The Birth of Mandhata

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.9.1)

व्यास उवाच । कदाचिदष्टकाश्राद्धे विकुक्षिं पृथिवीपतिः । आज्ञापयदसम्मूढो मांसमानय सत्वरम्

vyāsa uvāca kadācidaṣṭakāśrāddhe vikukṣiṁ pṛthivīpatiḥ ājñāpayadasammūḍho māṁsamānaya satvaram

Vyasa said: Once, at the Ashtaka-shraddha ancestral rite, the king, being of clear mind, commanded Vikukshi: "Bring meat quickly."

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.9.2)

मेध्यं श्राद्धार्थमधुना वने गत्वा सूतादरात् । उत्युक्तोऽसौ तथेत्याशु जगाम वनमस्त्रभृत्

medhyaṁ śrāddhārthamadhunā vane gatvā sūtādarāt utyukto'sau tathetyāśu jagāma vanamastrabhṛt

"— fit and pure, for the shraddha rite, now, going into the forest respectfully with the charioteer." Thus commanded, he said "So be it," and quickly went to the forest, armed with weapons.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.9.3)

गत्वा जघान बाणैः स वराहान्सूकरान्मृगान् । शशांश्चापि परिश्रान्तो बभूवाथ बुभूक्षितः

gatvā jaghāna bāṇaiḥ sa varāhānsūkarānmṛgān śaśāṁścāpi pariśrānto babhūvātha bubhūkṣitaḥ

Going there, he slew with arrows boars, wild pigs, and deer, and hares as well; and then, exhausted, he grew hungry.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.9.4)

विस्मृता चाष्टका तस्य शशं चाददसौ वने । शेषं निवेदयामास पित्रे मांसमनुत्तमम्

vismṛtā cāṣṭakā tasya śaśaṁ cādadasau vane śeṣaṁ nivedayāmāsa pitre māṁsamanuttamam

Forgetting about the Ashtaka rite, he ate a hare there in the forest, and delivered the remaining, most excellent meat to his father.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.9.5)

प्रोक्षणाय समानीतं मांसं दृष्ट्वा गुरुस्तदा । अनर्हमिति तज्ज्ञात्वा चुकोप मुनिसत्तमः

prokṣaṇāya samānītaṁ māṁsaṁ dṛṣṭvā gurustadā anarhamiti tajjñātvā cukopa munisattamaḥ

Seeing the meat brought for consecration, the preceptor, that best of sages, recognizing it as unfit, grew angry.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.9.6)

भुक्तशेषं तु न श्राद्धे प्रोक्षणीयमिति स्थितिः । राज्ञे निवेदयामास वसिष्ठः पाकदूषणम्

bhuktaśeṣaṁ tu na śrāddhe prokṣaṇīyamiti sthitiḥ rājñe nivedayāmāsa vasiṣṭhaḥ pākadūṣaṇam

"The remainder of what has already been eaten should never be consecrated at a shraddha" — such is the rule; Vasishtha reported to the king this contamination of the sacrificial food.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.9.7)

पुत्रस्य कर्म तज्ज्ञात्वा भूपतिर्गुरुणोदितम् । चुकोप विधिलोपात्तं देशान्निःसारयत्ततः

putrasya karma tajjñātvā bhūpatirguruṇoditam cukopa vidhilopāttaṁ deśānniḥsārayattataḥ

Learning of his son's deed, as told by his preceptor, the king grew angry at this breach of proper rite, and thereupon banished him from the kingdom.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.9.8)

शशाप इति विख्यातो नाम्ना जातो नृपात्मजः । गतो वने शशादस्तु पितृकोपादसम्भ्रमः

śaśāpa iti vikhyāto nāmnā jāto nṛpātmajaḥ gato vane śaśādastu pitṛkopādasambhramaḥ

The king's son thus came to be known by the name Shashada, "hare-eater"; and Shashada, without agitation, went to the forest because of his father's anger.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.9.9)

वन्येन वर्तयन्कालं नीतवान् धर्मतत्परः । पितर्युपरते राज्यं प्राप्तं तेन महात्मना

vanyena vartayankālaṁ nītavān dharmatatparaḥ pitaryuparate rājyaṁ prāptaṁ tena mahātmanā

Living on forest produce, that great soul, devoted to dharma, passed his time; and when his father passed away, the kingdom was obtained by him.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.9.10)

