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Seventh Skandha · Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Unit 155 of 318Seventh Skandha · Chapter 2Seventh Skandha · Chapter 21 source entries

Seventh Skandha · Chapter 2

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ममाख्याहि महाभाग राज्ञां वंशं सुविस्तरम् । सूर्यान्वयप्रसूतानां धर्मज्ञानां विशेषतः ॥ १ ॥ शृणु भारत वक्ष्यामि रविवंशस्य विस्तरम् । यथा श्रुतं मया पूर्वं नारदाद्‌ऋषिसत्तमात् ॥ २ ॥ एकदा नारदH श्रीमान्सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे । आजगामाश्रमे पुण्ये विचरन्स्वेच्छया मुनिः ॥ ३ ॥ प्रणम्य शिरसा पादौ तस्याग्रे संस्थितस्तदा । ततस्तस्यासनं दत्त्वा कृत्वार्हणमथादरात् ॥ ४ ॥ विधिवत्पूजयित्वा तं उक्तवान्वचनं त्विदम् । पावितोऽहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ पूज्यस्यागमनेन वै ॥ ५ ॥ कथां कथय सर्वज्ञ राज्ञां चरितसंयुताम् । राजानो ये समाख्याताः सप्तमेऽस्मिन्मनोः कुले ॥ ६ ॥ तेषामुत्पत्तिरतुला चरितं परमाद्‌भुतम् । श्रोतुकामोऽस्म्यहं ब्रह्मन् सूर्यवंशस्य विस्तरम् ॥ ७ ॥ समाख्याहि मुनिश्रेष्ठ समासव्यासपूर्वकम् । इति पृष्टो मया राजन्नारदः परमार्थवित् ॥ ८ ॥ उवाच प्रहसन्प्रीतः समाभाष्य मुदान्वयम् । नारद उवाच - शृणु सत्यवतीसूनो राज्ञां वंशमनुत्तमम् ॥ ९ ॥ पावनं कर्णसुखदं धर्मज्ञानादिभिर्युतम् । ब्रह्मा पूर्वं जगत्कर्ता नाभिपङ्कजसम्भवः ॥ १० ॥ विष्णोरिति पुराणेषु प्रसिद्धः परिकीर्तितः । सर्वज्ञः सर्वकर्तासौ स्वयम्भूः सर्वशक्तिमान् ॥ ११ ॥ तपस्तप्त्वा स विश्वात्मा वर्षाणामयुतं पुरा । सृष्टिकामः शिवां ध्यात्वा प्राप्य शक्तिमनुत्तमाम् ॥ १२ ॥ पुत्रानुत्पदयामास मानसाञ्छुभलक्षणान् । मरीचिः प्रथिस्तेषामभवत्सृष्टिकर्मणि ॥ १३ ॥ तस्य पुत्रोऽतिविख्यातः कश्यपः सर्वसम्मतः । त्रयोदशैव तस्यासन्भार्या दक्षसुताः किल ॥ १४ ॥ देवाः सर्वे समुत्पन्ना दैत्या यक्षाश्च पन्नगाः । पशवः पक्षिणश्चैव तस्मात्सृष्टिस्तु काश्यपी ॥ १५ ॥ देवानां प्रथितः सूर्यो विवस्वान्नाम तस्य तु । तस्य पुत्रः स विख्यातो वैवस्वतमनुर्नृपः ॥ १६ ॥ तस्य पुत्रस्तथेक्ष्वाकुः सूर्यवंशविवर्धनः । नवाभवन्सुतास्तस्य मनोरिक्ष्वाकुपूर्वजाः ॥ १७ ॥ तेषां नामानि राजेन्द्र शृणुष्वैकमनाः पुनः । इक्ष्वाकुरथ नाभागो धृष्टः शर्यातिरेव च ॥ १८ ॥ नरिष्यन्तस्तथा प्रांशुर्नृगो दिष्टश्च सप्तमः । करूषश्च पृषध्रश्च नवैते मानवाः स्मृताः ॥ १९ ॥ इक्ष्वाकुस्तु मनोः पुत्रः प्रथमः समजायत । तस्य पुत्रशतं चासीज्ज्येष्ठो विकुक्षिरात्मवान् ॥ २० ॥ नवानां वंशविस्तारं संक्षेपेण निशामय । शूराणां मनुपुत्राणां मनोरन्तरजन्मनाम् ॥ २१ ॥ नाभागस्य तु पुत्रोऽभूदम्बरीषः प्रतापवान् । धर्मज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च प्रजापालनतत्परः ॥ २२ ॥ धृष्टात्तु धार्ष्टकं क्षत्रं ब्रह्मभूतमजायत । संग्रामकातरं सम्यग्ब्रह्मकर्मरतं तथा ॥ २३ ॥ शर्यातेस्तनयश्चाभूदानर्तो नाम विश्रुतः । सुकन्या च तथा पुत्री रूपलावण्यसंयुता ॥ २४ ॥ च्यवनाय सुता दत्ता राज्ञाप्यन्धाय सुन्दरी । मुनिः सुलोचनो जातस्तस्याः शीलगुणेन ह ॥ २५ ॥ विहितो रविपुत्राभ्यामश्विभ्यामिति नः श्रुतम् । जनमेजय उवाच सन्देहोऽयं महान् ब्रह्मन् कथायां कथितस्त्वया ॥ २६ ॥ यद्‌राजा मुनयेऽन्धाय दत्ता पुत्री सुलोचना । कुरूपा गुणहीना वा नारी लक्षणवर्जिता ॥ २७ ॥ पुत्री यदा भवेद्‌राजा तदान्धाय प्रयच्छति । ज्ञात्वान्धं सुमुखीं कस्माद्दत्तवान्नृपसत्तमः ॥ २८ ॥ कारणं ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन्ननुग्राह्योऽस्मि सर्वदा । सूत उवाच - इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा परीक्षितसुतस्य वै ॥ २९ ॥ द्वैपायनः प्रसन्नात्मा तमुवाच हसन्निव । व्यास उवाच - वैवस्वतसुतः श्रीमाञ्छर्यातिर्नाम पार्थिवः ॥ ३० ॥ तस्य स्त्रीणां सहस्राणि चत्वार्यासन्परिग्रहाः । राजपुत्र्यः सरूपाश्च सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः ॥ ३१ ॥ पत्‍न्यः प्रेमयुताः सर्वाः प्रिया राज्ञः सुसम्मताः । एका पुत्री तु तासां वै सुकन्या नाम सुन्दरी ॥ ३२ ॥ पितुः प्रिया च मातॄणां सर्वासां चारुहासिनी । नगरान्नातिदूरेऽभूत्सरो मानससन्निभम् ॥ ३३ ॥ बद्धसोपानमार्गं च स्वच्छपानीयपूरितम् । हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम् ॥ ३४ ॥ दात्यूहसारसाकीर्णं सर्वपक्षिगणावृतम् । पञ्चधाकमलोपेतं चञ्चरीकसुसेवितम् ॥ ३५ ॥ पार्श्वतश्च द्रुमाकीर्णं वेष्टितं पादपैः शुभैः । सालैस्तमालैः सरलैः पुन्नागाशोकमण्डितम् ॥ ३६ ॥ वटाश्वत्थकदम्बैश्च कदलीखण्डराजितम् । जम्बीरैर्बीजपूरैश्च खर्जूरैः पनसैस्तथा ॥ ३७ ॥ क्रमुकैर्नारिकेलैश्च केतकैः काञ्चनद्रुमैः । यूथिकाजालकैः शुभ्रैः संवृतं मल्लिकागणैः ॥ ३८ ॥ जम्ब्वाम्रतिन्तिणीभिश्च करञ्जकुटजावृतम् । पलाशनिम्बखदिरबिल्वामलकमण्डितम् ॥ ३९ ॥ बभूव कोकिलारावः केकास्वनविराजितम् । तत्समीपे शुभे देशे पादपानां गणावृते ॥ ४० ॥ भार्गवश्च्यवनः शान्तस्तापसः संस्थितो मुनिः । ज्ञात्वासौ विजनं स्थानं तपस्तेपे समाहितः ॥ ४१ ॥ कृत्वा दृढासनं मौनमाधाय जितमारुतः । इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य त्यक्ताहारस्तपोनिधिः ॥ ४२ ॥ जलपानादिरहितो ध्यायन्नास्ते पराम्बिकाम् । सवल्मीकोऽभवद्‍राजल्लँताभिः परिवेष्टितः ॥ ४३ ॥ कालेन महता राजन् समाकीर्णः पिपीलिकैः । तथा स संवृतो धीमान्मृत्पिण्ड इव सर्वतः ॥ ४४ ॥ कदाचित्स महीपालः कामिनीगणसंवृतः । आजगाम सरो राजन् विहर्तुमिदमुत्तमम् ॥ ४५ ॥ शर्यातिः सुन्दरीवृन्दसंयुतः सलिलेऽमले । क्रीडासक्तो महीपालो बभूव कमलाकरे ॥ ४६ ॥ सुकन्या वनमासाद्य विजहार सखीवृता । सुमनांसि विचिन्वन्ती चञ्चला चञ्चलोपमा ॥ ४७ ॥ सर्वाभरणसंयुक्ता रणच्चरणनूपुरा । चंक्रममाणा वल्मीकं च्यवनस्य समासदत् ॥ ४८ ॥ क्रीडासक्तोपविष्टा सा वल्मीकस्य समीपतः । ददर्श चास्य रन्ध्रे वै खद्योत इव ज्योतिषी ॥ ४९ ॥ किमेतदिति सञ्चिन्त्य समुद्धर्तुं मनो दधे । गृहीत्वा कण्टकं तीक्ष्णं त्वरमाणा कृशोदरी ॥ ५० ॥ सा दृष्टा मुनिना बाला समीपस्था कृतोद्यमा । विचरन्ती सुकेशान्ता मन्मथस्येव कामिनी ॥ ५१ ॥ तां वीक्ष्य सुदतीं तत्र क्षामकण्ठस्तपोनिधिः । तामभाषत कल्याणीं किमेतदिति भार्गवः ॥ ५२ ॥ दूरं गच्छ विशालाक्षि तापसोऽहं वरानने । मा भिन्दस्वाद्य वल्मीकं कण्टकेन कृशोदरि ॥ ५३ ॥ तेनेदं प्रोच्यमानापि सा चास्य न शृणोति वै । किमु खल्विदमित्युक्त्वा निर्बिभेदास्य लोचने ॥ ५४ ॥ दैवेन नोदिता भित्त्वा जगाम नृपकन्यका । क्रीडन्ती शङ्कमाना सा किं कृतं तु मयेति च ॥ ५५ ॥ चुक्रोध स तथा विद्धनेत्रः परममन्युमान् । वेदनाभ्यर्दितः कामं परितापं जगाम ह ॥ ५६ ॥ शकृन्मूत्रनिरोधोऽभूत्सैनिकानां तु तत्क्षणात् । विशेषेण तु भूपस्य सामात्यस्य समन्ततः ॥ ५७ ॥ गजोष्ट्रतुरगाणां च सर्वेषां प्राणिनां तदा । ततो रुद्धे शकृन्मूत्रे शर्यातिर्दुःखितोऽभवत् ॥ ५८ ॥ सैनिकैः कथितं तस्मै शकृन्मूत्रनिरोधनम् । चिन्तयामास भूपालः कारणं दुःखसम्भवे ॥ ५९ ॥ विचिन्त्याह ततो राजा सैनिकान्स्वजनांस्तथा । गृहमागत्य चिन्तार्तः केनेदं दुष्कृतं कृतम् ॥ ६० ॥ सरसः पश्चिमे भागे वनमध्ये महातपाः । च्यवनस्तापसस्तत्र तपश्चरति दुश्चरम् ॥ ६१ ॥ केनाप्यपकृतं तत्र तापसेऽग्निसमप्रभे । तस्मात्पीडा समुत्पन्ना सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः ॥ ६२ ॥ तपोवृद्धस्य वृद्धस्य वरिष्ठस्य विशेषतः । केनाप्यपकृतं मन्ये भार्गवस्य महात्मनः ॥ ६३ ॥ ज्ञातं वा यदि वाज्ञातं तस्येदं फलमुत्तमम् । कैश्च दुष्टैः कृतं तस्य हेलनं तापसस्य ह ॥ ६४ ॥ इति पृष्टास्तमूचुस्ते सैनिका वेदनार्दिताः । मनोवाक्कायनितं न विद्मोऽपकृतं वयम् ॥ ६५ ॥

