English
So his brothers thought he had become a Brahma-charin. They reserved no share for him at partition. Nabhaga at last returned to his house and asked for his share in the patrimony. The brothers pointed out their father Manu as his share. Nabhaga asked his father—"How is it my broth- ers have reserved thee for my share?" Manu replied:—"Child, do not believe them. The clan of Angiras are performing Yajna. They get confounded on every sixth day. This is the sixth day. Give them two Vaisvadeva Siktas. When they go to Svarga after completion of their Yajna they will leave all their sacrificial wealth to you." Nabhaga did as he was told. The Angirasas left all the property remaining on the sacrificial ground to Nabhaga. As he was going to take those things, a dark Purusha appeared from the north and said. "These are mine." "But the Rishis have given them to me" said Nabhaga. "Go to your father then and ask for the solution" said the dark Purusha. "Yes, the remnants of a Sacrifice belong to Rudra" said Manu. Nabhaga returned and said "Yes these remnants of sacrifice all belong to thee. So my father told me." "Iam pleased with thee and thy father. Both of you have spoken the truth" said Rudra, "I give thee supreme wisdom. I also give thee these remnants. Take them now." King Ambarisha had discrimination and dispassion. His devotion was great. His mind was fixed on the lotus feet of Vishnu, his words 206 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana were all about the glory of Vaikuntha, his hands were engaged in cleansing the temples of Vishnu, his ears only heard about the glory and the works of Vishnu, his eyes intently looked on the symbols of Vishnu wherever found. His body felt pleasure in the touch of Vaish- navas, his nose smelt the sweet fragrance of Tulasi proceeding from the feet of Vishnu, his tongue tasted only food offered to Vishnu, his feet traversed the places sacred to Vishnu and his head was devoted to the salutation of Vishnu. If he enjoyed things of this world, it was for service to Vishnu and not for the sake of enjoyment. If he had attach- ment, it was only for those that were devoted to Vishnu. The fruits of his action he offered to Him. By devotion and by the unselfish per- formance of duties pertaining to his sphere of life (Svadharma), he pleased Bhagavan and by degrees he gave up all desires. Vishnu was so much pleased with the King, that he gave him His own Chakra for protection. Ambarisha with his wife once undertook to perform Dvadasi Vrata for one year. (Dvadasi is the twelfth day of the Moon. The Vrata consists in fasting on the eleventh day of the Moon and in breaking the fast on the 12th day). On one occasion he fasted for 3 consecu- tive days. He bathed himself in the Yamuna and worshipped Vishnu at Mathura. He gave plenty of riches and cattle to the Brahmanas. He then fed the Brahmanas and asked their permission to eat him- self. At the time Durvasas appeared as his guest. The king received him duly and requested him to take his meals. The Rishi consented and went to bathe himself in the river and perform his daily rites. The king waited long for him but he did not return. There was only half a muhurta now remaining of Dvadasi. If the king did not eat any thing, his Vrata would not be observed. If he ate, he would shew disregard to a Brahmana. At this juncture, the king decided to serve both ends by taking a little water, for the Brahmanas call that both eating and non-eating. Durvasas came back. By spiritual vision, he knew what had happened and became highly enraged. He tore up a hair tuft and charged it to kill Ambarisha. The king remained un- moved. The chakra of Vishnu consumed the destructive force sent by Durvasas and went even to destroy him. The Rishi ran in every direction. The Chakra followed him wherever he went. He went to Brahma and prayed to be saved. "It is not in my power to save thee" Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 207 said Brahma. "Thou hast offended a votary of Vishnu." He went to Siva. "Child" said Siva "this weapon of Vishnu is too much for me even. Go thou to Vishnu." Durvasas went to Vishnu and prayed to be pardoned and saved. Said Vishnu: "O Brahmana, I am dependent on my Bhaktas. I am not free. My heart is in the possession of my Bhaktas. Iam dear to them. Without these my Bhaktas I do not even want myself, nor my absolute powers, for I am their sole and supreme resort. They forsake their wives, homes, children and wealth for my sake. How can I forsake them. Their heart is chained to me. They look on all with equal eyes. By devotion they win me even as chaste wives win their husbands. My service is all in all to them. They do not even desire the four Muktis, Salokya and others, though these come within their easy reach. What perishable objects can they have desire for? The Sadhus are my heart. I am the heart of the Sadhus. They do not know any