CHAPTER XCIII
(AN ACCOUNT OF HARYASHWA)
VAISHAMPAYANA said: - With Rohini's son the powerful Vāsudeva began to live happily in the city of Mathura filled with Yādavas (1). Gradually his person shone greatly in the beauty of youth and regal prosperity. And delightedly he began to range in Mathurā adorned with woods (2).
Once again incited by his two daughters and remembering the death of Kansa, Jarāsandha, the king of Rājagriha, made preparations for a battle (3). In this wise the mighty car-warriors Yādavas fought seventeen times with Jarāsandha but could not kill him in battle (4). Thereupon accompanied by his four-fold forces the prosperous king of Magadha made preparations for the eighteenth expedition (5). Out of shame for his previous defeats and with a view to slay Krishna, the highly-powerful and valiant king of Rājagriha the beautiful Emperor Jarāsandha, like unto the king of gods in prowess, set out encircled by a huge army. And despite his many endeavours he again came back unsuccessful (6-7). Hearing that Jarāsandha had desisted the Yadavas, stricken with his fear, began to hold counsels (8). Thereupon the highly effulgent Vikadru, well-read in moral laws, said to the lotus-eyed Krishna in the very presence of Ugrasena (9).
"O my child Govinda, listen to the origin of our family. I am relating it because the proper time has come. Act according to my words, if you regard them proper, O pious one (10). Listen, I shall describe at length the origin of this race of Yadavas as related by Vyasa conversant with the knowledge of spirit (11). In Manu's race flourished a celebrated and prosperous king by name Haryashwa born of Ikshwāku, and powerful like Mahendra himself (12). Like unto Indra's Sachi he had a beloved spouse by name Madhumati the daughter of the Daitya Madhu (13). She was youthful and of matchless beauty and used always to carry out king's wishes. And so she grew dearer than his very life (14). Observing the vow of one wife that daughter of the king of Dānavas, of a beautiful hip and capable of assuming forms at will, although a woman, used to satisfy the desire of that foremost of Ikshwākus like the sky-ranging Rohini (15).
O Mādhava, once on a time banished from the kingdom by his eldest brother, that lotus-eyed foremost of kings Haryashwa, conversant with the knowledge of time, left Ayodhyā of his own accord. And with very few members with him he repaired to woods with his dear wife and began to live there. One day the lotus-eyed Madhumati said to the king who had been exiled by his brother (16-18).
"O foremost of kings, do thou cast off all desires for thy kingdom. Let us both go to the house of my father Madhu (19). There is the charming forest of Madhu like unto the city of the celestials where the trees pour down flowers and fruits as desired. We shall enjoy there happily (20). O king, thou art dear unto both my parents and for my satisfaction thou art dearer unto my brother Lavana too (21). So united with him we shall be able to enjoy there happily as if we are in our own kingdom. O foremost of men, repairing there like unto the immortals in the garden of Nandana we shall enjoy there as if in the city of gods. May good betide thee (22). O sovereign, greatly vain is thy brother. He cherishes malice against us and is always proud of his kingdom. We should therefore renounce him (23). Oh fie on such a wretched habitation and dependance like a slave. Therefore, O heroe, let us both go to my father's house" (24)
Although he had no desire of bringing about the destruction of his eldest brother through the help of his father-in-law the lust-stricken king however liked the words of his wife (25). Thereupon after that foremost of men the king Haryashwa, stricken with desire, had repaired with his beautiful wife to the city of Madhu the king of Dānavas said to him with love: - "Welcome to thee, O my son Haryashwa, I am pleased to see thee (26-27). O foremost of kings, I confer on thee all this my kingdom except the Madhu forest; do thou live here (28). In this forest Lavana will become thy help and guide in destroying thy enemies (29). Do thou rule over this prosperous kingdom abounding in kine, filled with cow-herds and adorned with the water of the ocean (30). O my son, if thou dost live here thou shalt have a huge mountainous fortress and thy extensive kingdom, consisting of prosperous villages and cities, will be the abode of kings (31). The country that is watered by the ocean is freed from dangers. There thou shalt have an extensive territory by name Anarta (32). O king that will however come to pass in time. Do thou now engage in performing the duties of a king in this country (33). O my child, in time thy family will be amalgated with the Yadu race originating from Yayāti. Although born in the Solar Dynasty thy race shall constitute a subdivision of the Lunar race (34). My desire is, O my child, that after conferring upon thee this most excellent territory I shall repair to the ocean the abode of salt for carrying on ascetic observances (35). O my son, being united with Lavana, do thou rule over this prosperous and extensive kingdom for multiplying thy race" (36).