mamākhyāhi mahābhāga rājñāṃ vaṃśaṃ suvistaram | sūryānvayaprasūtānāṃ dharmajñānāṃ viśeṣataḥ || 1 || śṛṇu bhārata vakṣyāmi ravivaṃśasya vistaram | yathā śrutaṃ mayā pūrvaṃ nāradād‌ṛṣisattamāt || 2 || ekadā nāradaH śrīmānsarasvatyāstaṭe śubhe | ājagāmāśrame puṇye vicaransvecchayā muniḥ || 3 || praṇamya śirasā pādau tasyāgre saṃsthitastadā | tatastasyāsanaṃ dattvā kṛtvārhaṇamathādarāt || 4 || vidhivatpūjayitvā taṃ uktavānvacanaṃ tvidam | pāvito'haṃ muniśreṣṭha pūjyasyāgamanena vai || 5 || kathāṃ kathaya sarvajña rājñāṃ caritasaṃyutām | rājāno ye samākhyātāḥ saptame'sminmanoḥ kule || 6 || teṣāmutpattiratulā caritaṃ paramād‌bhutam | śrotukāmo'smyahaṃ brahman sūryavaṃśasya vistaram || 7 || samākhyāhi muniśreṣṭha samāsavyāsapūrvakam | iti pṛṣṭo mayā rājannāradaḥ paramārthavit || 8 || uvāca prahasanprītaḥ samābhāṣya mudānvayam | nārada uvāca - śṛṇu satyavatīsūno rājñāṃ vaṃśamanuttamam || 9 || pāvanaṃ karṇasukhadaṃ dharmajñānādibhiryutam | brahmā pūrvaṃ jagatkartā nābhipaṅkajasambhavaḥ || 10 || viṣṇoriti purāṇeṣu prasiddhaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | sarvajñaḥ sarvakartāsau svayambhūḥ sarvaśaktimān || 11 || tapastaptvā sa viśvātmā varṣāṇāmayutaṃ purā | sṛṣṭikāmaḥ śivāṃ dhyātvā prāpya śaktimanuttamām || 12 || putrānutpadayāmāsa mānasāñchubhalakṣaṇān | marīciḥ prathisteṣāmabhavatsṛṣṭikarmaṇi || 13 || tasya putro'tivikhyātaḥ kaśyapaḥ sarvasammataḥ | trayodaśaiva tasyāsanbhāryā dakṣasutāḥ kila || 14 || devāḥ sarve samutpannā daityā yakṣāśca pannagāḥ | paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaścaiva tasmātsṛṣṭistu kāśyapī || 15 || devānāṃ prathitaḥ sūryo vivasvānnāma tasya tu | tasya putraḥ sa vikhyāto vaivasvatamanurnṛpaḥ || 16 || tasya putrastathekṣvākuḥ sūryavaṃśavivardhanaḥ | navābhavansutāstasya manorikṣvākupūrvajāḥ || 17 || teṣāṃ nāmāni rājendra śṛṇuṣvaikamanāḥ punaḥ | ikṣvākuratha nābhāgo dhṛṣṭaḥ śaryātireva ca || 18 || nariṣyantastathā prāṃśurnṛgo diṣṭaśca saptamaḥ | karūṣaśca pṛṣadhraśca navaite mānavāḥ smṛtāḥ || 19 || ikṣvākustu manoḥ putraḥ prathamaḥ samajāyata | tasya putraśataṃ cāsījjyeṣṭho vikukṣirātmavān || 20 || navānāṃ vaṃśavistāraṃ saṃkṣepeṇa niśāmaya | śūrāṇāṃ manuputrāṇāṃ manorantarajanmanām || 21 || nābhāgasya tu putro'bhūdambarīṣaḥ pratāpavān | dharmajñaḥ satyasandhaśca prajāpālanatatparaḥ || 22 || dhṛṣṭāttu dhārṣṭakaṃ kṣatraṃ brahmabhūtamajāyata | saṃgrāmakātaraṃ samyagbrahmakarmarataṃ tathā || 23 || śaryātestanayaścābhūdānarto nāma viśrutaḥ | sukanyā ca tathā putrī rūpalāvaṇyasaṃyutā || 24 || cyavanāya sutā dattā rājñāpyandhāya sundarī | muniḥ sulocano jātastasyāḥ śīlaguṇena ha || 25 || vihito raviputrābhyāmaśvibhyāmiti naḥ śrutam | janamejaya uvāca sandeho'yaṃ mahān brahman kathāyāṃ kathitastvayā || 26 || yad‌rājā munaye'ndhāya dattā putrī sulocanā | kurūpā guṇahīnā vā nārī lakṣaṇavarjitā || 27 || putrī yadā bhaved‌rājā tadāndhāya prayacchati | jñātvāndhaṃ sumukhīṃ kasmāddattavānnṛpasattamaḥ || 28 || kāraṇaṃ brūhi me brahmannanugrāhyo'smi sarvadā | sūta uvāca - iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā parīkṣitasutasya vai || 29 || dvaipāyanaḥ prasannātmā tamuvāca hasanniva | vyāsa uvāca - vaivasvatasutaḥ śrīmāñcharyātirnāma pārthivaḥ || 30 || tasya strīṇāṃ sahasrāṇi catvāryāsanparigrahāḥ | rājaputryaḥ sarūpāśca sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutāḥ || 31 || pat‍nyaḥ premayutāḥ sarvāḥ priyā rājñaḥ susammatāḥ | ekā putrī tu tāsāṃ vai sukanyā nāma sundarī || 32 || pituḥ priyā ca mātṝṇāṃ sarvāsāṃ cāruhāsinī | nagarānnātidūre'bhūtsaro mānasasannibham || 33 || baddhasopānamārgaṃ ca svacchapānīyapūritam | haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṃ cakravākopaśobhitam || 34 || dātyūhasārasākīrṇaṃ sarvapakṣigaṇāvṛtam | pañcadhākamalopetaṃ cañcarīkasusevitam || 35 || pārśvataśca drumākīrṇaṃ veṣṭitaṃ pādapaiḥ śubhaiḥ | sālaistamālaiḥ saralaiḥ punnāgāśokamaṇḍitam || 36 || vaṭāśvatthakadambaiśca kadalīkhaṇḍarājitam | jambīrairbījapūraiśca kharjūraiḥ panasaistathā || 37 || kramukairnārikelaiśca ketakaiḥ kāñcanadrumaiḥ | yūthikājālakaiḥ śubhraiḥ saṃvṛtaṃ mallikāgaṇaiḥ || 38 || jambvāmratintiṇībhiśca karañjakuṭajāvṛtam | palāśanimbakhadirabilvāmalakamaṇḍitam || 39 || babhūva kokilārāvaḥ kekāsvanavirājitam | tatsamīpe śubhe deśe pādapānāṃ gaṇāvṛte || 40 || bhārgavaścyavanaḥ śāntastāpasaḥ saṃsthito muniḥ | jñātvāsau vijanaṃ sthānaṃ tapastepe samāhitaḥ || 41 || kṛtvā dṛḍhāsanaṃ maunamādhāya jitamārutaḥ | indriyāṇi ca saṃyamya tyaktāhārastaponidhiḥ || 42 || jalapānādirahito dhyāyannāste parāmbikām | savalmīko'bhavad‍rājalla~tābhiḥ pariveṣṭitaḥ || 43 || kālena mahatā rājan samākīrṇaḥ pipīlikaiḥ | tathā