CHAPTER XXXVII
(AN ACCOUNT OF VABHRU'S FAMILY)
VAISHAMPAYANA said : - O king, Sātvata, endued with the quality of goodness, begat on Koushalyā several sons, namely Bhajina, Bhajamāna, Divya, Devavridha, the mighty armed Andhaka, and Yadu's son Vrishni. Listen to a detailed account of theirs progenitors (1-2). Bhajamāna had two wives, daughters of Srinjaya by name Vāhyakā and Upavāhvakā. He had a number of sons by those two wives. Krami, Kramina, Drishta, Shura and Puranjaya were begotten on Vāhyka. And Ayutajit, Sahasrājit, Shatajit, and Dasaka were begotten on Srinjaya's daughter Upavāhyakā by Bhajamana (3-5).
Resolving "I must have a son endued with all accomplishments" the king Devāvridha, the performer of Yajnas, carried on hard austerities (6). Controlling his mind he used to bathe in the water of the river Parnāshā and rinse his mouth therewith. On account of his constant touch, the river accomplished what he liked (7). Thinking alone, that foremost of rivers Parnāshā resolved upon doing some good by that king. Meditating thus she could not set his eye upon a woman capable of giving birth to such an accomplished son. She accordingly made up her mind to become herself the wife of that king (8-9). Thereupon becoming a maiden and assuming a most handsome form she selected that king as her husband. He too liked her (10). She then concieved through that liberal-minded king. In the tenth month, she, from king Devāvridha, gave birth to a highly accomplished son by name Vabhru. In this family while describing the accomplishments of the noble Devāvridha the sages, well-read in the Puranas, used to say: - "Before us, at a distance from us and near us we behold the king Devāvridha range assuming various forms by virtue of his illusive energy" (11-13). Vabhru was the foremost of men, and Devāvridha was equal unto the celestials. Being slain in battle by Devāvridha and Vabhru four hundred and sixty-two thousand men attained to the region of Brahma. Vabhru celebrated many Yajnas, made away gifts, was learned and conversant with the knowledge of Brahman. His weapon was very strong. Besides he was of glorious deeds, highly effulgent and the foremost of Sātwatas. His family was extensive and his descendants were Mārtikavata Bhojas (14-16). From Andhaka Kāshya's daughter obtained four sons, namely Kukura, Bhajamāna, Shama and Kamvalavarhisha (17). Kukura's son was Dhrishnu and Drishnu's son was Kapotaroma. His son again was Tittiri (18). From him was born Punarvasu, whose son was Abhijit who had two children (19). Both Ahuka (a son) and Ahuki (a daughter) were well-known and the foremost of all celebrated persons. The following hymn was chanted in Ahuka's praise (20). "Encircled by his pure souled descendants he (was noble and energetic) like a young horse. When that king first went out on his excursion he was protected by the gods[1] (21). There was none amongst those who followed this Bhojā king who had no issue, who had not made away a hundred presents, who had not a life extending over a thousand years, who was not of pure deeds and who did not perform Yajnas (22). At the command of Ahuka ten thousand cars with ten thousand elephants, having yokes, pieces of wood at their bottom, flags attached to them, with sounds like the muttering of clouds and golden and silver chains, used to proceed to the eastern quarter (23-24). An equal number of cars and elephants were placed in the northern quarter. Having brought under subjection all his commanders Ashuka used to go about with his kinsmen in his car adorned with a gridle of small bells (25). The Andhakas conferred on Avanti king Ahuka's sister Ahuki. Ahuka begat two sons on the daughter of the king of Kāshi (26). They were Devaka and Ugrasena who were both like the sons of celestials. Devaka had four god-like sons (27). They were Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva, and Devarakshit. He had seven daughters of all whom he conferred on Vasudeva (28). They were Devaki, Shāntideva, Sridevā, Devarakshita, Vrikadevi, Upadevi and Sunāmni was the seventh (29). Ugrasena had nine sons of whom Kangsa was the eldest. Others were Nyagrodha, Sunāmā, Kanka, Shambhu, Subhamija, Rāshtrapāla, Sudhanu, Anadhrishti and Pushtiman. They had five sisters, namely, Kāngsā, Kangsavati, Sutanu, Rāshtrapāli, and the beautiful Kangkā. I have described the family of Ugrasena, born in the Kukura race (30-32). Meditating on this highly energetic Kukura race, a man, having offspring, gets a big family (33).
