Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच मान्धाता राजशार्दूलस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः कथं जातो महाब्रह्मन्यौवनाश्वो नृपोत्तमः कथं चैतां परां काष्ठां प्राप्तवानमितद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said: O great Brahmana, how was born that excellent king, that foremost of monarchs, the son of Yuvanashva, Mandhata, celebrated over the three worlds?
यस्य लोकास्त्रयो वश्या विष्णोरिव महात्मनः एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं चरितं तस्य धीमतः
AI Translation: Whose three worlds are under his control, like the great-souled Vishnu. I wish to hear about the conduct of that wise one.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.2 After 2, S ins.: *612 सत्यकीर्तेर्हि मान्धातुः कथ्यमानं त्वयानघ
यथा मान्धातृशब्दश्च तस्य शक्रसमद्युतेः जन्म चाप्रतिवीर्यस्य कुशलो ह्यसि भाषितुम्
M. N. Dutt: I am desirous to hear all about the life and achievements of that intelligent king. I should also like to hear when and how his name became Mandhata, belonging as it did to the greatly effulgent Indra and how that matchlessly powerful hero was born, you are greatly-skilled in the art of narrating all events, (narrate all this to me).
लोमश उवाच शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः यथा मान्धातृशब्दो वै लोकेषु परिगीयते
M. N. Dutt: Lomasha said: O king, hear with attention how the name of Mandhata, that high-souled king, came to be famous all over the world.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.4 After 4ab, B1.4 ins.: *613 यथा चासौ समभवच्चरितं तस्य धीमतः
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो युवनाश्वो महीपतिः सोऽयजत्पृथिवीपाल क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः
M. N. Dutt: The king Yuvanashva was born in the race of Ikshvaku. O ruler of earth, he performed many sacrifices in which Dakshinas (gifts) were large.
अश्वमेधसहस्रं च प्राप्य धर्मभृतां वरः अन्यैश्च क्रतुभिर्मुख्यैर्विविधैराप्तदक्षिणैः
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of all virtuous men, performed one thousand horse-sacrifices. He also performed many other sacrifices in which Dakshinas were in abundance.
अनपत्यस्तु राजर्षिः स महात्मा दृढव्रतः मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद्राज्यं वननित्यो बभूव ह
M. N. Dutt: But that royal sage had no son and therefore that high-souled and greatly vow-observing king made over to his ministers the duties of the state and went to live in the forest.
शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना संयोज्यात्मानमात्मना पिपासाशुष्कहृदयः प्रविवेशाश्रमं भृगोः
AI Translation: Having united his soul with his soul according to the method prescribed by the scriptures, with his heart parched with thirst, he entered the hermitage of Bhrigu.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.8 After 8ab, K2 B Dc Dn D3 (marg.).4.6 ins.: *614 स कदाचिन्नृपो राजन्नुपवासेन दुःखितः
तामेव रात्रिं राजेन्द्र महात्मा भृगुनन्दनः इष्टिं चकार सौद्युम्नेर्महर्षिः पुत्रकारणात्
AI Translation: That very night, O lord of kings, the great-souled son of Bhrigu performed a sacrifice for the sake of his son, the great sage, for Sāudāmin.
संभृतो मन्त्रपूतेन वारिणा कलशो महान् तत्रातिष्ठत राजेन्द्र पूर्वमेव समाहितः यत्प्राश्य प्रसवेत्तस्य पत्नी शक्रसमं सुतम्
AI Translation: The great pitcher was filled with water purified by mantras. The king, with great concentration, stood there from the beginning. By drinking from it, his wife would give birth to a son equal to Indra.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.10 After 10, S ins.: *615 तद्वारि विधिवद्राजन्यस्मिन्नासीत्सुसंस्कृतम्
तं न्यस्य वेद्यां कलशं सुषुपुस्ते महर्षयः रात्रिजागरणश्रान्ताः सौद्युम्निः समतीत्य तान्
M. N. Dutt: Having been much fatigued by keeping up nights, those great Rishis placed that jar on the altar and went to sleep.
शुष्ककण्ठः पिपासार्तः पानीयार्थी भृशं नृपः तं प्रविश्याश्रमं श्रान्तः पानीयं सोऽभ्ययाचत
M. N. Dutt: The king was suffering from thirst, his palate was dry and he was eagerly looking for water. Entering the hermitage, greatly tired as he was, he asked for water.
तस्य श्रान्तस्य शुष्केण कण्ठेन क्रोशतस्तदा नाश्रौषीत्कश्चन तदा शकुनेरिव वाशितम्
M. N. Dutt: With fatigue and with a perched throat, he cried in a feeble voice which resembled like the inarticulate notes of a bird. Therefore none heard his voice.