शशादस्त्वकरोद्राज्यमयोध्यायाः पतिः स्वयम् । यज्ञाननेकशः पूर्णांश्चकार सरयूतटे

śaśādastvakarodrājyamayodhyāyāḥ patiḥ svayam yajñānanekaśaḥ pūrṇāṁścakāra sarayūtaṭe

Shashada himself then ruled as lord of Ayodhya, and performed many complete sacrifices on the bank of the Sarayu.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.9.11)

शशादस्याभवत्पुत्रः ककुत्स्थ इति विश्रुतः । तस्यैव नामभेदाद्वै इन्द्रवाहः पुरञ्जयः

śaśādasyābhavatputraḥ kakutstha iti viśrutaḥ tasyaiva nāmabhedādvai indravāhaḥ purañjayaḥ

Shashada's son, renowned by the name Kakutstha, was also known by different names — Indravaha and Puranjaya.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.9.12)

जनमेजय उवाच । नामभेदः कथं जातो राजपुत्रस्य चानघ । कारणं ब्रूहि मे सर्वं कर्मणा येन चाभवत्

janamejaya uvāca nāmabhedaḥ kathaṁ jāto rājaputrasya cānagha kāraṇaṁ brūhi me sarvaṁ karmaṇā yena cābhavat

Janamejaya said: How, O sinless one, did this prince come by different names? Tell me the whole reason, and by what deed this came about.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.9.13)

व्यास उवाच । शशादे स्वर्गते राजा ककुत्स्थ इति चाभवत् । [राज्यं चकार धर्मज्ञः पितृपैतामहं बलात् ।] एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवा दैत्यैः सर्वे पराजिताः

vyāsa uvāca śaśāde svargate rājā kakutstha iti cābhavat [rājyaṁ cakāra dharmajñaḥ pitṛpaitāmahaṁ balāt ] etasminnantare devā daityaiḥ sarve parājitāḥ

Vyasa said: When Shashada went to heaven, that king became known as Kakutstha; that knower of dharma ruled forcefully the kingdom of his fathers and grandfathers. Meanwhile, all the gods were defeated by the Daityas —

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.9.14)

जग्मुस्त्रिलोकाधिपतिं विष्णुं शरणमव्ययम् । तान्प्रोवाच महाविष्णुस्तदा देवान्सनातनः

jagmustrilokādhipatiṁ viṣṇuṁ śaraṇamavyayam tānprovāca mahāviṣṇustadā devānsanātanaḥ

— and went for refuge to the imperishable lord of the three worlds, Vishnu. Then that eternal, great Vishnu spoke to the gods:

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.9.15)

विष्णुरुवाच - पार्ष्णिग्राहं महीपालं प्रार्थयन्तु शशादजम् । स हनिष्यति वै दैत्यान्सङ्ग्रामे सुरसत्तमाः

viṣṇuruvāca - pārṣṇigrāhaṁ mahīpālaṁ prārthayantu śaśādajam sa haniṣyati vai daityānsaṅgrāme surasattamāḥ

Vishnu said: "Ask the king born of Shashada to be Indra's rear-guard ally; he shall indeed slay the Daityas in battle, O best of the gods."

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.9.16)

आगमिष्यति धर्मात्मा साहाय्यार्थं धनुर्धरः । पराशक्तेः प्रसादेन सामर्थ्यं तस्य चातुलम्

āgamiṣyati dharmātmā sāhāyyārthaṁ dhanurdharaḥ parāśakteḥ prasādena sāmarthyaṁ tasya cātulam

"That righteous, bow-bearing king will come to your aid; by the grace of the Supreme Shakti his power is unmatched."

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.9.17)

हरेः सुवचनाद्देवा ययुः सर्वे सवासवाः । अयोध्यायां महाराज शशादतनयं प्रति

hareḥ suvacanāddevā yayuḥ sarve savāsavāḥ ayodhyāyāṁ mahārāja śaśādatanayaṁ prati

At the good word of Hari, all the gods, together with Indra, went, O great king, to Ayodhya, to the son of Shashada.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.9.18)

तानागतान् सुरान् राजा पूजयामास धर्मतः । पप्रच्छागमने राजा प्रयोजनमतन्द्रितः

tānāgatān surān rājā pūjayāmāsa dharmataḥ papracchāgamane rājā prayojanamatandritaḥ

The king duly honored those gods who had come, and, alert, asked them the purpose of their arrival.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.9.19)

