Chapter 67

“Janamejaya said, ‘O worshipful one, I wish to hear from thee in detailabout the birth, among men, of the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, theRakshasas, the lions, the tigers, and the other animals, the snakes, thebirds, and in fact, of all creatures. I wish also to hear about the actsand achievements of those, in due order, after they became incarnate inhuman forms.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king of men, I shall first tell thee all aboutthose celestials and Danavas that were born among men–The first ofDanavas, who was known by the name of Viprachitti, became that bull amongmen, noted as Jarasandha. And, O king, that son of Diti, who was known asHiranyakasipu, was known in this world among men as the powerfulSisupala. He who had been known as Samhlada, the younger brother ofPrahlada, became among men the famous Salya, that bull amongst Valhikas.The spirited Anuhlada who had been the youngest became noted in the worldas Dhrishtaketu. And, O king, that son of Diti who had been known as Sivibecame on earth the famous monarch Druma. And he who was known as thegreat Asura Vashkala became on earth the great Bhagadatta. The five greatAsuras gifted with great energy, Ayahsira, Aswasira, the spiritedAysanku, Gaganamurdhan, and Vegavat, were all born in the royal line ofKekaya and all became great monarchs. That other Asura of mighty energywho was known by the name of Ketumat became on earth the monarchAmitaujas of terrible deeds. That great Asura who was known as Swarbhanubecame on earth the monarch Ugrasena of fierce deeds. That great Asurawho was known as Aswa became on earth the monarch Asoka of exceedingenergy and invincible in battle. And, O king, the younger brother of Aswawho was known as Aswapati, a son of Diti, became on earth the mightymonarch Hardikya. The great and fortunate Asura who was known asVrishaparvan became noted on earth as king Dirghaprajna. And, O king, theyounger brother of Vrishaparvan who was known by the name of Ajaka becamenoted on earth as king Salwa. The powerful and mighty Asura who was knownas Aswagriva became noted on earth as king Rochamana. And, O king, theAsura who was known as Sukshma, endued with great intelligence and whoseachievements also were great, became on earth the famous kingVrihadratha. And that first of Asuras who was known by the name ofTuhunda, became noted on earth as the monarch, Senavindu. That Asura ofgreat strength who was known as Ishupa became the monarch Nagnajita offamous prowess. The great Asura who was known as Ekachakra became notedon earth as Pritivindhya. The great Asura Virupaksha capable ofdisplaying various modes of fight became noted on earth as kingChitravarman. The first of Danavas, the heroic Hara, who humbled thepride of all foes became on earth the famous and fortunate Suvahu. TheAsura Suhtra of great energy and the destroyer of foemen, became noted onearth as the fortunate monarch, Munjakesa. That Asura of greatintelligence called Nikumbha, who was never vanquished in battle was bornon earth as king Devadhipa, the first among monarchs. That great Asuraknown amongst the sons of Diti by the name of Sarabha became on earth theroyal sage called Paurava. And, O king, the great Asura of exceedingenergy, the fortunate Kupatha, was born on earth as the famous monarchSuparswa. The great Asura, O king, who was called Kratha, was born onearth as the royal sage Parvateya of form resplendent like a goldenmountain. He amongst the Asura who was known as Salabha the second,became on earth the monarch Prahlada in the country of the Valhikas. Theforemost, among the sons of Diti known by the name of Chandra andhandsome as the lord of the stars himself, became on earth noted asChandravarman, the king of the Kamvojas. That bull amongst the Danavaswho was known by the name of Arka became on earth, O king, the royal sageRishika. That best of Asuras who was known as Mritapa became on earth, Obest of kings, the monarch, Pascimanupaka. That great Asura of surpassingenergy known as Garishtha became noted on earth as king Drumasena. Thegreat Asura who was known as Mayura became noted on earth as the monarchViswa. He who was the younger brother of Mayura and called Suparna becamenoted on earth as the monarch, Kalakirti. The mighty Asura who was knownas Chandrahantri became on earth the royal sage Sunaka. The great Asurawho was called Chandravinasana became noted on earth as the monarch,Janaki. That bull amongst the Danavas, O prince of the Kuru race, who wascalled Dhirghajihva, became noted on earth as Kasiraja. The Graha who wasbrought forth by Sinhika and who persecuted the Sun and the Moon becamenoted on earth as the monarch Kratha. The eldest of the four sons ofDanayu, who was known by the name of Vikshara, became known on earth thespirited monarch, Vasumitra. The second brother of Vikshara, the greatAsura, was born on earth as the king of the country, called Pandya. Thatbest of Asuras who was known by the name of Valina