Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja

 

 

4.13.1

 

sūta uvāca

niśamya kauṣāraviṇopavarṇitaṃ

dhruvasya vaikuṇṭha-padādhirohaṇam

prarūḍha-bhāvo bhagavaty adhokṣaje

praṣṭuṃ punas taṃ viduraḥ pracakrame

 

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; niśamya — after hearing; kauṣāraviṇā — by the sage Maitreya; upavarṇitam — described; dhruvasya — of Mahārāja Dhruva; vaikuṇṭha-pada — to the abode of Viṣṇu; adhirohaṇam — ascent; prarūḍha — increased; bhāvaḥ — devotional emotion; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhokṣaje — who is beyond the reach of direct perception; praṣṭum — to inquire; punaḥ — again; tam — unto Maitreya; viduraḥ — Vidura; pracakrame — attempted.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sūta Gosvāmī, continuing to speak to all the ṛṣis, headed by Śaunaka, said: After hearing Maitreya Ṛṣi describe Dhruva Mahārāja's ascent to Lord Viṣṇu's abode, Vidura became very much enlightened in devotional emotion, and he inquired from Maitreya as follows.

 

4.13.2

 

vidura uvāca

ke te pracetaso nāma

kasyāpatyāni suvrata

kasyānvavāye prakhyātāḥ

kutra vā satram āsata

 

viduraḥ uvāca — Vidura inquired; ke — who were; te — they; pracetasaḥ — the Pracetās; nāma — of the name; kasya — whose; apatyāni — sons; su-vrata — O Maitreya, who have taken an auspicious vow; kasya — whose; anvavāye — in the family; prakhyātāḥ — famous; kutra — where; vā — also; satram — the sacrifice; āsata — was performed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura inquired from Maitreya: O greatly advanced devotee, who were the Pracetās? To which family did they belong? Whose sons were they, and where did they perform the great sacrifices?

 

4.13.3

 

manye mahā-bhāgavataṃ

nāradaṃ deva-darśanam

yena proktaḥ kriyā-yogaḥ

paricaryā-vidhir hareḥ

 

manye — I think; mahā-bhāgavatam — the greatest of all devotees; nāradam — the sage Nārada; deva — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; darśanam — who met; yena — by whom; proktaḥ — spoken; kriyā-yogaḥ — devotional service; paricaryā — for rendering service; vidhiḥ — the procedure; hareḥ — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura continued: I know that the great sage Nārada is the greatest of all devotees. He has compiled the pāñcarātrika procedure of devotional service and has directly met the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

4.13.4

 

sva-dharma-śīlaiḥ puruṣair

bhagavān yajña-pūruṣaḥ

ijyamāno bhaktimatā

nāradeneritaḥ kila

 

sva-dharma-śīlaiḥ — executing sacrificial duties; puruṣaiḥ — by the men; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yajña-pūruṣaḥ — the enjoyer of all sacrifices; ijyamānaḥ — being worshiped; bhaktimatā — by the devotee; nāradena — by Nārada; īritaḥ — described; kila — indeed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While all the Pracetās were executing religious rituals and sacrificial ceremonies and thus worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead for His satisfaction, the great sage Nārada described the transcendental qualities of Dhruva Mahārāja.

 

4.13.5

 

yās tā devarṣiṇā tatra

varṇitā bhagavat-kathāḥ

mahyaṃ śuśrūṣave brahman

kārtsnyenācaṣṭum arhasi

 

yāḥ — which; tāḥ — all those; devarṣiṇā — by the great sage Nārada; tatra — there; varṇitāḥ — narrated; bhagavat-kathāḥ — preachings pertaining to the activities of the Lord; mahyam — unto me; śuśrūṣave — very eager to hear; brahman — my dear brāhmaṇa; kārtsnyena — fully; ācaṣṭum arhasi — kindly explain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear brāhmaṇa, how did Nārada Muni glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and what pastimes were described in that meeting? I am very eager to hear of them. Kindly explain fully about that glorification of the Lord.