राजोवाच - धन्योऽहं पावितश्चास्मि जीवितं सफलं मम । यदागत्य गृहे देवा ददुश्च दर्शनं महत्

rājovāca - dhanyo'haṁ pāvitaścāsmi jīvitaṁ saphalaṁ mama yadāgatya gṛhe devā daduśca darśanaṁ mahat

The king said: "Blessed am I, and purified indeed, and my life has borne fruit, in that you gods have come to my home and granted me this great vision."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.9.20)

ब्रुवन्तु कृत्यं देवेशा दुःसाध्यमपि मानवैः । करिष्यामि महत्कार्यं सर्वथा भवतां महत्

bruvantu kṛtyaṁ deveśā duḥsādhyamapi mānavaiḥ kariṣyāmi mahatkāryaṁ sarvathā bhavatāṁ mahat

"Tell me the task, O lords of gods, even one hard for mortals to accomplish; I shall by all means perform this great deed of yours."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.9.21)

देवा ऊचुः - साहाय्यं कुरु राजेन्द्र सखा भव शचीपतेः । सङ्ग्रामे जय दैत्येन्द्रान्दुर्जयांस्त्रिदशैरपि

devā ūcuḥ - sāhāyyaṁ kuru rājendra sakhā bhava śacīpateḥ saṅgrāme jaya daityendrāndurjayāṁstridaśairapi

The gods said: "Render your help, O lord of kings; become the friend of Indra, and conquer in battle those lords of the Daityas, hard to conquer even for the thirty gods."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.9.22)

पराशक्तिप्रसादेन दुर्लभं नास्ति ते क्वचित् । विष्णुना प्रेरिताश्चैवमागतास्तव सन्निधौ

parāśaktiprasādena durlabhaṁ nāsti te kvacit viṣṇunā preritāścaivamāgatāstava sannidhau

"By the grace of the Supreme Shakti, nothing is unattainable for you; sent by Vishnu, we have thus come into your presence."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.9.23)

राजोवाच - पार्ष्णिग्राहो भवाम्यद्य देवानां सुरसत्तमाः । इन्द्रो मे वाहनं तत्र भवेद्यदि सुराधिपः

rājovāca - pārṣṇigrāho bhavāmyadya devānāṁ surasattamāḥ indro me vāhanaṁ tatra bhavedyadi surādhipaḥ

The king said: "I shall become the rear-guard of the gods today, O best of the celestials, provided that Indra, the lord of the gods, becomes my mount there."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.9.24)

सङ्ग्रामं तु करिष्यामि दैत्यैर्देवकृतेऽधुना । आरुह्येन्द्रं गमिष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

saṅgrāmaṁ tu kariṣyāmi daityairdevakṛte'dhunā āruhyendraṁ gamiṣyāmi satyametadbravīmyaham

"I shall now do battle with the Daityas on the gods' behalf; mounting Indra, I shall go forth — this I say truthfully."

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.9.25)

तदोचुर्वासवं देवाः कर्तव्यं कार्यमद्भुतम् । पत्रं भव नरेन्द्रस्य त्यक्त्वा लज्जां शचीपते

tadocurvāsavaṁ devāḥ kartavyaṁ kāryamadbhutam patraṁ bhava narendrasya tyaktvā lajjāṁ śacīpate

Then the gods said to Indra: "This wondrous deed must be done — become the vehicle of this king, casting aside your shame, O lord of Shachi."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.9.26)

लज्जमानस्तदा शक्रः प्रेरितो हरिणा भृशम् । बभूव वृषभस्तूर्णं रुद्रस्येवापरो महान्

lajjamānastadā śakraḥ prerito hariṇā bhṛśam babhūva vṛṣabhastūrṇaṁ rudrasyevāparo mahān

Though ashamed, Indra, greatly urged on by Hari, quickly became a bull, huge as another mount of Rudra.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.9.27)

तमारुरोह राजासौ सङ्ग्रामगमनाय वै । स्थितः ककुदि येनास्य ककुत्स्थस्तेन चाभवत्

tamāruroha rājāsau saṅgrāmagamanāya vai sthitaḥ kakudi yenāsya kakutsthastena cābhavat

The king mounted him for the purpose of going to battle; and because he stood upon that hump, kakud, he came to be called Kakutstha.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.9.28)

