This is part 4 of 6 of the titled post. The introduction
to this entire set is at the Vishnu Puranam Full Audio 1 of 6 which needs to be read in order to use this part;
all the instructions are to be found there. Downloading instructions are there
also.
**** This entire
Chapter 4 is in a prose form. ****
And Now the Continuation
of the Audio of Sri Vishnu Puranam:
Book
4 Ch 1: 39 Verses: 11 minutes 18 seconds: Size: 10 MB
Brief:
Description of the dynasty of Kings. Brief story of Revati, who was the
daughter of King Raivata, being given in sacred marriage to Balarama of the
city of Kushasthalee which is now the city of Dvaarakaa. ( Error in the audio: verse 5 should be Naabhaga Nedhishta not Naabhaa Ganedhishta; verse 25 1st word should be Punaraputhpanna not
Prasanna; verse 29 1st word should be Madhroopamaasthaaya not
Madhroopamasthaaya).
Note: Book 4 Chapters 2 and 3 must be listened to or read together.
Book 4 Ch 2: 56 Verses: 21 minutes 0 seconds: Size: 19 MB
Brief: Birth of Ikshvaaku. Story of Vikukshi, who was
Iskshvaaku’s son who ate a hare from the hunted wild animals meant for a Yagna.
The dynasty of Kakutstha is stated. The story of Yuvanashvaa who had no son; he
had asked some sages to perform some rites; the sages had kept consecrated
water in a pot to be consumed by the queen who would give birth to a mighty
son; Yuvanaashvaa accidentally consumed the water and gave birth to a son who
was nursed by Indra Himself. This son was Maandhaataa who had fifty daughters.
Story of aged Sage Saubhari who while doing penance immersed in water, spots a
large fish named Sammada frolicking with his numerous children and wishes to
form a family himself. Saubhari asks Maandhaataa to give him one of his
daughters. The perplexed King concerned at the old age of the Sage says that
his daughters may not be willing; to that the Sage states to let Him meet the
daughters and let them decide. The Sage changes form to a handsome person and
the daughters all want to marry Him. The Sage Saubhari begets a hundred and
fifty sons and slowly finds that His mind digs deeper and deeper into desires
for the children and feels sorry that his penance was all drowned by getting
married due to the desire of having children. He then wants to go back to
meditating upon Sri Maha Vishnu and wants not to return back to the embodied
state.
Note:
Book 4 Chapters 2 and 3 must be listened to or read together.
Book
4 Ch 3: 21 Verses: 7 minutes 19 seconds: Size: 7 MB
Brief:
The Sage Saubhari then abandoned his children and home and goes to the forest
and attained Mukthi. Merit: Verse 4 states that he
who reads, listens to remembers this history of Sage Saubhari will not be
subject to evil thoughts nor shall he be travelling on unrighteous paths for
eight successive births. The story of the snake Gods follows: once the
Gandharvas named Mauneyas, sixty million in number defeated the serpents in the
nether world and seized their precious gems; the snake Gods pray to Sri Maha
Vishnu who sends Narmada to their rescue; Narmada defeats the Gardharvas and
protects the snake Gods. Merit: The snake Gods confer
the blessing that whoever states the following mantra day and night will not be
affected by poisons from snakes; what is more, even if poison be mixed with
their food, that poison will not affect them. The mantra is “Narmadaayai Nama
Praathar Narmadaayai Namo Nishi; Namosthu Narmade Thubyam Raksha Maam Visha
Sarpathaha”. ( Coincidentally, this verse is part of the Sandhyaavandanam
prayers !). The descendants of Maandhaata are listed including Aranya,
Prasaadashva, Trishanku, Harishchandra, Rohita, etc. Once Trishanku was
degraded to the caste of Chandaala, but he decided to provide the flesh of deer
to the wife and children of Vishvaamitra, when the latter had been performing
penance. When the penance was completed, Vishvaamithra had been so pleased that
He elevated Trishanku to the heavens. The story of Bahuka is briefly mentioned
whose son is the mighty King Saagaraa who was born after Sage Aurva prevented
his mother from jumping into the funeral pyre of her husband Bahuka. ( There is
an audio error in verse 9 - it should be Svabhavana not Svabana and in verse 14 – it should be Vishwaamithra-Kalathra not
Viswaamithra-Kalaathra.)
