Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतं मे महदाख्यानमेतत्कुरुकुलोद्वह सुदुष्प्रापं ब्रवीषि त्वं ब्राह्मण्यं वदतां वर
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said I have heard this great description, 0, perpetuater of Kuru's race. You, O foremost of eloquent men, have said that the dignity of a Brahmana is greatly difficult of acquisition.
विश्वामित्रेण च पुरा ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्तमित्युत श्रूयते वदसे तच्च दुष्प्रापमिति सत्तम
M. N. Dutt: It is heard, however, that in former times the dignity of a Brahmana had been acquired by Vishvamitra. You, however, O best of men, tell us that dignity is incapable of being won.
वीतहव्यश्च राजर्षिः श्रुतो मे विप्रतां गतः तदेव तावद्गाङ्गेय श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो
M. N. Dutt: I have also heard that formerly king Vitahavya had succeeded in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana. O powerful one, I wish to hear, O son of Ganga, the story of king Vitahavya's promotion.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.3 For 1-3, S subst.: *263 विश्वामित्रो महाराज राजा ब्राह्मणतां गतः कथितं भवता सर्वं विस्तरेण पितामह तच्च राजन्मया सर्वं श्रुतं बुद्धिमतां वर आगमो हि परोऽस्माकं त्वत्तः कौरवनन्दन वीतहव्यस्तु राजर्षिर्विश्रुतो वै पितामह ब्राह्मणत्वमनुप्राप्त इति राजन्महायशाः
स केन कर्मणा प्राप्तो ब्राह्मण्यं राजसत्तम वरेण तपसा वापि तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: By what acts did that best of kings succeed in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana? Was it through some boon or was it through the virtue of penances? You should tell me everything.
भीष्म उवाच शृणु राजन्यथा राजा वीतहव्यो महायशाः क्षत्रियः सन्पुनः प्राप्तो ब्राह्मण्यं लोकसत्कृतम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hear, O king, how the highly illustrious royal sage Vitahavya succeeded formerly in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana that is so difficult to attain and that is held in such high esteem by all the world.
मनोर्महात्मनस्तात प्रजाधर्मेण शासतः बभूव पुत्रो धर्मात्मा शर्यातिरिति विश्रुतः
M. N. Dutt: While the great Manu in days of yore was employed in ruling righteously his subjects, he obtained a son of righteous soul who become celebrated under the name of Sharyati.
तस्यान्ववाये द्वौ राजन्राजानौ संबभूवतुः हेहयस्तालजङ्घश्च वत्सेषु जयतां वर
M. N. Dutt: In Sharyati's family, O monarch, two kings were born viz., Haihaya and Talajangha. Both of them were sons of Vatsa, O foremost of victorious kings.
हेहयस्य तु पुत्राणां दशसु स्त्रीषु भारत शतं बभूव प्रख्यातं शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्
M. N. Dutt: Haihaya, O monarch, had ten wives. Upon them he beget, O Bharata, hundred sons all of whom were heroes who never returned from the battle field.
तुल्यरूपप्रभावाणां विदुषां युद्धशालिनाम् धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च सर्वत्रैव कृतश्रमाः
M. N. Dutt: All of them resembled one another in features and prowess. All of them were gifted with great strength and all of them were possessed of great skill in battle. They all studied the Vedas and the science of weapons thoroughly.
काशिष्वपि नृपो राजन्दिवोदासपितामहः हर्यश्व इति विख्यातो बभूव जयतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: In Kashi also, O monarch, there was a king who was the grandfather of Divodasa. The foremost of victorious men, he passed by the name of Haryashva.
स वीतहव्यदायादैरागत्य पुरुषर्षभ गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये संग्रामे विनिपातितः
M. N. Dutt: The sons of king Haihaya, O chief of men, invaded the kingdom of Kashi, and advancing to the country that lies between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna fought a battle with king Haryashva and killed him in it.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.11 For 11cd, S subst.: *264 युद्धे विनिर्जितो राजन्गङ्गायमुनयोरनु
तं तु हत्वा नरवरं हेहयास्ते महारथाः प्रतिजग्मुः पुरीं रम्यां वत्सानामकुतोभयाः
M. N. Dutt: Having killed king Haryashva thus, the sons of Haihaya, those great car warriors fearlessly returned to their own charming city in the country of the Vatsas.
