Vishwamitra: How a
Kshatriya attained Brahminhood
This story of how
Vishwamitra, being a Kshatriya, attained Brahminhood, appears in Dana-dharma
Parva of Anushasana Parva.
Yudhishthira said,
“If, O prince,
Brahmanahood be so difficult of attainment by the three classes (Kshatriyas,
Vaisyas and Sudras), how then did the high souled Vishwamitra, O king, though a
Kshatriya (by birth), attain to the status of a Brahmana? I desire to know
this, O sire. Therefore, do you truly relate this matter to me. That powerful
man, O sire, by virtue of his austerities, destroyed in a moment the hundred
sons of the high-souled Vasishtha. While under the influence of anger, he
created numerous evil spirits and Rakshasas of mighty vigour and resembling the
great destroyer Kala himself. The great and learned race of Kushika, numbering
hundreds of regenerate sages and belauded by the Brahmanas, was founded in this
world of men by him. Sunashepha of austere penances, the son of Richika, having
been sought to be slain as an animal in the great sacrifice of Ambarisha,
obtained his deliverance through Vishwamitra. Harishchandra, having pleased the
gods at a sacrifice, became a son of the wise Vishwamitra. For not having honoured
their eldest brother Devarat, whom Vishwamitra got as a son from the gods, the
other fifty brothers of his were cursed, and all of them became Chandalas.
Trishanku, the son of Ikshwaku, through the curse of Vasistha became a
Chandala, and when abandoned by his friends, and remaining suspended with his
head downwards in the lower regions, was translated to heaven at the pleasure
of Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra had a large river, by name Kausika, that was
frequented by celestial Rishis. This sacred and auspicious stream was
frequented by the gods and regenerate Rishis. For disturbing his devotions, the
famous celestial nymph Rambha of fine bracelets, was cursed and metamorphosed
into a rock. Through fear of Vishwamitra the glorious Vasishtha, in olden times,
binding himself with creepers, threw himself down into a river and again rose
released from his bonds. In consequence of this, that large and sacred river
become thenceforth celebrated by the name of Vipasha. He prayed to the glorious
and puissant Indra who was pleased with him and absolved him from a curse.
Remaining on the northern side of the firmament, he sheds his lustre from a
position in the midst of the seven regenerate Rishis, and Dhruva the son of
Uttanapada. These are his achievements as well as many others. O descendant of
Kuru, as they were performed by a Kshatriya, my curiosity has been roused in
this matter. Therefore, O foremost one of Bharata's race, do you relate this
matter to me truly. How without casting off his corporeal frame and taking
another tenement of flesh could he become a Brahmana? Do you, O sire, truly
relate this matter to me as you have related to me the story of Matanga.
Matanga was born as a Chandala, and could not attain to Brahmanahood,(with all
his austerities) but how could this man attain to the status of a
Brahmana?"
Bhishma said,
“Listen truly in
detail, O son of Pritha, how in olden times Vishwamitra attained to the status
of a Brahmana Rishi.”
There was, in the race
of Bharata, a king of the name of Ajamida, who performed many sacrifices and
was the best of all virtuous men. His son was the great king named Jahnu. Ganga
was the daughter of this high-minded prince. The far-famed and equally virtuous
Sindhudwipa was the son of this prince. From Sindhudwipa sprung the great royal
sage Balakashwa. His son was named Vallabha who was like a second Dharma in
embodied form. His son again was Kushika who was refulgent with glory like unto
the thousand-eyed Indra. Kushika's son was the illustrious King Gadhi who,
being childless and desiring to have a son born unto him, repaired to the
forest. Whilst living there, a daughter was born unto him. She was called
Satyavati by name, and in beauty of appearance she had no equal on Earth. The
illustrious son of Chyavana, celebrated by the name of Richika, of the race of
Bhrigu, endued with austere penances, sought the hand of this lady. Gadhi, the
destroyer of his enemies, thinking him to be poor, did not bestow her in marriage
upon the high-souled Richika. But when the latter, thus dismissed, was going
away, the excellent king, addressing him said,
“If you give me a
marriage dower you shall have my daughter for your wife.”
Richika said,
“What dower, O king,
shall I offer you for the hand of your daughter? Tell me truly, without feeling
any hesitation in the matter.”
Gadhi said,
“O descendant of
Bhrigu, do you give me a thousand horses fleet as the wind, and possessing the
hue of moon-beams, and each having one ear black.”
Then that mighty son
of Chyavana who was the foremost of Bhrigu's race, besought the deity Varuna,
the son of Aditi, who was the lord of all the waters.
“O best of gods, I
pray to you to give me a thousand horses, all endued with the speed of the wind
and with complexion as effulgent as the moon's, but each having one ear black.”
The god Varuna, the
son of Aditi, said to that excellent scion of Bhrigu's race,
“Be it so. Wheresoever
you shall seek, the horses shall arise (in your presence).”
As soon as Richika
thought of them, there arose from the waters of Ganga thousand high-mettled
horses, as lustrous in complexion as the moon. Not far from Kanyakubja, the
sacred bank of Ganga is still famous among men as Ashwatirtha in consequence of
the appearance of those horses at that place. Then Richika, that best of
ascetics, pleased in mind, gave those thousand excellent horses unto Gadhi as
the marriage-dower. King Gadhi, filled with wonder and fearing to be cursed,
gave his daughter, bedecked with jewels, unto that son of Bhrigu. That foremost
of regenerate Rishis accepted her hand in marriage according to the prescribed
rites. The princess too was well-pleased at finding herself the wife of that
Brahmana. That foremost of regenerate Rishis was well pleased with her conduct
and expressed a wish to grant her boon.
