Parva 2 Chapter 38: yādavotpattiḥ teṣāṁ parākramādi ca - Emergence of the Yadavas and their Feats

vaiśampāyana said: With the passage of time, in the serpent virgins, that king fathered five valiant sons who augmented the race. muchukundaṁ mahābāhuṁ padmavarṇaṁ tathaiva ca | mādhavaṁ sārasaṁ caiva haritaṁ caiva pārthivam ||2-38-2 They were muchukunda with great arms, padmavarṇa, mādhava, sārasa and harita. etānpaṣcha sutānrājā paṣchabhūtopamānbhuvi | īkṣamāṇo nṛpaḥ prītiṁ jagāmātulavikramaḥ ||2-38-3 The king visualized the five elements on earth, in his five sons. The valiant king was highly pleased with his sons. te prāptavayasaḥ sarve sthitāḥ paṣcha yathādrayaḥ | tejitā baladarpābhyāmūcuḥ pitaramagrataḥ ||2-38-4 Attaining youth, they appeared like five mountains. Proud of their power, they told their father: tāta yuktāḥ sma vayasā bale mahati saṁsthitāḥ | kṣipramājṣaptumichcāmaḥ kiṁ kurmastava śāsanāt ||2-38-5 Father, we have attained youth. We have great power. Order us quickly, what we shall do now. sa tānnṛpatiśārdūlaḥ śārdūlāniva vegitān | prītyā paramayā prāha sutānvīryakutūhalāt ||2-38-6 That tiger among kings spoke to his sons who were as fast as tigers. Curious about their valiancy, the king spoke to his sons highly pleased. vindhyarkṣavantāvabhito dve puryau parvatāśraye | niveshayatu yatnena muchukundaḥ suto mama ||2-38-7 (haryashva said:) On the mountains of vindhya and arkṣa, let my son muchukunda, with his efforts, establish two cities. sahyasya chopariṣṭāttu dakṣiṇāṁ diśamāśritaḥ | padmavarṇo'pi me putro niveshayatu mā ciram ||2-38-8 On the top of sahya mountain, located on the south direction, let my son padmavarṇa establish a city, without any delay. tatraiva parataḥ kānte deshe champakabhūṣite | sāraso me puraṁ ramyaṁ niveshayatu putrakaḥ ||2-38-9 Beyond that, in the beautiful land, decorated by champaka (Michelia Campaka flowers), let my son sārasa establish a beautiful city. harito'yaṁ mahābāhuḥ sāgare haritodake | dvīpaṁ pannagarājasya suto me pālayiṣyati ||2-38-10 Let my son harita, blessed with strong arms, rule the island in the green waters of the ocean which belongs to the king of serpents. mādhavo me mahābāhurjyeṣṭhaputraścha dharmavit | yauvarājyena saṁyuktaḥ svapuraṁ pālayiṣyati ||2-38-11 My eldest son mādhava, having powerful arms, expert in dharma, shall govern this city as the designated king. sarve nṛpaśriyaṁ prāptā abhiṣiktāḥ sacāmarāḥ | pitrānuśiṣṭāścatvāro lokapālopamā nṛpāḥ ||2-38-12 (vikadru said:) All were blessed with royal splendour. They were anointed with plumes. All four, having splendour as the protectors of the world, became kings as ordered by the father. svaṁ svaṁ niveśanaṁ sarve bhejire nṛpasattamāḥ | purasthānāni ramyāṇi mṛgayanto yathākramam ||2-38-13 The best among kings, pursued their own establishments. They went after the beautiful cities as ordered. muchukundashcha rājarṣirvindhyamadhyamarochayat | svasthānaṁ narmadātīre dāruṇopalasaṁkaṭe ||2-38-14 On the banks of narmada, in the middle of vindhya, where there were hard rocks, the sage king muchukunda established his city. sa ca tam śodhayāmāsa viviktaṁ ca cakāra ha | setuṁ caiva samaṁ cakre parikhāścāmitodakāḥ ||2-38-15 He cleared the place and made it empty. He made trenches with water and a bridge. sthāpayāmāsa bhāgeṣu devatāyatanānyapi | rathyā vīthīrnṛṇāṁ mārgāśchatvarāṇi vanāni ca ||2-38-16 He also made proper places for worshipping the gods. He made pathways for chariots, men, cross ways and gardens. sa tāṁ purīṁ dhanavatīṁ puruhūtapurīprabhām | nātidhīrgeṇa kālena cakāra nṛpasattamaḥ ||2-38-17 Without much delay, the best of kings made the city wealthy, equal in splendour to the city of puruhūta (indra). nāma cāsyāḥ śubhaṁ cakre nirmitaṁ svena tejasā | tasyāḥ puryā nṛpaśreṣṭho devaśreṣṭhaparākramaḥ ||2-38-18 The best among kings, valiant like the best among deva-s (indra), gave an auspicious name to that city, made by him with his splendour. mahāśmasaṅghātavatī ṛkṣavantamupāśritā | māhiśmatī nāma purī prakāśamupayāsyati ||2-38-19 Being full of big stones and based on the large mountain of ṛkṣa, the city will become famous as the city of māhiśmatī. ubhayorvindhyayoḥ pāde nagayostāṁ mahāpurīm | madhye niveśayāmāsa śriyā paramayā vṛtaṁ ||2-38-20 At the foot of two vindhya mountains, in the middle, the large city was established with great prosperity. purikāṁ nāma dharmātmā purīṁ devapurīprabhām | udyānaśatasaṁbādhāṁ samṛddhāpaṇachatvarām ||2-38-21 With hundreds of gardens, full of markets and quadrangles, the city named purikā, established by the righteous soul (the king), dazzled like the city of devas. ṛkṣavantaṁ samabhitastīre tatra nirāmaye | nirmitā sā purī rājṣā purikā nāma nāmataḥ ||2-38-22 The city named purikā was established by the king, along the faultless shore, by the side of the ṛkṣa mountain. sa te dve vipule puryau devabhogyopame śubhe | pālayāmāsa dharmātmā rājā dharme vyavasthitaḥ ||2-38-23 Those two large auspicious cities, suitable to enjoyed by the deva-s, were governed by the righteous soul (the king), fixed in dharma. padmavarṇo'pi rājarṣiḥ sahyapṛṣṭhe purottamam | cakāra nadyā veṇāyāstīre tarulatākule ||2-38-24 The royal sage padmavarṇa established a great city behind the mountain of sahya, on the shore of river veṇā, full of trees. viṣayasyālpatāṁ jṣātvā saṁpūrṇaṁ rāṣṭrameva ca | niveśayāmāsa nṛpaḥ sa vapraprāyamuttamam ||2-38-25 On the high river bank, the king established a city for the entire country in the limited space. padmāvataṁ janapadaṁ karavīraṁ ca tatpuram | nirmitaṁ padmavarṇena prājāpatyena karmanā ||2-38-26 King padmavarṇa established a city named padmāvataṁ or karavīraṁ for his subjects. sārasenāpi vihitaṁ ramyaṁ krauṣchapuraṁ mahat | champakāśoka bahulaṁ vipulaṁ tāmramṛttikam ||2-38-27 king sārasa made a great beautiful city named krauṣcha. The vast city with red soil was full of champaka (Michelia Campaka) and ashoka (Jonesia Asoka Roxb.) trees. vanavāsīti vikhyātaḥ sphīto janapado mahān | purasya tasya tu śrīmāndrumaiḥ sārvartukairvṛtaḥ ||2-38-28 The prosperous great city was known as vanavāsi. That majestic city was surrounded by trees around. harito'pi samudrasya dvīpaṁ samabhipālayat | ratnasaṁchayasaṁpūrṇaṁ nārījanamanoharam ||2-38-29 King harita governed the island in the ocean. The island was full of jewels and beautiful women. tasya dāśā jale magnā madgurā nāma viśrutāḥ | ye haranti sadā śaṅkhānsamudrodaracāriṇaḥ ||2-38-30 The fishermen of the island, famous by the name madgurā, who, diving in water collected conches moving in the belly of ocean. tasyāpare dāśajanāḥ pravālāṣjanasaṁbhavān | saṣchinvanti sadā yuktā jātarūpaṁ ca mauktikam ||2-38-31 Other fishermen were experts in the collection of aṣjana stones and corals shining brightly (like gold) and pearls. jalajāni ca ratnāni niṣādāstasya mānavāḥ | prachinvanto'rṇave yuktā naubhiḥ saṁyānagāminaḥ ||2-38-32 The niṣāda men, moving in the sea in boats and ships, collected the jewels produced in water. matsyamāṁsena te sarve vartante sma sadā narāḥ | gṛhṇantaḥ sarvaratnāni