SECTION XIII.Parāçara said,—By Dhruva the abode of all blessings, his spouse Shambhu gave birth to two sons, Shisti and Vabya. Suchaya, the wife of Sishti gave birth to five sons, freed from sin, by name, Ripu, Ripunjaya, Sipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. Of these Ripu begat upon Vrihatee a highly effulgent son named Chakshusa, who again begot the Manu Chakshusa on Pushkarini of the race of Varuna, who was the daughter of the high-souled patriarch Aranya. O great sage, the patriarch Vairaja had a daughter named Nadbala, on whom Manu begot ten highly effulgent sons—Uru, Pooru, Satadumnya, Tapasher, Satyavak, Kavi, Agnistoma, Atiratra, Sudyumnya and Abhimanyu. Uru begot on his wife Agneyi six highly effulgent sons—Anga, Sumanas, Svati, Kratu, Angiras and Siva. And Anga begot on Suneetha one son named Vena. O great sages, with a view to multiply his progeny, the Rishis rubbed his right hand. And from his arm sprang a famous king named Vainya, who was celebrated as Prithu for milking the earth for the advantage of his subjects. Maitreya said,—"O foremost of ascetics, do thou tell me why the right hand of Vena was rubbed by the great Rishis, in consequence of which the mighty and powerful Prithu was born". Parāçara said:—Originally a daughter was born of Mritya named Suneetha. Anga married her. And she gave birth to Vena. O Maitieya, being born from the daughter of Mrityu, he inherited the evil propensities of his grand father. When he was inaugurated by the great Rishis, Vena caused it to be proclaimed everywhere that he was the lord of the earth. No one would undertake any sacrifice, offer any oblation or make any gift. "I am the king the lord of sacrifice, no one is entitled to oblations except myself". Thereupon the Rishis assembled there and worshipping the lord of earth, addressed him, O Maitreya, with sweet words. The Rishis said,—"O king, O lord, do thou hear, what we speak unto thee, for then thy health as well as the interest of thy subjects shall be secure. We purpose to worship, for thy welfare, with protracted rites, Hari, the lord of the celestials and sacrifices. And thou shalt also be entitled to a share in it. If, O king, with our sacrifices, the lord of sacrifices is propitiated, he shall also satisfy all thy desires. In whose kingdom, O king, Hari, the lord of sacrifices is worshipped with sacrifices, he confers on him, the satisfaction of all his desires". Vena said—"Who is there above me that, I even, shall have to worship him. Who is that person, who is known as Hari and whom ye do all consider as the lord of sacrifices? Brahmā, Janārddana, Sambhu, Indra, Vayu, Jama, the Sun, Fire, Varuna, Dhata, Pusha, (the sun) Bhumi (earth) and the lord of earth (the moon)—these and all others who are capable of imprecating curses and conferring boons (on mankind) do all exist in the person of a king for the essence of a sovereign is all that is divine. O twice born ones, understanding this full well, do ye all obey my commands—you should not make gifts or offer oblations unto any one (but me) and should not worship any body else. As to serve her own husband is the prime duty of a female, so it is incumbent upon you, O twice-born ones, to satisfy my behests only". The Rishis said,—"Give us command, O great king, to undertake sacrifices, so that piety may not suffer decrease. All this world is but the outcome of oblations".[224]Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed by the great Rishis and requested by them often and often, Vena did not give them. Thereupon all the ascetics, being stricken with excessive ire, cried out "Kill him!—kill this vicious weight! He, who vilifies our lord the sovereign of sacrifices, without beginning or end, is not worthy of the sovereignty of the earth". Saying this, the ascetics slew that king with the blades of Kusa grass, consecrated by prayer, who had already been, destroyed by his impiety towards God. Thereupon those ascetics beheld dust on all sides and said to the people who were nigh, "What is this?" To which the people replied—"The kingdom is without a king and hence the robbers and thieves have engaged in their dishonest work of encroaching upon the property of others. And O great ascetics, this dust has been raised by those robbers hastening to seize other's property". Thereupon consulting with each other those ascetics, intent upon creating a prince, began to rub the thigh of that childless monarch. The thigh being thus rubbed, there arose a being of the complexion of a charred stake, with flattened features and of a dwarfish stature. And he speedily addressed all the ascetics there saying, "What shall I do?" Whereto they replied—"Sit down" (Nishada) and thence his name was Nishada. O foremost of ascetics, from this person sprang a race called Nishadas who inhabit the Vindya mountain and are characterised by the exterior tokens of depravity. By this means the wickedness of the king (Vena) was extracted and the Nishadas was thus born destroying Vena's son's. Thereupon those twice-born ones began to rub the right hand of Vena from which sprang the highly powerful son of Vena named Prithu resplendent in person and burning like the fire itself. Thereupon from the welkin fell down the original bow of Hara named Pinaka, and the celestial arrow and the celestial armour. Prithu thus born, all the beings around were greatly delighted. And at the birth of that pious son. Vena too attained to the region of celestials and was delivered by that high-souled one from the hell namedPat. Thereupon the seas and rivers from all sides come there with holy water and pearls and gems of diverse kinds, for his inauguration on the throne. The great parent of all, Brahmā, with the celestials and the descendants of Angiras (the fires) and with all things, animate or inanimate, came there and performed the ceremony of consecrating the lord of people—the son of king of Vena. And beholding in his right hand the mark of the discus of Vishnu and recognising a portion of that deity in Prithu the great parent attained to an excess of delight. For all those who become the sovereign kings of the earth, have always the mark of the discus of Vishnu in their hands. The highly powerful Prithu, the son of Vena, being thus invested with a mighty dominion, his power was unimpeded even in the region of the celestials. That highly effulgent one, being installed according to due rites, by these who were skilled in religious rites, those subjects even, who were disaffected in his father's regeme, became fully attached unto him. And in consequence of his attachment unto