The princess related
this to her mother. The mother addressed the daughter that stood before her
with down-cast eyes, saving,
“It behoves you, O my
daughter, to secure a favour for me also from your husband. That sage of
austere penances is capable of granting a boon to me, the boon, viz. of the
birth of a son to me.”
Then, returning
quickly to her husband Richika, the princess related to him all that had been
desired by her mother. Richika said,
“By my favour, O
blessed one, she will soon give birth to a son possessed of every virtue. May
your request be fulfilled. Of you too shall be born a mighty and glorious son
who, endued with virtue, shall perpetuate my race. Truly do I say this unto
you! When you two shall bathe in your season, she shall embrace a peepul tree,
and you, O excellent lady, shall likewise embrace a fig tree, and by so doing
shall you attain the object of your desire. O sweetly-smiling lady, both she
and you shall have to partake of these two sacrificial offerings (charu) rated
with hymns, and then shall you obtain sons (as desired).”
At this, Satyavati,
delighted at heart, told her mother all that had been said by Richika as also
of the two balls of charu. Then the mother, addressing her daughter Satyavati,
said:
“O daughter, as I am
deserving of greater consideration from you than your husband, do you obey my
words. The charu, duly consecrated with hymns, which your husband has given to
you, do you give unto me and yourself take the one that has been prescribed for
me. O sweetly-smiling one of blameless character, if you have any respect for
my word, let us change the trees respectively designed for us. Every one
desires to possess an excellent and stainless being for his own son. The
glorious Richika too must have acted from a similar motive in this matter, as
will appear in the end. For this reason, O beautiful girl, my heart inclines
towards your charu, and your tree, and you too should consider how to secure an
excellent brother for yourself.”
The mother and the
daughter Satyavati having acted in this way, they both became big with child.
And that great Rishi, the excellent descendant of Bhrigu, finding his wife
quick with child, was pleased at heart, and addressing her, said,
“O excellent lady, you
have not done well in exchanging the charu as will soon become apparent. It is
also clear that you have changed the trees. I had placed the entire accumulated
energy of Brahma in your charu and Kshatriya energy in the charu of your
mother. I had so ordered that you would give birth to a Brahmana whose virtues
would be famous throughout the three worlds, and that she (your mother) would
give birth to an excellent Kshatriya. But now, O excellent lady, that you have
reversed the order (of the charu) so, your mother will give birth to an
excellent Brahmana and you too, O excellent lady, will give birth to a
Kshatriya terrible in action. You have not done will, O lady, by acting thus
out of affection for your mother.”
Hearing this, the
excellent lady Satyavati, struck with sorrow, fell upon the ground like a
beautiful creeper cut in twain. Regaining her senses and bowing unto her lord
with head (bent), the daughter of Gadhi said to her husband, that foremost one
of Bhrigu's race,
“O regenerate Rishi, O
you that are foremost amongst those versed in Brahma, do you take pity on me,
your wife, who is thus appeasing you and so order that a Kshatriya son may not
be born unto me. Let my grandson be such a one as will be famous for his terrible
achievements, if it be your desire, but not my son, O Brahmana. Do you confer
this favour on me.”
“Be it so,” said that
man of austere penances to his wife and then, she gave birth to a blessed son
named Jamadagni. The celebrated wife of Gadhi too gave birth to the regenerate
Rishi Vishwamitra versed in the knowledge of Brahma, by favour of that Rishi.
The highly devout Vishwamitra, though a Kshatriya, attained to the state of a
Brahmana and became the founder of a race of Brahmanas. His sons became
high-souled progenitors of many races of Brahmanas who were devoted to austere
penances, learned in the Vedas, and founders, of many clans. The adorable
Madhuchcchanda and the mighty Devrat, Akshina, Shakunta, Babhru, Kalapatha, the
celebrated Yajnavalkya, Sthula of high vows, Uluka, Mudgala, and the sage
Saindhavayana, the illustrious Valgujangha and the great Rishi Galava, Ruchi,
the celebrated Vajra, as also Shalankayana, Liladhya and Narada, the one known
as Kurchamuka, and Bahuli, Mushala, as also Vakshogriva, Anghrika, Naikadrik,
Shilayupa, Shita, Shuchi, Chakraka, Marrutantavya, Vataghna, Ashwalayana, and
Syamayana, Gargya, and Jabali, as also Sushruta, Karishi, Sangshrutya, and Para
Paurava, and Tantu, the great sage Kapila, Tarakayana, Upagahana, Asurayani,
Margama, Hiranyksha, Janghari, Bhavravayani, and Suti, Bibhuti, Suta, Surakrit,
Arani, Nachika, Champeya, Ujjayana, Navatantu, Vakanakha, Sayanya, Yati,
Ambhoruha, Amatsyasin, Shrishin, Gardhavi Urjjayoni, Rudapekahin, and the great
Rishi Naradin, these Munis were all sons of Vishwamitra and were versed in the
knowledge of Brahma. The highly austere and devout Vishwamitra, although a
Kshatriya (by descent), became a Brahmana for Richika having placed the energy
of supreme Brahma (in the charu).
Bhishma continued:
“I have now related to
you, with all details, the story of the birth of Vishwamitra who was possessed
of energy of the sun, the moon, and the fire-god. O best of kings, if you have
any doubt with regard to any other matter, do you let me know it, so that I may
remove it.”
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