Resolving "I must have a son endued with all accomplishments" the king Devāvridha, the performer of Yajnas, carried on hard austerities (6). Controlling his mind he used to bathe in the water of the river Parnāshā and rinse his mouth therewith. On account of his constant touch, the river accomplished what he liked (7). Thinking alone, that foremost of rivers Parnāshā resolved upon doing some good by that king. Meditating thus she could not set his eye upon a woman capable of giving birth to such an accomplished son. She accordingly made up her mind to become herself the wife of that king (8-9). Thereupon becoming a maiden and assuming a most handsome form she selected that king as her husband. He too liked her (10). She then concieved through that liberal-minded king. In the tenth month, she, from king Devāvridha, gave birth to a highly accomplished son by name Vabhru. In this family while describing the accomplishments of the noble Devāvridha the sages, well-read in the Puranas, used to say: - "Before us, at a distance from us and near us we behold the king Devāvridha range assuming various forms by virtue of his illusive energy" (11-13). Vabhru was the foremost of men, and Devāvridha was equal unto the celestials. Being slain in battle by Devāvridha and Vabhru four hundred and sixty-two thousand men attained to the region of Brahma. Vabhru celebrated many Yajnas, made away gifts, was learned and conversant with the knowledge of Brahman. His weapon was very strong. Besides he was of glorious deeds, highly effulgent and the foremost of Sātwatas. His family was extensive and his descendants were Mārtikavata Bhojas (14-16). From Andhaka Kāshya's daughter obtained four sons, namely Kukura, Bhajamāna, Shama and Kamvalavarhisha (17). Kukura's son was Dhrishnu and Drishnu's son was Kapotaroma. His son again was Tittiri (18). From him was born Punarvasu, whose son was Abhijit who had two children (19). Both Ahuka (a son) and Ahuki (a daughter) were well-known and the foremost of all celebrated persons. The following hymn was chanted in Ahuka's praise (20). "Encircled by his pure souled descendants he (was noble and energetic) like a young horse. When that king first went out on his excursion he was protected by the gods[1] (21). There was none amongst those who followed this Bhojā king who had no issue, who had not made away a hundred presents, who had not a life extending over a thousand years, who was not of pure deeds and who did not perform Yajnas (22). At the command of Ahuka ten thousand cars with ten thousand elephants, having yokes, pieces of wood at their bottom, flags attached to them, with sounds like the muttering of clouds and golden and silver chains, used to proceed to the eastern quarter (23-24). An equal number of cars and elephants were placed in the northern quarter. Having brought under subjection all his commanders Ashuka used to go about with his kinsmen in his car adorned with a gridle of small bells (25). The Andhakas conferred on Avanti king Ahuka's sister Ahuki. Ahuka begat two sons on the daughter of the king of Kāshi (26). They were Devaka and Ugrasena who were both like the sons of celestials. Devaka had four god-like sons (27). They were Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva, and Devarakshit. He had seven daughters of all whom he conferred on Vasudeva (28). They were Devaki, Shāntideva, Sridevā, Devarakshita, Vrikadevi, Upadevi and Sunāmni was the seventh (29). Ugrasena had nine sons of whom Kangsa was the eldest. Others were Nyagrodha, Sunāmā, Kanka, Shambhu, Subhamija, Rāshtrapāla, Sudhanu, Anadhrishti and Pushtiman. They had five sisters, namely, Kāngsā, Kangsavati, Sutanu, Rāshtrapāli, and the beautiful Kangkā. I have described the family of Ugrasena, born in the Kukura race (30-32). Meditating on this highly energetic Kukura race, a man, having offspring, gets a big family (33).
[1] There is another meaning of this text. He used to go out on a conveyance drawn by eighty men. Ashiti means eighty. Charma means a wooden conveyance and Yukta means seated. The meaning that we have adopted is thus made out. Ashitayas means gods, Charma leathern protector of arrows; Yukta protected i.e. he was protected by the gods as arrows are protected by leathern cases i.e. the gods were like leathern cases to him. Both the meanings are equally good. The former gives an idea of his splendour. The latter shows that he was in the good grace of the celestials..
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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