his subjects he was known all over as "the king". The waters became solid when he traversed the deep; the mountains opened him a way and his banners were unbroken even when he passed through the forests. (In his time) the earth yielded crops without cultivation; people got their food without any thought—the king gave milk at any time and honey was stored in every flower. At the auspicious sacrifice which was performed at the birth of Prithu and which was headed by the great parent—the highly intelligent Suta was produced from the juice of the moon plant. And in that great sacrifice the highly intelligent Māgadha was also born. Thereupon the Rishis accosted Suta and Māgadha saying "Do you sing the glory of this powerful king Prithu, the son of Vena. This is your special function and he is the fit object of your praise". Thereupon both of them, with folded hands, spoke unto the twice-born ones saying—"This king is born to-day—his works or merits we are not cognizant of; nor his fame has spread abroad—tell us on what subject shall we base our praise?" The Rishis said—"Sing his glory mentioning the works he shall perform, becoming the emperor of the earth and the merits he shall be crowned with". Parāçara said:—Hearing these words the king was highly gratified and reflected, saying—"Persons (in this world) are eulogised for their various actions. And surely my virtuous actions shall be the theme of these bards. And whatever merits, they will relate in their panegyric, I will acquire with all my attention. And whatever faults they shall recommend to be avoided I shall always shun". The king resolved thus. Thereupon Suta and Māgadha, with sweet-voiced discourses, sang the future virtues of the intelligent Prithu, the son of Vena.—"He shall be truthful, charitable, observer of his promises, the lord of people, wise, benevolent, patient, valient and the supresser of the wicked; pious, grateful, kind, sweet-spoken; shall always respect the venerable, perform sacrifices, respect the Brāhmins and shall be always recognised by the pious. He shall cherish the good and in administering justice shall be indifferent to friend or foe". He cherished in his mind the virtues thus celebrated by Suta and Māgadha and practised them in his life. Thereupon that king governed the earth and performed many sacrifices accompanied with liberal donations. One day the subjects stricken with hunger approached the king for the edible plants had perished during the season of anarchy. And when asked by him the cause of thus coming they said—"O foremost of kings, during the period of anarchy all vegetable products were withheld and, O lord of men, many are now perishing for want of food. Thou hast been appointed (by the Providence) as our lord and sustainer—grant us vegetable—the support of our lives who are dying with hunger". Parāçara said:—Hearing this, the king, inflamed with wrath, took up his bow Pināka and his celestial arrows and issued forth to assail the Earth. And the Earth too, assuming the shape of a cow, instantly fled away. From his fear she traversed the Brahmā, and all other regions—and wherever she, the supporter of elements, went, she beheld the son of Vena, with uplifted weapons. At last trembling with terror, the earth, desirous to escape his arrows, addressed Prithu, the hero of resistless prowess,—"O lord of men, do thou not know that there is a great sin hanging upon the destruction of females—why dost thou then try to slay me?" Prithu said,—"O thou the perpetrator of vicious deeds, when by the destruction of one malignant being the happiness of many is secured—that destruction is considered as an act of virtue". The Earth said,—"If dost thou, for the behoof of thy subjects, slay me, who shall support them, O foremost of kings?" Prithu said,—"O Earth, slaying thee with my arrows, who art beyond my control, I shall support my own men, by virtue of my own devotion". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the earth, overcome with fear, trembled and bowing unto him, addressed that king again, saying,—"All undertakings prove successful whenever suitable means to accomplish them are employed. I shall now suggest thee a means, which, if pleases thee, thou mayst accept. O lord of men, the edible plants, which I had devoured before, I may return thee, if thou likest, in the shape of milk. O thou the foremost of the pious, for the behoof of thy subjects, give me a calf by which I may be able to secrete milk. O hero, make also all places level, so that I may produce, equally around, milk which is the source of all vegetation". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the son of Vena with his bow and, uprooted mountains by hundreds and thousands and thenceforth all the hills are lying scattered all around.[225]Before this the surface of the earth was irregular, and there was no boundaries of villages and cities. There was no cultivation, no pasture, no agriculture, no high way for merchants; all these originated, O Maitreya, in the reign of the son of Vena. Whatever there was level ground, the king made habitations for the subjects. Before his time, the fruits and roots, which were the staple food of the subjects, were procured with great difficulty for all vegetables were destroyed. Thereupon having made, the Swaymbhuva, Manu, the calf, that lord of men, Prithu, milked the earth with his own hands. He desiring the benefit of his subjects, corns and vegetables of all kinds were produced upon which the people even now and perpetually subsist. By conferring life on her, Prithu became the father of the Earth and thence she got the patronymic Prithivi (the daughter of Prithu). Thereupon the celestials the ascetics, the demons, the Rākshasas, the mountains, the Gandharvas, the Uragas, the Yakshas, the Pitris, and the trees, with their respective vessels, milked the earth, as much O Manu, as they required. And the milker and the calf were both peculiar to their own species. The Earth, the mother, the nurse, the supporter and the nourisher of all creations was produced from the sole of the foot of Vishnu. And Prithu, the son of Vena, became so very powerful, that by virtue of his pleasing the subjects he was the first man who was styled the lord of the earth. He who shall relate the story of the birth of the son of Vena shall never suffer any retribution for his iniquitous deeds. And he who shall hear of the birth and virtues of Prithu shall be relieved from the affliction of evil dreams.[224]Receiving oblations Indra pours rains by which harvest grows and upon which the world lives.—T.[225]Another text readsVivardhita,meaning—And they were thenceforth piled upon one another.