sa saṃvṛto dhīmānmṛtpiṇḍa iva sarvataḥ || 44 || kadācitsa mahīpālaḥ kāminīgaṇasaṃvṛtaḥ | ājagāma saro rājan vihartumidamuttamam || 45 || śaryātiḥ sundarīvṛndasaṃyutaḥ salile'male | krīḍāsakto mahīpālo babhūva kamalākare || 46 || sukanyā vanamāsādya vijahāra sakhīvṛtā | sumanāṃsi vicinvantī cañcalā cañcalopamā || 47 || sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktā raṇaccaraṇanūpurā | caṃkramamāṇā valmīkaṃ cyavanasya samāsadat || 48 || krīḍāsaktopaviṣṭā sā valmīkasya samīpataḥ | dadarśa cāsya randhre vai khadyota iva jyotiṣī || 49 || kimetaditi sañcintya samuddhartuṃ mano dadhe | gṛhītvā kaṇṭakaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ tvaramāṇā kṛśodarī || 50 || sā dṛṣṭā muninā bālā samīpasthā kṛtodyamā | vicarantī sukeśāntā manmathasyeva kāminī || 51 || tāṃ vīkṣya sudatīṃ tatra kṣāmakaṇṭhastaponidhiḥ | tāmabhāṣata kalyāṇīṃ kimetaditi bhārgavaḥ || 52 || dūraṃ gaccha viśālākṣi tāpaso'haṃ varānane | mā bhindasvādya valmīkaṃ kaṇṭakena kṛśodari || 53 || tenedaṃ procyamānāpi sā cāsya na śṛṇoti vai | kimu khalvidamityuktvā nirbibhedāsya locane || 54 || daivena noditā bhittvā jagāma nṛpakanyakā | krīḍantī śaṅkamānā sā kiṃ kṛtaṃ tu mayeti ca || 55 || cukrodha sa tathā viddhanetraḥ paramamanyumān | vedanābhyarditaḥ kāmaṃ paritāpaṃ jagāma ha || 56 || śakṛnmūtranirodho'bhūtsainikānāṃ tu tatkṣaṇāt | viśeṣeṇa tu bhūpasya sāmātyasya samantataḥ || 57 || gajoṣṭraturagāṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ tadā | tato ruddhe śakṛnmūtre śaryātirduḥkhito'bhavat || 58 || sainikaiḥ kathitaṃ tasmai śakṛnmūtranirodhanam | cintayāmāsa bhūpālaḥ kāraṇaṃ duḥkhasambhave || 59 || vicintyāha tato rājā sainikānsvajanāṃstathā | gṛhamāgatya cintārtaḥ kenedaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam || 60 || sarasaḥ paścime bhāge vanamadhye mahātapāḥ | cyavanastāpasastatra tapaścarati duścaram || 61 || kenāpyapakṛtaṃ tatra tāpase'gnisamaprabhe | tasmātpīḍā samutpannā sarveṣāmiti niścayaḥ || 62 || tapovṛddhasya vṛddhasya variṣṭhasya viśeṣataḥ | kenāpyapakṛtaṃ manye bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ || 63 || jñātaṃ vā yadi vājñātaṃ tasyedaṃ phalamuttamam | kaiśca duṣṭaiḥ kṛtaṃ tasya helanaṃ tāpasasya ha || 64 || iti pṛṣṭāstamūcuste sainikā vedanārditāḥ | manovākkāyanitaṃ na vidmo'pakṛtaṃ vayam || 65 ||