हर्यश्वस्य तु दायादः काशिराजोऽभ्यषिच्यत सुदेवो देवसंकाशः साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile Haryashva's son Sudeva who looked like a celestial in splendour and who was a second god of virtue, was installed on the throne of Kashi as its king.
स पालयन्नेव महीं धर्मात्मा काशिनन्दनः तैर्वीतहव्यैरागत्य युधि सर्वैर्विनिर्जितः
M. N. Dutt: The delighter of Kashi, the righteous-souled prince ruled his kingdom for some time when the hundred sons of Vitihavya once more attacked his territories and defeated him in battle.
तमप्याजौ विनिर्जित्य प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम् सौदेविस्त्वथ काशीशो दिवोदासोऽभ्यषिच्यत
M. N. Dutt: Having defeated king Sudeva thus, the victors returned to their own city. After this, Divodasa, the son of Sudeva, became installed on the throne of Kashi as its king.
दिवोदासस्तु विज्ञाय वीर्यं तेषां महात्मनाम् वाराणसीं महातेजा निर्ममे शक्रशासनात्
M. N. Dutt: Understanding the prowess of those great princess viz., the sons of Vitihavya, king Divodasa, gifted with great energy, rebuilt and fortified the city of Varanasi at the command of Indra.
विप्रक्षत्रियसंबाधां वैश्यशूद्रसमाकुलाम् नैकद्रव्योच्चयवतीं समृद्धविपणापणाम्
AI Translation: crowded with brahmins and kshatriyas, filled with vaishyas and shudras, rich with many hoarded goods, with prosperous markets and shops,
गङ्गाया उत्तरे कूले वप्रान्ते राजसत्तम गोमत्या दक्षिणे चैव शक्रस्येवामरावतीम्
AI Translation: On the northern bank of the Ganges, at the edge of the forest, O best of kings, and on the southern bank of the Gomati, like Indra's Amaravati.
तत्र तं राजशार्दूलं निवसन्तं महीपतिम् आगत्य हेहया भूयः पर्यधावन्त भारत
M. N. Dutt: The Haihayas once again, O Bharata, attacked that foremost of kings as he ruled his kingdom.
स निष्पत्य ददौ युद्धं तेभ्यो राजा महाबलः देवासुरसमं घोरं दिवोदासो महाद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: The powerful king Divodasa gifted with great splendour, issuing out of his capital, gave them battle. The engagement between the two parties terrible like the encounter in days of old between the celestials and the Asuras.
स तु युद्धे महाराज दिनानां दशतीर्दश हतवाहनभूयिष्ठस्ततो दैन्यमुपागमत्
M. N. Dutt: King Divodasa fought the enemy for a thousand days at the end of which, having lost a large number of followers and animals, he became greatly distressed.
हतयोधस्ततो राजन्क्षीणकोशश्च भूमिपः दिवोदासः पुरीं हित्वा पलायनपरोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: King Divodasa, O king, having lost his army and seeing his treasury exhausted left his capital and fled away.
स त्वाश्रममुपागम्य भरद्वाजस्य धीमतः जगाम शरणं राजा कृताञ्जलिररिंदम
M. N. Dutt: Going to the charming herinitage of the wise Bharadvaja, the king, O chastiser of foes, joining his hands in respect sought the Rishi's protection.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.23 For 23cd, S subst.: *265 प्रपद्य शरणं तस्य मूर्ध्ना च निपपात ह उवाच भगवन्तं तं पुत्रं मान्यं बृहस्पतेः
राजोवाच भगवन्वैतहव्यैर्मे युद्धे वंशः प्रणाशितः अहमेकः परिद्यूनो भवन्तं शरणं गतः
M. N. Dutt: The king said O holy one, the sons of Vitahavya have killed all the children and men of my house. I only have escaped with life, totally discomfited by the enemy, I seek refuge with you.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.24 After 24, N (V1 missing) ins.: *266 तमुवाच भरद्वाजो ज्येष्ठः पुत्रो बृहस्पतेः पुरोधाः शीलसंपन्नो दिवोदासं महीपतिम् किमागमनकृत्यं ते सर्वं प्रब्रूहि मेऽनघ यत्ते प्रियं तत्करिष्ये न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा
शिष्यस्नेहेन भगवन्स मां रक्षितुमर्हसि निःशेषो हि कृतो वंशो मम तैः पापकर्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: You should, O holy one, protect me with such affection as you have for a disciple! Those princes of sinful deeds have killed my whole family, leaving myself only alive.