SECTION XIII.Parāçara said,—By Dhruva the abode of all blessings, his spouse Shambhu gave birth to two sons, Shisti and Vabya. Suchaya, the wife of Sishti gave birth to five sons, freed from sin, by name, Ripu, Ripunjaya, Sipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. Of these Ripu begat upon Vrihatee a highly effulgent son named Chakshusa, who again begot the Manu Chakshusa on Pushkarini of the race of Varuna, who was the daughter of the high-souled patriarch Aranya. O great sage, the patriarch Vairaja had a daughter named Nadbala, on whom Manu begot ten highly effulgent sons—Uru, Pooru, Satadumnya, Tapasher, Satyavak, Kavi, Agnistoma, Atiratra, Sudyumnya and Abhimanyu. Uru begot on his wife Agneyi six highly effulgent sons—Anga, Sumanas, Svati, Kratu, Angiras and Siva. And Anga begot on Suneetha one son named Vena. O great sages, with a view to multiply his progeny, the Rishis rubbed his right hand. And from his arm sprang a famous king named Vainya, who was celebrated as Prithu for milking the earth for the advantage of his subjects. Maitreya said,—"O foremost of ascetics, do thou tell me why the right hand of Vena was rubbed by the great Rishis, in consequence of which the mighty and powerful Prithu was born". Parāçara said:—Originally a daughter was born of Mritya named Suneetha. Anga married her. And she gave birth to Vena. O Maitieya, being born from the daughter of Mrityu, he inherited the evil propensities of his grand father. When he was inaugurated by the great Rishis, Vena caused it to be proclaimed everywhere that he was the lord of the earth. No one would undertake any sacrifice, offer any oblation or make any gift. "I am the king the lord of sacrifice, no one is entitled to oblations except myself". Thereupon the Rishis assembled there and worshipping the lord of earth, addressed him, O Maitreya, with sweet words. The Rishis said,—"O king, O lord, do thou hear, what we speak unto thee, for then thy health as well as the interest of thy subjects shall be secure. We purpose to worship, for thy welfare, with protracted rites, Hari, the lord of the celestials and sacrifices. And thou shalt also be entitled to a share in it. If, O king, with our sacrifices, the lord of sacrifices is propitiated, he shall also satisfy all thy desires. In whose kingdom, O king, Hari, the lord of sacrifices is worshipped with sacrifices, he confers on him, the satisfaction of all his desires". Vena said—"Who is there above me that, I even, shall have to worship him. Who is that person, who is known as Hari and whom ye do all consider as the lord of sacrifices? Brahmā, Janārddana, Sambhu, Indra, Vayu, Jama, the Sun, Fire, Varuna, Dhata, Pusha, (the sun) Bhumi (earth) and the lord of earth (the moon)—these and all others who are capable of imprecating curses and conferring boons (on mankind) do all exist in the person of a king for the essence of a sovereign is all that is divine. O twice born ones, understanding this full well, do ye all obey my commands—you should not make gifts or offer oblations unto any one (but me) and should not worship any body else. As to serve her own husband is the prime duty of a female, so it is incumbent upon you, O twice-born ones, to satisfy my behests only". The Rishis said,—"Give us command, O great king, to undertake sacrifices, so that piety may not suffer decrease. All this world is but the outcome of oblations".[224]Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed by the great Rishis and requested by them often and often, Vena did not give them. Thereupon all the ascetics, being stricken with excessive ire, cried out "Kill him!—kill this vicious weight! He, who vilifies our lord the sovereign of sacrifices, without beginning or end, is not worthy of the sovereignty of the earth". Saying this, the ascetics slew that king with the blades of Kusa grass, consecrated by prayer, who had already been, destroyed by his impiety towards God. Thereupon those ascetics beheld dust on all sides and said to the people who were nigh, "What is this?" To which the people replied—"The kingdom is without a king and hence the robbers and thieves have engaged in their dishonest work of encroaching upon the property of others. And O great ascetics, this dust has been raised by those robbers hastening to seize other's property". Thereupon consulting with each other those ascetics, intent upon creating a prince, began to rub the thigh of that childless monarch. The thigh being thus rubbed, there arose a being of the complexion of a charred stake, with flattened features and of a dwarfish stature. And he speedily addressed all the ascetics there saying, "What shall I do?" Whereto they replied—"Sit down" (Nishada) and thence his name was Nishada. O foremost of ascetics, from this person sprang a race called Nishadas who inhabit the Vindya mountain and are characterised by the exterior tokens of depravity. By this means the wickedness of the king (Vena) was extracted and the Nishadas was thus born destroying Vena's son's. Thereupon those twice-born ones began to rub the right hand of Vena from which sprang the highly powerful son of Vena named Prithu resplendent in person and burning like the fire itself. Thereupon from the welkin fell down the original bow of Hara named Pinaka, and the celestial arrow and the celestial armour. Prithu thus born, all the beings around were greatly delighted. And at the birth of that pious son. Vena too attained to the region of celestials and was delivered by that high-souled one from the hell namedPat. Thereupon the seas and rivers from all sides come there with holy water and pearls and gems of diverse kinds, for his inauguration on the throne. The great parent of all, Brahmā, with the celestials and the descendants of Angiras (the fires) and with all things, animate or inanimate, came there and performed the ceremony of consecrating the lord of people—the son of king of Vena. And beholding in his right hand the mark of the discus of Vishnu and recognising a portion of that deity in Prithu the great parent attained to an excess of delight. For all those who become the sovereign kings of the earth, have always the mark of the discus of Vishnu in their hands. The highly powerful Prithu, the son of Vena, being thus invested with a mighty dominion, his power was unimpeded even in the region of the celestials. That highly effulgent one, being installed according to due rites, by these who were skilled in religious rites, those subjects even, who were disaffected in his father's regeme, became