Book 4 Ch 4: 49 Verses: 14 minutes 46 seconds: Size: 14 MB
Brief: King Saagaraa had two wives Keshinee and Sumathee;
being childless Saagaraa sought the blessings of Sage Aurva, who pronounced
that one wife would bear one son who would uphold the race and the other would
bear sixty thousand sons. Keshinee bore only one son named Asamanjas and Sumathee
bore sixty thousand sons. The son of Asamanjas was Anshumaan. They were all
mischievous. Once King Saagaraa decided to perform the Ashwamedha (Horse)
sacrifice and the horse was lost. The sons of Sagaraa were despatched to find
the horse. They found the horse in the Pataala (netherworld) near the
meditating Pure Sage Kapila. They spoke ill of the Sage and proceeded to kill
him. The Sage stared at them ferociously and all the sons were reduced to
ashes. When the King Saagaraa heard this, he sent Anshumaan to get the horse
and Anshumaan went to Sage Kapila and reverentially bowed to Him, propitiated
Him and was given the horse to take to his grandfather King Saagaraa. Anshumaan
then asked Sage Kapila to ensure his father and uncles who had been burnt to
ashes be elevated to heaven though they had misbehaved; the Sage Kapila told
him that his grandson shall bring the holy Ganga to the earth and when Her
waters will touch the ashes of his father and uncles, they will go to heaven.
The son of Anshumaan was Dilipa and his son was Bhageerathaa who brought Ganga
to the earth and hence Ganga is also known as Bhaageerathee. In the lineage of
Bhageerathaa was Saudaasa, who while hunting, once killed a tiger whose
companion decided to take revenge. Later, he conducted a sacrifice conducted by
Sage Vasishta in which the companion of the tiger creates an illusory
Vasishta-like figure and demands flesh from Saudasaa and later turns into an
illusory cook and cooks human flesh. When the real Sage Vasishta comes and
discovers the human flesh, He curses Saudasaa that he will sustain only on
human flesh; Saudasaa feels bad and tells the story of what happened. When Sage
Vasishtaa confirms the story through His knowledge, He trims down the curse to
only twelve years. Hence for twelve years King Saudasaa remained a cannibal.
Once King Saudasaa beheld a holy couple in romance; being a
cannibal, he seized and ate the Brahmana inspite of repeated requests from the
lady to spare him. So the lady cursed Saudasaa that he will also in turn die
when in dalliance with his queen. Saudasaa refrained from conjugal relations
with his queen Madhyanti, but by the grace of Vasishta, she became pregnant and
gave birth to Ashmaka. In his lineage was Dilipa, whose son was Dirgabahu whose
son was Raghu whose son was Aja whose son was Dasaratha who had four sons Rama,
Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrugna for the protection of the world. Rama had two
sons Lava and Kusha; Lakshmana had two sons Angada and Chandraketu; Bharata had
two sons Taksha and Pushkara; Shatrughna had two sons Subahu and Shoorasena.
The further lineage is described.
Merit: Verse 49 states he who listens to the account of this Ikshvaaku
race will be purified of all sins.
Book
4 Ch 5: 14 Verses: 4 minutes 59 seconds: Size: 5 MB
Brief:
Story of Nimi detailed. Nimi of the Ikshvaaku race once wanted to do a
sacrifice that spanned a thousand years with Sage Vasishta as the Chief Priest.