became on earth themonarch Paundramatsyaka. And, O king, that great Asura who was known asVritra became on earth the royal sage known by the name of Manimat. ThatAsura who was the younger brother of Vritra and known as Krodhahantribecame noted on earth as king Danda. That other Asura who was known bythe name Krodhavardhana became noted on earth as the monarch, Dandadhara.The eight sons of the Kaleyas that were born on earth all became greatkings endued with the prowess of tigers. The eldest of them all becameking Jayatsena in Magadha. The second of them, in prowess, like Indra,became noted on earth as Aparajita. The third of them, endued with greatenergy and power of producing deception, was born on earth as the king ofthe Nishadas gifted with great prowess. That other amongst them who wasknown as the fourth was noted on earth as Srenimat, that best of royalsages. That great Asura amongst them who was the fifth, became noted onearth as king Mahanjas, the oppressor of enemies. That great Asurapossessing great intelligence who was the sixth of them became noted onearth as Abhiru, that best of royal sages. The seventh of them becameknown throughout earth, from the centre to the sea, as king Samudrasenawell acquainted with the truths of the scriptures. The eighth of theKaleyas known as Vrihat became on earth a virtuous king ever engaged inthe good of all creatures. The mighty Danava known by the name of Kukshibecame on earth as Parvatiya from his brightness as of a golden mountain.The mighty Asura Krathana gifted with great energy became noted on earthas the monarch Suryaksha. The great Asura of handsome features known bythe name of Surya, became on earth the monarch of the Valhikas by nameDarada, that foremost of all kings. And, O king, from the tribe of Asurascalled Krodhavasa, of whom I have already spoken to thee, were born manyheroic kings on earth. Madraka, and Karnaveshta, Siddhartha, and alsoKitaka; Suvira, and Suvahu, and Mahavira, and also Valhika, Kratha,Vichitra, Suratha, and the handsome king Nila; and Chiravasa, andBhumipala; and Dantavakra, and he who was called Durjaya; that tigeramongst kings named Rukmi; and king Janamejaya, Ashada, and Vayuvega, andalso Bhuritejas; Ekalavya, and Sumitra, Vatadhana, and also Gomukha; thetribe of kings called the Karushakas, and also Khemadhurti; Srutayu, andUdvaha, and also Vrihatsena; Kshema, Ugratirtha, the king of theKalingas; and Matimat, and he was known as king Iswara; these first ofkings were all born of the Asura class called Krodhavasa.

“There was also born on earth a mighty Asura known amongst the Danavas bythe name of Kalanemi, endued with great strength, of grand achievements,and blessed with a large share of prosperity. He became the mighty son ofUgrasena and was known on earth by the name of Kansa. And he who wasknown among the Asuras by the name of Devaka and was besides in splendourlike unto Indra himself, was born on earth as the foremost king of theGandharvas. And, O monarch, know thou that Drona, the son of Bharadwaja,not born of any woman, sprung from a portion of the celestial RishiVrihaspati 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 thescience 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 thelotus-petals, gifted with surpassing energy, and the terror of all foes,the great oppressor of all enemies, was born on earth, of the unitedportions of Mahadeva, Yama, Kama, and Krodha. And from the curse ofVasishtha and the command also of Indra, the eight Vasus were born ofGanga by her husband Santanu. The youngest of them was Bhishma, thedispeller of the fears of the Kurus, gifted with great intelligence,conversant with the Vedas, the first speakers, and the thinner of theenemy’s ranks. And possessed of mighty energy and the first of allpersons acquainted with weapons, he encountered the illustrious Ramahimself, the son of Jamadagni of the Bhrigu race. And, O king, thatBrahman sage who, on earth, was known by the name of Kripa and was theembodiment of all manliness was born of the tribe of the Rudras. And themighty chariot-fighter and king who on earth was known by the name ofSakuni, that crusher of foes, thou shouldst know, O king, was Dwaparahimself (the third yuga). And he who was Satyaki of sure aim, thatupholder of the pride of Vrishni race, that oppressor of foes, begottenof the portion of gods called the Maruts. And that royal sage Drupada whoon earth was a monarch, the first among all persons bearing arms, wasalso born of the same tribe of the celestials. And, O king, thou shouldstalso know that Kritavarman, that prince among men, of deeds unsurpassedby any one, and the foremost of all bulls amongst Kshatriyas, was born ofthe portion of the same celestials. And that royal sage also, Virata byname, the scorcher of the kingdoms of others, and the great oppressor ofall foes, was born of the portion of the same gods. That son of Arishtawho was known by the name of Hansa, was born in the Kuru race and becamethe monarch of the