Harivamsha

by Bibek Debroy

  Janamejaya asked, ‘Why was the undecaying Sagara born with poison? How did the immensely energetic one, the angry and undecaying king, destroy the dharma followed in the lineage of the Shakas and other kshatriyas? O store of austerities! Tell me everything about this in detail.’

  Vaishampayana replied, ‘O son! O lord of the earth! Bahu confronted a hardship and his kingdom was seized by the Haihayas and the Talajanghas, accompanied by the Shakas. Yavanas, Paradas, Kambojas, Pahlavas and Khashas—these five categories contributed their valour for the sake of the Haihayas. With his kingdom having been seized, King Bahu left for the forest. He gave up his life in the forest. His miserable wives followed him there. One of these was born in the Yadava lineage. Though she was expecting, she followed him. Her co-wife had given her some poison earlier. Having prepared her husband’s funeral pyre in the forest, she174 got ready to ascend it. O son! However, overcome by compassion, Bhargava Ourva restrained her. With the undecaying one, she went to his hermitage, with the embryo and the poison. Thus, mighty-armed King Sagara was born. The great-souled Ourva performed his birth and other rites. He taught him the Vedas and the science of weapons and gave him weapons. The immensely fortunate one gave him the agneya weapon, difficult for even the immortals to withstand. Because of the strength of these weapons, he became powerful. He swiftly slew the Haihayas, like an enraged Rudra among the animals. The supreme among renowned ones spread his fame throughout the world. The king decided that he would annihilate the Shakas, the Yavanas, the Kambojas, the Paradas and the Pahlavas. Slaughtered by the great-souled and brave Sagara, they sought refuge with the learned Vasishtha and bowed down before him. On seeing them, the immensely radiant Vasishtha subjected them to a pledge. He granted them freedom from fear and restrained Sagara. Sagara followed his preceptor’s words and the pledge he himself made. Having destroyed their dharma, he altered their attire. He shaved half of the heads of the Shakas and released them. He shaved the entire heads of the Yavanas and did the same for the Kambojas. He made the Paradas wear their hair loose and made the Pahlavas sport beards. The great-souled one robbed them of studies and vashatkara. O lord of the earth! O son! The Shakas, the Yavanas, the Kambojas, the Paradas, the Kolisarpas, the Mahishakas, the Darvas, the Cholas and the Keralas—all these were kshatriyas. But because of the great-souled Vasishtha’s words, Sagara took their dharma away from them. The king conquered the earth through dharma. Consecrating himself in a horse sacrifice, he made the horse wander around. While the horse was wandering around along the south-eastern shores of the ocean, it was stolen and penetrated the earth. The king’s sons began to dig in that region. As they dug in that spot, along the great ocean, they approached the original being, the god Hari Krishna Prajapati Vishnu, sleeping in the human form of Kapila. O great king! As he awoke, the energy from his eyes burnt down all the sons, barring four. O king! These were Barhaketu, Suketu, King Barhadratha and the brave Panchajana, the extender of the lineage. The illustrious Hari Narayana granted them the boon that the fame of the lineage of Ikshvaku would be without decay and would never fade, that the ocean would be known as the lord’s175 son and that he would dwell in heaven for eternity. The ocean accepted the offering and worshipped the king, thus obtaining the name of Sagara176 because of his deeds. From the ocean, he also obtained the horse meant for the horse sacrifice. We have heard that the extremely illustrious one performed one hundred horse sacrifices and had sixty thousand sons.’

  Janamejaya asked, ‘O brahmana! Through what destiny did Sagara have sixty thousand brave, extremely powerful and valorous sons?’