ततस्तं कलशं दृष्ट्वा जलपूर्णं स पार्थिवः अभ्यद्रवत वेगेन पीत्वा चाम्भो व्यवासृजत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the king, seeing the jar filled with water, quickly ran towards it. He drank the water and put the jar down.
स पीत्वा शीतलं तोयं पिपासार्तो महीपतिः निर्वाणमगमद्धीमान्सुसुखी चाभवत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: That intelligent king, who was very thirsty, drank that cool water; his thirst being quenched he became greatly happy.
ततस्ते प्रत्यबुध्यन्त ऋषयः सनराधिपाः निस्तोयं तं च कलशं ददृशुः सर्व एव ते
M. N. Dutt: Those ascetic Rishis then awoke from their sleep and all of them saw that the water of the jar was gone.
कस्य कर्मेदमिति च पर्यपृच्छन्समागताः युवनाश्वो मयेत्येव सत्यं समभिपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: The assembled all together and asked one another who had done this. Then Yuvanashva told the truth saying, “It was done by me.”
न युक्तमिति तं प्राह भगवान्भार्गवस्तदा सुतार्थं स्थापिता ह्यापस्तपसा चैव संभृताः
AI Translation: The Blessed One Bhārgava then said to him, "This is not proper." The waters were established for the sake of the son, and they were gathered by asceticism.
मया ह्यत्राहितं ब्रह्म तप आस्थाय दारुणम् पुत्रार्थं तव राजर्षे महाबलपराक्रम
AI Translation: For it was here that I performed a terrible penance, O royal sage, for the sake of a son, O you of great strength and prowess.
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तपोबलसमन्वितः यः शक्रमपि वीर्येण गमयेद्यमसादनम्
AI Translation: He is of great strength, great valor, endowed with the strength of austerities, Who can even by his valor lead Indra to Yama's abode.
अनेन विधिना राजन्मयैतदुपपादितम् अब्भक्षणं त्वया राजन्नयुक्तं कृतमद्य वै
AI Translation: By this method, O king, this has been accomplished by me. O king, it is not proper for you to drink water today.
न त्वद्य शक्यमस्माभिरेतत्कर्तुमतोऽन्यथा नूनं दैवकृतं ह्येतद्यदेवं कृतवानसि
M. N. Dutt: It is impossible now to turn back the incident which happened. What you have done was certainly ordained by Fate,
पिपासितेन याः पीता विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृताः आपस्त्वया महाराज मत्तपोवीर्यसंभृताः ताभ्यस्त्वमात्मना पुत्रमेवंवीर्यं जनिष्यसि
AI Translation: Those waters, O great king, which you have drunk, purified by ritual and mantra, while thirsty, and which are full of the power of your austerities, from them you will beget a son of such power.
विधास्यामो वयं तत्र तवेष्टिं परमाद्भुताम् यथा शक्रसमं पुत्रं जनयिष्यसि वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: We shall perform there for you a most wonderful sacrifice, so that you will give birth to a son who is equal to Indra in valor.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.24 After 24, K2 B Dc Dn D4.6 ins.: *616 गर्भधारणजं वापि न खेदं समवाप्स्यसि while D5 ins.: *617 इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य राजा त्विति तथाब्रवीत् and, finally, S ins.: *618 न च प्राणैर्महाराज वियोगस्ते भविष्यति
ततो वर्षशते पूर्णे तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः वामं पार्श्वं विनिर्भिद्य सुतः सूर्य इवापरः
AI Translation: Then, after a hundred years had passed, from the left side of that great king, a son emerged, like another sun.
निश्चक्राम महातेजा न च तं मृत्युराविशत् युवनाश्वं नरपतिं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
AI Translation: The very radiant one emerged, and death did not enter him. It was as if the king Yuvanashva had become a wonder.
ततः शक्रो महातेजास्तं दिदृक्षुरुपागमत् प्रदेशिनीं ततोऽस्यास्ये शक्रः समभिसंदधे
AI Translation: Then Śakra, of great splendor, came to see him. Then Śakra inserted a finger into his mouth.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.27 After 27ab, K1.2 B2-4 Dc Dn D4.6 ins.: *619 ततो देवा महेन्द्रं तमपृच्छन्धास्यतीति किम्
मामयं धास्यतीत्येवं परिभाष्टः स वज्रिणा मान्धातेति च नामास्य चक्रुः सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः
AI Translation: Thus was he addressed by the wielder of the thunderbolt, "He will be my son." And the gods with Indra gave him the name of Mandhata.