Gandharvas. He who was known as Dhritarashtra born ofthe seed of Krishna-Dwaipayana, and gifted with long arms and greatenergy, also a monarch, of the prophetic eye, became blind in consequenceof the fault of his mother and the wrath of the Rishi. His youngerbrother who was possessed of great strength and was really a great beingknown as Pandu, devoted to truth and virtue, was Purity’s self. And, Oking, thou shouldst know that he who was known on earth as Vidura, whowas the first of all virtuous men, who was the god of Justice himself,was the excellent and greatly fortunate son of the Rishi Atri. Theevil-minded and wicked king Duryodhana, the destroyer of the fair fame ofthe Kurus, was born of a portion of Kali on earth. He it was who causedall creatures to be slain and the earth to be wasted; and he it was whofanned the flame of hostility that ultimately consumed all. They who hadbeen the sons of Pulastya (the Rakshasas) were born on earth among men ofDuryodhana’s brothers, that century of wicked individuals commencing withDuhasasana as their first. And, O bull among the Bharata princes,Durmukha, Duhsaha, and others whose names I do not mention, who alwayssupported Duryodhana (in all his schemes), were, indeed, the sons ofPulastya. And over and above these hundred, Dhritarashtra had one sonnamed Yuyutsu born of a Vaisya wife.’

“Janamejaya said, ‘O illustrious one, tell me the names ofDhritarashtra’s sons according to the order of their birth beginning fromthe eldest.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, they are as follows: Duryodhana, andYuyutsu, and also Duhsasana; Duhsaha and Duhshala, and then Durmukha;Vivinsati, and Vikarna, Jalasandha, Sulochna, Vinda and Anuvinda,Durdharsha, Suvahu, Dushpradharshana; Durmarshana, and Dushkarna, andKarna; Chitra and Vipachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, and Angada,Durmada, and Dushpradharsha, Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama; Urananabha, andPadmanabha, 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, DridhakshatraSomakirti, 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 namedDuhsala who was over and above the hundred. And Yuyutsu who wasDhritarashtra’s son by a Vaisya wife, was also over and above thehundred. Thus, O king, have I recited the names of the hundred sons andalso that of the daughter (of Dhritarashtra). Thou hast now known theirnames according to the order of their births. All of them were heroes andgreat car-warriors, and skilled in the art of warfare. Besides, all ofthem were versed in the Vedas, and, O king, all of them had got throughthe scriptures. All of them were mighty in attack and defence, and allwere graced with learning. And, O monarch, all of them had wives suitableto them in grace and accomplishments. And, O king, when the time came,the Kaurava monarch bestowed his daughter Duhsala on Jayadratha, the kingof 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, thechief of the celestials; and that Nakula and Sahadeva, the handsomestbeings among all creatures, and unrivalled for beauty on earth, weresimilarly portions of the twin Aswins. And he who was known as the mightyVarchas, the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son ofArjuna. And before his incarnation, O king, the god Soma had said thesewords to the celestials, ‘I cannot give (part with) my son. He is dearerto me than life itself. Let this be the compact and let it be nottransgressed. The destruction of the Asuras on earth is the work of thecelestials, and, therefore, it is our work as well. Let this Varchas,therefore, go thither, but let him not stay there long. Nara, whosecompanion is Narayana, will be born as Indra’s son and indeed, will beknown as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. This boy of mine shall be hisson and become a mighty car-warrior in his boyhood. And let him, ye bestof immortals, stay on earth for sixteen years. And when he attaineth tohis sixteenth year, the battle shall take place in which all who are bornof your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But acertain encounter shall take place without both Nara and Narayana (takingany part in it). And, indeed, your portions, ye celestials, shall fight,having made that disposition of the forces which is known by the name ofthe Chakra-vyuha. And my son shall compel all foes to retreat before him.The boy of mighty arms having penetrated the impenetrable array, shallrange 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. Thenwhen numberless heroes and mighty car-warriors will return to the chargetowards the close of the day, my boy of mighty arms, shall reappearbefore me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line, who shallcontinue the almost extinct Bharata race.’ Hearing these words of Soma,the dwellers in heaven replied, ‘So be it.’ And then all togetherapplauded and worshipped (Soma) the king of stars. Thus, O king, have Irecited to thee the (particulars of the) birth of thy father’s father.

