Again assuming the form of a boar in the presence of the Muni Mārkandeya the Lord raised me up from the water with one tusk (41). Again at another time before your fiery presence the powerful Vishnu released me from the Daitya chief Bali (42). Now being oppressed and having none to protect me I have sought refuge with the Lord of the universe Gadādhara who is ever fond of his votaries (43). Fire is the cause of gold, the sun is the cause of stars and so Nārāyana is my support (44). I am alone holding this universe consisting of mobile and immobile creations. And Gādadhara is supporting all these held by me (45). Desirous of relieving me of my burden Jamadagni's son Rāma, out of anger, divested me, for twenty-one times, of the Kshatriyas (46). Raising up a pillar of victory, Bhrigu's son Rāma propitiated me with royal blood at the obsequial rites of his father and then communicated it to Kashyapa (47). Filled with a bad stench coming out of fat, flesh and bones and saturated with the blood of the Kshatriyas I appeared before Kashyapa like a youthful damsel in her course (48). The Brāhmana saint Kashyapa then said to me:—"O earth, why art thou so depressed? Why dost thou, being the wife of a hero, observe the vow of humiliation" (49). Thereat I said to Kashyapa, the Patriarch of the world:—"O Brāhman, the great Bhārgava has killed all my husbands (50). I have been divested of all the powerful Kshatriyas who live on arms, and have lost my husband. I do not wish to carry on me empty cities (51). Therefore, O Reverend Sir, confer upon me such a king as will be able to protect me abounding in villages and cities and engarlanded by oceans" (52).
Hearing my words the Omnipotent Lord said "Let it be so." Thereupon he gave me away to Manu, the king of men (53). Thereupon obtaining the god-like kings of the Ikshāku race, originating from Manu, I, under the influence of powerful time, passed from the hands of one king to those of another (54). When the Lord bestowed me upon the intelligent Manu, the king of men, many kings, born in the families of great saints, ruled over me (55). Having conquered me many heroic Kshatriyas have gone to the celestial region. Under the influence of time they have disappeared in me (56). The powerful Kshatriyas, ever victorious in battle, fought for me in this world with one another and they have been still fighting even now (57). This is the end of destiny despatched by thee. If thou hast commisseration for me, if thou dost wish to relieve me of my burden do thou organise a war for the destruction of the kings for the behoof of the world. May the beautiful holder of discus alone grant me protection (58–59). May Nārāyana command me to whom I have come for help oppressed with a load, if he thinks proper to relieve me of it (60).
| [176] | He was the architect of the gods. |
| [177] | Most excellent seat. |
| [178] | The seat of the religious student made properly of Kusa grass. |
| [179] | A kind of tree. |
CHAPTER LIII. AN ACCOUNT OF SANTANU'S FAMILY.
Vaishampayana said:—Thereupon hearing the words of the earth and thinking minutely on her object the gods said to the grand-father (1). "O Lord, thou hast created the bodies of all creatures. Thou art the lord of all the worlds. Do thou therefore relieve the earth of her load. O lord, if thou dost wish to accomplish the object of the earth in this her calamity do thou, without delay, ascertain the duties of Mahendra, Yama, Varuna, the king of riches, Nārāyana, the moon, the sun, the air, the Adityās, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Patriarchs of the world, the celestial physicians, the Aswinis, of the Sāddhyas, of Vrihaspati, preceptor Sukra, of Kāla, of Kali, of Maheswara, of Kārtikeya, of Yakshas, Rākshasas, Gandharvas, Chāranas, great serpents, of birds, huge mountains and oceans consisting of great waves of rivers headed by Gangā (2–8). O grand-father, how shall we send down our portions? Let us create bodies, not born of any woman, in the family of those kings who range in the sky, in that of the kings who tread the earth and in that of courtier Brāhmanas and other princes (9-10)". Hearing this great resolution of the gods assembled together for one common cause the grand-father of all, eulogised by the celestials, said to them (11). "O ye leading celestials, I like very much your resolution. Do you create portions of your body on earth with your energy (12). Ye are all leading celestials, do ye, with your energy, descend on earth. And acquiring the prosperity of the three worlds do you relieve the earth of her burden (13). Listen to what I did in the days of yore for removing the load of her burden when I was informed of it (14).
"In the days of yore I was seated on the western bank of the eastern ocean along with my grand-son the great Kashyapa (15). I was describing various themes relating to the Vedas described before, as well as many other episodes of the Purānas (16). While I was thus discoursing, you all, accompanied by Maruts and the ocean and Gangā in their forms, came to me (17). With rushing waves, clad in a variegated raiment of acquatic animals, with a body shining with shells and pearls, adorned with corals and jewels, accompanied by the moon and roaring like a cloud surcharged with water, the ocean, as if vanquishing me, came to its bank. And throwing up its salt waters he greatly distressed that place (18–20). When the ocean was about to assail that place with his water I said to him in angry words 'be quiet' (21). No sooner I said 'be quiet' than he assumed a form. And with all his waves stilled he shone there in right regal grace (22). Desirous of encompassing your well-being and relieving the earth of her burden I imprecated a curse on the ocean and Gangā, saying 'O ocean, since you have come in a regal form, go, you will be a king. Performing many feats with your own power on earth, you will be born in the race of the great Bharata and be a protector of men. Although impatient you assumed a form as soon as I asked you to be quiet. Therefore gifted with a beautiful person you will be celebrated on earth by the name of Shāntanu. And this foremost of rivers, Gangā, of unblemished limbs and expansive eyes, will go to you in a beautiful form (23-27)'. When I said this, the ocean, being depressed at heart, looked at me. He said 'O Lord, O god of gods, why dost thou imprecate a curse on me? I always obey thy commands. I have been made by thee and am always under thy protection. I am therefore thy son. Why hast thou then cursed me in unbecoming words? (28–29). O lord, by thy favour, my waves increased with the tides and so I was agitated. O Brāhman, how am I to blame for this? (30). If during that time thou hast been touched by water thrown up by the wind, what reason is there for thy imprecating a curse on me (31)? I was agitated by three-fold instruments namely the blowing wind, the increasing cloud and Parva accompanied by the moon (32). O Brahman, if I have committed any offence for these three instruments set to work by thee it behoves thee to forgive me and let there be an end of this curse (33). If dost thou find any evidence, O lord of gods, do thou show me mercy who have been depressed by a curse for no offence of mine (34). O lord, by thy command, this Gangā will descend on earth. I am guilty but thou shouldst show mercy on this innocent one (35).'
"Thereupon I said in sweet accents to the great ocean who had been terrified and moved by the curse of the gods who were innocent of the cause thereof. 'O you of great mind, O lord of rivers, be thou at ease, do not fear, I have been propitiated with thee, Listen now to the future object of this imprecation (36–37). O lord, renouncing this thy ocean body, go to the race of Bharata. Then, O great ocean, O great king, you will be enveloped with regal grace. There, O lord of waters, you will govern the four Varnas and be pleased (38–39). And assuming, a beautiful form of a woman, this Gangā, the foremost of rivers, will serve you (40). Sporting with Jānhavi, by my command you will not experience human miseries (41). O ocean, be you soon united with Gangā in wed-lock and carry out my command (42). Exiled from the celestial region the Vasus have entered the Rasātala. I appoint you for procreating them (43). Let Jānhavi, for having offspring, conceive those eight Vasus who are effulgent like fire and increase the joy of the celestials (44). Having procreated the Vasus, multiplied the Kuru race and cast off your human body, you will, in no time, assume your ocean body' (45).