ratnadvīpanivāsinaḥ ||2-38-33 All the people ate fish and meat always. The residents of the jewel island were engaged in the collection of jewels. taiḥ saṁyānagatairdravyairvaṇijo dūragāminaḥ | haritaṁ tarpayantyekaṁ yathaiva dhanadaṁ tathā ||2-38-34 They traveled far and wide as merchants dealing in merchandise. They present (costly items to) king harita as if he is the lord of wealth. evamikṣvākuvaṁśāttu yaduvaṁśo viniḥsṛtaḥ | caturdhā yaduputraistu caturbhirbhidyate punaḥ ||2-38-35 In this way, the race of yadu originated from the race of ikṣvāku. Then it is divided into four by the four sons of yadu. sa yadurmādhave rājyaṁ visṛjya yadupuṅgave | triviṣṭapaṁ gato rājā dehaṁ tyaktvā mahītale ||2-38-36 Assigning the kingdom to the son mādhava, the best of yadu race, king yadu, leaving his body on earth, left for heaven. babhūva mādhavasutaḥ sattvato nāma vīryavān | sattvavṛttirguṇopeto rājā rājaguṇe sthitaḥ ||2-38-37 mādhava had a valiant son, named sattvata. The king was endowed with good qualities as well as the qualities of a king. sattvatasya suto rājā bhīmo nāma mahānabhūt | yena bhaimāḥ susaṁvṛttāḥ sattvatātsāttvatāḥ smṛtāḥ ||2-38-38 sattvata had a son, named king bhīma, who was great. Hence the sons of sattvata, with good qualities were known as bhaimas. rājye sthite nṛpe tasminrāme rājyaṁ praśāsati | shatrughno lavaṇaṁ hatvā ciccheda sa madhorvanam ||2-38-39 As his elder brother king rāma was ruling the kingdom, shatrughna killed lavaṇa and destroyed the forest of madhu. tasminmadhuvane sthāne purīṁ ca mathurāmimām | niveśayāmāsa vibhuḥ sumitrānandavardhanaḥ ||2-38-40 In the place of the destroyed forest of madhu, this city of mathurā was established by the lord (shatrughna), who increases the happiness of sumitrā (mother of shatrugna). paryaye caiva rāmasya bharatasya tathaiva ca | sumitrāsutayoścaiva sthānaṁ prāptaṁ ca vaiṣṇavam ||2-38-41 With the progress of time, rāma, bharata and the sons of sumitra (lakṣmaṇa and sahtrughna) attained the world of viṣṇu. bhīmeneyaṁ purī tena rājyasaṁbandhakāraṇāt | svavashe sthāpitā pūrvaṁ svayamadhyāsitā tathā ||2-38-42 king bhīma, due to the relation between kingdoms, brought the city under his control earlier and started residing there. tataḥ kushe sthite rājye lave tu yuvarājani | andhako nāma bhīmasya suto rājyamakārayat ||2-38-43 kusha became the king and lava became the anointed king. The kingdom was governed by the son of bhīma named andhaka. andhakasya suto jajṣe raivato nāma pārthivaḥ | ṛkṣo'pi raivatājjajṣe ramye parvatamūrdhani ||2-38-44 andhaka had a son named raivata, the king. raivata had a son named ṛkṣa on the top of the beautiful mountain. tato raivata utpannaḥ parvataḥ sāgarāntike | nāmnā raivatako nāma bhūmau bhūmidharaḥ smṛtaḥ ||2-38-45 raivata had a mountain near the ocean. The mountain was named raivataka on earth. raivatasyātmajo rājā viśvagarbho mahāyaśāḥ | babhūva pṛthivīpālaḥ pṛthivyāṁ prathitaḥ prabhuḥ ||2-38-46 The son of raivata, named viśvagarbha was having great fame. He, famous in the world became the king. tasya tisṛṣu bhāryāsu divyarūpāsu keshava | catvāro jajṣire putrā lokapālopamāḥ śubhāḥ ||2-38-47 (vikadru said:) O keshava (kṛṣṇa)! In his three wives with divine beauty, he had four auspicious sons, similar to the protectors of the world. vasurbabhruḥ suṣeṇaścha sabhākṣaścaiva vīryavān | yadupravīrāḥ prakhyātā lokapālā ivāpare ||2-38-48 They were vasu, babhru, suṣeṇa and the valiant sabhākṣa. These valiant yādava-s became famous as if they were other