English translation

1. Janamejaya said “O Highly Fortunate One! Kindly narrate in detail the spread of the families of those kings in the Solar line who were born and who were especially endowed with the knowledge of Dharma.”

2-8. Vyasa said O Bharata! I now speak to you exactly what I heard of yore, from Narada, the best of the Risis, how the Solar race spread. Once, on an occasion, the Muni S'riman Narada, on his tour, came at his will to my holy hermitage on the beautiful banks of the Sarasvati river. On seeing him I bowed down at his feet and then remained standing before him. I then gave him a seat and worshipped him with great esteem. I then said to him “O Best of Munis! You are worshipped by the whole universe; my retreat is sanctified by your coming. O All-knowing One! Kindly narrate the histories of the Kings that were famous in the family of the seventh Manu; they were unequalled as far as their origin was concerned and their diameters as well were wonderful. Therefore I am very eager to know, in detail, the history of the Solar race. O Muni! Describe shortly or in detail as the circumstances may require.” O King! When I made this question, Narada, the knower of the Highest Reality, gladly smiled, and, addressing me, began to describe the history of the Solar race.

9-26. Narada said O son of Satyavati! The history of the royal families is very holy and pleasant to hear; the more so when they are heard, one acquires Dharma and wisdom; therefore do you hear. In ancient times, Brahma sprang from the navel-lotus of Visnu and created the world. This is well known in every Purana. That self born.

all-powerful, all-knowing, the Doer of all, the Universal Soul practised Tapas in ancient times for Ajuta (ten thousand) years. By virtue of that Tapas, He got special powers to create the world. He meditated on the Auspicious Mother, and getting from Her the excellent powers. He created first the mind-born sons, all endowed with auspicious signs. Of them, Marichi became well known in this act of creation. His son Kas'yapa was respected by all and he was of great celebrity. He had thirteen wives, all daughters of Daksa Prajapati. The Devas, Daityas, Yaksas, Pannagas, beasts and birds all sprang from him. Therefore this creation is called the Kas'yapT creation. Amongst the Devas, the Sun is specially famous; his other name is Vivasvan. His son was named Vaivasvat Manu; he was a famous king. Besides, Manu had nine more sons. Iksvaku was the eldest. Their names are: (1) Nabhaga, (2) Dhrista, (3) S'aryati,

(4)Narisyanta, (5) Prans'u, (6) Nriga, (7) Dista, (8) Karusa, and (9) Risadhra. Iksvaku, the son of Manu was born first. He had one hundred sons, and Vikuksi was the wise and the eldest of these. I am now narrating how the nine sons, born afterwards of Manu, spread their families. Ambarisa was the son of Nabhaga; he was very truthful, powerful, and religious. He always governed his subjects justly. Dharstaka was the son of Dhrista; though he was a Ksattriya, he attained to Brahmanhood. He was naturally weak in fighting; always be was engaged in the works relating to the Brahmanas. Anarta was the well known son and Sukanya was the beautiful daughter of S'aryati. The King S'aryati gave his beautiful daughter in marriage to the blind Chyavana Risi; but the Risi, though blind, got his beautiful eyes again by the good character of the daughter. We heard that the As'vins, the Twins, the sons of the Sun, gave him back his eyesight.

27-29. Janamejaya said “O Brahmans! How is it that the King S'aryati married his lovely-eyed daughter Sukanya to the blind Chyavana Muni? I have got a great doubt on this point. The King gives his daughter in marriage to a blind person, if she be deformed.

ill-qualified or void of female signs. But the daughter, in this case, was beautiful. How then S'aryati, the Chief of Kings, gave over his daughter, knowing that the Risi was blind? O Brahmana! I am always an object of favour to you; so explain to me the cause of it.”

30. Suta said Glad to hear these words of Janamejaya, the Muni Dvaipayana smilingly said

31-50. S'aryati, the son of Vaivasvata, had four thousand married wives. All of them were endowed with auspicious signs and beautiful all of them were daughters of kings. They all were very obliging and dear to their husbands. But, out of all of these, the King had only one daughter exceptionally lovely and beautiful. The father and all the mothers loved exceedingly that sweet-smiling daughter. Not very far off the city, there was a beautiful lake of clear waters, like the Manasarovara lake. A Ghat way (steps) made of stones descended into the lake. Swans Karandavas, Chakravakas, Datyu'has, Sarasas and other birds used to play on its waters. Five varieties of lotuses were there in full bloom, bees were humming there all around. Various trees, S'al, Tamala, Sarala, Punnagas, As'okas, Banyans, Peepuls, Kadambas, rows of banana trees, Jambirs, Dates,