fully attached unto him. And in consequence of his attachment unto his subjects he was known all over as "the king". The waters became solid when he traversed the deep; the mountains opened him a way and his banners were unbroken even when he passed through the forests. (In his time) the earth yielded crops without cultivation; people got their food without any thought—the king gave milk at any time and honey was stored in every flower. At the auspicious sacrifice which was performed at the birth of Prithu and which was headed by the great parent—the highly intelligent Suta was produced from the juice of the moon plant. And in that great sacrifice the highly intelligent Māgadha was also born. Thereupon the Rishis accosted Suta and Māgadha saying "Do you sing the glory of this powerful king Prithu, the son of Vena. This is your special function and he is the fit object of your praise". Thereupon both of them, with folded hands, spoke unto the twice-born ones saying—"This king is born to-day—his works or merits we are not cognizant of; nor his fame has spread abroad—tell us on what subject shall we base our praise?" The Rishis said—"Sing his glory mentioning the works he shall perform, becoming the emperor of the earth and the merits he shall be crowned with". Parāçara said:—Hearing these words the king was highly gratified and reflected, saying—"Persons (in this world) are eulogised for their various actions. And surely my virtuous actions shall be the theme of these bards. And whatever merits, they will relate in their panegyric, I will acquire with all my attention. And whatever faults they shall recommend to be avoided I shall always shun". The king resolved thus. Thereupon Suta and Māgadha, with sweet-voiced discourses, sang the future virtues of the intelligent Prithu, the son of Vena.—"He shall be truthful, charitable, observer of his promises, the lord of people, wise, benevolent, patient, valient and the supresser of the wicked; pious, grateful, kind, sweet-spoken; shall always respect the venerable, perform sacrifices, respect the Brāhmins and shall be always recognised by the pious. He shall cherish the good and in administering justice shall be indifferent to friend or foe". He cherished in his mind the virtues thus celebrated by Suta and Māgadha and practised them in his life. Thereupon that king governed the earth and performed many sacrifices accompanied with liberal donations. One day the subjects stricken with hunger approached the king for the edible plants had perished during the season of anarchy. And when asked by him the cause of thus coming they said—"O foremost of kings, during the period of anarchy all vegetable products were withheld and, O lord of men, many are now perishing for want of food. Thou hast been appointed (by the Providence) as our lord and sustainer—grant us vegetable—the support of our lives who are dying with hunger". Parāçara said:—Hearing this, the king, inflamed with wrath, took up his bow Pināka and his celestial arrows and issued forth to assail the Earth. And the Earth too, assuming the shape of a cow, instantly fled away. From his fear she traversed the Brahmā, and all other regions—and wherever she, the supporter of elements, went, she beheld the son of Vena, with uplifted weapons. At last trembling with terror, the earth, desirous to escape his arrows, addressed Prithu, the hero of resistless prowess,—"O lord of men, do thou not know that there is a great sin hanging upon the destruction of females—why dost thou then try to slay me?" Prithu said,—"O thou the perpetrator of vicious deeds, when by the destruction of one malignant being the happiness of many is secured—that destruction is considered as an act of virtue". The Earth said,—"If dost thou, for the behoof of thy subjects, slay me, who shall support them, O foremost of kings?" Prithu said,—"O Earth, slaying thee with my arrows, who art beyond my control, I shall support my own men, by virtue of my own devotion". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the earth, overcome with fear, trembled and bowing unto him, addressed that king again, saying,—"All undertakings prove successful whenever suitable means to accomplish them are employed. I shall now suggest thee a means, which, if pleases thee, thou mayst accept. O lord of men, the edible plants, which I had devoured before, I may return thee, if thou likest, in the shape of milk. O thou the foremost of the pious, for the behoof of thy subjects, give me a calf by which I may be able to secrete milk. O hero, make also all places level, so that I may produce, equally around, milk which is the source of all vegetation". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the son of Vena with his bow and, uprooted mountains by hundreds and thousands and thenceforth all the hills are lying scattered all around.[225]Before this the surface of the earth was irregular, and there was no boundaries of villages and cities. There was no cultivation, no pasture, no agriculture, no high way for merchants; all these originated, O Maitreya, in the reign of the son of Vena. Whatever there was level ground, the king made habitations for the subjects. Before his time, the fruits and roots, which were the staple food of the subjects, were procured with great difficulty for all vegetables were destroyed. Thereupon having made, the Swaymbhuva, Manu, the calf, that lord of men, Prithu, milked the earth with his own hands. He desiring the benefit of his subjects, corns and vegetables of all kinds were produced upon which the people even now and perpetually subsist. By conferring life on her, Prithu became the father of the Earth and thence she got the patronymic Prithivi (the daughter of Prithu). Thereupon the celestials the ascetics, the demons, the Rākshasas, the mountains, the Gandharvas, the Uragas, the Yakshas, the Pitris, and the trees, with their respective vessels, milked the earth, as much O Manu, as they required. And the milker and the calf were both peculiar to their own species. The Earth, the mother, the nurse, the supporter and the nourisher of all creations was produced from the sole of the foot of Vishnu. And Prithu, the son of Vena, became so very powerful, that by virtue of his pleasing the subjects he was the first man who was styled the lord of the earth. He who shall relate the story of the birth of the son of Vena shall never suffer any retribution for his iniquitous deeds. And he who shall hear of the birth and virtues of Prithu shall be relieved from the affliction of evil dreams.[224]Receiving oblations Indra pours rains by which harvest grows and upon which the world lives.—T.[225]Another text readsVivardhita,meaning—And they were thenceforth piled upon one another.
