Chapter 37 - An Account of Vabhru’s Family

1-2. Vaishampayana said:—O king, Satwata, endued with the quality of goodness, begat on Kaushalya several sons, namely Bhajina, Bhajamana, Divya, Devavridha, the mighty armed Andhaka, and Yadu’s son Vrishni. Listen to a detailed account of theirs progenitors.

3-5. Bhajamana had two wives, daughters of Srinjaya, by name Vahyaka and Upavahvaka. He had a number of sons by those two wives. Krami, Kramina, Drishta, Shura and Puranjava were begotten on Vahyka. And Ayutajit, Sahasrajit, Shatajit, and Dasaka were begotten on Srinjaya’s daughter Upavahvaka by Bhajamana.

6. Resolving "I must have a son endued with all accomplishments" the king Devavridha, the performer of Yajnas, carried on hard austerities.

7. Controlling his mind he used to bathe in the water of the river Parnasha and rinse his mouth there with. On account of his constant touch, the river accomplished what he liked.

8-9. Thinking alone, that foremost of rivers Parnasha resolved upon doing some good by that king. Meditating thus she could not set his eye upon a woman capable of giving birth to such an accomplished son. She accordingly made up her mind to become herself the wife of that king.

10. Thereupon becoming a maiden and assuming a most handsome form she selected that king as her husband. He too liked her.

11-13. She then conceived through that liberal-minded king. In the tenth month, she, from king Devavridha, gave birth to a highly accomplished son by name Vabhru. In this family while describing the accomplishments of the noble Devavridha the sages, well-read in the Puranas, used to say:—Before us, at a distance from us and near us we behold the king Devavridha range assuming various forms by virtue of his illusive energy.

14-16. Vabhru was the foremost of men, and Devavridha was equal unto the celestials. Being slain in battle by Devavridha and Vabhru four hundred and sixty two thousand men attained to the region of Brahma. Vabhru celebrated many Yajnas, made away gifts, was learned and conversant with the knowledge of Brahman. His weapon was very strong. Besides he was of glorious deeds, highly effulgent and the foremost of Satwatas. His family was extensive and his descendants were Martikavata Bhojas.

17. From Andhaka Kashya’s daughter obtained four sons, namely Kukura, Bhajamana, Shama and Kamvalavarhisha.

18. Kukura’s son was Dhrishnu and Drishnu’s son was Kapotaroma. His son again was Tittiri.

19. From him was born Punarvasu, whose son was Abhijit who had two children.

20. Both Ahuka (a son) and Ahuki (a daughter) were well-known and the foremost of all celebrated persons. The following hymn was chanted in Ahuka’s praise. "

21. Encircled by his pure souled descendants he (was noble and energetic) like a young horse". When that king first went out on his excursion he was protected by the gods^[1].

22. There was none amongst those who followed this Bhoja king who had no issue, who had not made away a hundred presents, who had not a life extending over a thousand years, who was not of pure deeds and who did not perform Yajnas.

23-24. At the command of Ahuka ten thousand cars with ten thousand elephants, having yokes, pieces of wood at their bottom, flags attached to them, with sounds like the muttering of clouds and golden and silver chains, used to proceed to the eastern quarter.

25. An equal number of cars and elephants was placed in the northern quarter. Having brought under subjection all his commanders Ashuka used to go about with his kinsmen in his car adorned with a gridle of small bells.

26. The Andhakas conferred on Avanti king Ahuka’s sister Ahuki. Ahuka begat two sons on the daughter of the king of Kashi.

27. They were Devaka and Ugrasena who were both like the sons of celestials. Devaka had four god-like sons.

28. They were Devavan, Upadeva, Sudeva, and Devarakshit. He had seven daughters of all whom he conferred on Vasudeva.

29. They were Devaki, Shantideva, Srideva, Devarakshita, Vrikadevi, Upadevi and Sunamni was the seventh.

30-31. Ugrasena had nine sons of whom Kangsa was the eldest. Others were Nyagrodha, Sunama, Kanka, Shambhu, Subhamija, Rashtrapala, Sudhanu, Anadhrishti and Pushtiman. They had five sisters, namely, Kangsa, Kangsavati, Sutanu, Rashtrapali, and the beautiful Kangka. I have described the family of Ugrasena, born in the Kuru race.

32. Meditating on this highly energetic Kuru race, a man, having offspring, gets a big family.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

There is another meaning of this text. He used to go out on a conveyance drawn by eighty men. Ashiti means eighty. Carma means a wooden conveyance and Yukta means seated. The meaning that we have adopted is thus made out. Ashitayas means gods, Carma leathern protector of arrows; Yukta protected i.e. he was protected by the gods as arrows are protected by leathern cases i.e. the gods were like leathern cases to him. Both the meanings are equally good. The former gives an idea of his splendour. The latter shows that he was in the good grace of the celestials.