Sage Vasishta told him that He was tied up with a sacrifice for Indra for the
present and that as soon as that one is completed, He would take up Nimi’s
assignment. But instead of waiting and instead of informing Sage Vasishta, Nimi
retained Gautama Rishi to conduct the sacrifice. When Sage Vasishta arrived
after completing Indra’s yagna, He got angry at Nimi for not even communicating
to Him and cursed that Nimi should lose his corporeal form. Nimi abandoned his
body after cursing Sage Vasishta the same. Sage Vasishta left His body and
united with Mitra and Varuna, until because of Their passion for the nymph
Urvashee, the sage was born again in a different form. The body of Nimi was
preserved with oils. When the yagna was completed, the Rishis asked the Gods to
confer blessings on the author of the sacrifice, namely Nimi. The Gods were
willing to bring back life into him, at which point, Nimi stated that there is
no greater distress than the separation of soul from a body and hence he
preferred not to have a body but to stay in the eyes of all living beings;
hence living beings open and close their eyelids. Since Nimi left without a
successor, the Rishis rubbed his body and produced from it a prince called
Janaka, whose son was Udaavasu and the successors are detailed.
Book 4 Ch 6: 46 Verses: 11 minutes 11 seconds: Size: 10 MB
Brief: Maitreya asks ParaShara to detail the lunar dynasty.
Brahma’s son was Atri, whose son was Soma, who carried off Taaraa the wife of
Brhaspati, who became pregnant. Rudra, the student of Angiras sided with
Brhaspati and the Gods while Ushanaas, Daityaas, Daanavaas and the Asuraas sided
with Soma, the Moon. Fierce battle ensued. Rudra and the Gods won and Taraa was
restored to Brhaspati. Upon asking who was the father of the son, Taaraa, after
a lot of persuasion, said it was Soma. Soma hence named the son as Budha, the
planet Mercury. Budha begets Pururavas by Ila. The apsara Urvashi who was
enamored of Mitra and Varuna (see previous chapter), descends to earth and
becomes involved romantically with Pururavas. Pururavas asks Urvashi to
reciprocate his affection, to which Urvashi says she will if he observed two
conditions, namely that he should protect the two rams that she owns and that
she should never see him naked. Indra and the occupants of heaven felt dull
without Urvashi and determined to break up the bond between her and Prururavas.
So Vishavasu and the Gandharvas steal the two rams one night and Urvashi
screams; Pururavas wakes up to chase the thieves, ensuring it was dark; but the
Gandharvas create lightning and in its light, Urvashi sees Pururavas naked and
so the conditions were violated and Urvashi leaves Pururavas. Their mission
accomplished, the Gandharvas leave behind the rams that Pururavas brings back
to Urvashi, but she had left and nowhere to be found. Pururavas then wanders in
dejection until he stumbles upon Urvashi who tells him she was pregnant and to
meet her annually for one night. She thus delivers him five children and then
when the Gandharvas ask Pururavas to ask for a boon, he says all he wants is
only Urvashi. Pururavas is given a vessel of fire and asked to perform
oblations into it. Pururavas leaves the vessel, then returns to it to find an Ashvatta tree growing out of a Sami plant at that place. He takes the wood from
the plant and making fire out of it, he makes them three-fold per the Vedas. (
These form the Gaarhapathyaa, Dakshinaa and Aavaahaneeya Agnis). Audio error in verse 17: should be Naivamanya not Naivamaanya; in verse 19 should be Kapolakaanthir not Kapolaakanthir; in verse 31 should be Anaathaa not Anathaa.