SECTION XIII.Parāçara said,—By Dhruva the abode of all blessings, his spouse Shambhu gave birth to two sons, Shisti and Vabya. Suchaya, the wife of Sishti gave birth to five sons, freed from sin, by name, Ripu, Ripunjaya, Sipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. Of these Ripu begat upon Vrihatee a highly effulgent son named Chakshusa, who again begot the Manu Chakshusa on Pushkarini of the race of Varuna, who was the daughter of the high-souled patriarch Aranya. O great sage, the patriarch Vairaja had a daughter named Nadbala, on whom Manu begot ten highly effulgent sons—Uru, Pooru, Satadumnya, Tapasher, Satyavak, Kavi, Agnistoma, Atiratra, Sudyumnya and Abhimanyu. Uru begot on his wife Agneyi six highly effulgent sons—Anga, Sumanas, Svati, Kratu, Angiras and Siva. And Anga begot on Suneetha one son named Vena. O great sages, with a view to multiply his progeny, the Rishis rubbed his right hand. And from his arm sprang a famous king named Vainya, who was celebrated as Prithu for milking the earth for the advantage of his subjects. Maitreya said,—"O foremost of ascetics, do thou tell me why the right hand of Vena was rubbed by the great Rishis, in consequence of which the mighty and powerful Prithu was born". Parāçara said:—Originally a daughter was born of Mritya named Suneetha. Anga married her. And she gave birth to Vena. O Maitieya, being born from the daughter of Mrityu, he inherited the evil propensities of his grand father. When he was inaugurated by the great Rishis, Vena caused it to be proclaimed everywhere that he was the lord of the earth. No one would undertake any sacrifice, offer any oblation or make any gift. "I am the king the lord of sacrifice, no one is entitled to oblations except myself". Thereupon the Rishis assembled there and worshipping the lord of earth, addressed him, O Maitreya, with sweet words. The Rishis said,—"O king, O lord, do thou hear, what we speak unto thee, for then thy health as well as the interest of thy subjects shall be secure. We purpose to worship, for thy welfare, with protracted rites, Hari, the lord of the celestials and sacrifices. And thou shalt also be entitled to a share in it. If, O king, with our sacrifices, the lord of sacrifices is propitiated, he shall also satisfy all thy desires. In whose kingdom, O king, Hari, the lord of sacrifices is worshipped with sacrifices, he confers on him, the satisfaction of all his desires". Vena said—"Who is there above me that, I even, shall have to worship him. Who is that person, who is known as Hari and whom ye do all consider as the lord of sacrifices? Brahmā, Janārddana, Sambhu, Indra, Vayu, Jama, the Sun, Fire, Varuna, Dhata, Pusha, (the sun) Bhumi (earth) and the lord of earth (the moon)—these and all others who are capable of imprecating curses and conferring boons (on mankind) do all exist in the person of a king for the essence of a sovereign is all that is divine. O twice born ones, understanding this full well, do ye all obey my commands—you should not make gifts or offer oblations unto any one (but me) and should not worship any body else. As to serve her own husband is the prime duty of a female, so it is incumbent upon you, O twice-born ones, to satisfy my behests only". The Rishis said,—"Give us command, O great king, to undertake sacrifices, so that piety may not suffer decrease. All this world is but the outcome of oblations".[224]Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed by the great Rishis and requested by them often and often, Vena did not give them. Thereupon all the ascetics, being stricken with excessive ire, cried out "Kill him!—kill this vicious weight! He, who vilifies our lord the sovereign of sacrifices, without beginning or end, is not worthy of the sovereignty of the earth". Saying this, the ascetics slew that king with the blades of Kusa grass, consecrated by prayer, who had already been, destroyed by his impiety towards God. Thereupon those ascetics beheld dust on all sides and said to the people who were nigh, "What is this?" To which the people replied—"The kingdom is without a king and hence the robbers and thieves have engaged in their dishonest work of encroaching upon the property of others. And O great ascetics, this dust has been raised by those robbers hastening to seize other's property". Thereupon consulting with each other those ascetics, intent upon creating a prince, began to rub the thigh of that childless monarch. The thigh being thus rubbed, there arose a being of the complexion of a charred stake, with flattened features and of a dwarfish stature. And he speedily addressed all the ascetics there saying, "What shall I do?" Whereto they replied—"Sit down" (Nishada) and thence his name was Nishada. O foremost of ascetics, from this person sprang a race called Nishadas who inhabit the Vindya mountain and are characterised by the exterior tokens of depravity. By this means the wickedness of the king (Vena) was extracted and the Nishadas was thus born destroying Vena's son's. Thereupon those twice-born ones began to rub the right hand of Vena from which sprang the highly powerful son of Vena named Prithu resplendent in person and burning like the fire itself. Thereupon from the welkin fell down the original bow of Hara named Pinaka, and the celestial arrow and the celestial armour. Prithu thus born, all the beings around were greatly delighted. And at the birth of that pious son. Vena too attained to the region of celestials and was delivered by that high-souled one from the hell namedPat. Thereupon the seas and rivers from all sides come there with holy water and pearls and gems of diverse kinds, for his inauguration on the throne. The great parent of all, Brahmā, with the celestials and the descendants of Angiras (the fires) and with all things, animate or inanimate, came there and performed the ceremony of consecrating the lord of people—the son of king of Vena. And beholding in his right hand the mark of the discus of Vishnu and recognising a portion of that deity in Prithu the great parent attained to an excess of delight. For all those who become the sovereign kings of the earth, have always the mark of the discus of Vishnu in their hands. The highly powerful Prithu, the son of Vena, being thus invested with a mighty dominion, his power was unimpeded even in the region of the celestials. That highly effulgent one, being installed according to due rites, by these who were skilled in religious