Hearing those words of Madhu and exclaiming "do thou enter into water" Haryashwa accepted the kingdom and the Daitya too repaired to the abode of Varuna, the asylum of ascetics (37).
Thereupon Haryashwa, highly effulgent like unto an immortal, laid out a city for habitation on that best of mountains (38). That kingdom named Anarta, consisting of beautiful cities and precious kine, grew prosperous in no time (39). Inhabited by subjects Anupa country, adorned with forests, situate on the bank of the ocean and abounding in walls and villages, was filled with fields and corns (40). The highly powerful king Haryashwa, enhancing the delight of the subjects and cities, ruled over the prosperous kingdom with glory and in pursuance of the royal duties (41). By the perfect administration of the high-souled Haryashwa that prosperous kingdom became endued with all the characteristics of a kingdom and gradually increased in dimension (42). Adorned with royal accomplishments, that king, O lord, stationed in a kingdom, by his conduct and morality acquired the prosperity of his family (43). Thereupon gradually desiring for a son the intelligent Haryashwa began practising holy observances. He begat on Madhumati his highly illustrious son Yadu (44). Gifted with a voice like the blare of a bugle, irrepressible unto his enemies and endued with all regal marks the highly energetic Yadu began to grow up gradually (45-46). He was the only begotten son of the high-souled Haryashwa who ruled over the prosperous earth (47). Therefore having ruled piously for ten thousand years over his kingdom suffering no deterioration the king Haryashwa disappeared from the earth and repaired to the city of the celestials (48). Thereupon the subjects installed the valiant Yadu in the kingdom. After the demise of his sire the beautiful Yadu, like unto Indra himself, (from whom the Yādavas have sprung) rose like the sun and governed the earth. (During his regime) the fear of robbers was dispelled (49-50).
Once on a time while engaged in sporting in the water along with his liberal wives like unto the moon (surrounded) by stars the king began to swim in the water of the ocean he was all on a sudden assailed by the powerful king of serpents Dhumavarna (51-52). Dragged by the king of serpents he was taken to his city, which had pillars and doors made of diamond, was adorned with a heap of pearls, white conch-shells, masses of various other jewels, corals and trees covered with foliage. It abounded in leading serpents living in the belly of the ocean and in its middle were temples of golden or moon-like lustre (53-55). That lord of kings saw there in the clear water of the ocean the city of the serpent chief built as if like one on the surface of the earth (56). Ease at heart the king Yadu entered that structure of fathomless water filled with serpent females (57). To him was offered a most excellent watery seat made of jems strewn over with lotus leaves and hung together by a lotus thread (58). When the king Yadu sat on that superb serpent seat Dhumavarna, the king of Pannagas, respectfully said (59).
"O foremost of Yadus, having established this great family on earth and begotten you, a highly powerful sovereign, your father has gone to heaven (60). O my child, the family, the very mine of kings, that your father has established for the behoof (of the world), will be known as Yādava after your name (61). O lord in this your family, the gods, the Rishis and the eternal sons of the great Uragas will take birth as men (62). O foremost of kings, therefore, in pursuance of your own duties and by virtue of patriarchal deeds, accept these five maiden daughters of mine begotten on the sister of Yuvanāshwa. You are worthy of obtaining a boon and I shall confer one upon you (63-64). Those, who will be born in your family, will be celebrated by the names of Bhouma, Sātwata, Bhoja, Andhaka, Yādava, Dashārha and Vrishni-these seven (families) (65)."
Having said this and with water in his hands the foremost of Pannagas, Dhumavarna, who was observing the vow of a daughter, gave away to him cheerfully his daughter. And then delightedly he conferred on Yadu the following boon: "O giver of honors, these my five daughters will give birth to five sons endued with the energies of their parents in equal proportions. By the power of my boon all the kings, born in your family, will be able to assume forms at will and range in water" (66-69).
Having thus obtained the boon and the five maidens the king Yadu, like the moon, rose up soon from the water (70), Adorned with celestial garlands and unguents the king, in his bridal dress and encircled by the five ladies like unto moon in the midst of five stars, visited the entire inner apartment of the serpent (71-72). Then having consoled his five fire-like wives the king, filled with great delight, returned to his own city (73).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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