Chapter 11 - Account of Raivata and His Sons

1. Janamejaya said:—O foremost of the twice-born, why were not Revati and Revata’s son Kukudmi, visited by decrepitude although they lived for many years.

2. Why does Saryati’s grandson, even after his retirement to Meru, still live in this world? I wish to hear all this in sooth.

3. Vaishampayana said:—O sinless one, O foremost of Bharatas, there is neither decrepitude, hunger, thirst, death, nor the change of seasons in the region of Brahma.

4. After the departure of Revata’s son Kukudmi, his city Kushasthali was destroyed by demons and goblins.

5. That high-souled and pious king had a hundred brothers. When the Rakshasas began to carry on the work of destruction they fled away in various directions.

6. O king of kings, when after their escape all the hundred brothers settled in various parts the Kshatriyas thereof were stricken with fear,

7. O king, their families extended to all those countries and are known as Sharyatas.

8. O foremost of Bharatas, in all the quarters those pious Kshatriyas reside; O descendant of Kurus, amongst them many entered into mountainous regions.

9. The two sons of Nabhagaristha, although born of a Vaishya mother, attained to the status of a Brahmana. The sons of Karusha, Kshatriyas dreadful in battle, passed by the name of Karushas.

10-11. Only one son of Pramshu is mentioned by the name of Prajapati. O Janamejaya, having killed the cow of his preceptor, Prishata is said to have come by the birth of a Sudra. O fore most of Bharatas, I have thus given an account of the nine sons of Manu Vaivasvata.

12. When Manu sneezed there came out from his nostril a son by name Ikshawku. He had a hundred sons who gave away profuse gifts.

13. The eldest of them Vikukshi, on account of his huge abdomen, could not make a warrior and so that pious king reigned as the lord of Ayodhya.

14. He had fifty excellent sons headed by Sakuni. They all reigned, O king, protecting the province of Uttarapatha.

15. O king, thirty-eight sons headed by Shashada protected the southern quarter.

16. On an Ashtaka^[1] day Ikshvaku commanded Vikukshi by saying "O you of great strength, do you bring meat for the Sraddha after killing deer."

17. Having taken the meat of a hare before the performance of the Sraddha for which it was collected he returned from hunting with the name of Shashada^[2].

18. He was forsaken by Ikshvaku at the words of Vashishtha. After the demise of Ikshvaku Shashada began to live in the city (of Ayodhya).

19-20. Shashada’s son was the powerful Kakutstha. Seated on the hump of Indra in the guise of a bull he defeated the Asuras in the days of yore in battle and accordingly he was called Kakutstha. Kakustha’s son was Anena and his son was Prithu.

21. Prithu’s son was Vishtarashva and from him was born Adra. Adra’s son was Yuvanashva and his son was Shrava.

22. The king Shrava made a city by the name of Shravasti. And his son was highly illustrious Vrihadashva.

23. His son was the highly pious king Kuvalashva, who, by killing (the demon) Dhundhu, came by the name of king Dhundhumara.

24. Janamejaya said:—O Brahman, I wish to hear the true account of the destruction of Dhundhu for which Kuvalashva came by the name of Dhundhumara.

25-26. Vaishampayana said:—Kuvalashva had a hundred sons all skillful archers; they were all well-educated, powerful irrepressible and pious and performed sacrifices and gave away profuse gifts. Kuvalashva installed his son Vrihadashva in the kingdom.

27. Having made over the charge of his kingdom to his son he repaired to the forest. But the saint Uttanka prevented him (from doing that).

28. He said:—"O king, it behoves you to protect your subjects;you should not carry on penances, relieved of all anxiety (for the state).

29. O king, high-souled as you are, the earth should be protected by you. Setting aside all cares you should not enter into woods.

30. It is seen that great virtue consists in protecting the subjects, but not so, in repairing to the forest

31. Such is upheld to be the duty of a king and even the former saintly kings used to protect their subjects. Therefore, you should look after your subjects.

32-33. On the even ground near my hermitage, all desert and with little water, there is a tract full of the sands of the ocean called Ujjanaka.^[3] There entered into the ground full of sand a huge-bodied and highly powerful (demon) whom it was beyond (the power of the) gods even to destroy. That son of the Rakshasa, Madhu, also passed by the name of the huge Asura, Dhundhu. Resorting to dreadful penances, he is lying there for the destruction of men.

34. When he breathes after the expiration of a year the earth trembles with her mountains, forest and wood.

35-36. The heavy dust, raised by his breath, obstructs the path of the sun—the earth-quake continues for one week—and there comes out smoke with scintillations of fire and cinders. At that time, O my child, I cannot live at my hermitage.

37. Therefore, for the behoof of mankind, do you slay that huge-bodied demon. On the destruction of that demon people will be at ease.

38. O king, you alone are competent to kill him. O sinless one, in the previous Yuga Vishnu conferred a boon on me. '

39. You will welcome his energy with a boon who will kill that dreadful and highly powerful great Asura'.

40. O king, even in a hundred celestial years trifling energy cannot consume that highly powerful Dhundhu. Great is his energy which even the gods cannot with difficulty overcome".

41. Thus accosted by the high-souled Uttanka the royal saint despatched his son Kuvalashva for suppressing Dhundhu.

42. Vrihadashva said:—"O Reverend Sir, I have given up the use of weapons. He is my son, and forsooth, O foremost of the twice-born, he will destroy Dhundhu (and acquire the name of Dhundhumara)".

43. Having ordered his son for the destruction of Dhundhu, the self-controlled royal saint went to the mountain for carrying on penances.

44. O king, Kuvalashva, with his hundred sons and the ascetic, issued out to destroy Dhundhu.

45. For the behoof of mankind and at the behest of Uttanka the Lord Divine Vishnu entered into him by his own energy.

46. After his departure a terrible sound was heard in the sky. "This graceful prince will be Dhundhamara".^[4]

47. Then the celestials engarlanded him with heavenly garlands. The celestial bugles were also sounded, O foremost of Bharatas.

48. Having gone there, that best of victors, the energetic (Kuvalashva) made his sons dig up the un-ending sandy ocean.

49. O descendant of Kuru, being invigorated by Narayana’s energy he became highly powerful and energetic.

50. Digging up the sandy ocean his sons, O king, found out Dhundhu, lying in the west.

51-52. He seemed, as if, to have burnt down the quarters in anger with fire coming out of his mouth. O foremost of Bharatas, as the ocean swells up with the rise of the moon, so (by the movement of that demon) mighty torrents of water began to flow. Excepting three the hundred sons of that king were consumed by that Rakshasa.

53. Thereupon, O descendant of Kuru, the highly energetic king Dhundhumara confronted the highly powerful Rakshasa Dhundhu.

54. Then having drunk up, by his Yoga power, his (Rakshasa’s) watery energy the ascetic (king) quenched the fire with water.

55. Then having slain with his strength that demon of the water the king proved himself successful to Uttanka.

56-57. Uttanka too conferred a boon on the high souled king—via endless riches, victory over his enemies, inclination to virtue and eternal habitation in heaven, as well as the attainment to the eternal region of those of his sons who were killed by the Rakshasa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The eighth day of three months on which the progenitors are worshipped.

[2]:

Meaning one who eats the meat of a hare.

[3]:

Literally Ut and Janaka or collection of men, i.e., divested of men. It means that in that tract of land there was no human habitation.

[4]:

Lit: Destroyer of (the Demon) Dhundhu. This will be his surname after the destruction of the demon Dhundhu by him.