 

4.13.6

 

maitreya uvāca

dhruvasya cotkalaḥ putraḥ

pitari prasthite vanam

sārvabhauma-śriyaṃ naicchad

adhirājāsanaṃ pituḥ

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; dhruvasya — of Dhruva Mahārāja; ca — also; utkalaḥ — Utkala; putraḥ — son; pitari — after the father; prasthite — departed; vanam — for the forest; sārva-bhauma — including all lands; śriyam — opulence; na aicchat — did not desire; adhirāja — royal; āsanam — throne; pituḥ — of the father.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Maitreya replied: My dear Vidura, when Mahārāja Dhruva departed for the forest, his son, Utkala, did not desire to accept the opulent throne of his father, which was meant for the ruler of all the lands of this planet.

 

4.13.7

 

sa janmanopaśāntātmā

niḥsańgaḥ sama-darśanaḥ

dadarśa loke vitatam

ātmānaṃ lokam ātmani

 

saḥ — his son Utkala; janmanā — from the very beginning of his birth; upaśānta — very well satisfied; ātmā — soul; niḥsańgaḥ — without attachment; sama-darśanaḥ — equipoised; dadarśa — saw; loke — in the world; vitatam — spread; ātmānam — the Supersoul; lokam — all the world; ātmani — in the Supersoul.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From his very birth, Utkala was fully satisfied and unattached to the world. He was equipoised, for he could see everything resting in the Supersoul and the Supersoul present in everyone's heart.

 

4.13.8-9

 

ātmānaṃ brahma nirvāṇaṃ

pratyastamita-vigraham

avabodha-rasaikātmyam

ānandam anusantatam

 

avyavacchinna-yogāgni-

dagdha-karma-malāśayaḥ

svarūpam avarundhāno

nātmano 'nyaṃ tadaikṣata

 

SYNONYMS

 

ātmānam — self; brahma — spirit; nirvāṇam — extinction of material existence; pratyastamita — ceased; vigraham — separation; avabodha-rasa — by the mellow of knowledge; eka-ātmyam — oneness; ānandam — bliss; anusantatam — expanded;

 

avyavacchinna — continuous; yoga — by practice of yoga; agni — by the fire; dagdha — burned; karma — fruitive desires; mala — dirty; āśayaḥ — in his mind; svarūpam — constitutional position; avarundhānaḥ — realizing; na — not; ātmanaḥ — than the Supreme Soul; anyam — anything else; tadā — then; aikṣata — saw.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By expansion of his knowledge of the Supreme Brahman, he had already attained liberation from the bondage of the body. This liberation is known as nirvāṇa. He was situated in transcendental bliss, and he continued always in that blissful existence, which expanded more and more. This was possible for him by continual practice of bhakti-yoga, which is compared to fire because it burns away all dirty, material things. He was always situated in his constitutional position of self-realization, and he could not see anything else but the Supreme Lord and himself engaged in discharging devotional service.

 

4.13.10

 

jaḍāndha-badhironmatta-

mūkākṛtir atan-matiḥ

lakṣitaḥ pathi bālānāṃ

praśāntārcir ivānalaḥ

 

jaḍa — foolish; andha — blind; badhira — deaf; unmatta — mad; mūka — dumb; ākṛtiḥ — appearance; a-tat — not like that; matiḥ — his intelligence; lakṣitaḥ — he was seen; pathi — on the road; bālānām — by the less intelligent; praśānta — calmed; arciḥ — with flames; iva — like; analaḥ — fire.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Utkala appeared to the less intelligent persons on the road to be foolish, blind, dumb, deaf and mad, although actually he was not so. He remained like fire covered with ashes, without blazing flames.

 

4.13.11

 

matvā taṃ jaḍam unmattaṃ

kula-vṛddhāḥ samantriṇaḥ

vatsaraṃ bhūpatiṃ cakrur

yavīyāṃsaṃ bhrameḥ sutam

 

matvā — thinking; tam — Utkala; jaḍam — without intelligence; unmattam — mad; kula-vṛddhāḥ — the elderly members of the family; samantriṇaḥ — with the ministers; vatsaram — Vatsara; bhū-patim — ruler of the world; cakruḥ — they made; yavīyāṃsam — younger; bhrameḥ — of Bhrami; sutam — son.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For this reason the ministers and all the elderly members of the family thought Utkala to be without intelligence and, in fact, mad. Thus his younger brother, named Vatsara, the son of Bhrami, was elevated to the royal throne, and he became king of the world.