इन्द्रो वाहः कृतो येन तेन नाम्नेन्द्रवाहकः । पुरं जितं तु दैत्यानां तेनाभूच्च पुरञ्जयः

indro vāhaḥ kṛto yena tena nāmnendravāhakaḥ puraṁ jitaṁ tu daityānāṁ tenābhūcca purañjayaḥ

Because he made Indra his mount, by that name he became Indravahaka; and because he conquered the city of the Daityas, he also became Puranjaya.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.9.29)

जित्वा दैत्यान्महाबाहुर्धनं तेषां प्रदत्तवान् । पप्रच्छ चैवं राजर्षेरिति सख्यं बभूव ह

jitvā daityānmahābāhurdhanaṁ teṣāṁ pradattavān papraccha caivaṁ rājarṣeriti sakhyaṁ babhūva ha

That mighty-armed one, having conquered the Daityas, gave away their wealth; and thus the friendship between Indra and that royal sage was established.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.9.30)

ककुत्स्थश्चातिविख्यातो नृपतिस्तस्य वंशजाः । काकुत्स्था भुवि राजानो बभूवुर्बहुविश्रुताः

kakutsthaścātivikhyāto nṛpatistasya vaṁśajāḥ kākutsthā bhuvi rājāno babhūvurbahuviśrutāḥ

Thus Kakutstha became an exceedingly renowned king; and the kings of his lineage came to be known on earth as the Kakutsthas, greatly celebrated.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.9.31)

ककुत्स्थस्याभवत्पुत्रो धर्मपत्न्यां महाबलः । अनेना विश्रुतस्तस्य पृथुः पुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्

kakutsthasyābhavatputro dharmapatnyāṁ mahābalaḥ anenā viśrutastasya pṛthuḥ putraśca vīryavān

To Kakutstha, by his lawful wife, was born a mighty son named Anena; and his son, endowed with valor, was Prithu.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.9.32)

विष्णोरंशः स्मृतः साक्षात्पराशक्तिपदार्चकः । विश्वरन्धिस्तु विज्ञेयः पृथोः पुत्रो नराधिपः

viṣṇoraṁśaḥ smṛtaḥ sākṣātparāśaktipadārcakaḥ viśvarandhistu vijñeyaḥ pṛthoḥ putro narādhipaḥ

He is remembered as a very portion of Vishnu, a direct worshipper of the feet of the Supreme Shakti; and Prithu's son is to be known as Vishvarandhi.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.9.33)

चन्द्रस्तस्य सुतः श्रीमान् राजा वंशकरः स्मृतः । तत्सुतो युवनाश्वस्तु तेजस्वी बलवत्तरः

candrastasya sutaḥ śrīmān rājā vaṁśakaraḥ smṛtaḥ tatsuto yuvanāśvastu tejasvī balavattaraḥ

His illustrious son was King Chandra, remembered as a continuer of the lineage; his son was Yuvanashva, radiant and exceedingly strong.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.9.34)

शावन्तो युवनाश्वस्य जज्ञे परमधार्मिकः । शावन्ती निर्मिता तेन पुरी शक्रपुरीसमा

śāvanto yuvanāśvasya jajñe paramadhārmikaḥ śāvantī nirmitā tena purī śakrapurīsamā

To Yuvanashva was born Shavanta, supremely righteous; by him the city of Shavanti was built, equal to Indra's own city.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.9.35)

बृहदश्वस्तु पुत्रोऽभूच्छावन्तस्य महात्मनः । कुवलयाश्वः सुतस्तस्य बभूव पृथिवीपतिः

bṛhadaśvastu putro'bhūcchāvantasya mahātmanaḥ kuvalayāśvaḥ sutastasya babhūva pṛthivīpatiḥ

To that great soul Shavanta was born a son, Brihadashva; his son, Kuvalayashva, became lord of the earth.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.9.36)

धुन्धुर्नामा हतो दैत्यस्तेनासौ पृथिवीतले । धुन्धुमारेति विख्यातं नाम प्रापातिविश्रुतम्

dhundhurnāmā hato daityastenāsau pṛthivītale dhundhumāreti vikhyātaṁ nāma prāpātiviśrutam

By him a demon named Dhundhu was slain; and thus, on this earth, he obtained the exceedingly renowned name Dhundhumara, "Slayer of Dhundhu."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.9.37)