rites, those subjects even, who were disaffected in his father's regeme, became fully attached unto him. And in consequence of his attachment unto his subjects he was known all over as "the king". The waters became solid when he traversed the deep; the mountains opened him a way and his banners were unbroken even when he passed through the forests. (In his time) the earth yielded crops without cultivation; people got their food without any thought—the king gave milk at any time and honey was stored in every flower. At the auspicious sacrifice which was performed at the birth of Prithu and which was headed by the great parent—the highly intelligent Suta was produced from the juice of the moon plant. And in that great sacrifice the highly intelligent Māgadha was also born. Thereupon the Rishis accosted Suta and Māgadha saying "Do you sing the glory of this powerful king Prithu, the son of Vena. This is your special function and he is the fit object of your praise". Thereupon both of them, with folded hands, spoke unto the twice-born ones saying—"This king is born to-day—his works or merits we are not cognizant of; nor his fame has spread abroad—tell us on what subject shall we base our praise?" The Rishis said—"Sing his glory mentioning the works he shall perform, becoming the emperor of the earth and the merits he shall be crowned with". Parāçara said:—Hearing these words the king was highly gratified and reflected, saying—"Persons (in this world) are eulogised for their various actions. And surely my virtuous actions shall be the theme of these bards. And whatever merits, they will relate in their panegyric, I will acquire with all my attention. And whatever faults they shall recommend to be avoided I shall always shun". The king resolved thus. Thereupon Suta and Māgadha, with sweet-voiced discourses, sang the future virtues of the intelligent Prithu, the son of Vena.—"He shall be truthful, charitable, observer of his promises, the lord of people, wise, benevolent, patient, valient and the supresser of the wicked; pious, grateful, kind, sweet-spoken; shall always respect the venerable, perform sacrifices, respect the Brāhmins and shall be always recognised by the pious. He shall cherish the good and in administering justice shall be indifferent to friend or foe". He cherished in his mind the virtues thus celebrated by Suta and Māgadha and practised them in his life. Thereupon that king governed the earth and performed many sacrifices accompanied with liberal donations. One day the subjects stricken with hunger approached the king for the edible plants had perished during the season of anarchy. And when asked by him the cause of thus coming they said—"O foremost of kings, during the period of anarchy all vegetable products were withheld and, O lord of men, many are now perishing for want of food. Thou hast been appointed (by the Providence) as our lord and sustainer—grant us vegetable—the support of our lives who are dying with hunger". Parāçara said:—Hearing this, the king, inflamed with wrath, took up his bow Pināka and his celestial arrows and issued forth to assail the Earth. And the Earth too, assuming the shape of a cow, instantly fled away. From his fear she traversed the Brahmā, and all other regions—and wherever she, the supporter of elements, went, she beheld the son of Vena, with uplifted weapons. At last trembling with terror, the earth, desirous to escape his arrows, addressed Prithu, the hero of resistless prowess,—"O lord of men, do thou not know that there is a great sin hanging upon the destruction of females—why dost thou then try to slay me?" Prithu said,—"O thou the perpetrator of vicious deeds, when by the destruction of one malignant being the happiness of many is secured—that destruction is considered as an act of virtue". The Earth said,—"If dost thou, for the behoof of thy subjects, slay me, who shall support them, O foremost of kings?" Prithu said,—"O Earth, slaying thee with my arrows, who art beyond my control, I shall support my own men, by virtue of my own devotion". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the earth, overcome with fear, trembled and bowing unto him, addressed that king again, saying,—"All undertakings prove successful whenever suitable means to accomplish them are employed. I shall now suggest thee a means, which, if pleases thee, thou mayst accept. O lord of men, the edible plants, which I had devoured before, I may return thee, if thou likest, in the shape of milk. O thou the foremost of the pious, for the behoof of thy subjects, give me a calf by which I may be able to secrete milk. O hero, make also all places level, so that I may produce, equally around, milk which is the source of all vegetation". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the son of Vena with his bow and, uprooted mountains by hundreds and thousands and thenceforth all the hills are lying scattered all around.[225]Before this the surface of the earth was irregular, and there was no boundaries of villages and cities. There was no cultivation, no pasture, no agriculture, no high way for merchants; all these originated, O Maitreya, in the reign of the son of Vena. Whatever there was level ground, the king made habitations for the subjects. Before his time, the fruits and roots, which were the staple food of the subjects, were procured with great difficulty for all vegetables were destroyed. Thereupon having made, the Swaymbhuva, Manu, the calf, that lord of men, Prithu, milked the earth with his own hands. He desiring the benefit of his subjects, corns and vegetables of all kinds were produced upon which the people even now and perpetually subsist. By conferring life on her, Prithu became the father of the Earth and thence she got the patronymic Prithivi (the daughter of Prithu). Thereupon the celestials the ascetics, the demons, the Rākshasas, the mountains, the Gandharvas, the Uragas, the Yakshas, the Pitris, and the trees, with their respective vessels, milked the earth, as much O Manu, as they required. And the milker and the calf were both peculiar to their own species. The Earth, the mother, the nurse, the supporter and the nourisher of all creations was produced from the sole of the foot of Vishnu. And Prithu, the son of Vena, became so very powerful, that by virtue of his pleasing the subjects he was the first man who was styled the lord of the earth. He who shall relate the story of the birth of the son of Vena shall never suffer any retribution for his iniquitous deeds. And he who shall hear of the birth and virtues of Prithu shall be relieved from the affliction of evil dreams.[224]Receiving oblations Indra pours rains by which harvest grows and upon which the world lives.—T.[225]Another text readsVivardhita,meaning—And they were thenceforth piled upon one another.