 

4.13.12

 

svarvīthir vatsarasyeṣṭā

bhāryāsūta ṣaḍ-ātmajān

puṣpārṇaṃ tigmaketuṃ ca

iṣam ūrjaṃ vasuṃ jayam

 

svarvīthiḥ — Svarvīthi; vatsarasya — of King Vatsara; iṣṭā — very dear; bhāryā — wife; asūta — gave birth to; ṣaṭ — six; ātmajān — sons; puṣpārṇam — Puṣpārṇa; tigmaketum — Tigmaketu; ca — also; iṣam — Iṣa; ūrjam — Ūrja; vasum — Vasu; jayam — Jaya.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Vatsara had a very dear wife whose name was Svarvīthi, and she gave birth to six sons, named Puṣpārṇa, Tigmaketu, Iṣa, Ūrja, Vasu and Jaya.

 

4.13.13

 

puṣpārṇasya prabhā bhāryā

doṣā ca dve babhūvatuḥ

prātar madhyandinaṃ sāyam

iti hy āsan prabhā-sutāḥ

 

puṣpārṇasya — of Puṣpārṇa; prabhā — Prabhā; bhāryā — wife; doṣā — Doṣā; ca — also; dve — two; babhūvatuḥ — were; prātaḥ — Prātar; madhyandinam — Madhyandinam; sāyam — Sāyam; iti — thus; hi — certainly; āsan — were; prabhā-sutāḥ — sons of Prabhā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Puṣpārṇa had two wives, named Prabhā and Doṣā. Prabhā had three sons, named Prātar, Madhyandinam and Sāyam.

 

4.13.14

 

pradoṣo niśitho vyuṣṭa

iti doṣā-sutās trayaḥ

vyuṣṭaḥ sutaṃ puṣkariṇyāṃ

sarvatejasam ādadhe

 

pradoṣaḥ — Pradoṣa; niśithaḥ — Niśitha; vyuṣṭaḥ — Vyuṣṭa; iti — thus; doṣā — of Doṣā; sutāḥ — sons; trayaḥ — three; vyuṣṭaḥ — Vyuṣṭa; sutam — son; puṣkariṇyām — in Puṣkariṇī; sarva-tejasam — named Sarvatejā (all-powerful); ādadhe — begot.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Doṣā had three sons — Pradoṣa, Niśitha and Vyuṣṭa. Vyuṣṭa's wife was named Puṣkariṇī, and she gave birth to a very powerful son named Sarvatejā.

 

4.13.15-16

 

sa cakṣuḥ sutam ākūtyāṃ

patnyāṃ manum avāpa ha

manor asūta mahiṣī

virajān naḍvalā sutān

 

puruṃ kutsaṃ tritaṃ dyumnaṃ

satyavantam ṛtaṃ vratam

agniṣṭomam atīrātraṃ

pradyumnaṃ śibim ulmukam

 

SYNONYMS

 

saḥ — he (Sarvatejā); cakṣuḥ — named Cakṣuḥ; sutam — son; ākūtyām — in Ākūti; patnyām — wife; manum — Cākṣuṣa Manu; avāpa — obtained; ha — indeed; manoḥ — of Manu; asūta — gave birth to; mahiṣī — queen; virajān — without passion; naḍvalā — Naḍvalā; sutān — sons;

 

purum — Puru; kutsam — Kutsa; tritam — Trita; dyumnam — Dyumna; satyavantam — Satyavān; ṛtam — Ṛta; vratam — Vrata; agniṣṭomam — Agniṣṭoma; atīrātram — Atīrātra; pradyumnam — Pradyumna; śibim — Śibi; ulmukam — Ulmuka.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sarvatejā's wife, Ākūti, gave birth to a son named Cākṣuṣa, who became the sixth Manu at the end of the Manu millennium. Naḍvalā, the wife of Cākṣuṣa Manu, gave birth to the following faultless sons: Puru, Kutsa, Trita, Dyumna, Satyavān, Ṛta, Vrata, Agniṣṭoma, Atīrātra, Pradyumna, Śibi and Ulmuka.

 

4.13.17

 

ulmuko 'janayat putrān

puṣkariṇyāṃ ṣaḍ uttamān

ańgaṃ sumanasaṃ khyātiṃ

kratum ańgirasaṃ gayam

 

ulmukaḥ — Ulmuka; ajanayat — begot; putrān — sons; puṣkariṇyām — in Puṣkariṇī, his wife; ṣaṭ — six; uttamān — very good; ańgam — Ańga; sumanasam — Sumanā; khyātim — Khyāti; kratum — Kratu; ańgirasam — Ańgirā; gayam — Gaya.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Of the twelve sons, Ulmuka begot six sons in his wife Puṣkariṇī. They were all very good sons, and their names were Ańga, Sumanā, Khyāti, Kratu, Ańgirā and Gaya.