तमुवाच महाभागो भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान् न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं सौदेव व्येतु ते भयम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Bharadvaja of great energy said to him who pleaded so piteously Do not fear! Do not fear! O son of Sudeva, let your fears be gone.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.26 After 26ab, S (except T1) ins.: *267 पुरोधास्तस्य राजेन्द्र दिवोदासस्य धीमतः
अहमिष्टिं करोम्यद्य पुत्रार्थं ते विशां पते वैतहव्यसहस्राणि यथा त्वं प्रसहिष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: son on I shall perform a sacrifice, O monarch, in order that you may have a son through whom you will be able to smite thousand upon thousands of Vitahavya's party.
तत इष्टिं चकारर्षिस्तस्य वै पुत्रकामिकीम् अथास्य तनयो जज्ञे प्रतर्दन इति श्रुतः
M. N. Dutt: After this, the Rishi performed a sacrifice with the object of bestowing a Divodasa. As the result thereof, to Divodasa was born a son named Pratarddana.
स जातमात्रो ववृधे समाः सद्यस्त्रयोदश वेदं चाधिजगे कृत्स्नं धनुर्वेदं च भारत
M. N. Dutt: As soon as he was born, he grew into a child of full three and ten years, and quickly mastered the entire Vedas and the whole sciences of arms.
योगेन च समाविष्टो भरद्वाजेन धीमता तेजो लौक्यं स संगृह्य तस्मिन्देशे समाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Helped by his Yoga powers, the highly intelligent Bharadvaja had entered into the prince. Indeed, collecting all the energy of the objects of the universe, Bharadvaja caused it to enter the body of prince Pratarddana.
ततः स कवची धन्वी बाणी दीप्त इवानलः प्रययौ स धनुर्धुन्वन्विवर्षुरिव तोयदः
AI Translation: Then he, with his armor, bow, and arrows, blazing like fire, went forth, twanging his bow, like a cloud pouring rain.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.31 After 31a, N (V1 missing) ins.: *268 स्तूयमानः सुरर्षिभिः बन्दिभिर्वन्द्यमानश्च बभौ सूर्य इवोदितः स रथी बद्धनिस्त्रिंशो
तं दृष्ट्वा परमं हर्षं सुदेवतनयो ययौ मेने च मनसा दग्धान्वैतहव्यान्स पार्थिवः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the prince, the son of Sudeva, viz., king Divodasa become filled with joy. Indeed, the old king thought the sons of his enemy Vitahavya as already killed.
ततस्तं यौवराज्येन स्थापयित्वा प्रतर्दनम् कृतकृत्यं तदात्मानं स राजा अभ्यनन्दत
M. N. Dutt: Divodasa then installed his son Pratarddana as the heirapparent, and considering himself crowned with success became highly happy.
ततस्तु वैतहव्यानां वधाय स महीपतिः पुत्रं प्रस्थापयामास प्रतर्दनमरिंदमम्
M. N. Dutt: After this, the old king commanded that chastiser of foes, viz., prince Pratarddana, to march against the sons of Vitahavya and kill them in battle.
सरथः स तु संतीर्य गङ्गामाशु पराक्रमी प्रययौ वीतहव्यानां पुरीं परपुरंजयः
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with great prowess Pratarddana, that subjugator of hostile cities, speedily crossed Ganga on his car and proceeded against the city of the Vitahavyas.
वैतहव्यास्तु संश्रुत्य रथघोषं समुद्धतम् निर्ययुर्नगराकारै रथैः पररथारुजैः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing the clatter of the wheels of his car, the sons of Vitahavya riding on their own cars that looked fortified citadels and that were capable of destroying hostile vehicles, issued out of their city.
निष्क्रम्य ते नरव्याघ्रा दंशिताश्चित्रयोधिनः प्रतर्दनं समाजघ्नुः शरवर्षैरुदायुधाः
M. N. Dutt: Coming out of their capital. those foremost of men., viz., the sons of Vitahavya, who were all skilful warriors cased in mail rushed with uplifted weapons towards Pratarddana, covering him with showers of arrows.
