The Bhagavata Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 780,972 words | ISBN-10: 8120838203 | ISBN-13: 9788120838208

This page describes Birth of Prithu and his Coronation which is chapter 15 of the English translation of the Bhagavata Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas containing roughly 18,000 metrical verses. Topics include ancient Indian history, religion, philosophy, geography, mythology, etc. The text has been interpreted by various schools of philosophy. This is the fifteenth chapter of the Fourth Skandha of the Bhagavatapurana.

Chapter 15 - Birth of Pṛthu and his Coronation

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Maitreya said:

1. Thereupon, a couple (a boy and a girl) was born from the arms of the sonless king, when they (the arms) were being churned by the Brāhmaṇas.

2. Having seen the birth of the couple, the sages who were well-versed in the Vedas, became highly pleased to know that it was an aṃśa (portion or digit) of the glorious Lord and spoke.

Sages said:

3. This (Pṛthu) is a manifestation of that aṃśa (portion) of Lord Viṣṇu which protects the world[1]. This (girl) is the portion and incarnation of Goddess Lakṣmī who is never disunited from the Supreme Man (Viṣṇu)[2].

4. As to this male child, he will be the first and foremost among kings, the enhancer of their glory. As his fame will spread far and wide, he will be known as Pṛthu, the great king.

5. And this beautiful, resplendent lady with finely set teeth who is the ornament of ornaments and virtues, will be called Arcis and will be Pṛthu’s consort.

6. It is with the object of protecting the world that this aṃśa (portion) of direct Hari himself, is born. And this is verily the Goddess Lakṣmī who is inseparable from him and ever (absolutely) devoted to him.

Maitreya said:

7. Brāhmaṇas eulogised him; the foremost among the Gandharvas sang (his glory); Siddhas poured down showers of (heavenly) flowers; the celestial damsels danced.

8. The heavens were reverberating with sounds of musical instruments like conchs, trumpets, timbrels and drums. There assembled all the gods, sages and pitṛs (manes) of all grades.

9-10. With gods and kings of gods, Brahmā, the father of all the worlds, arrived there. Observing the mark of Viṣṇu (the wielder of the mace) on (Pṛthu’s) right palm, and the lotus-mark on the soles of Pṛthu’s feet he concluded that he (Pṛthu) is verily the part (kalā) of Viṣṇu; for he on whose palm the cakra (discus) mark is uncrossed by any other line, is the aṃśa (portion) of the Lord.

11. His coronation ceremony was commenced by Brāhmaṇas who were well-versed in Vedas (and expert in the Vedic rites and rituals of the ceremony). From all directions, people brought all the materials necessary for the coronation ceremony.

12. Rivers, seas, mountains, snakes, cattle, birds, beasts, deer, the sky, the earth and all beings brought tributes to him.

13. When the emperor, arrayed in excellent royal robes, and richly adorned with ornaments, was thus installed, along with the well-adorned queen, consort Arcis, he shone like another Fire-god.

14. Oh warrior, Kubera (the god of wealth) brought to him an excellent throne of gold; Varuṇa (the Lord of Waters), a royal umbrella radiating moon-white rays and dripping with water;

15. Vāyu (the Wind-god) presented him two chowries (special types of fans made of the tufts of hair on the tails of particular kinds of wild cows); Dharma, a garland, the very embodiment of glory; Indra (the King of gods), an excellent crown; Yama (the god of death and controller of the world), a sceptre to govern the world.

16. God Brahmā bestowed upon him an armour of Vedic incantations (or Vedic knowledge);the goddess of learning, an excellent necklace; Lord Hari, the Sudarśana disc, and his consort Lakṣmī, undiminishing prosperity and affluence.

17. Rudra gave him a sword engraved with ten moon-like marks, while Pārvatī, gave him a shield bearing the marks of a hundred moons; the Moon-god presented him immortal, indefatigable, undaunted horses made of nectar, while Tvaṣṭṛ gave him extremely artistic and beautiful chariot.

18. The Fire-god gave him a bow made from the horns of goats and oxen; the Sun-god supplied him with his solarray-like arrows. The earth presented him sandals with mystic (Yogic) powers; and the sky, an ever fresh flower garland.

19. The demigods that move through the sky bestowed on him the arts of dancing, vocal and instrumental music, and the mystic power of vanishing. The sages gave him their never-failing efficacious blessings, and the Ocean-god, a conch born from him.

20. The oceans, mountains and rivers gave the high- souled King roads of communications by chariots. Then bards (Sūtas) minstrels (Māgadhas) and heralds (Bandins) began to sing his panygeric.

21. Knowing their intention, Pṛthu, the chivalrous son of Vena, laughed and spoke to them in a voice deep like the thunder of clouds.

Pṛthu said:

22. Oh Sūta! Oh Māgadha! Oh gentle Bandin! What is the basis of your panygeric of me whose qualities are yet to be manifested in the world? You should address it to me when my merits will be acknowledged by the public. Your words of praise in my case should not prove untrue.

23. Oh bards of sweet words! Therefore, after a lapse of some time (when we perform some exploits worth singing), you may compose as many panygerics about my glory as you like. But when praise-worthy attributes of Lord Hari of excellent glory are there for glorification, good people do not eulogise ordinary (contemptible) men (like me).

24. What man with the capability of acquiring high merits will allow the bards to sing of qualities that are actually non-existent in him? The dullard who fools himself that those (non-existent) virtues may be manifest in him (later), does not see that he becomes thereby a butt of public ridicule.

25. Really competent persons and illustrious persons abhor the praise. (even though they possess the qualities so praised, and are known for them). Truly modest and noble-minded persons shrink from the praise of their uncomplimentary show of valour.

26. Oh bard! We are still unknown in this world for the performance of any exploit. (As we have not performed any great deed which can be extolled), how can we, like fools, allow you to sing of our glory.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Viṣṇoḥ kalā: (i) The special āveśa type of avatāraBhāgavata Candrikā

(ii) Who was filled with the presence of Viṣṇu.—Padaratnāvalī

[2]:

Here ends Ch. 14 of the Bh. P. as per Padaratnāvalī’s text. Some texts omit ses 2 and 3.

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