage of all the demons and the gods, and who for his own pleasure had assumed a human shape (Krishna). This prince, Parikshit, now reigns over the whole world with undivided sway.