  Vaishampayana replied, ‘O lord of men! Listen to this. Sagara had two wives and they destroyed their sins through austerities. Ourva granted them boons. One of those spirited ones accepted the boon of sixty thousand sons, the other said that the boon of a single son who would extend the lineage would be sufficient. One of them desired the boon of many brave sons, the other of a single one who would extend the lineage. The sage agreed. One gave birth to the extremely strong King Panchajana. It is in the sacred texts that the other gave birth to a bottle gourd that was full of seeds. Like sesamum, there were sixty thousand in that fetus and these cheerfully began to grow, waiting for the right time. O king! Each of these177 was immersed in a pot that was full of ghee and a maid was earmarked to take care of each of these. In the course of time, ten months passed and at the right time, sons who extended Sagara’s delight were born. O king! In this way, the lord of the earth had sixty thousand sons who were born from the seeds of the gourd. Through Narayana’s energy having penetrated, there was also a great-souled son, King Panchajana. Panchajana’s son was the valiant Amshuman. His son was Dilipa, famous as Khatvanga. O unblemished one! He went to heaven. But in a short while, he came back to life again.178 Through his intelligence, he comprehended the truth of the three worlds. Dilipa’s son was the great king Bhagiratha. He is the lord who made Ganga, the best among rivers, descend and advance towards the ocean, which is why she is thought of as his daughter.179 Bhagiratha’s son is famous as King Shruta. Shruta had a son named Nabhaga, who was extremely devoted to dharma. Nabhaga’s son was Ambarisha, the father of Sindhudvipa. Sindhudvipa’s son was the valiant Ayutajit. Ayutajit’s son was the extremely illustrious Rituparna. He was powerful and knew the divine art of playing with dice. He was also King Nala’s friend. Rituparna’s son was Artaparni, the lord of the earth. He also became known by the names of Kalmashapada and Mitrasaha. Kalmashapada’s son was the famous Sarvakarma. Sarvakarma’s son was known by the name of Anaranya. Anaranya’s son was Nighna. Nighna had two sons, Anamitra and Raghu. They were supreme and bulls among kings. Anamitra had a learned son named Duliduha, who had dharma in his soul. Dilipa, Rama’s great grandfather, was his son. The long-armed Dilipa had a son named Raghu. Raghu’s son was Aja and Aja’s son was Dasharatha. Dasharatha’s son was Rama. He was immensely illustrious and found solace in dharma. Rama had a famous son named Kusha. Kusha’s son was Atithi and Atithi’s son was Nishadha. Nishadha’s son was Nala and Nala’s son was Nabha. Nabha’s son was Pundarika and Pundarika’s son was known as Kshemadhanva. Kshemadhanva’s son was the powerful Devanika. Devanika’s son was the lord known as Ahinagu. Ahinagu’s son was the king named Sahasva. O bull among the Bharata lineage! In the ancient accounts, there are two famous Nalas. The first was the son of Virasena and the other was an extender of the Ikshvaku lineage.180 There were extremely energetic kings in Vivasvat’s lineage, the lineage of Ikshvaku, and the foremost ones have been recounted.181 Vivasvat is the god who ensures the sustenance of subjects. He is the god who presides over funeral ceremonies.182 A person who properly reads about the sun god’s creation obtains offspring and proximity with the sun god.

  Chapter 11

  Janamejaya said, ‘O foremost among brahmanas! How did Aditya Vivasvat become Shraddhadeva? I wish to hear about the supreme rites of funeral ceremonies and about the original creation of the ancestors. Who are known as the ancestors? We have heard the brahmanas say that the ancestors who are in heaven are gods among the gods. The ones who know about the Vedas also say this. I wish to know about this. What is said to constitute their categories and their supreme strength? Which of our deeds at funeral ceremonies please the ancestors? When the ancestors are pleased, what are the supreme benefits we are united with? I wish to hear about this and about the supreme categories of the ancestors.’

  Vaishampayana replied, ‘I will tell you about the supreme categories of the ancestors. When asked by Bhishma, Markandeya recounted them. In earlier times, when he was lying down on the bed of arrows, Dharmaraja had asked him the questions that you have asked me.183 I will progressively tell you what Bhishma had said. Asked by Markandeya, this is what Sanatkumara had chanted.

  ‘Yudhishthira asked, “O one who knows about dharma! If one desires nourishment, how can one obtain nourishment? I wish to hear this recounted. What should one do to avoid sorrow?”

  ‘Bhishma replied, “If one desires all the fruits, one should please t
he ancestors through funeral ceremonies. One obtains this through a funeral ceremony and thereafter, after death, one obtains delight. O Yudhishthira! Through the ancestors, one advances towards the desire for dharma, the desire for offspring and the desire for nourishment.”

  ‘Yudhishthira said, “Whose ancestors remain in heaven and whose descend into hell? It is said that subjects must always reap the fruits of their deeds. There is no doubt that funeral ceremonies are performed with a desire for the fruits. Three funeral cakes are always offered. How do they reach the father, the grandfather and the great-grandfather? How do the offerings at funeral ceremonies reach the ancestors? How are we capable of rendering offerings to the ancestors who are in hell? We have heard that offerings are rendered to the gods and ancestors who are in heaven. O immensely radiant one! I wish to hear about this in detail. O infinitely intelligent one! Tell me about this in detail. How are offerings given to ancestors thought to lead to salvation?”