 

4.13.18

 

sunīthāńgasya yā patnī

suṣuve venam ulbaṇam

yad-dauḥśīlyāt sa rājarṣir

nirviṇṇo niragāt purāt

 

sunīthā — Sunīthā; ańgasya — of Ańga; yā — she who; patnī — the wife; suṣuve — gave birth to; venam — Vena; ulbaṇam — very crooked; yat — whose; dauḥśīlyāt — on account of bad character; saḥ — he; rāja-ṛṣiḥ — the saintly King Ańga; nirviṇṇaḥ — very disappointed; niragāt — went out; purāt — from home.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The wife of Ańga, Sunīthā, gave birth to a son named Vena, who was very crooked. The saintly King Ańga was very disappointed with Vena's bad character, and he left home and kingdom and went out to the forest.

 

4.13.19-20

 

yam ańga śepuḥ kupitā

vāg-vajrā munayaḥ kila

gatāsos tasya bhūyas te

mamanthur dakṣiṇaṃ karam

 

arājake tadā loke

dasyubhiḥ pīḍitāḥ prajāḥ

jāto nārāyaṇāṃśena

pṛthur ādyaḥ kṣitīśvaraḥ

 

SYNONYMS

 

yam — him (Vena) whom; ańga — my dear Vidura; śepuḥ — they cursed; kupitāḥ — being angry; vāk-vajrāḥ — whose words are as strong as a thunderbolt; munayaḥ — great sages; kila — indeed; gata-asoḥ tasya — after he died; bhūyaḥ — moreover; te — they; mamanthuḥ — churned; dakṣiṇam — right; karam — hand;

 

arājake — being without a king; tadā — then; loke — the world; dasyubhiḥ — by rogues and thieves; pīḍitāḥ — suffering; prajāḥ — all the citizens; jātaḥ — advented; nārāyaṇa — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aṃśena — by a partial representation; pṛthuḥ — Pṛthu; ādyaḥ — original; kṣiti-īśvaraḥ — ruler of the world.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Vidura, when great sages curse, their words are as invincible as a thunderbolt. Thus when they cursed King Vena out of anger, he died. After his death, since there was no king, all the rogues and thieves flourished, the kingdom became unregulated, and all the citizens suffered greatly. On seeing this, the great sages took the right hand of Vena as a churning rod, and as a result of their churning, Lord Viṣṇu in His partial representation made His advent as King Pṛthu, the original emperor of the world.

 

4.13.21

 

vidura uvāca

tasya śīla-nidheḥ sādhor

brahmaṇyasya mahātmanaḥ

rājñaḥ katham abhūd duṣṭā

prajā yad vimanā yayau

 

viduraḥ uvāca — Vidura said; tasya — of him (Ańga); śīla-nidheḥ — reservoir of good characteristics; sādhoḥ — saintly person; brahmaṇyasya — lover of brahminical culture; mahātmanaḥ — great soul; rājñaḥ — of the king; katham — how; abhūt — it was; duṣṭā — bad; prajā — son; yat — by which; vimanāḥ — being indifferent; yayau — he left.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura inquired from the sage Maitreya: My dear brāhmaṇa, King Ańga was very gentle. He had high character and was a saintly personality and lover of brahminical culture. How is it that such a great soul got a bad son like Vena, because of whom he became indifferent to his kingdom and left it?

 

4.13.22

 

kiṃ vāṃho vena uddiśya

brahma-daṇḍam ayūyujan

daṇḍa-vrata-dhare rājñi

munayo dharma-kovidāḥ

 

kim — why; vā — also; aṃhaḥ — sinful activities; vene — unto Vena; uddiśya — seeing; brahma-daṇḍam — the curse of a brāhmaṇa; ayūyujan — they desired to award; daṇḍa-vrata-dhare — who carries the rod of punishment; rājñi — unto the king; munayaḥ — the great sages; dharma-kovidāḥ — completely conversant with religious principles.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura also inquired: How is it that the great sages, who were completely conversant with religious principles, desired to curse King Vena, who himself carried the rod of punishment, and thus awarded him the greatest punishment [brahma-śāpa]?