Book
4 Ch 7: 17 Verses: 4 minutes 45 seconds: Size: 4 MB
Brief:
Lineage of Pururavas is detailed, one of whom was Jahnu. When Jahnu was once
performing a sacrifice, he found Ganga had flooded all over and his eyes turned
with anger and he drank up all the waters. The Gods and Sages came to him,
appeased his anger and re-obtained Ganga from him in the form of his daughter –
hence Ganga is also known as Jaahnavee. In the lineage of Jahnu was one
Kushamba who wanted a son to match Indra in prowess. As a result, he carried on
severe penance; alarmed at this, Indra took birth as Gaadhi in his race. Gaadhi
had a daughter called Satyavati. Rchika, the descendant of Brghu Muni demanded
her in marriage. The King Gaadhi was unwilling and so demanded as a wedding
present, a thousand white horses with one black ear; Rchika, propitiated Varuna
and as a result found such thousand horses in a place called Ashwatheerthaa and
finally married Satyavati. In order to get sons, Rchika prepared two dishes,
one for Satyavati and one for her mother. The mother switched the dishes and
when Rchika arrived, he told Satyavati that the dish that was meant for her was
to produce a highly enlightened Brahmana and the dish that was meant for her
mother was to produce a valiant and brave Kshatriya; but now that the dishes
were switched, Satyavati would produce one with Kshatriya tendencies and her
mother would produce the Brahmana. To this, Satyavati pleaded with Rchika and
let her grandson be the valiant one but her son should be a Brahmana; Rchika
said “So be it” and Satyavati did in fact give birth to Jamadagni Rishi who
upon marriage to Renuka, gave birth to Parasurama, a form of Vishnu, who
annihilated the Kshatriya race. Satyavati’s mother gave birth to Vishwamitra.
Book 4 Ch 8: 9 Verses: 2 minutes 42 seconds: Size: 2 MB
Brief: Lineage of Pururavas is detailed. Included in this
are the Great Personages Raji, Ghrtsamada, Dhirgatamas, Dhanavantari, Ketumat,
Ritadwaja, Kuvalayashva, Alarka, etc.
Book
4 Ch 9: 8 Verses: 3 minutes 35 seconds: Size: 3 MB
Brief:
Raji, one of the descendants of Pururavas had 500 sons. When a war broke
between the Asuras and Devas, they both went to Brahma and asked who would win.
Brahma said, whichever side has Raji, that will win. So the Asuras pleaded with
Raji to come to their side. Raji said he would, if they make him their Indra
upon victory. The Asuras told him they cannot since Prahlada was their Indra
and they would not sidestep him. Then the Devas pleaded with Raji and he told
them the same condition. The Devas agreed and they won the battle as predicted
by Brahma. Upon victory, Indra came down to Raji and praised him with sweet
words and begged that he be allowed to keep his position. Raji gave in to Indra
and Indra was safe in his position. Upon the death of Raji, at the instigation
of Narada, Raji’s sons demanded the position of Indra as their right and
usurped his position by force. When Indra went to Brhaspati, the priest of the
Gods, He said He would mislead the sons of Raji and restore his position.
Misled, the sons of Raji decided to become enemies of the Brahmanas and
becoming devoid of morality and religion, became weak and were overcome by
Indra Who thus got back His position.
Merit:
He who hears this story will never be side-stepped of his position and retain
his place in society forever.
Book 4 Ch 10: 18 Verses: 4 minutes 7 seconds: Size: 4 MB
Brief: Nahusha, one of the descendants of Pururavas had six
sons Yati, Yayaati, Sanyaati, Ayaati, Viyaati and Krti. Yati chose not to
accept the Kingsmanship and so the next in-line Yayaati become the sovereign.
Yayaati had two wives Devayani, the daughter of Ushanas and Sharmistaa, the
daughter of Vrshaparvaan. Devayani bore sons Yadu and Turvasu and Sharmishtaa
bore Druhyu, Anu and Puru. Through a curse of Ushanas, Yayaati became old
before his time, but by permission from his father-in-law, was allowed to
transfer his old-age to anyone who would be willing to exchange for youth.
Accordingly, Yayaati asked his sons. The first four declined but the youngest
son Puru was willing to exchange his youth for his father’s old age. The
re-invigorated Yayaati now ruled the kingdom but indulged in passionate
enjoyments having formed a romantic dalliance with the celestial apsara Vishvaachi.