one besides me nor do I know any one be- sides them. O Brahmana, hear what is thy only remedy. Without delay go to him who has caused this fear in thee. When force is used against Sadhus, it reacts on him who uses the force. True asceticism and wisdom are both for the salvation of the Brahmanas. But in one untrained, they produce the contrary effect. Therefore go thou to the son of Nabhaga. Beg his pardon and thou shalt be saved." Durvasas went back to Ambarisha and touched the feet of the king. Ambarisha became non-plussed at this act of a Brahmana and knowing the ob- ject of the Rishi, he prayed to the Chakra to desist from its course and to save the Brahmana. The Chakra had just commenced its work of destruction, but it withdrew its energies upon the prayer of Ambar- isha. Durvasas was extremely thankful and he thus praised the king. "I see this day the greatness of Vaishnavas, O king. Thou didst pray for my welfare, though I had offended thee. There is nothing strange for those that have conquered Vishnu Himself. Thou hast been very kind to me. Thou hast favored me much. Thou didst not even think of my offence, but thou hast saved my life." The king had waited for Durvasas all this time. He now fell at the feet of the Rishi and re- quested him to take his meals. The Rishi gladly did so, and also made the king take his food. Durvasas then went to Brahma Loka. He did not return for one year and the King lived upon water only all this time, being so anx- 208 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana ious to see the Rishi back. Such is the holy story of Ambarisha. Ambarisha | Virdpa Ketumat Sambhu Prishadasva Rathitara Rathitara had no children. At his request Rishi Angiras produced certain sons by his wife. They were known both as Rathitaras and Angirasas. [Durvasas had cursed Indra, and Indra lost all power. But after the great churning, times were changed. The divine law favoured the Devas and the worshippers of Vishnu. Those who assumed a power, independently of Vishnu, were sure to find disappointment, however eminent their position might be.] (I) IKSHVAKU. SKANDHA IX. CHAPS. 6-13. Ikshvaku was born out of the nostrils of Manu when sneezing. He had one hundred sons. Vikukshi, Nimi, and Dandaka were the eldest born. Twenty five of them ruled on the east of Aryavarta, twenty five on the west and twenty five in the middle. The others ruled else where. For the performance of Ashtaka Sraddha, Ikshvaku once or- dered Vikukshi to get some good flesh. Vikukshi had a bagful of good game. But he was hungry and ate one rabbit out of his store. Vasishtha found fault with this and Ikshvaku had to reject the whole of the game. The King became angry at this and he expelled his son from the kingdom. When Ikshvaku died, Vikukshi returned. He succeeded his father as king and was known as Sasada or Rabbiteater. Puranjaya was the son of Sasada. He was also called Indravaha and Kakutstha. The Devas had a fight with the Asuras and Indra asked for the help of Puranjaya. Puranjaya wanted Indra to be his carrier, and the King of the Devas became a bull. Puranjaya ascended the bull Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 209 on its hump. He is therefore called Indravaha or Indra-vehicled and Kakutstha or the mounter on the hump. He defeated the Asuras. Ikshvaku Vikukshi Nimi 98 other sons one Puranj-aya (Indra vahu Kakutstha) Anena Prithu Vistagandhi Chandra Vassiievs Sravasta (He built the town Sravasti) Brihadasva Kivseias (Dhundhumira.) Kuvalay4sva or Dhundhumara. Dridhasva., Kapilasva. Bhadrasva. H a ee Niku/pbha Bahubava Krisasva Se najle Yuvanasya. 210 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana With his 21 thousand sons, Kuvalayasva killed an Asura called Dhundhu, for the good of Rishi Utanka. But the Asura killed all his sons, except three, with fire from his mouth. Those three were Drid- hasva, Kapilasva and Bhadrasva. Yuvanasva had no son. So the Rishis performed a sacrifice di- rected to Indra. One night Yuvanasva became very thirsty and en- tered the Yajna house. He found all the Rishis sleeping at the time. He thought it improper to rouse the Rishis and drank whatever water he found near at hand. By chance that happened to be the consecrated water with the power of producing a son. When the Rishis rose up they did not find the water. On enquiry, when they knew what had happened, every one wondered what the outcome would be. In time the king brought forth a son from his right side. The little thing cried out for milk. Indra said "Do not weep, child, you shall drink wine (‘Man Dhata’)" So saying he offered the child his fore finger. From this, the child was called Mandhata. Yuvanasva, by the blessing of the Rishis, did not meet with death at delivery. Mandhata was a very powerful king. The thieves dreaded him much. He performed many sacrifices and made many gifts. He married Indumati, daughter of Sasabindu.