 

4.13.23

 

nāvadhyeyaḥ prajā-pālaḥ

prajābhir aghavān api

yad asau loka-pālānāṃ

bibharty ojaḥ sva-tejasā

 

na — never; avadhyeyaḥ — to be insulted; prajā-pālaḥ — the king; prajābhiḥ — by the citizens; aghavān — ever sinful; api — even though; yat — because; asau — he; loka-pālānām — of many kings; bibharti — maintains; ojaḥ — prowess; sva-tejasā — by personal influence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is the duty of all citizens in a state never to insult the king, even though he sometimes appears to have done something very sinful. Because of his prowess, the king is always more influential than all other ruling chiefs.

 

4.13.24

 

etad ākhyāhi me brahman

sunīthātmaja-ceṣṭitam

śraddadhānāya bhaktāya

tvaṃ parāvara-vittamaḥ

 

etat — all these; ākhyāhi — please describe; me — unto me; brahman — O great brāhmaṇa; sunīthā-ātmaja — of the son of Sunīthā, Vena; ceṣṭitam — activities; śraddadhānāya — faithful; bhaktāya — unto your devotee; tvam — you; para-avara — with past and future; vit-tamaḥ — well conversant.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vidura requested Maitreya: My dear brāhmaṇa, you are well conversant with all subjects, both past and future. Therefore I wish to hear from you all the activities of King Vena. I am your faithful devotee, so please explain this.

 

4.13.25

 

maitreya uvāca

ańgo 'śvamedhaṃ rājarṣir

ājahāra mahā-kratum

nājagmur devatās tasminn

āhūtā brahma-vādibhiḥ

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya answered; ańgaḥ — King Ańga; aśvamedham — aśvamedha sacrifice; rāja-ṛṣiḥ — the saintly king; ājahāra — executed; mahā-kratum — great sacrifice; na — not; ājagmuḥ — came; devatāḥ — the demigods; tasmin — in that sacrifice; āhūtāḥ — being invited; brahma-vādibhiḥ — by the brāhmaṇas expert in executing sacrifices.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Maitreya replied: My dear Vidura, once the great King Ańga arranged to perform the great sacrifice known as aśvamedha. All the expert brāhmaṇas present knew how to invite the demigods, but in spite of their efforts, no demigods participated or appeared in that sacrifice.

 

4.13.26

 

tam ūcur vismitās tatra

yajamānam athartvijaḥ

havīṃṣi hūyamānāni

na te gṛhṇanti devatāḥ

 

tam — unto King Ańga; ūcuḥ — said; vismitāḥ — in wonder; tatra — there; yajamānam — to the institutor of the sacrifice; atha — then; ṛtvijaḥ — the priests; havīṃṣi — offerings of clarified butter; hūyamānāni — being offered; na — not; te — they; gṛhṇanti — accept; devatāḥ — the demigods.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The priests engaged in the sacrifice then informed King Ańga: O King, we are properly offering the clarified butter in the sacrifice, but despite all our efforts the demigods do not accept it.

 

4.13.27

 

rājan havīṃṣy aduṣṭāni

śraddhayāsāditāni te

chandāṃsy ayāta-yāmāni

yojitāni dhṛta-vrataiḥ

 

rājan — O King; havīṃṣi — sacrificial offerings; aduṣṭāni — not polluted; śraddhayā — with great faith and care; āsāditāni — collected; te — your; chandāṃsi — the mantras; ayāta-yāmāni — not deficient; yojitāni — properly executed; dhṛta-vrataiḥ — by qualified brāhmaṇas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, we know that the paraphernalia to perform the sacrifice is well collected by you with great faith and care and is not polluted. Our chanting of the Vedic hymns is also not deficient in any way, for all the brāhmaṇas and priests present here are expert and are executing the performances properly.

 

4.13.28

 

na vidāmeha devānāṃ

helanaṃ vayam aṇv api

yan na gṛhṇanti bhāgān svān

ye devāḥ karma-sākṣiṇaḥ

 

na — not; vidāma — can find; iha — in this connection; devānām — of the demigods; helanam — insult, neglect; vayam — we; aṇu — minute; api — even; yat — because of which; na — not; gṛhṇanti — accept; bhāgān — shares; svān — own; ye — who; devāḥ — the demigods; karma-sākṣiṇaḥ — witnesses for the sacrifice.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Dear King, we do not find any reason that the demigods should feel insulted or neglected in any way, but still the demigods who are witnesses for the sacrifice do not accept their shares. We do not know why this is so.