In verses 9 through 15, Yayaati reflects that the more sense gratification he
obtained, the more he wanted; desire is never satisfied by enjoyment; no one
has enough of grains, gold, cattle or women; the wise man shunning desire finds
happiness; even as the hair becomes gray and teeth fall out, the love of wealth
and life does not go away. Having realized this, Yayaati felt he needed to give
up all and repair to the forest and so gave back his youth to Puru, his
youngest son, made him the King and taking back his old age went to the woods
for penance.
Book
4 Ch 11: 7 Verses: 3 minutes 47 seconds: Size: 3 MB
Brief:
Parashara starts off saying that He would describe the family of Yadu, the
first son of Yayaati, in which the eternal Lord Vishnu took a portion of His
essence and took birth and mentions the merit rightaway. The names of the
descendants are given included in whom is Kartaveerya Arjuna with a thousand
arms, who was eventually killed by Parasurama and had a hundred sons in the
lineage of which the mighty Talajangha and Madhu were a part of.
Merit:
Whoever listens to the story of the race of Yadu will be released from all sin.
Book 4 Ch 12: 17 Verses: 5 minutes 18 seconds: Size: 5 MB
Brief: The lineage of Kroshtu, the son of Yadu is listed of
which Jyaamagha was one, who was so afraid of his wife Shaivya, even though she
was barren, that he dared not take another wife. Once after defeating an enemy
in war, Jyaamagha witnessed a lovely princess who was screaming “save me”.
Jyaamagha thought that since his wife was barren, this princess could bear him
children if he married her, but he needed the concurrence of his queen; so he
took her back to the palace. Shaivya questioned Jyaamagha angrily as to who
this damsel was. In his fear, Jyaamagha said “This is my daughter-in-law”.
Shaivya said “ you have no son, then whose wife is this girl going to be”.
Jyaamagha, distressed at the anger and resentment of Shaivya quickly replied
“She would be the bride of the son you are going to give birth to in the
future”, which answer made Shaivya blush. Because this discussion took place on
such an auspicious moment, even though the queen was past child bearing age,
she did give birth to a boy named Vijarbha who was married to the princes
brought home by Jyaamagha. The two then extended the lineage of Jyaamagha. Audio error in verse 3: should be "Bandhu Bala Kosham" not "Bandhuba lakosham".
Merit: Whoever listens to this story of Jyaamagha gets
purified of his sins.
Book
4 Ch 13: 71 Verses: 22 minutes 43 seconds: Size: 21 MB
Brief:
This is a POWERFUL chapter with the famous story of the Syamantaka jem. The
lineage of Jyaamagha is listed of which Nighna was one. Nighna had two sons
Prasena and Satraajit. Satraajit propitiates the Sun, Who gives the Syamantaka
jem, which Satraajit brings back to his home in Dwaraka. The gem gives him
eight loads of gold every day and dispelled all fear. Lord Krishna felt that
the gem should be in the hands of the King Ugrasena, but did not want to usurp
it from Satraajit; the latter fearing this might happen, transferred it to his
brother Prasena. The nature of the Syamantaka gem was that when in the
possession of a good person, it gave gold, but in the possession of a bad
person, it would bring about his death. When Prasena took it with him to a
forest, a lion killed him, took the gem and in turn the lion was killed by
Jaambavaan, the King of bears who took to his cave and gave to his son
Sukumaara to play with. When Prasena did not return to Dwaraka in a few days,
the Yadavas started saying Krshna must have killed Prasena and taken the gem.
To quell these rumors, Krshna took a few Yadavas and followed the steps of
Prasena into the forest; after ascertaining the latter’s death by a lion and
continuing following the footsteps of the lion and later the bear, Krshna asked
the Yadavas to wait for Him and He entered the cavern of the bear and saw
Sukumaara’s nurse holding the gem. Hearing the steps of Krshna, the nurse cried
and a battle ensued between Jaambavaan and Krshna that lasted 21 days. After
seven or eight days, the Yadavas felt it was getting too long for Krshna to
come out of the cave and so He must have been killed; so they returned back to
Dwaraka and reported Krshna dead. In the meantime, Jaambavaan was heavily
bruised in the battle and he gave up and prayed to Krshna saying He must be a
portion of Narayana and gave his daughter Jaambavathee as a bride to Krshna as
well as the Syaamantaka gem, which Krshna took to clear up His reputation that
was getting falsely tarnished by the Yadavas. Krshna then returned to Dwaraka
and explained the whole story to the Yadavas.