पुत्रस्तस्य दृढाश्वस्तु पालयामास मेदिनीम् । दृढाश्वस्य सुतः श्रीमान्हर्यश्व इति कीर्तितः

putrastasya dṛḍhāśvastu pālayāmāsa medinīm dṛḍhāśvasya sutaḥ śrīmānharyaśva iti kīrtitaḥ

His son Dridhashva ruled the earth; the illustrious son of Dridhashva was celebrated by the name Haryashva.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.9.38)

निकुम्भस्तत्सुतः प्रोक्तो बभूव पृथिवीपतिः । बर्हणाश्वो निकुम्भस्य कुशाश्वस्तस्य वै सुतः

nikumbhastatsutaḥ prokto babhūva pṛthivīpatiḥ barhaṇāśvo nikumbhasya kuśāśvastasya vai sutaḥ

His son, called Nikumbha, became lord of the earth; Nikumbha's son was Barhanashva, and his son indeed was Kushashva.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.9.39)

प्रसेनजित्कृशाश्वस्य बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः । तस्य पुत्रो महाभागो यौवनाश्वेति विश्रुतः

prasenajitkṛśāśvasya balavānsatyavikramaḥ tasya putro mahābhāgo yauvanāśveti viśrutaḥ

Kushashva's son was Prasenajit, mighty and of true valor; his greatly fortunate son was renowned as Yauvanashva.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.9.40)

यौवनाश्वसुतः श्रीमान्मान्धातेति महीपतिः । अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं तु प्रासादा येन निर्मिताः

yauvanāśvasutaḥ śrīmānmāndhāteti mahīpatiḥ aṣṭottarasahasraṁ tu prāsādā yena nirmitāḥ

Yauvanashva's illustrious son was the lord of the earth known as Mandhata, by whom one thousand and eight temples were built —

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.9.41)

भगवत्यास्तु तुष्ट्यर्थं महातीर्थेषु मानद । मातृगर्भे न जातोऽसावुत्पन्नो जनकोदरे

bhagavatyāstu tuṣṭyarthaṁ mahātīrtheṣu mānada mātṛgarbhe na jāto'sāvutpanno janakodare

— for the satisfaction of the blessed Devi, at the great sacred fords, O honorable one. He was not born from his mother's womb; he was born from his father's body.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.9.42)

निःसारितस्ततः पुत्रः कुक्षिं भित्त्वा पितुः पुनः । राजोवाच - न श्रुतं न च दृष्टं वा भवता तदुदाहृतम्

niḥsāritastataḥ putraḥ kukṣiṁ bhittvā pituḥ punaḥ rājovāca - na śrutaṁ na ca dṛṣṭaṁ vā bhavatā tadudāhṛtam

The son was drawn out, having pierced through his father's side. The king said: "What you have just related, I have never heard nor seen the like of."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.9.43)

असम्भाव्यं महाभाग तस्य जन्म यथोदितम् । विस्तरेण वदस्वाद्य मान्धातुर्जन्मकारणम्

asambhāvyaṁ mahābhāga tasya janma yathoditam vistareṇa vadasvādya māndhāturjanmakāraṇam

"It seems incredible, O greatly fortunate one, this birth as you have described it. Tell me today, in full detail, the reason for Mandhata's birth —"

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.9.44)

राजोदरे यथोत्पन्नः पुत्रः सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरः । व्यास उवाच । यौवनाश्वोऽनपत्योऽभूद्राजा परमधार्मिकः

rājodare yathotpannaḥ putraḥ sarvāṅgasundaraḥ vyāsa uvāca yauvanāśvo'napatyo'bhūdrājā paramadhārmikaḥ

"— how a son, beautiful in every limb, was born from the king's own body." Vyasa said: King Yauvanashva, supremely righteous, was without offspring.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.9.45)

भार्याणां च शतं तस्य बभूव नृपतेर्नृप । राजा चिन्तापरः प्रायश्चिन्तयामास नित्यशः

bhāryāṇāṁ ca śataṁ tasya babhūva nṛpaternṛpa rājā cintāparaḥ prāyaścintayāmāsa nityaśaḥ

That king, O king, had a hundred wives; and the king, given over to worry, was constantly, almost ceaselessly, sunk in thought.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.7.9.46)

अपत्यार्थे यौवनाश्वो दुःखितस्तु वनं गतः । ऋषीणामाश्रमे पुण्ये निर्विण्णः स च पार्थिवः

apatyārthe yauvanāśvo duḥkhitastu vanaṁ gataḥ ṛṣīṇāmāśrame puṇye nirviṇṇaḥ sa ca pārthivaḥ