 

4.13.29

 

maitreya uvāca

ańgo dvija-vacaḥ śrutvā

yajamānaḥ sudurmanāḥ

tat praṣṭuṃ vyasṛjad vācaṃ

sadasyāṃs tad-anujñayā

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya answered; ańgaḥ — King Ańga; dvija-vacaḥ — the brāhmaṇas' words; śrutvā — after hearing; yajamānaḥ — the performer of the sacrifice; sudurmanāḥ — very much aggrieved in mind; tat — about that; praṣṭum — in order to inquire; vyasṛjat vācam — he spoke; sadasyān — to the priests; tat — their; anujñayā — taking permission.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Maitreya explained that King Ańga, after hearing the statements of the priests, was greatly aggrieved. At that time he took permission from the priests to break his silence and inquired from all the priests who were present in the sacrificial arena.

 

4.13.30

 

nāgacchanty āhutā devā

na gṛhṇanti grahān iha

sadasas-patayo brūta

kim avadyaṃ mayā kṛtam

 

na — not; āgacchanti — are coming; āhutāḥ — being invited; devāḥ — the demigods; na — not; gṛhṇanti — are accepting; grahān — shares; iha — in the sacrifice; sadasaḥ-patayaḥ — my dear priests; brūta — kindly tell me; kim — what; avadyam — offense; mayā — by me; kṛtam — was committed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Ańga addressed the priestly order: My dear priests, kindly tell me what offense I have committed. Although invited, the demigods are neither taking part in the sacrifice nor accepting their shares.

 

4.13.31

 

sadasas-pataya ūcuḥ

nara-deveha bhavato

nāghaṃ tāvan manāk sthitam

asty ekaṃ prāktanam aghaṃ

yad ihedṛk tvam aprajaḥ

 

sadasaḥ-patayaḥ ūcuḥ — the head priests said; nara-deva — O King; iha — in this life; bhavataḥ — of you; na — not; agham — sinful activity; tāvat manāk — even very slight; sthitam — situated; asti — there is; ekam — one; prāktanam — in the previous birth; agham — sinful activity; yat — by which; iha — in this life; īdṛk — like this; tvam — you; aprajaḥ — without any son.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The head priests said: O King, in this life we do not find any sinful activity, even within your mind, so you are not in the least offensive. But we can see that in your previous life you performed sinful activities due to which, in spite of your having all qualifications, you have no son.

 

4.13.32

 

tathā sādhaya bhadraṃ te

ātmānaṃ suprajaṃ nṛpa

iṣṭas te putra-kāmasya

putraṃ dāsyati yajña-bhuk

 

tathā — therefore; sādhaya — execute the sacrifice to get; bhadram — good fortune; te — to you; ātmānam — your own; su-prajam — good son; nṛpa — O King; iṣṭaḥ — being worshiped; te — by you; putra-kāmasya — desiring to have a son; putram — a son; dāsyati — He will deliver; yajña-bhuk — the Lord, the enjoyer of the sacrifice.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, we wish all good fortune for you. You have no son, but if you pray at once to the Supreme Lord and ask for a son, and if you execute the sacrifice for that purpose, the enjoyer of the sacrifice, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will fulfill your desire.

 

4.13.33

 

tathā sva-bhāgadheyāni

grahīṣyanti divaukasaḥ

yad yajña-puruṣaḥ sākṣād

apatyāya harir vṛtaḥ

 

tathā — thereupon; sva-bhāga-dheyāni — their shares in the sacrifice; grahīṣyanti — will accept; diva-okasaḥ — all the demigods; yat — because; yajña-puruṣaḥ — the enjoyer of all sacrifices; sākṣāt — directly; apatyāya — for the purpose of a son; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vṛtaḥ — is invited.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Hari, the supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices, is invited to fulfill your desire for a son, all the demigods will come with Him and take their shares in the sacrifice.

 

4.13.34

 

tāṃs tān kāmān harir dadyād

yān yān kāmayate janaḥ

ārādhito yathaivaiṣa

tathā puṃsāṃ phalodayaḥ

 

tān tān — those; kāmān — desired objects; hariḥ — the Lord; dadyāt — will award; yān yān — whatsoever; kāmayate — desires; janaḥ — the person; ārādhitaḥ — being worshiped; yathā — as; eva — certainly; eṣaḥ — the Lord; tathā — similarly; puṃsām — of men; phala-udayaḥ — the result.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The performer of the sacrifices [under karma-kāṇḍa activities] achieves the fulfillment of the desire for which he worships the Lord.

