Mahabharata (English)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | 2,566,952 words | ISBN-10: 8121505933

The English translation of the Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. It is authored by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and contains the records of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas family. Another part of the large contents, deal with many philosophical dialogues such as the goals of life. Book...

"Markandeya continued,

'He (Uktha) performed a severe penance lasting for many years, with the view of having a pious son equal unto Brahma in reputation.

And when the invocation was made with the vyahriti hymns and with the aid of the five sacred fires,

  1. Kasyapa,
  2. Vasistha,
  3. Prana, the son of Prana,
  4. Cyavana,the son of Angiras,
  5. and Suvarcaka

—there arose a very bright energy (force) full of the animating (creative) principle, and of five different colours. Its head was of the colour of the blazing fire, its arms were bright like the sun and its skin and eyes were golden-coloured and its feet, O Bharata, were black. Its five colours were given to it by those five men by reason of their great penance. This celestial being is therefore described as appertaining to five men, and he is the progenitor of five tribes.

After having performed a penance for ten thousand years, that being of great ascetic merit produced the terrible fire appertaining to the Pitris (manes) in order to begin the work of creation, and from his head and mouth respectively he created Vrihat and Rathantara (day and night) who quickly steal away (life, &c.).

He also created Siva from his navel, Indra from his might and wind and fire from his soul, and from his two arms sprang the hymns Udatta and Anudatta. He also produced the mind, and the five senses, and other creatures.

Having created these, he produced the five sons of the Pitris. Of these

  1. Pranidhi was the son of Vrihadratha.
  2. Vrihadratha was the son of Kasyapa.
  3. Bhanu was the godson of Cyavana,
  4. Saurabha, the son of Suvarcaka,
  5. and Anudatta, the son of Prana.

These twenty-five beings are reputed (to have been created by him).

Tapa also created fifteen other gods who obstruct sacrifices[1].

They are

These gods are divided into three classes of five each. Located here in this world, they destroy the sacrifices of the gods in heaven; they frustrate their objects and spoil their oblations of clarified butter. They do this only to spite the sacred fires carrying oblations to the gods. If the officiating priests are careful, they place the oblations in their honour outside of the sacrificial altar. To that particular place where the sacred fire may be placed, they cannot go. They carry the oblation of their votaries by means of wings. When appeased by hymns, they do not frustrate the sacrificial rites.

Vrihaduktha, another son of Tapa, belongs to the Earth. He is worshipped here in this world by pious men performing Agnihotra sacrifices. Of the son of Tapa who is known as Rathantara, it is said by officiating priests that the sacrificial oblation offered in his honour is offered to Mitravinda. The celebrated Tapa was thus very happy with his sons."

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

In Hindu Mythology there are no gods who destroy sacrifices. It is only the Asuras who do so. The Burdwan translator renders this passage,--"fifteen other gods belonging to western nations or Asuras." It is noticeable that the beings that were denounced as Asuras by the Hindus were worshipped as Gods (Asuras) by the followers of Zarathustra.

[2]:

In connection with the names of these Mitra-gods, it is to be remembered that Mitra was the name of the principal god of the ancient Persians.

Conclusion:

This concludes Section CCXIX of Book 3 (Vana Parva) of the Mahabharata, of which an English translation is presented on this page. This book is famous as one of the Itihasa, similair in content to the eighteen Puranas. Book 3 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

FAQ (frequently asked questions):

Which keywords occur in Section CCXIX of Book 3 of the Mahabharata?

The most relevant definitions are: Tapa, Prana, Pitris, Anudatta, Kasyapa, Cyavana; since these occur the most in Book 3, Section CCXIX. There are a total of 29 unique keywords found in this section mentioned 39 times.

What is the name of the Parva containing Section CCXIX of Book 3?

Section CCXIX is part of the Markandeya-Samasya Parva which itself is a sub-section of Book 3 (Vana Parva). The Markandeya-Samasya Parva contains a total of 50 sections while Book 3 contains a total of 13 such Parvas.

Can I buy a print edition of Section CCXIX as contained in Book 3?

Yes! The print edition of the Mahabharata contains the English translation of Section CCXIX of Book 3 and can be bought on the main page. The author is Kisari Mohan Ganguli and the latest edition (including Section CCXIX) is from 2012.

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