Parāçara said,—By Dhruva the abode of all blessings, his spouse Shambhu gave birth to two sons, Shisti and Vabya. Suchaya, the wife of Sishti gave birth to five sons, freed from sin, by name, Ripu, Ripunjaya, Sipra, Vrikala, and Vrikatejas. Of these Ripu begat upon Vrihatee a highly effulgent son named Chakshusa, who again begot the Manu Chakshusa on Pushkarini of the race of Varuna, who was the daughter of the high-souled patriarch Aranya. O great sage, the patriarch Vairaja had a daughter named Nadbala, on whom Manu begot ten highly effulgent sons—Uru, Pooru, Satadumnya, Tapasher, Satyavak, Kavi, Agnistoma, Atiratra, Sudyumnya and Abhimanyu. Uru begot on his wife Agneyi six highly effulgent sons—Anga, Sumanas, Svati, Kratu, Angiras and Siva. And Anga begot on Suneetha one son named Vena. O great sages, with a view to multiply his progeny, the Rishis rubbed his right hand. And from his arm sprang a famous king named Vainya, who was celebrated as Prithu for milking the earth for the advantage of his subjects. Maitreya said,—"O foremost of ascetics, do thou tell me why the right hand of Vena was rubbed by the great Rishis, in consequence of which the mighty and powerful Prithu was born". Parāçara said:—Originally a daughter was born of Mritya named Suneetha. Anga married her. And she gave birth to Vena. O Maitieya, being born from the daughter of Mrityu, he inherited the evil propensities of his grand father. When he was inaugurated by the great Rishis, Vena caused it to be proclaimed everywhere that he was the lord of the earth. No one would undertake any sacrifice, offer any oblation or make any gift. "I am the king the lord of sacrifice, no one is entitled to oblations except myself". Thereupon the Rishis assembled there and worshipping the lord of earth, addressed him, O Maitreya, with sweet words. The Rishis said,—"O king, O lord, do thou hear, what we speak unto thee, for then thy health as well as the interest of thy subjects shall be secure. We purpose to worship, for thy welfare, with protracted rites, Hari, the lord of the celestials and sacrifices. And thou shalt also be entitled to a share in it. If, O king, with our sacrifices, the lord of sacrifices is propitiated, he shall also satisfy all thy desires. In whose kingdom, O king, Hari, the lord of sacrifices is worshipped with sacrifices, he confers on him, the satisfaction of all his desires". Vena said—"Who is there above me that, I even, shall have to worship him. Who is that person, who is known as Hari and whom ye do all consider as the lord of sacrifices? Brahmā, Janārddana, Sambhu, Indra, Vayu, Jama, the Sun, Fire, Varuna, Dhata, Pusha, (the sun) Bhumi (earth) and the lord of earth (the moon)—these and all others who are capable of imprecating curses and conferring boons (on mankind) do all exist in the person of a king for the essence of a sovereign is all that is divine. O twice born ones, understanding this full well, do ye all obey my commands—you should not make gifts or offer oblations unto any one (but me) and should not worship any body else. As to serve her own husband is the prime duty of a female, so it is incumbent upon you, O twice-born ones, to satisfy my behests only". The Rishis said,—"Give us command, O great king, to undertake sacrifices, so that piety may not suffer decrease. All this world is but the outcome of oblations".[224]Parāçara said:—Being thus addressed by the great Rishis and requested by them often and often, Vena did not give them. Thereupon all the ascetics, being stricken with excessive ire, cried out "Kill him!—kill this vicious weight! He, who vilifies our lord the sovereign of sacrifices, without beginning or end, is not worthy of the sovereignty of the earth". Saying this, the ascetics slew that king with the blades of Kusa grass, consecrated by prayer, who had already been, destroyed by his impiety towards God. Thereupon those ascetics beheld dust on all sides and said to the people who were nigh, "What is this?" To which the people replied—"The kingdom is without a king and hence the robbers and thieves have engaged in their dishonest work of encroaching upon the property of others. And O great ascetics, this dust has been raised by those robbers hastening to seize other's property". Thereupon consulting with each other those ascetics, intent upon creating a prince, began to rub the thigh of that childless monarch. The thigh being thus rubbed, there arose a being of the complexion of a charred stake, with flattened features and of a dwarfish stature. And he speedily addressed all the ascetics there saying, "What shall I do?" Whereto they replied—"Sit down" (Nishada) and thence his name was Nishada. O foremost of ascetics, from this person sprang a race called Nishadas who inhabit the Vindya mountain and are characterised by the exterior tokens of depravity. By this means the wickedness of the king (Vena) was extracted and the Nishadas was thus born destroying Vena's son's. Thereupon those twice-born ones began to rub the right hand of Vena from which sprang the highly powerful son of Vena named Prithu resplendent in person and burning like the fire itself. Thereupon from the welkin fell down the original bow of Hara named Pinaka, and the celestial arrow and the celestial armour. Prithu thus born, all the beings around were greatly delighted. And at the birth of that pious son. Vena too attained to the region of celestials and was delivered by that high-souled one from the hell namedPat. Thereupon the seas and rivers from all sides come there with holy water and pearls and gems of diverse kinds, for his inauguration on the throne. The great parent of all, Brahmā, with the celestials and the descendants of Angiras (the fires) and with all things, animate or inanimate, came there and performed the ceremony of consecrating the lord of people—the son of king of Vena. And beholding in his right hand the mark of the discus of Vishnu and recognising a portion of that deity in Prithu the great parent attained to an excess of delight. For all those who become the sovereign kings of the earth, have always the mark of the discus of Vishnu in their hands. The highly powerful Prithu, the son of Vena, being thus invested with a mighty dominion, his power was unimpeded even in the region of the celestials. That highly effulgent one, being installed according to due rites, by these who were skilled in religious