“Know also, O monarch, that the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna was aportion 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, theywho became the five sons of Draupadi, those bulls amongst the Bharataprinces, were the celestials known as the Viswas. Their names werePritivindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakirti, Satanika, Nakula, and Srutasena,endued with mighty energy.

“Sura, the foremost of the Yadus, was the father of Vasudeva. He had adaughter called Pritha, who for her beauty, was unrivalled on earth. AndSura, having promised in the presence of fire that he would give hisfirstborn child to Kuntibhoja, the son of his paternal aunt, who waswithout offspring, gave his daughter unto the monarch in expectation ofhis favours. Kuntibhoja thereupon made her his daughter. And she became,thenceforth, in the house of her (adoptive) father, engaged in attendingupon Brahmanas and guests. One day she had to wait upon the wrathfulascetic of rigid vows, Durvasa by name, acquainted with truth and fullyconversant with the mysteries of religion. And Pritha with all possiblecare gratified the wrathful Rishi with soul under complete control. Theholy 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 thyside) whatever celestials thou likest. And, by their grace, shall thoualso 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 andbegot on her a son who became the first of all wielders of weapons. Fromfear of relatives she brought forth in secrecy that child who had comeout with ear-rings and coat of mail. And he was gifted with the beauty ofa celestial infant, and in splendour was like unto the maker of dayhimself. And every part of his body was symmetrical and well-adorned. AndKunti cast the handsome child into the water. But the child thus throwninto the water was taken up by the excellent husband of Radha and givenby him to his wife to be adopted by her as their son. And the couple gavehim the name of Vasusena, by which appellation the child soon becameknown all over the land. And, as he grew up, he became very strong andexcelled in all weapons. The first of all successful persons, he soonmastered the sciences. And when the intelligent one having truth for hisstrength recited the Vedas, there was nothing he would not then give tothe Brahmanas. At that time Indra, the originator of all things, moved bythe desire of benefiting his own son Arjuna, assumed the guise of aBrahmana, came to him, and begged of the hero his ear-rings and naturalarmour. And the hero taking off his ear-rings and armour gave them untothe Brahmana. And Sakra (accepting the gift) presented to the giver adart, surprised (at his open handedness), and addressed him in thesewords, ‘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 firstknown in the world by the name of Vasusena. But, for his deeds, hesubsequently came to be called Karna. And because that hero of great famehad taken off his natural armour, therefore was he–the first son ofPritha–called Kama. And, O best of kings, the hero began to grow up inthe Suta caste. And, O king, know thou that Kama–the first of allexalted men–the foremost of all wielders of weapons–the slayer offoes–and the best portion of the maker of day–was the friend andcounsellor of Duryodhana. And he, called Vasudeva, endued with greatvalour, was among men a portion of him called Narayana–the god ofgods–eternal. And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of theNaga, Sesha. And, O monarch, know that Pradyumna of great energy wasSanatkumara. And in this way the portion of various other dwellers inheaven became exalted men in the race of Vasudeva, increasing the glorythereof. And, O king, the portions of the tribe of Apsaras which I havementioned already, also became incarnate on earth according to Indra’scommands–And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses became, Oking, in this world of men, the wives of Vasudeva. And a portion of Sriherself became incarnate on earth, for the gratification of Narayana, inthe line of Bhishmaka. And she was by name the chaste Rukmini. And thefaultless Draupadi, slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of a portionof Sachi (the queen of the celestials), in the line of Drupada. And shewas neither low nor tall in stature. And she was of the fragrance of theblue lotus, of eyes large as lotus-petals, of thighs fair and round, ofdense masses of black curly hair. And endued with every auspiciousfeature and of complexion like that of the emerald, she became thecharmer of the hearts of five foremost of men. And the two goddessesSiddhi and Dhriti became the mothers of those five, and were called Kuntiand 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, theGandharvas, the Apsaras, and of the Rakshasas. They who were born onearth as monarchs invincible in battle, those high-souled ones who wereborn in the wide extended line of the Yadus, they who were born as mightymonarchs in other lines, they who were born as Brahmanas and Kshatriyasand Vaisyas, have all been recited by me duly. And this account of theincarnation (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 havinglistened to this account of incarnation, according to their portions, ofgods, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas, the hearer becoming acquainted with thecreation, preservation, and destruction of the universe and acquiringwisdom, is never cast down even under the most engrossing sorrows.'”