  ‘Bhishma replied, “O destroyer of enemies! I will tell you the truth about what happens. My father, who has gone to another world, had spoken about this earlier. At the time of a funeral ceremony, I was about to offer a funeral cake to my father. However, my father’s hand arose out of the ground and seized it. That hand was adorned with ornaments and bracelets. The fingers and palm were red. This is what I witnessed in earlier times. I decided that these were not the rites laid down in the rituals. Therefore, without reflection, I laid down the funeral cake on kusha grass. At this, my father was extremely delighted and spoke to me in a sweet voice. He said, ‘O best among the Bharata lineage! O unblemished one! I am pleased with you. Since you are my son, I have obtained success in this world and in the next. O one who knows about dharma! You are a virtuous and learned son. O one who is firm in vows! O unblemished one! To establish dharma in the worlds, I wished to test you. Whatever a king establishes as the yardstick of dharma is what is always held up by subjects as a measure of conduct and is followed. O best among the Bharata lineage! You have acted in accordance with the eternal dharma of the Vedas. You have my eternal and unabated affection. Therefore, I am extremely pleased with you. Out of my affection, I will bestow a boon on you, one that is extremely rare in the three worlds. Accept it. As long as you wish to remain alive, death will not be able to influence you. In truth, death will only be able to exert its power after obtaining your permission.184 What other supreme boon do you desire? What will I grant you? O best among the Bharata lineage! Tell me what is in your mind.’ Having been thus addressed, I joined my hands in salutation and honoured him. I said, ‘O excellent one! If you are pleased with me, I have obtained success. O immensely radiant one! If you wish to show me your favours, you should yourself give me the answer to a question I will ask you.’ The one with dharma in his soul responded, ‘O Bhishma! Tell me what you wish. O son! O descendant of the Bharata lineage! I will dispel the doubt that is there in your question.’ My father was invisible and had gone to the worlds earmarked for the virtuous. I asked him about the curiosity that had been generated in me. ‘O father! It has been heard that the ancestors are gods among the gods. Are the ancestors the same as the gods or are they different? Whom should we offer sacrifices to? What offerings should be rendered at funeral ceremonies so that the ancestors are gratified? O father! For those who have gone to another world, what fruits are obtained from funeral ceremonies? I have a grave doubt and great curiosity about this. O one who knows about dharma! Tell me about this. It is my view that you know everything.’

  ‘“Shantanu replied, ‘O descendant of the Bharata lineage! I will briefly tell you what you have asked. O unblemished one! Listen to everything with an attentive mind, about the reason offerings are given to ancestors at funeral ceremonies and the resultant fruits and about the origins of the ancestors. O son! Together with the gods, the ancestors are the original gods in heaven. In this world, that is the reason gods, humans, danavas, yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, kinnaras and giant serpents perform sacrifices for them. When they are satisfied at funeral ceremonies, the universe, with the gods and the gandharvas, is satisfied. That is Brahma’s injunction. O immensely fortunate one! Without any distraction, perform sacrificial ceremonies for them. That will bring you benefit and all the fruits that you desire. When you worship them, recite your name and your gotra.185 O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Even if they are in heaven, they will be content and will satisfy us. Markandeya will tell you everything else that remains to be said. That descendant of the Bhargava lineage is devoted to his father and knows everything. To show his favours to me, he has come here now, to this funeral ceremony. O immensely fortunate one! Ask him.’”

  ‘Bhishma continued, “Having said this, he vanished.”’

  Chapter 12

  ‘Bhishma said, “At this, I followed his words, controlled myself and approached Markandeya. I asked him the question that I had earlier asked my father. The greatly ascetic Markandeya, with dharma in his soul, spoke to me. ‘O Bhishma! O unblemished one! I will tell you the truth. Listen attentively. O lord! It is through the favours of my father that I have obtained this long life. It is because of devotion to my father than I have obtained supreme fame in this world. I ascended Mount Meru and tormented myself through extremely difficult austerities for many thousand years, until an entire yuga had come to an end. On one occasion during that time, I saw the firmament blazing in energy, as a gigantic vimana advanced from the northern mountain. On a couch on that vimana, I saw a being who was the size of a thumb. He blazed like the sun and looked like a fire inside another fire. I lowered my head in obeisance and bowed down before the lord who was in that vimana. I worshipped him with padya and arghya.186 I asked the invincible one, ‘O lord! It is my view that you are a god among the gods. Whom do I know you as?’ O unblemished one! The one with dharma in his soul smiled and replied, ‘A person who does not comprehend me has not undertaken excellent austerities.’ In a short instant, he assumed another supreme form. Earlier, I have not seen such a form in any man.”