rites, those subjects even, who were disaffected in his father's regeme, became fully attached unto him. And in consequence of his attachment unto his subjects he was known all over as "the king". The waters became solid when he traversed the deep; the mountains opened him a way and his banners were unbroken even when he passed through the forests. (In his time) the earth yielded crops without cultivation; people got their food without any thought—the king gave milk at any time and honey was stored in every flower. At the auspicious sacrifice which was performed at the birth of Prithu and which was headed by the great parent—the highly intelligent Suta was produced from the juice of the moon plant. And in that great sacrifice the highly intelligent Māgadha was also born. Thereupon the Rishis accosted Suta and Māgadha saying "Do you sing the glory of this powerful king Prithu, the son of Vena. This is your special function and he is the fit object of your praise". Thereupon both of them, with folded hands, spoke unto the twice-born ones saying—"This king is born to-day—his works or merits we are not cognizant of; nor his fame has spread abroad—tell us on what subject shall we base our praise?" The Rishis said—"Sing his glory mentioning the works he shall perform, becoming the emperor of the earth and the merits he shall be crowned with". Parāçara said:—Hearing these words the king was highly gratified and reflected, saying—"Persons (in this world) are eulogised for their various actions. And surely my virtuous actions shall be the theme of these bards. And whatever merits, they will relate in their panegyric, I will acquire with all my attention. And whatever faults they shall recommend to be avoided I shall always shun". The king resolved thus. Thereupon Suta and Māgadha, with sweet-voiced discourses, sang the future virtues of the intelligent Prithu, the son of Vena.—"He shall be truthful, charitable, observer of his promises, the lord of people, wise, benevolent, patient, valient and the supresser of the wicked; pious, grateful, kind, sweet-spoken; shall always respect the venerable, perform sacrifices, respect the Brāhmins and shall be always recognised by the pious. He shall cherish the good and in administering justice shall be indifferent to friend or foe". He cherished in his mind the virtues thus celebrated by Suta and Māgadha and practised them in his life. Thereupon that king governed the earth and performed many sacrifices accompanied with liberal donations. One day the subjects stricken with hunger approached the king for the edible plants had perished during the season of anarchy. And when asked by him the cause of thus coming they said—"O foremost of kings, during the period of anarchy all vegetable products were withheld and, O lord of men, many are now perishing for want of food. Thou hast been appointed (by the Providence) as our lord and sustainer—grant us vegetable—the support of our lives who are dying with hunger". Parāçara said:—Hearing this, the king, inflamed with wrath, took up his bow Pināka and his celestial arrows and issued forth to assail the Earth. And the Earth too, assuming the shape of a cow, instantly fled away. From his fear she traversed the Brahmā, and all other regions—and wherever she, the supporter of elements, went, she beheld the son of Vena, with uplifted weapons. At last trembling with terror, the earth, desirous to escape his arrows, addressed Prithu, the hero of resistless prowess,—"O lord of men, do thou not know that there is a great sin hanging upon the destruction of females—why dost thou then try to slay me?" Prithu said,—"O thou the perpetrator of vicious deeds, when by the destruction of one malignant being the happiness of many is secured—that destruction is considered as an act of virtue". The Earth said,—"If dost thou, for the behoof of thy subjects, slay me, who shall support them, O foremost of kings?" Prithu said,—"O Earth, slaying thee with my arrows, who art beyond my control, I shall support my own men, by virtue of my own devotion". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the earth, overcome with fear, trembled and bowing unto him, addressed that king again, saying,—"All undertakings prove successful whenever suitable means to accomplish them are employed. I shall now suggest thee a means, which, if pleases thee, thou mayst accept. O lord of men, the edible plants, which I had devoured before, I may return thee, if thou likest, in the shape of milk. O thou the foremost of the pious, for the behoof of thy subjects, give me a calf by which I may be able to secrete milk. O hero, make also all places level, so that I may produce, equally around, milk which is the source of all vegetation". Parāçara said,—Thereupon the son of Vena with his bow and, uprooted mountains by hundreds and thousands and thenceforth all the hills are lying scattered all around.[225]Before this the surface of the earth was irregular, and there was no boundaries of villages and cities. There was no cultivation, no pasture, no agriculture, no high way for merchants; all these originated, O Maitreya, in the reign of the son of Vena. Whatever there was level ground, the king made habitations for the subjects. Before his time, the fruits and roots, which were the staple food of the subjects, were procured with great difficulty for all vegetables were destroyed. Thereupon having made, the Swaymbhuva, Manu, the calf, that lord of men, Prithu, milked the earth with his own hands. He desiring the benefit of his subjects, corns and vegetables of all kinds were produced upon which the people even now and perpetually subsist. By conferring life on her, Prithu became the father of the Earth and thence she got the patronymic Prithivi (the daughter of Prithu). Thereupon the celestials the ascetics, the demons, the Rākshasas, the mountains, the Gandharvas, the Uragas, the Yakshas, the Pitris, and the trees, with their respective vessels, milked the earth, as much O Manu, as they required. And the milker and the calf were both peculiar to their own species. The Earth, the mother, the nurse, the supporter and the nourisher of all creations was produced from the sole of the foot of Vishnu. And Prithu, the son of Vena, became so very powerful, that by virtue of his pleasing the subjects he was the first man who was styled the lord of the earth. He who shall relate the story of the birth of the son of Vena shall never suffer any retribution for his iniquitous deeds. And he who shall hear of the birth and virtues of Prithu shall be relieved from the affliction of evil dreams.