Krshna
gave the gem to Satraajit, who felt that he had been the cause of so much pain
to Sri Krshna and gave his daughter Satyabhaamaa in wedlock to Krshna.
Satyabhaamaa was sought after by many Yadavas including Akrura, Krtavarmaan and
Satadhanvaan who were angry at Satraajit giving her away to Krshna.
Satadhanvaan kills Satraajit and takes away the Syamantakaa gem. Satyabhaamaa
reports this to Krshna and implores Him to take action against Satadhanvaan.
Krshna tells Balarama that since Satraajit owned the gem, transferred it to
Prasena and since both of them are now dead, the gem is common property. The
powerful Balarama went against Satadhanvaan; the latter sought the help of
Krtavarmaan who backed out saying he is not capable of fighting Krshna and
Balarama; Satadhanvaan then sought Akrura’s help; Akrura also declined at which
point Satadhanvaan asked Akrura at least to take care of the gem which he
agreed to on condition that his possession of the gem will not be revealed.
Satadhanvaan agreed and after giving the gem to Akrura, he fled Dwaraka on a
horse, which after running hundreds of miles, got exhausted and died.
Satadhanvaan then continued to flee on foot and Krshna told Balarama to hold
the chariot since it cannot go over marshy land and that He would pursue
Satadhanvaan on foot and kill him. Krshna did so and after killing
Satadhanvaan, finds that the gem is not in his possession. Krshna reports this
to Balarama, who felt that Krshna was hiding the gem from him and leaves Krshna
and goes to stay with Janaka. Ugrasena after three years determines Krshna in
fact does not possess the gem and advises Balarama of the same and brings him
back to join Krshna.
Meanwhile
Akrura enjoys the bounty being given by the gem and performs hundreds of yagnas
(sacrifies); when the Bhojas who were friendly with Akrura, had killed a King
decided to leave Dwaraka, Akrura decided to accompany them; the moment he left,
famine and calamities plagued the country; when referred to Andhakaa, an elder
Yadava, he said “Wherever Svaphalka the father of Akrura dwelt, no calamities
exist”. Once there was no rain in the Kingdom of Kaashiraajaa; when Svaphalkaa
was brought in the drought went away; at the same time, the queen of
Kaashiraajaa was pregnant for twelve years; when the King pleaded to the child
in the womb, it said “if you give a cow to a Brahmana every day then in three
years I will come out”; the King did so and in three years a lovely daughter
called Gaandinee was born who was given as wife to Svaphalkaa; Gaandinee in
turn gave a cow to a Brahmana every day of her life; the couple produced Akrura
and thus being born out of extremely pious parents, Akrura was quite elevated
himself. Andhaka the elder Yadava after telling this story makes the statement
that the fault of an elevated person should not be scrutinized closely... Per
the advice of Andhakaa, Krshna, Ugrasena and Balarama assured Akrura that
whatever may be his faults, they would not be considered and that he was in no
danger and to return to Dwaraka; as soon as he returned all the calamities and
famine went away. Krshna reflected upon the removal of famine by Akrura, and
felt that his lineage alone is insufficient for such purposes and there must be
a higher power involved and thought maybe he (Akrura) did in fact possess the
Syamantaka gem. Krshna also felt that Akrura had been performing so many
sacrifices and his means could not justify the high expenses involved.