For the sake of offspring, Yauvanashva, in sorrow, went to the forest, to the sacred hermitage of the sages, that despondent king.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.7.9.47)

मुमोच दुःखितः श्वासांस्तापसानां च पश्यताम् । दृष्ट्वा तु दुःखितं विप्रा बभूवुश्च कृपालवः

mumoca duḥkhitaḥ śvāsāṁstāpasānāṁ ca paśyatām dṛṣṭvā tu duḥkhitaṁ viprā babhūvuśca kṛpālavaḥ

He heaved sorrowful sighs before the eyes of the ascetics; and seeing him so distressed, the Brahmins became filled with compassion.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.7.9.48)

तमूचुर्ब्राह्मणा राजन्कस्माच्छोचसि पार्थिव । किं ते दुःखं महाराज ब्रूहि सत्यं मनोगतम्

tamūcurbrāhmaṇā rājankasmācchocasi pārthiva kiṁ te duḥkhaṁ mahārāja brūhi satyaṁ manogatam

The Brahmins said to him: "O king, why do you grieve, O lord of the earth? What is your sorrow, O great king? Tell us truly what is in your mind."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.7.9.49)

प्रतीकारं करिष्यामो दुःखस्य तव सर्वथा । यौवनाश्व उवाच । राज्यं धनं सदश्वाश्च वर्तन्ते मुनयो मम

pratīkāraṁ kariṣyāmo duḥkhasya tava sarvathā yauvanāśva uvāca rājyaṁ dhanaṁ sadaśvāśca vartante munayo mama

"We shall by all means find a remedy for your sorrow." Yauvanashva said: "O sages, I have kingdom, wealth, and fine horses in abundance."

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.7.9.50)

भार्याणां च शतं शुद्धं वर्तते विशदप्रभम् । नारातिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु कोऽप्यस्ति बलवान्मम

bhāryāṇāṁ ca śataṁ śuddhaṁ vartate viśadaprabham nārātistriṣu lokeṣu ko'pyasti balavānmama

"I have a hundred wives, virtuous and radiant with pure splendor. In the three worlds there is no powerful enemy of mine."

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.7.9.51)

आज्ञाकरास्तु सामन्ता वर्तन्ते मन्त्रिणस्तथा । एकं सन्तानजं दुःखं नान्यत्पश्यामि तापसाः

ājñākarāstu sāmantā vartante mantriṇastathā ekaṁ santānajaṁ duḥkhaṁ nānyatpaśyāmi tāpasāḥ

"My feudatory lords obey my command, as do my ministers. There is only one sorrow, that of having no offspring; I see no other, O ascetics."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.7.9.52)

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गो नैव च नैव च । तस्माच्छोचामि विप्रेन्द्राः सन्तानार्थं भृशं ततः

aputrasya gatirnāsti svargo naiva ca naiva ca tasmācchocāmi viprendrāḥ santānārthaṁ bhṛśaṁ tataḥ

"There is no proper destiny for one without a son, no heaven at all, none whatsoever. Therefore, O foremost of Brahmins, I grieve greatly, for the sake of offspring."

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.7.9.53)

वेदशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञास्तापसाश्च कृतश्रमाः । इष्टिं सन्तानकामस्य युक्तां ज्ञात्वा दिशन्तु मे

vedaśāstrārthatattvajñāstāpasāśca kṛtaśramāḥ iṣṭiṁ santānakāmasya yuktāṁ jñātvā diśantu me

"You who know the true meaning of the Vedas and scriptures, ascetics who have undertaken great effort — knowing the fitting sacrificial rite for one desiring offspring, prescribe it for me."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.7.9.54)

कुर्वन्तु मम कार्यं वै कृपा चेदस्ति तापसाः । व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञः कृपया पूर्णमानसाः

kurvantu mama kāryaṁ vai kṛpā cedasti tāpasāḥ vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ rājñaḥ kṛpayā pūrṇamānasāḥ

"Perform this rite for me, O ascetics, if you have compassion for me." Vyasa said: Hearing the king's words, their minds filled with compassion,

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.7.9.55)

कारयामासुरव्यग्रास्तस्येष्टिमिन्द्रदेवताम् । कलशः स्थापितस्तत्र जलपूर्णस्तु वाडवैः

kārayāmāsuravyagrāstasyeṣṭimindradevatām kalaśaḥ sthāpitastatra jalapūrṇastu vāḍavaiḥ