 

4.13.35

 

iti vyavasitā viprās

tasya rājñaḥ prajātaye

puroḍāśaṃ niravapan

śipi-viṣṭāya viṣṇave

 

iti — thus; vyavasitāḥ — having decided; viprāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; tasya — his; rājñaḥ — of the king; prajātaye — for the purpose of getting a son; puroḍāśam — the paraphernalia of sacrifice; niravapan — offered; śipi-viṣṭāya — to the Lord, who is situated in the sacrificial fire; viṣṇave — to Lord Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus for the sake of a son for King Ańga, they decided to offer oblations to Lord Viṣṇu, who is situated in the hearts of all living entities.

 

4.13.36

 

tasmāt puruṣa uttasthau

hema-māly amalāmbaraḥ

hiraṇmayena pātreṇa

siddham ādāya pāyasam

 

tasmāt — from that fire; puruṣaḥ — a person; uttasthau — appeared; hema-mālī — with a golden garland; amala-ambaraḥ — in white garments; hiraṇmayena — golden; pātreṇa — with a pot; siddham — cooked; ādāya — carrying; pāyasam — rice boiled in milk.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As soon as the oblation was offered in the fire, a person appeared from the fire altar wearing a golden garland and a white dress. He was carrying a golden pot filled with rice boiled in milk.

 

4.13.37

 

sa viprānumato rājā

gṛhītvāñjalinaudanam

avaghrāya mudā yuktaḥ

prādāt patnyā udāra-dhīḥ

 

saḥ — he; vipra — of the brāhmaṇas; anumataḥ — taking permission; rājā — the King; gṛhītvā — taking; añjalinā — in his joined palms; odanam — rice boiled in milk; avaghrāya — after smelling; mudā — with great delight; yuktaḥ — fixed; prādāt — offered; patnyai — to his wife; udāra-dhīḥ — liberal-minded.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King was very liberal, and after taking permission from the priests, he took the preparation in his joined palms, and after smelling it he offered a portion to his wife.

 

4.13.38

 

sā tat puṃ-savanaṃ rājñī

prāśya vai patyur ādadhe

garbhaṃ kāla upāvṛtte

kumāraṃ suṣuve 'prajā

 

sā — she; tat — that food; pum-savanam — which produces a male child; rājñī — the Queen; prāśya — eating; vai — indeed; patyuḥ — from the husband; ādadhe — conceived; garbham — pregnancy; kāle — when the due time; upāvṛtte — appeared; kumāram — a son; suṣuve — gave birth to; aprajā — having no son.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although the Queen had no son, after eating that food, which had the power to produce a male child, she became pregnant by her husband, and in due course of time she gave birth to a son.

 

4.13.39

 

sa bāla eva puruṣo

mātāmaham anuvrataḥ

adharmāṃśodbhavaṃ mṛtyuṃ

tenābhavad adhārmikaḥ

 

saḥ — that; bālaḥ — child; eva — certainly; puruṣaḥ — male; mātā-maham — maternal grandfather; anuvrataḥ — a follower of; adharma — of irreligion; aṃśa — from a portion; udbhavam — who appeared; mṛtyum — death; tena — by this; abhavat — he became; adhārmikaḥ — irreligious.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That boy was born partially in the dynasty of irreligion. His grandfather was death personified, and the boy grew up as his follower; he became a greatly irreligious person.

 

4.13.40

 

sa śarāsanam udyamya

mṛgayur vana-gocaraḥ

hanty asādhur mṛgān dīnān

veno 'sāv ity arauj janaḥ

 

saḥ — that boy of the name Vena; śarāsanam — his bow; udyamya — taking up; mṛgayuḥ — the hunter; vana-gocaraḥ — going into the forest; hanti — used to kill; asādhuḥ — being very cruel; mṛgān — deer; dīnān — poor; venaḥ — Vena; asau — there he is; iti — thus; araut — would cry; janaḥ — all the people.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After fixing his bow and arrow, the cruel boy used to go to the forest and unnecessarily kill innocent deer, and as soon as he came all the people would cry, "Here comes cruel Vena! Here comes cruel Vena!"