So
at a meeting of the Yadavas, Krshna jokingly said to Akrura that he felt that
the Syamantaka gem was taken by Satadhanvaan and given to him (Akrura), but it
is okay if that be so, because the entire kingdom is deriving benefits by way
of no famine, etc. To that statement, Akrura submits saying that what Krshna
said is absolutely true and that taking care of possession of the gem is
laborious and painstaking and he would rather give it to Krshna who can give to
whoever He pleases. Akrura then brings forth the gem and lays it down for everyone
to see. Balarama instantly states that it is the joint possession of himself
and Krshna; Satyabhaamaa jumps saying it belongs to her since it belonged to
her father Satraajit.
Krshna
makes the final statement that “this gem has been brought forth to the assembly
to clear my reputation; while it may be considered the joint property of
Balarama and Myself or that it is the patriarchial inheritance of Satyabhaama,
in order for it to be of benefit to the Kingdom, it must be held in possession
by one who is of elevated character and is a renunciate of worldly pleasures;
otherwise death results. I have sixteen thousand wives and am therefore not
qualified to take care of it; Satyabhaamaa will likewise not be interested in
taking care; as for Balarama, he is too much addicted to wine and pleasures of
the sense. Hence Akrura is the most qualified to take care of the gem for the
productive good of the land.” Akrura agreed to Krshna’s request.
Merit:
Whoever listens to the story of the Syamantaka gem will never become the
subject of false accusations; he in full possession of senses shall be cleansed
of all sins.
Book 4 Ch 14: 16 Verses: 5 minutes 37 seconds: Size: 5 MB
Brief: Lineage of Anamitra is described wherein Svaphalkaa
(referred to in the previous chapter) was born, one of whose sons was Akrura
(referred to in the previous chapter). In the lineage are Punarvasu, Ugrasena,
Kamsa, Vasudeva (also called Anakadundhubhi), Yudhistira, Bhima, Arjuna, Karna,
Paandu, Nakula, Sahadeva, etc. Brief description of the daitya Hiranyakashipu
killed by Narasimha Avataram, being re-born as Ravana killed by Rama who then
is born as Sisupaalaa and is killed by Pundarikaksha, a form of Vishnu.
Book
4 Ch 15: 26 Verses: 7 minutes 29 seconds: Size: 7 MB
Brief:
Maitreya asks Parashara to explain how Hiranyakshipu and Ravana, although were
slain by Vishnu, came back as Sisupaalaa, when in fact they should have been
absorbed into Vishnu Himself. Parashara explains that eventhough the former two
forms were slain by Vishnu, they did not realize so, but that their thoughts
were still clouded with hatred and passion and hence had to re-take another
birth; but as Sisupaalaa, the form meditated on Vishnu without any hatred at
the very moment of being killed and hence in that form Sisupaalaa merged with
the Divine Hari. So Parashara states that Vishnu gives great accomplishments to
one who thinks of Him even malevolently; so one can imagine how much more He
will bestow on those that meditate upon Him without hatred and malice!
The
lineage of Vasudeva is next described along with the transfer of the embryo
from the womb of Devaki to that of Yashoda.
Merit:
Whoever listens to this story of the race of Yadavas shall be cleansed of all
sins.
Book 4 Ch 16: 2 Verses: 0 minutes 44 seconds: Size:701 KB
Brief: Brief description of the descendants of Turvasu.
Book
4 Ch 17: 2 Verses: 0 minutes 43 seconds: Size: 685 KB
Brief:
Brief description of the descendants of Druhyu.
Book 4 Ch 18: 8 Verses: 2 minutes 38 seconds: Size: 2 MB
Brief: Descendants of Yayaati is described. Audio error in verse 3: should be Romapaada not Somapaada.
Book
4 Ch 19: 19 Verses: 7 minutes 35 seconds: Size: 7 MB
Brief:
Detailed description of the descendants of Puru including such luminaries such
as Janamejaya, Medhaathithee ( from whom the Kaanvaayanaa Brahmanas followed ),
Dushyanta ( who with Shakuntala gave birth to Bharatha after whom India gets
its name as Bharatvarsha ), Bharadwaja, Jayadratha, Vishvajit, Pruthu and
several Kings of Magadha.