protectors of the world. tairayaṁ yādavo vaṁśaḥ pārthivairbahulīkṛtaḥ | yaiḥ sākaṁ kṛṣṇa loke'sminprajāvantaḥ prajeśvarāḥ ||2-38-49 These kings expanded the yādava race. O kṛṣṇa! They were the lords of people of the world. vasostu kuntiviṣaye vasudevaḥ suto vibhuḥ | tataḥ sa janayāmāsa suprabhe dve ca dārike ||2-38-50 vasu had a son vasudeva, the lord . (After vasudeva) he had two daughters kuntī and suprabhā. (The daughter named pṛthā was given to king kuntibhoja of the land of kunti - see nīlakaṇṭha commentary). kuntīṁ ca pāṇḍormahiṣīṁ devatāmiva bhūcharīm | bhāryāṁ ca damaghoṣasya cedirājasya suprabhām ||2-38-51 kuntī, the wife of pāṇḍu, was beautiful as a goddess moving on earth. ṣuprabhā was the wife of damaghoṣa, the king of chedi. eṣa te svasya vaṁśasya prabhavaḥ saṁprakīrtitaḥ | shruto mayā purā kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāntikāt ||2-38-52 Thus, O kṛṣṇa! (vikadru said,) I have recited the glory of your race to you as I have heard before from kṛṣṇadvaipāyana (vyāsa). tvaṁ tvidānīṁ pranaṣṭe'sminvaṁśe vaṁśabhṛtāṁ vara | svayaṁbhūriva samprāpte bhavāyāsmajjayāya ca ||2-38-53 O the best among those who flourish the race! As our race was about to perish, you appeared as brahma for our prosperity and victory. na tu tvāṁ pauramātreṇa śāktā gūhayituṁ vayam | devaguhyeṣvapi bhavānsarvajṣaḥ sarvabhāvanaḥ ||2-38-54 We are unable to conceal you as an ordinary citizen. Even among the incomprehensible for the deva-s , you are omniscient and you are all-creating. śaktaścāpi jarāsaṁdhaṁ nṛpaṁ yodhayituṁ vibho | tvadbuddhivaśagāḥ sarve vayaṁ yodhavrate sthitāḥ ||2-38-55 O lord! You are sufficient for fighting with king jarāsaṁdha. All of us, who are vowed to fight are under your intellectual power. jarāsandhastu balavānnṛpāṇāṁ mūrdhni tiṣṭhati | aprameyabalashcaiva vayaṁ ca kuśasādanāḥ ||2-38-56 Powerful jarāsaṁdha is the leader of all kings. He has immense power while we are weak like grass. na cheyamekāhamapi purī rodhaṁ sahiṣyati | kṛśabhaktendhanakṣāmā durgairapariveṣṭitā ||2-38-57 This city can not resist blockade even for a day. The food and fuel are exhausted. The fort has lost its strength. asaṁskṛtāmbuparikhā dvārayantravivarjitā | vapraprākāranichayā kartavyā bahuvistarā ||2-38-58 The water in the trenches has gone bad. The machines on the entrances are useless. The fort and compound walls have to be repaired extensively. saṁskartavyāyudhāgārā yoktavyā cheṣṭikācayaiḥ | kaṁsasya balabhogyatvānnātiguptā purā janaiḥ ||2-38-59 The halls of weapons have to be repaired with bricks. Due to the powerful protection by kaṁsa, we did not have much difficulty earlier. sadyo nipatite kaṁse rājye'smākaṁ navodaye | purī pratyagrarodhena na rodhaṁ visahiṣyati ||2-38-60 With kaṁsā's death, the kingdom has to be protected as if it is new. The city is not able to resist any blockade. balaṁ saṁmardabhagnaṁ ca kṛṣyamāṇaṁ pareṇa ha | asaṁśayamidaṁ rāṣṭraṁ janaiḥ saha vinaṅkṣyati ||2-38-61 Because of the enemy's attacks, our army has lost its strength in the battle. Our kingdom will definitely perish along with its people. yādavānāṁ virodhena ye jitā rājyakāmukaiḥ | te sarve dvaidhamicchanti yatkṣamaṁ tadvidhīyatām ||2-38-62 The people whom the yādava-s have conquered, have become their enemies. All of them desire our defeat. You can decide what is suitable. vaṣchanīyā bhaviṣyāmo nṛpāṇāṁ nṛpakāraṇāt | jarāsaṁdhabhayārtānāṁ dravatāṁ rājyasaṁbhrame ||2-38-63 Because of the fear of king jarāsaṁdha and other kings and due to the expected defeat