  ‘“Sanatkumara said, ‘O lord! Know me as Brahma’s eldest son, born through his mental powers. I have been generated with austerities and energy and have Narayana’s qualities within myself. O Bhargava! You may have heard of Sanatkumara in the ancient accounts of the Vedas. I am he. May you be fortunate. What can I do for you? Brahma’s other sons are younger than me. The lineages of those seven invincible brothers have been established—Kratu, Vasishtha, Pulaha, Pulastya, Atri and Angiras.187 They hold up the three worlds and are worshipped by the gods and the danavas. We188 resorted to the dharma of mendicants and immersed ourselves in our atmans. O great sage! We did not engage in desire and the dharma of generating offspring. Know me to be the child that I was born as. That is the reason I have come to be established by the name of Sanatkumara.189 With a desire to see me, you have devotedly shrivelled yourself through austerities. Now that you have seen me, what can I do for you?’”

  ‘Markandeya continued,190 “Thus addressed, I replied to the eternal one. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! When the illustrious one was pleased and gave me permission, I asked him. O unblemished one! I asked the eternal one the truth about the creation of the ancestors and the fruits of funeral ceremonies. O Bhishma! The lord of the gods dispelled my doubts. Pleased in his soul, he spoke to me for many years. He said, ‘O brahmana rishi! I am delighted with you. Listen to everything in detail. O Bhargava! Brahma created the gods and wanted them to be active towards him.191 However, having been created, desiring the fruits, they started to worship themselves. The foolish ones were cursed by Brahma. They became senseless and lost their consciousness. The worlds comprehended nothing and were also confounded. Everyone went to the grandfather and bowed down before him. To show his favour to the worlds, the lord said, “Since you have committed a transgression, you will have to perform atonement. For the sake of obtaining knowledge, go and ask your sons.” Afflicted, and for the sake of performing atonement, they asked their sons. Controlling themselves, they were
thus instructed by their sons, who knew about dharma, were always accomplished and possessed the insight of the truth. They were instructed about atonement for transgressions in words, thoughts and deeds. Having ascertained the truth about atonement, the residents of heaven regained their senses. Their sons told them, “O sons! You may go now.”192 Because of the words of their sons, it was as if the gods had been cursed once more. For dispelling their doubts, they went to the grandfather.193 The god told them, “You know about the brahman. The way you have been addressed is correct and there has been no violation in this. O gods! You are the ones who generated their bodies. However, since they have granted you knowledge, there is no doubt that they are your fathers. Understand that you are like fathers to each other, the gods and the ancestors. O residents of heaven! Comprehend this.” The residents of heaven returned to their sons and said, “Let us be affectionate towards each other. Brahma has dispelled our doubts. Since you have brought understanding to us, you are like our fathers. O ones who know about dharma! What is your desire? What boon can we grant you? What you have spoken is correct and there is nothing wrong in it. Therefore, because of what you have said, we have become like your sons. That is the reason you have become ancestors and there is no doubt about this. If a person observes rites, without faithfully performing funeral ceremonies for the ancestors, the fruits are obtained by rakshasas, danavas and serpents. O ancestors! When you are worshipped through funeral ceremonies, the undecaying Soma is always worshipped and prospers. When Soma is satisfied through funeral ceremonies, he satisfies the world, covered with oceans, mountains and forests and enveloped with mobile and immobile objects. If men desire nourishment and perform funeral ceremonies, the ancestors always grant them nourishment and offspring. The fathers and grandfathers are always present. If a person renders offerings and the three funeral cakes to them at funeral ceremonies and worships them, reciting his name and his gotra, they always think of him. O sons of the residents of heaven! Let these words be true. Let us be fathers and sons towards each other.”’” In this way, the gods are the ancestors and the ancestors are the gods. The gods and the ancestors are each other’s fathers.’