Panasas, Betelnut trees, cocoanut trees, Ketakas, Kanchanas, and other various beautiful trees encircled round the lake. Within these, the white Yuthikas, Mallikas, and other creepers and shrubs were seen beautifying the scenery. Especially there were, amongst them. Jack trees. Mango trees, tamarind trees, Karanjas, Kutakas,

Palas'as, Neem trees, Khadiras, Bel trees, and Amalaki trees; and peacocks were sounding their notes, cuckoos were cooing their beautiful voices. Close to that place, there was, in a sacred grove covered over by trees, staying Chyavana Muni, the Bhrigu's son, of a tranquilled mind, and the chief of the ascetics. Thinking the place lovely and free from any obstacles, the Muni took his firm seat there and, collecting all his thoughts within himself, took the vow of non-

speaking and controlling his breath became engaged in practising tapasya. Restraining his senses and foregoing eating and drinking, that Muni constantly meditated on Bhagavati of the nature of Sat, Chit and Ananda, O King! While he was thus meditating, the anthill grew up round and covered his body and nice creepers covered that also all round. O King! Long intervals passed away and it was covered over with ants; so much so that that intelligent Muni was covered entirely and looked like a heap of earth. O King! Once the King S'aryati wanted to play in an artificial wilderness and came there to the lake with his wives. S'aryati became at once deeply engaged in playing on the clear waters of the lake, surrounded by the beautiful females. On the other hand, the quick beautiful daughter Sukanya, picking up flowers here and there with her companions also began to play. Dressed in ornaments, Sukanya, walked to and fro; her anklets making a beautiful tinkling sound, till she came to the ant-hill of Chyavana Risi. She sportingly sat close to that anthill and instantly saw a shining substance inside through that, like fireflies. “What is this?” She thought and wishing to take it, took a thorn and became very eager to prick it up.

51-59. Slowly she went close to it and no sooner she got ready to prick it, than the Muni saw the beautiful, good-haired daughter as if to one's liking. The ascetic Bhargava, seeing that auspicious nice lady with nice teeth, spoke out in a feeble voice “What are you doing? O thin-bellied One! I am an ascetic; better go away from here. You have got such big-eyes, yet you do not see me. I therefore forbid you in your this attempt; do not pierce the anthill with thorn.” Though prevented, the daughter could not hear his words and asking “What was that?” pierced his two-eyes with thorns. Thus impelled by Fate, the princess sportingly pierced his eyes; but she suspected and thought “What have I done?” Thus becoming afraid she returned from that spot. His two eyes being pricked, the great Muni exceedingly pained, became very wrathful he incessantly gave vent to sorrows and remorse, being restless with pain. At that instant it

happened that the king, nninisters, soldiers, elephants, horses, camels, so much so that all the beings that were there, had all their evacuations (passing their urines and faeces) stopped. Seeing thus happened all on a sudden, the King S'aryati was very much pained and became very anxious. All the soldiers came to the King and informed him of the stoppage of their evacuations. The King thought over the cause why this had happened.

60-65. Cogitating thus, the King returned home. Becoming very much troubled with cares and anxieties. He asked his soldiers and kinsmen “Who amongst you has done such an heinous act? On the west side of the lake the Maharsi Chyavana is practising the great tapasya in the midst of the forest; I think someone has done mischief to that king of ascetics, blazing like a fire; and therefore we are overcome with this disease. The highsouled aged son of Bhrigu has become specially proficient in his asceticism and has become supreme; I think someone must have injured him. Though I do not know who is that mischievous person that has shown him contempt or like that, this our state at present clearly shews that this is the fit punishment of that.” Hearing this, the soldiers said None of us has committed any mischief by word, mind or body; we know this very well.

Here ends the Second Chapter of the Seventh Book on the piercing of the eyes of Chyavana Muni in S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam the Maha Puranam, of 18,000 verses, Maharsi Veda Vyasa.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 25098, revision 76163 (2016-08-16T23:42:13Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk07ch02.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.