प्रदेशिनीं शक्रदत्तामास्वाद्य स शिशुस्तदा अवर्धत महीपाल किष्कूणां च त्रयोदश
AI Translation: Having tasted the fruit of the mango tree given by Indra, the child grew to thirteen cubits in height, O king.
वेदास्तं सधनुर्वेदा दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चेश्वरम् उपतस्थुर्महाराज ध्यातमात्राणि सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: O great king, the whole of the sacred learning together with the holy science of arms was acquired by that greatly intelligent boy by the simple and unassisted power of his thought.
धनुराजगवं नाम शराः शृङ्गोद्भवाश्च ये अभेद्यं कवचं चैव सद्यस्तमुपसंश्रयन्
AI Translation: The bow named "King of Arrows", the arrows that come from the mountain, And the impenetrable armor - he immediately took refuge in them.
सोऽभिषिक्तो मघवता स्वयं शक्रेण भारत धर्मेण व्यजयल्लोकांस्त्रीन्विष्णुरिव विक्रमैः
AI Translation: He was consecrated by Shakra himself, O descendant of the Bharata lineage. He conquered the three worlds through righteousness, like Vishnu through his prowess.
तस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रं प्रावर्तत महात्मनः रत्नानि चैव राजर्षिं स्वयमेवोपतस्थिरे
M. N. Dutt: The wheel of that high-souled king's car was irresistible in its course. Gems and jewels came to that royal sage of their own accord.
तस्येयं वसुसंपूर्णा वसुधा वसुधाधिप तेनेष्टं विविधैर्यज्ञैर्बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of earth, this is the region which (once) belonged to him. It abounds in great wealth. He performed may sacrifices in which gifts were in abundance.
चितचैत्यो महातेजा धर्मं प्राप्य च पुष्कलम् शक्रस्यार्धासनं राजँल्लब्धवानमितद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: O king, that great, powerful and immeasurably effulgent king erected many sacred piles and performed greatly pious deeds, by which he obtained the privilege of sitting at Indra's side.
एकाह्ना पृथिवी तेन धर्मनित्येन धीमता निर्जिता शासनादेव सरत्नाकरपत्तना
M. N. Dutt: That intelligent king conquered and ruled with virtuous laws the earth with cities and with the sea, the abode of gems.
तस्य चित्यैर्महाराज क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम् चतुरन्ता मही व्याप्ता नासीत्किंचिदनावृतम्
M. N. Dutt: O great king, the sacrificial grounds prepared by him were to be found all over the earth. There is not a single spot which is not marked with it.
तेन पद्मसहस्राणि गवां दश महात्मना ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महाराज दत्तानीति प्रचक्षते
M. N. Dutt: O great king, that greatly powerful king is said to have given away to the Brahmanas ten thousand Padmas and kine.
तेन द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां महात्मना वृष्टं सस्यविवृद्ध्यर्थं मिषतो वज्रपाणिनः
M. N. Dutt: When there was a draught extending for twelve years, disregarding the wielder of thunder, he caused rain to fall for the growth of crops.
तेन सोमकुलोत्पन्नो गान्धाराधिपतिर्महान् गर्जन्निव महामेघः प्रमथ्य निहतः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: The greatly powerful king of Gandhara, born in the Lunar dynasty, was terrible like the roaring clouds. Those that foolishly attacked him with arrows were immediately killed by him.
प्रजाश्चतुर्विधास्तेन जिता राजन्महात्मना तेनात्मतपसा लोकाः स्थापिताश्चापि तेजसा
M. N. Dutt: O king, that intelligent king protected the four orders of the people and by virtue of his asceticism and religious rites the world was kept from harm by that greatly powerful king.
तस्यैतद्देवयजनं स्थानमादित्यवर्चसः पश्य पुण्यतमे देशे कुरुक्षेत्रस्य मध्यतः
M. N. Dutt: This is the place where he, as effulgent as the sun, performed sacrifices to the celestials. Look as it. Yonder it is in the middle of Kurukshetra.
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.42 After 42, T G ins.: *620 तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र मान्धातेव महीपतिः धर्मं कृत्वा महीं रक्षन्स्वर्गलोकमवाप्स्यसि
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मान्धातुश्चरितं महत् जन्म चाग्र्यं महीपाल यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of earth, I have thus narrated to you all the great history of Mandhata, the manner in which he was born, a birth which was surely wonderful.”
Supplementary Passages:
3.126.43 After 43, K1 B Dc Dn D3 (marg. sec. m.).4.6 S ins.: *621 वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तः स कौन्तेयो लोमशेन महर्षिणा पप्रच्छानन्तरं भूयः सोमकं प्रति भारत