अस्त्रैश्च विविधाकारै रथौघैश्च युधिष्ठिर अभ्यवर्षन्त राजानं हिमवन्तमिवाम्बुदाः
M. N. Dutt: Surrounding him with numberless cars, O Yudhishthira, the Vitahavyas poured upon Pratarddana showers of weapons of various sorts like the clouds pouring torrents of rain on the breast of Himavat.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य तेषां राजा प्रतर्दनः जघान तान्महातेजा वज्रानलसमैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Baffling their weapons with his own, prince Pratarddana gifted with great energy killed them all with arrows that resembled the thunder bolt of Indra.
कृत्तोत्तमाङ्गास्ते राजन्भल्लैः शतसहस्रशः अपतन्रुधिरार्द्राङ्गा निकृत्ता इव किंशुकाः
M. N. Dutt: Their heads cut off, O king, with hundreds and thousands of broad headed arrows, the warriors of Vitahavya dropped down with blood dyed bodies like Kinshuka trees felled on every side by woodmen with their axes.
हतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वीतहव्यः सुतेष्वथ प्राद्रवन्नगरं हित्वा भृगोराश्रममप्युत
M. N. Dutt: After all his warriors and sons had been killed in battle, king Vitahavya fled away from his capital to the hermitage of Bhrigu.
ययौ भृगुं च शरणं वीतहव्यो नराधिपः अभयं च ददौ तस्मै राज्ञे राजन्भृगुस्तथा ततो ददावासनं च तस्मै शिष्यो भृगोस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, arrived there the royal fugitive sought refuge with Bhrigu. The Rishi Bhrigu, O monarch, assured the defeated king of his protection.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.42 For 42ef, S subst.: *269 आसनं शिष्यमध्ये च भृगुरन्यत्समादिशत्
अथानुपदमेवाशु तत्रागच्छत्प्रतर्दनः स प्राप्य चाश्रमपदं दिवोदासात्मजोऽब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Then Pratardana quickly came there, following closely behind. And having reached the hermitage, the son of Divodasa said:
भो भोः केऽत्राश्रमे सन्ति भृगोः शिष्या महात्मनः द्रष्टुमिच्छे मुनिमहं तस्याचक्षत मामिति
AI Translation: "O, who are the great disciples of Bhrigu in this hermitage? I wish to see the sage. Please tell me."
स तं विदित्वा तु भृगुर्निश्चक्रामाश्रमात्तदा पूजयामास च ततो विधिना परमेण ह
M. N. Dutt: Knowing that it was Pratarddana who had come, the Rishi Bhrigu himself came out of his hermitage and adored that best of kings according to due rites.
उवाच चैनं राजेन्द्र किं कार्यमिति पार्थिवम् स चोवाच नृपस्तस्मै यदागमनकारणम्
M. N. Dutt: Addressing him then, the Rishi said: Tell me, o king, what is your business! The king, at this informed the Rishi of the reason of his arrival.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.46 For 44c-46d, S subst.: *270 तमभ्यनन्दद्भगवान्सत्कारेण स्वयं भृगुः उवाच चैनं भगवान्किं कार्यमिति सत्कृतम् तमुवाच ततो राजा दैवोदासिः प्रतर्दनः
अयं ब्रह्मन्नितो राजा वीतहव्यो विसर्ज्यताम् अस्य पुत्रैर्हि मे ब्रह्मन्कृत्स्नो वंशः प्रणाशितः उत्सादितश्च विषयः काशीनां रत्नसंचयः
M. N. Dutt: The king said King Vitahavya has come here, O Brahmana! Do you surrender him. His sons, O Brahmana, had destroyed my family.
एतस्य वीर्यदृप्तस्य हतं पुत्रशतं मया अस्येदानीं वधाद्ब्रह्मन्भविष्याम्यनृणः पितुः
AI Translation: "This one, who is proud of his prowess, has had a hundred sons killed by me. " "Now, O Brahman, by killing him, I shall become free from debt to my father."
तमुवाच कृपाविष्टो भृगुर्धर्मभृतां वरः नेहास्ति क्षत्रियः कश्चित्सर्वे हीमे द्विजातयः
AI Translation: The compassionate Bhrigu, the best of those who uphold dharma, said to him: "There is no kshatriya here. All of them are brahmins.
एवं तु वचनं श्रुत्वा भृगोस्तथ्यं प्रतर्दनः पादावुपस्पृश्य शनैः प्रहसन्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Hearing these words of Bhrigu, Pratardana, touching his feet slowly, smiling, spoke these words:
एवमप्यस्मि भगवन्कृतकृत्यो न संशयः यदेष राजा वीर्येण स्वजातिं त्याजितो मया
AI Translation: Even so, Blessed One, I am satisfied and have no doubt. For this king, by his own merit, has been abandoned by me.
Supplementary Passages:
13.31.51 After 51, S ins.: *271 ऋषेर्हि वचनं सत्यं सर्वे स्युर्ब्राह्मणा इति
अनुजानीहि मां ब्रह्मन्ध्यायस्व च शिवेन माम् त्याजितो हि मया जातिमेष राजा भृगूद्वह
AI Translation: "Brahma, give me your permission, and think of me with kindness. " "For, O descendant of Bhrigu, this king has been abandoned by me in this birth."""
ततस्तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो ययौ राजा प्रतर्दनः यथागतं महाराज मुक्त्वा विषमिवोरगः
AI Translation: Then, permitted by him, King Pratardana went as he had come, O great king, like a snake leaving poison.
भृगोर्वचनमात्रेण स च ब्रह्मर्षितां गतः वीतहव्यो महाराज ब्रह्मवादित्वमेव च
AI Translation: By the mere words of Bhrigu, he attained the state of a brahminical sage. O great king, Vītahavya attained the state of a brahminical sage.
तस्य गृत्समदः पुत्रो रूपेणेन्द्र इवापरः शक्रस्त्वमिति यो दैत्यैर्निगृहीतः किलाभवत्
AI Translation: His son was Gritsamada, who was like another Indra in beauty. It is said that he was captured by the demons and addressed as "You are Indra."
ऋग्वेदे वर्तते चाग्र्या श्रुतिरत्र विशां पते यत्र गृत्समदो ब्रह्मन्ब्राह्मणैः स महीयते
AI Translation: In the Rig Veda, O Lord of the people, there is the foremost scripture, where Gritsamada, O Brahman, is honored by the Brahmins.
स ब्रह्मचारी विप्रर्षिः श्रीमान्गृत्समदोऽभवत् पुत्रो गृत्समदस्यापि सुचेता अभवद्द्विजः
AI Translation: He became the glorious ascetic Gritsamada. The son of Gritsamada was the brahmin Sucheta.
वर्चाः सुतेजसः पुत्रो विहव्यस्तस्य चात्मजः विहव्यस्य तु पुत्रस्तु वितत्यस्तस्य चात्मजः
AI Translation: Varcas, Sutajas, his son, and Vihavyas, his son, and Vitatya, his son, and his son,
वितत्यस्य सुतः सत्यः सन्तः सत्यस्य चात्मजः श्रवास्तस्य सुतश्चर्षिः श्रवसश्चाभवत्तमः
AI Translation: Satya was the son of Vitatsi, and Satya's son was Sata. Tamas was the son of Sata, and Tamas' son was Sata.
तमसश्च प्रकाशोऽभूत्तनयो द्विजसत्तमः प्रकाशस्य च वागिन्द्रो बभूव जयतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: Santa had a son viz., the Rishi Shravas. Shravas begot a son named Tama. Tama begot a son named Prakasha who was a very great Brahmana.
तस्यात्मजश्च प्रमतिर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः घृताच्यां तस्य पुत्रस्तु रुरुर्नामोदपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Prakasha had a son named Vagindra who was the foremost of all silent reciters of sacred Mantras. Vagindra begot a son named Pramati who was a perfect master of all the Vedas and their auxiliaries. Pramati begot upon the Apsara Ghritachi a son who was named Ruru.
प्रमद्वरायां तु रुरोः पुत्रः समुदपद्यत शुनको नाम विप्रर्षिर्यस्य पुत्रोऽथ शौनकः
M. N. Dutt: Ruru begot a son upon his wife Pramadvara. That son was the regenerate Rishi Shunaka. Shunaka begot a son who is named Shaunaka.
एवं विप्रत्वमगमद्वीतहव्यो नराधिपः भृगोः प्रसादाद्राजेन्द्र क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: It was thus, O foremost of monarchs that king Vitahavya, though a Kshatriya by the order of his birth, acquired the dignity of a Brahmana, O chief of Kshatriyas, through the grace of Bhrigu.
तथैव कथितो वंशो मया गार्त्समदस्तव विस्तरेण महाराज किमन्यदनुपृच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: I have also told you the genealogy of the race that originated from his son Gritsamada. What else would you ask?