— they, undisturbed, had performed for him a sacrificial rite dedicated to Indra; a vessel filled with water was set in place there by the officiating Brahmins,

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.7.9.56)

मन्त्रितो वेदमन्त्रैश्च पुत्रार्थं तस्य भूपतेः । राजा तद्यज्ञसदनं प्रविष्टस्तृषितो निशि

mantrito vedamantraiśca putrārthaṁ tasya bhūpateḥ rājā tadyajñasadanaṁ praviṣṭastṛṣito niśi

— consecrated with Vedic mantras, for the sake of that king's son. The king, thirsty, entered that sacrificial hall at night.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.7.9.57)

विप्रान्दृष्ट्वा शयानान्स पपौ मन्त्रजलं स्वयम् । भार्यार्थं संस्कृतं विप्रैर्मन्त्रितं विधिनोद्धृतम्

viprāndṛṣṭvā śayānānsa papau mantrajalaṁ svayam bhāryārthaṁ saṁskṛtaṁ viprairmantritaṁ vidhinoddhṛtam

Seeing the Brahmins asleep, he himself drank the consecrated water — prepared by the Brahmins for his wife, consecrated with mantras, drawn up according to rite.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.7.9.58)

पीतं राज्ञा तृषार्तेन तदज्ञानान्नृपोत्तम । व्युदकं कलशं दृष्ट्वा तदा विप्रा विशङ्किताः

pītaṁ rājñā tṛṣārtena tadajñānānnṛpottama vyudakaṁ kalaśaṁ dṛṣṭvā tadā viprā viśaṅkitāḥ

It was drunk by the king, tormented by thirst, unknowingly, O best of kings. Seeing the vessel emptied of water, the Brahmins then became alarmed.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.7.9.59)

पप्रच्छुस्ते नृपं केन पीतं जलमिति द्विजाः । राज्ञा पीतं विदित्वा ते ज्ञात्वा दैवबलं महत्

papracchuste nṛpaṁ kena pītaṁ jalamiti dvijāḥ rājñā pītaṁ viditvā te jñātvā daivabalaṁ mahat

Those twice-born asked the king: "By whom has this water been drunk?" Learning that it had been drunk by the king, and understanding the great power of destiny —

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.7.9.60)

इष्टिं समापयामासुर्गतास्ते मुनयो गृहान् । गर्भं दधार नृपतिस्ततो मन्त्रबलादथ

iṣṭiṁ samāpayāmāsurgatāste munayo gṛhān garbhaṁ dadhāra nṛpatistato mantrabalādatha

— they completed the rite, and those sages returned to their homes. Thereafter, by the power of the mantra, the king himself conceived.

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.7.9.61)

ततः काले स उत्पन्नः कुक्षिं भित्त्वाऽस्य दक्षिणाम् । पुत्रं निष्कासमायासुर्मन्त्रिणस्तस्य भूपतेः

tataḥ kāle sa utpannaḥ kukṣiṁ bhittvā'sya dakṣiṇām putraṁ niṣkāsamāyāsurmantriṇastasya bhūpateḥ

Then, in due time, the child was born, piercing through his right side; the ministers of that king brought out the boy.

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.7.9.62)

देवानां कृपया तत्र न ममार महीपतिः । कं धास्यति कुमारोऽयं मन्त्रिणश्चुक्रुशुर्भृशम्

devānāṁ kṛpayā tatra na mamāra mahīpatiḥ kaṁ dhāsyati kumāro'yaṁ mantriṇaścukruśurbhṛśam

By the grace of the gods, the king did not die there. "Who will nurse this boy?" — the ministers cried out greatly in confusion.

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.7.9.63)

तदेन्द्रो देशिनीं प्रादान्मां धातेत्यवदद्वचः । सोऽभवद्बलवान् राजा मान्धाता पृथिवीपतिः । तदुत्पत्तिस्तु भूपाल कथिता तव विस्तरात्

tadendro deśinīṁ prādānmāṁ dhātetyavadadvacaḥ so'bhavadbalavān rājā māndhātā pṛthivīpatiḥ tadutpattistu bhūpāla kathitā tava vistarāt

Then Indra offered his own forefinger, saying, "Let him suck me" — mām dhātā — and thus he became the mighty king Mandhata, lord of the earth. Thus, O king, has his origin been related to you in full.