we have become anxious. ārtā vakṣyanti naḥ sarve rudhyamānāḥ pure janāḥ | yādavānāṁ virodhena vinaṣṭāḥ smeti keshava ||2-38-64 keshava (kṛṣṇa)! (vikadru said), all the residents of the city who are blockaded will cry due to sorrow saying that we have perished due to the enmity towards yādavas. etanmama mataṁ kṛṣṇa visraṁbhātsamudāhṛtam | tvaṁ tu vijṣāpitaḥ pūrvaṁ na punaḥ saṁprabhodhitaḥ ||2-38-65 kṛṣṇa! This is my opinion. I said this due to faith. I have told you everything. I am not repeating it again. yadatra vaḥ kṣamaṁ kṛṣṇa taccha vai saṁvidhīyatām | kṛṣṇa! On this subject, do what is do be done. tvamasya netā sainysya vayaṁ tvachcāsane sthitāḥ | tvanmūlaścha virodho'yaṁ rakṣāsmānātmanā saha ||2-38-66 You are our leader. The army and we are under your control. You are the reason for this enmity. Please protect us along with you. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi vikadruvākyaṁ nāma aṣṭātriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the thirty-eighth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, emergence of yadava-s and their feats. nīlakaṇṭha commentary aṣṭātriṁśe tvathādhyāye nāgakanyāsu paṣchasu | yadoḥ paṣcābhanputrā mādhavapramukhā nṛpāḥ || 1 || · 2-38-1 sa tāsu iti | · 2-38-4 tejitāḥ protsāhitāḥ || · 2-38-7 vindhyeti vindhasyottarataḥ ṛkṣavato dakṣiṇataḥ ityarthaḥ || · 2-38-9 tatraiva sahyasopariṣṭādeva parataḥ paśchimāyāṁ dishe || · 2-38-10 pannagarājasya dhūmravarṇākhyasya || · 2-38-11 svapuraṁ raivatācalasamīpastam || · 2-38-13 mṛgayanto jijṣāsamānaḥ || · 2-38-14 dāruṇopalasaṁkaṭe viṣamāśmadurgame || · 2-38-19 mahāśmasaṁghātavatīti | māhiṣmatīpadasyāvayavārtho darśitaḥ | · 2-38-23 rājā muchukundaḥ | · 2-38-25 viśeṣayati | bhūmāgasyālpatve'pi atinibidatyā tatraiva kṛtsnasya rāṣtrasya samāveśaṁ kṛtvā tasyaiva mahāntaṁ vapraṁ mahāprākāropamaṁ cakāretyarthaḥ || · 2-38-26 prājāpatyena tvaṣtṛsaṁbandhinā karmaṇā shilpena || · 2-38-27 krauṣchapuraṁ veṇāyā dakṣiṇe bhāge || · 2-38-30 dāśāḥ dhīvarāḥ || · 2-38-31 saṁchinvanti rāśīn kurvanti yuktāḥ sāvadhānāḥ jātarūpaṁ dīptimat | · 2-38-32 prācinvanto anveṣayantaḥ naubhiḥ mahānaukābhiḥ saṁyānagāminaḥ kṣudranaukāgāminah kṣudranaukāvalenāloḍaya ekatra mahānaukāyaṁ prakṣipantītyarthaḥ || · 2-38-35 yaduvaṁśasya dviśākhatvamupasaṁharati | evamiti | caturdheti mādhavasya mukhyastambharūpatvāt | śākhārūpeṇaiva caturdhātvaṁ vaṁśasyetyarthaḥ || · 2-38-39 tasmin bhīme || · 2-38-41 paryāye avatāroparame sati bhīmena vaiṣṇavaṁ sthānaṁ mathurākhyaṁ prāptamityuttara sahitasyānvayaḥ || · 2-38-42 rājasaṁbandhakāranāt madhoḥ putro lavaṇe naṣṭe madhudauhitrā rājyaprārthino bhavantīti śāstrīyasaṁbandhātttadauhitrajatvāccha bhīmasyetyarthaḥ || · 2-38-43 rājye ayodhyāyāmiti śeṣaḥ || · 2-38-44 raivatādraivato raivatātviśvagarbhaityarthaḥ || · 2-38-50 vasoriti | vasoḥ śūrāparanāmnāḥ suto vasudevo'bhavat | tato vasudevādanantaraṁ sa vasurdve dārike janayāmāsa | te ca pṛthāśrutaśravākhye kuntiviṣaye kuntibhojasya rājṣo viṣaye gochare duhitṛtvena dattatvāttadadhīne iti yāvat || · 2-38-53 pranaṣṭe abhibhūte || · 2-38-54 pauramātreṇa puravāsilokasāmyena tvāṁ jarāsandhādūgūhayituṁ vayaṁ kṣamā na | etaccha sarvajṣtvādbhavāneva vedetyāha - deveti | bhāvayatīti bhāvanaḥ jṣātā || · 2-38-60 agraṁ pratīti pratyagraṁ rājabhāgārthaṁ rodho yasyāḥ seva | yathāhi karṣakagrāmaṁ karārthe rājabhaṭā avarundhanti tadvat || · 2-38-62 kāmukairasmābhiḥ || īti śrīmahābhārate harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi tīkāyāmaṣṭātriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ ||