Mahabharata – 172
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
Aadivamsavatarana
Parva
The story
of the birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu & Vidura
The
untimely death of Vichitrivirya and Chitrangada put the Kuru race in real trouble.
They must have a child by the widows of Vichitrivirya. So they appointed
Vedavaysa the narrator of the
Mahabharata to cohabit with the widows. And when Bhishma had approved the appointment of the great sage Vedavyasa to raise the Kuru race,Satyavati meditated on the sage.Vedavyasa at that time was studying the Vedas.Vedavyasa knowing that he was being called up by his mother, showed up instantly before his mother, without the knowledge
of anybody.
Satayavati then duly greeted her son and embraced him with open arms, bathing him in her tears. And, the great Vyasa her first son, seeing the weeping mother, washed her with cool water, and bowing to her, Vedavyasa said --- I have come, Oh mother!, to fulfil your wishes. Therefore, Oh virtuous one! Command me without delay what I should do.
The Royal priest then worshipped the great sage duly, and the latter accepted the offerings of worship, uttering the usual mantras. After the worship, Vedavyasa took his seat.
Satyavati, after the usual inquiries of his wellbeing, addressed him --- Oh learned one! Sons derive their birth both from the father and the mother. They are, therefore, the common property of their parents. As you are, indeed, my eldest son, O Brahmarshi, so is Vichitravirya my youngest son. And as Bhishma is Vichitravirya's brother on the father's side, so are you his brother on the mother's side. I do not know what you may think, but this is what, Oh my son!--- I think. This Bhishma, the son of Santanu, devoted to truth, does not entertain the desire of either begetting children or ruling the kingdom. Therefore, from the affection for your brother
Vichitravirya and his wives, and also for the continuation of our dynasty, for the sake of Bhishma's request and my command, for the kindness to all creatures, for the protection of the people Oh sinless one, do what I say. Your younger brother has left two widows who liken the daughters of the celestials, in their youth and beauty. For the sake of virtue and religion, they have become desirous of offspring.
You are the fittest person to be appointed. Therefore beget on them children worthy of our race and for the continuation of our line.
On hearing Vyasa said --- Oh mother Satyavati! of great wisdom, you know what virtue is both in respect of this life and the other. Oh your eyes are also set on virtue. Therefore, at your command, making virtue my objective, I shall do what you desire. Indeed, this agrees with the teachings of the true and the eternal religion. I know that.
I shall give to my brother Vichitravirya children that shall be like Mitra and Varuna. Let the ladies then duly observe for full one year the vow I tell. They shall then be purified. No woman shall ever approach me without having observed a rigid vow.
Satyavati then replied, --- Oh my son! Take such steps that the queens may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there is no king, the people perish from want of protection. Sacrifices and other holy acts are suspended. No rains are there, and the gods seem to be displeased. How can we protect the kingdom that has no king ? Therefore, see that the queens conceive presently. And Bhishma will maintain the children.
Vedavyasa replied --- If I am to beget children without paying attention to due season, then let the queens bear with my repulsive & ugly appearance. That will be the necessary penance for them. If Ambikadevi can bear with my strong odour, my ugly and grim look, my clothes and body, she shall then conceive an excellent child.
Having said this to Satyavati, the great spirited Vedavyasa made up his mind to cohabit with the queens.Vedavyasa then disappeared in a moment from there.
Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-laws and spoke in private to them with soft words of beneficial and virtuous intention ---
Oh Amvika! Listen to what I say. It is rational to cohabit with a person who is not your husband.Virtue says that. The dynasty of the Bharat as has become extinct due to my misfortune. Seeing my misfortune and the extinction of Bhishma’s paternal line, the wise Bhishma, impelled by the desire of continuation of our race, had given me a suggestion. The suggestion, however, for its accomplishment depends on you. Achieve it, Oh my daughter! and restore the lost line of the Bharatas. Oh you fair lady!Bring forth a child equal in splendour to Indra, the chief of the celestials. He shall bear the burden of our hereditary kingdom. Satyavati succeeded with great difficulty in gaining the approval of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her proposal which was not inconsistent with the dictates of virtue.
Then gods, brahmanas and rishis and countless guests who arrived on the occasion there were feasted. Soon after the monthly seasonal purifying bath of the daughter in law Ambika took place. Satyavati, led her daughter-in-law into the sleeping apartment. There she addressed her, in soft words saying --- Oh Ambika your husband has an elder brother who shall this day enter the seed into your womb. Wait for him tonight without sleep.
Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the amiable Ambika, lay on her luxurious bed and, began to think of Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race.
Then the truthful rishi, who had given his promise in respect of Ambika in the first instance, entered her chamber where numerous lamps were burning. Ambika, seeing his dark appearance, his matted hair of copper colour, blazing eyes, his dreadful beard, closed her eyes in fear. The sage, impelled by the desire to accomplish his mother's wishes, however cohabited with her. She however did not open her eyes at that time even for a while. And when Vedavyasa came out, he met his mother, who enquire of him as to how he fared, Shall the princess have an accomplished son? Hearing her, the omniscient sage replied, by god’s
grace --- The son of the princess shall be equal in might to ten thousand elephants. He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of great learning and intelligence and energy. The high-souled one shall have in his time hundred sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall be blind. At these words of her son, Satyavati said, Oh you great ascetic! How can one that is blind become a king of the Kurus?
Therefore bring forth one who shall be able to protect the Kuru race and raise the glory of the same .You have to give another king to the Kurus.
Mahabharata to cohabit with the widows. And when Bhishma had approved the appointment of the great sage Vedavyasa to raise the Kuru race,Satyavati meditated on the sage.Vedavyasa at that time was studying the Vedas.Vedavyasa knowing that he was being called up by his mother, showed up instantly before his mother, without the knowledge
of anybody.
Satayavati then duly greeted her son and embraced him with open arms, bathing him in her tears. And, the great Vyasa her first son, seeing the weeping mother, washed her with cool water, and bowing to her, Vedavyasa said --- I have come, Oh mother!, to fulfil your wishes. Therefore, Oh virtuous one! Command me without delay what I should do.
The Royal priest then worshipped the great sage duly, and the latter accepted the offerings of worship, uttering the usual mantras. After the worship, Vedavyasa took his seat.
Satyavati, after the usual inquiries of his wellbeing, addressed him --- Oh learned one! Sons derive their birth both from the father and the mother. They are, therefore, the common property of their parents. As you are, indeed, my eldest son, O Brahmarshi, so is Vichitravirya my youngest son. And as Bhishma is Vichitravirya's brother on the father's side, so are you his brother on the mother's side. I do not know what you may think, but this is what, Oh my son!--- I think. This Bhishma, the son of Santanu, devoted to truth, does not entertain the desire of either begetting children or ruling the kingdom. Therefore, from the affection for your brother
Vichitravirya and his wives, and also for the continuation of our dynasty, for the sake of Bhishma's request and my command, for the kindness to all creatures, for the protection of the people Oh sinless one, do what I say. Your younger brother has left two widows who liken the daughters of the celestials, in their youth and beauty. For the sake of virtue and religion, they have become desirous of offspring.
You are the fittest person to be appointed. Therefore beget on them children worthy of our race and for the continuation of our line.
On hearing Vyasa said --- Oh mother Satyavati! of great wisdom, you know what virtue is both in respect of this life and the other. Oh your eyes are also set on virtue. Therefore, at your command, making virtue my objective, I shall do what you desire. Indeed, this agrees with the teachings of the true and the eternal religion. I know that.
I shall give to my brother Vichitravirya children that shall be like Mitra and Varuna. Let the ladies then duly observe for full one year the vow I tell. They shall then be purified. No woman shall ever approach me without having observed a rigid vow.
Satyavati then replied, --- Oh my son! Take such steps that the queens may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there is no king, the people perish from want of protection. Sacrifices and other holy acts are suspended. No rains are there, and the gods seem to be displeased. How can we protect the kingdom that has no king ? Therefore, see that the queens conceive presently. And Bhishma will maintain the children.
Vedavyasa replied --- If I am to beget children without paying attention to due season, then let the queens bear with my repulsive & ugly appearance. That will be the necessary penance for them. If Ambikadevi can bear with my strong odour, my ugly and grim look, my clothes and body, she shall then conceive an excellent child.
Having said this to Satyavati, the great spirited Vedavyasa made up his mind to cohabit with the queens.Vedavyasa then disappeared in a moment from there.
Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-laws and spoke in private to them with soft words of beneficial and virtuous intention ---
Oh Amvika! Listen to what I say. It is rational to cohabit with a person who is not your husband.Virtue says that. The dynasty of the Bharat as has become extinct due to my misfortune. Seeing my misfortune and the extinction of Bhishma’s paternal line, the wise Bhishma, impelled by the desire of continuation of our race, had given me a suggestion. The suggestion, however, for its accomplishment depends on you. Achieve it, Oh my daughter! and restore the lost line of the Bharatas. Oh you fair lady!Bring forth a child equal in splendour to Indra, the chief of the celestials. He shall bear the burden of our hereditary kingdom. Satyavati succeeded with great difficulty in gaining the approval of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her proposal which was not inconsistent with the dictates of virtue.
Then gods, brahmanas and rishis and countless guests who arrived on the occasion there were feasted. Soon after the monthly seasonal purifying bath of the daughter in law Ambika took place. Satyavati, led her daughter-in-law into the sleeping apartment. There she addressed her, in soft words saying --- Oh Ambika your husband has an elder brother who shall this day enter the seed into your womb. Wait for him tonight without sleep.
Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the amiable Ambika, lay on her luxurious bed and, began to think of Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race.
Then the truthful rishi, who had given his promise in respect of Ambika in the first instance, entered her chamber where numerous lamps were burning. Ambika, seeing his dark appearance, his matted hair of copper colour, blazing eyes, his dreadful beard, closed her eyes in fear. The sage, impelled by the desire to accomplish his mother's wishes, however cohabited with her. She however did not open her eyes at that time even for a while. And when Vedavyasa came out, he met his mother, who enquire of him as to how he fared, Shall the princess have an accomplished son? Hearing her, the omniscient sage replied, by god’s
grace --- The son of the princess shall be equal in might to ten thousand elephants. He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of great learning and intelligence and energy. The high-souled one shall have in his time hundred sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall be blind. At these words of her son, Satyavati said, Oh you great ascetic! How can one that is blind become a king of the Kurus?
Therefore bring forth one who shall be able to protect the Kuru race and raise the glory of the same .You have to give another king to the Kurus.
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