Book 4 Ch 20: 13 Verses: 6 minutes 4 seconds: Size: 6 MB
Brief: Descendants of Kuru is described of which Pratipa was
one who had three sons Devaapi, Shantanu and Baahlikaa. Once there was no rain
in the kingdom of Shantanu for twelve years; the king asked Brahmanas for the
reason and they said, according to the Vedas, the eldest brother gets the
kingdom from the father first whereas in this case Shantanu took over the
kingdom before Devaapi; hence until Devaapi falls down from the path of
righteousness, the kingdom should be handed to Devaapi. Hearing this, the
minister Ashmashaarina assembled some ascetics who taught in opposition to the
Vedas and sent them to the forest with Devaapi and they led him to follow
anit-Vedic doctrines. Shantanu reflecting on what the Brahmanas said, proceeded
to the forest to hand over the kingdom to Devaapi, who started talking ill of
the Vedas. At this the Brahmanas advised Shantanu that his brother Devaapi had
fallen down in his path and there would be no need anymore to hand over the
Kingdom to him. Shantanu returns; Indra pours rains and plentiful harvests
ensue. Baahlikaa’s son was Somadatta in whose line Sri Vedavyaasa Krishna
Dwaipaayana was born and the entire clan of Pandavas and Kauravas descended.
Book
4 Ch 21: 4 Verses: 2 minutes 7 seconds: Size: 2 MB
Brief:
Short description of future Kings.
Book 4 Ch 22: 3 Verses: 1 minute 41 seconds: Size: 2 MB
Brief: Short description of the future Kings of the
Ikshvaaku race.
Book
4 Ch 23: 3 Verses: 1 minute 19 seconds: Size: 1 MB
Brief:
Short description of future Kings descended from Vrhadratha who will rule over
the Kingdom of Magadha for a thousand years.
Book 4 Ch 24: 77 Verses: 17 minutes 11 seconds: Size: 16 MB
Brief: In continuation of the prediction of future Kings,
the last of the Vrahadratha Kings Ripunjaya is predicted to have a minister
Sunika who will kill the King and place his son Pradyota on the throne and his
sons then follow the Kingsmanship In this line, a King called Mahapadma will be
there extremely avaricious after whom the Kings will no longer be Kshatriyas
but rather Shudras who will rule for a hundred years after which the Mauryas
will take over. Then it will be the Sungas who rule after whom the Kaanvaas
will be the Kings. Names of their descendants are described in detail after
which intermingled Kings start taking over is predicted. The contemporary
monarchs then are predicted to be of violent and wicked in nature with little
or no piety; wealth alone will be respected; falsehood will the means of
success and women will be objects of sensual gratification. Earth is predicted
to be respected only for its minerals; dishonesty will become the means of
subsistence. People will be excessively taxed and to escape will retire into
forests; thus the age of Kali will decay until the human race itself will get
annihilated. Then Kalki will be born who will slaughter all the thieves and
impure beings and restart the age of Krta again. The age of Kali is said to
have started after the return of Krshna to the heavens.
Starting verse 30, this chapter takes on a superb musical
character with philosophical truths as Mother Earth states after observing
hundreds of names of Kings enumerated in the previous several chapters: the
folly of Kings who pursue ambition not realizing they are simply foam on the
wave is comical; conquering the world is nothing compared to subjugating one’s
own self. Everyone who has tried to conquer the earth has died in the end; even
the great luminaries have finally ended up being only subjects of narration.
Merit: Whoever listens with devotion to this story of the
descendants of Manu gets purified of his sins and with all faculties in place
shall live in plenty and prosperity. One who has heard of the races of the
Great Kings who all have perished shall stop calling children, wife or house or
lands his own.
Please proceed to Part 5.
Om Sri Vishnave Namaha !
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