 

4.13.41

 

ākrīḍe krīḍato bālān

vayasyān atidāruṇaḥ

prasahya niranukrośaḥ

paśu-māram amārayat

 

ākrīḍe — in the playground; krīḍataḥ — while playing; bālān — boys; vayasyān — of his age; ati-dāruṇaḥ — very cruel; prasahya — by force; niranukrośaḥ — merciless; paśu-māram — as if slaughtering animals; amārayat — killed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The boy was so cruel that while playing with young boys of his age he would kill them very mercilessly, as if they were animals meant for slaughter.

 

4.13.42

 

taṃ vicakṣya khalaṃ putraṃ

śāsanair vividhair nṛpaḥ

yadā na śāsituṃ kalpo

bhṛśam āsīt sudurmanāḥ

 

tam — him; vicakṣya — observing; khalam — cruel; putram — son; śāsanaiḥ — by punishments; vividhaiḥ — different kinds of; nṛpaḥ — the King; yadā — when; na — not; śāsitum — to bring under control; kalpaḥ — was able; bhṛśam — greatly; āsīt — became; su-durmanāḥ — aggrieved.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After seeing the cruel and merciless behavior of his son, Vena, King Ańga punished him in different ways to reform him, but was unable to bring him to the path of gentleness. He thus became greatly aggrieved.

 

4.13.43

 

prāyeṇābhyarcito devo

ye 'prajā gṛha-medhinaḥ

kad-apatya-bhṛtaṃ duḥkhaṃ

ye na vindanti durbharam

 

prāyeṇa — probably; abhyarcitaḥ — was worshiped; devaḥ — the Lord; ye — they who; aprajāḥ — without a son; gṛha-medhinaḥ — persons living at home; kad-apatya — by a bad son; bhṛtam — caused; duḥkham — unhappiness; ye — they who; na — not; vindanti — suffer; durbharam — unbearable.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King thought to himself: Persons who have no son are certainly fortunate. They must have worshiped the Lord in their previous lives so that they would not have to suffer the unbearable unhappiness caused by a bad son.

 

4.13.44

 

yataḥ pāpīyasī kīrtir

adharmaś ca mahān nṛṇām

yato virodhaḥ sarveṣāṃ

yata ādhir anantakaḥ

 

yataḥ — on account of a bad son; pāpīyasī — sinful; kīrtiḥ — reputation; adharmaḥ — irreligion; ca — also; mahān — great; nṛṇām — of men; yataḥ — from which; virodhaḥ — quarrel; sarveṣām — of all people; yataḥ — from which; ādhiḥ — anxiety; anantakaḥ — endless.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A sinful son causes a person's reputation to vanish. His irreligious activities at home cause irreligion and quarrel among everyone, and this creates only endless anxiety.

 

4.13.45

 

kas taṃ prajāpadeśaṃ vai

moha-bandhanam ātmanaḥ

paṇḍito bahu manyeta

yad-arthāḥ kleśadā gṛhāḥ

 

kaḥ — who; tam — him; prajā-apadeśam — son in name only; vai — certainly; moha — of illusion; bandhanam — bondage; ātmanaḥ — for the soul; paṇḍitaḥ — intelligent man; bahu manyeta — would value; yat-arthāḥ — because of whom; kleśa-dāḥ — painful; gṛhāḥ — home.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Who, if he is considerate and intelligent, would desire such a worthless son? Such a son is nothing but a bond of illusion for the living entity, and he makes one's home miserable.

 

4.13.46

 

kad-apatyaṃ varaṃ manye

sad-apatyāc chucāṃ padāt

nirvidyeta gṛhān martyo

yat-kleśa-nivahā gṛhāḥ

 

kad-apatyam — bad son; varam — better; manye — I think; sat-apatyāt — than a good son; śucām — of grief; padāt — the source; nirvidyeta — becomes detached; gṛhāt — from home; martyaḥ — a mortal man; yat — because of whom; kleśa-nivahāḥ — hellish; gṛhāḥ — home.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then the King thought: A bad son is better than a good son because a good son creates an attachment for home, whereas a bad son does not. A bad son creates a hellish home from which an intelligent man naturally becomes very easily detached.

 

4.13.47

 

evaṃ sa nirviṇṇa-manā nṛpo gṛhān

niśītha utthāya mahodayodayāt

alabdha-nidro 'nupalakṣito nṛbhir

hitvā gato vena-suvaṃ prasuptām