The Story of King Jyamagha

Verse 1 (vishnu.4.12.1)

श्रीपराशर उवाच क्रोष्टोस्तु यदुपुत्रस्यात्मजो ध्वजिनीवान्

śrīparāśara uvāca kroṣṭostu yaduputrasyātmajo dhvajinīvān

Sri Parashara said: Kroshtu, the son of Yadu, had a son named Dhvajinivan.

Verse 2 (vishnu.4.12.2)

ततश्च स्वातिः ततो रुशङ्कुः रुशङ्कोश्चित्ररथः

tataśca svātiḥ tato ruśaṅkuḥ ruśaṅkościtrarathaḥ

From him came Svati; from him, Rushanku; and from Rushanku, Chitraratha.

Verse 3 (vishnu.4.12.3)

तत्तनयः शशिबिन्दुः चतुर्दशमहारत्नेशश्चक्रवर्त्यभवत्

tattanayaḥ śaśibinduḥ caturdaśamahāratneśaścakravartyabhavat

His son was Shashabindu, a universal emperor (chakravartin), lord of the fourteen great jewels.

Verse 4 (vishnu.4.12.4)

तस्य च शतसहस्रं पत्नी नामभवत्

tasya ca śatasahasraṁ patnī nāmabhavat

He had a hundred thousand wives.

Verse 5 (vishnu.4.12.5)

दशलक्षसंख्याश्च पुत्राः

daśalakṣasaṁkhyāśca putrāḥ

And a million sons.

Verse 6 (vishnu.4.12.6)

तेषां च पृथुश्रवाः पृथुकर्मा पृथुकीर्तिः पृथुयशाः पृथुजयः पृथुदानः षट्पुत्राः प्रधानाः

teṣāṁ ca pṛthuśravāḥ pṛthukarmā pṛthukīrtiḥ pṛthuyaśāḥ pṛthujayaḥ pṛthudānaḥ ṣaṭputrāḥ pradhānāḥ

Among them, six sons were foremost: Prithushravas, Prithukarma, Prithukirti, Prithuyashas, Prithujaya, and Prithudana.

Verse 7 (vishnu.4.12.7)

पृथुश्रवसश्च पुत्रः पृथुतमः

pṛthuśravasaśca putraḥ pṛthutamaḥ

Prithushravas's son was Prithutama.

Verse 8 (vishnu.4.12.8)

तस्मादुशना यो वाजिमेधानां शतमाजहार

tasmāduśanā yo vājimedhānāṁ śatamājahāra

From him came Ushana, who performed a hundred horse-sacrifices.

Verse 9 (vishnu.4.12.9)

तस्य च शितपुर्नाम पुत्रोऽभवत्

tasya ca śitapurnāma putro'bhavat

His son was named Shitapu.

Verse 10 (vishnu.4.12.10)

तस्यापि रुक्मकवचस्ततः परावृत्

tasyāpi rukmakavacastataḥ parāvṛt

His son was Rukmakavacha, and from him came Paravrit.

Verse 11 (vishnu.4.12.11)

तस्य परावृतो रुक्मेषुपृथुज्यामघवलितहरितसंज्ञास्तस्य पञ्चात्मजा बभूवुः

tasya parāvṛto rukmeṣupṛthujyāmaghavalitaharitasaṁjñāstasya pañcātmajā babhūvuḥ

Paravrit had five sons, named Rukmeshu, Prithu, Jyamagha, Valita, and Harita.

Verse 12 (vishnu.4.12.12)

तस्माद्यापि ज्यामघस्य श्लोको गीयते

tasmādyāpi jyāmaghasya śloko gīyate

And of Jyamagha among them, this verse is still sung today:

Verse 13 (vishnu.4.12.13)

भार्यावश्यास्तु ये केचिद्भविष्यन्त्यथ वा मृताः । तेषां तु ज्यामघः श्रेष्ठः शैव्यापतिरभून्नृपः

bhāryāvaśyāstu ye kecidbhaviṣyantyatha vā mṛtāḥ | teṣāṁ tu jyāmaghaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ śaivyāpatirabhūnnṛpaḥ

Among all the kings who have ever been, or ever will be, ruled by their own wives — whether now living or dead — King Jyamagha, husband of Shaibya, was the foremost.

Verse 14 (vishnu.4.12.14)

अपुत्रा तस्य सा पत्नी शैव्या नाम तथाप्यसौ । अपत्यकामोऽपि भयान्नान्यां भार्यामविन्दत

aputrā tasya sā patnī śaivyā nāma tathāpyasau | apatyakāmo'pi bhayānnānyāṁ bhāryāmavindata

His wife Shaibya was childless, and though he longed for a son, out of fear of her he never took another wife.

Verse 15 (vishnu.4.12.15)

स त्वेकदा प्रभूतरथतुरगगजसंमर्दातिदारुणे महाहवे युध्यमानश्च सकलमेवारिचक्रमजयत्

sa tvekadā prabhūtarathaturagagajasaṁmardātidāruṇe mahāhave yudhyamānaśca sakalamevāricakramajayat

Once, fighting in a terrible great battle of clashing chariots, horses, and elephants, he conquered the entire host of his enemies.

Verse 16 (vishnu.4.12.16)

तच्चारिचक्रमपास्तपुत्रकलत्रबन्धुबलकोशं स्वमधिष्ठानं परित्यज्य दिशः प्रतिविद्रुतम्

taccāricakramapāstaputrakalatrabandhubalakośaṁ svamadhiṣṭhānaṁ parityajya diśaḥ pratividrutam

That defeated host of enemies, abandoning sons, wives, kinsmen, army, and treasury, fled their own capital and scattered in every direction.

Verse 17 (vishnu.4.12.17)

तस्मिंश्च विद्रुतेऽतित्रासलोलायतलोचनयुगलं त्राहित्राहि मां तातांब भ्रातरित्याकुलविलापविधुरं स राजकन्यारत्नमद्राक्षीत्

tasmiṁśca vidrute'titrāsalolāyatalocanayugalaṁ trāhitrāhi māṁ tātāṁba bhrātarityākulavilāpavidhuraṁ sa rājakanyāratnamadrākṣīt

As they fled, Jyamagha beheld an incomparable princess, her wide eyes darting in terror, crying out in anguished lament, 'Save me, save me, O father! O mother! O brother!'

Verse 18 (vishnu.4.12.18)

तद्दर्शनाच्च तस्यामनुरागनुगतान्तरात्मा स नृपोऽचिन्तयत्

taddarśanācca tasyāmanurāganugatāntarātmā sa nṛpo'cintayat

At the sight of her, the king's heart was filled with affection for her, and he thought:

Verse 19 (vishnu.4.12.19)

साध्विदं ममापत्यरहितस्य वन्ध्याभर्तुः सांप्रतं विधिनापत्यकारणं कन्यारत्नमुपपादितम्

sādhvidaṁ mamāpatyarahitasya vandhyābhartuḥ sāṁprataṁ vidhināpatyakāraṇaṁ kanyāratnamupapāditam

'For me, childless as I am, husband of a barren wife, providence has now graciously sent this jewel of a maiden as the very means to obtain offspring.'

Verse 20 (vishnu.4.12.20)

तदेतत्समुद्वहामीति

tadetatsamudvahāmīti

'Therefore let me marry her.'

Verse 21 (vishnu.4.12.21)

अथ वैनां स्यन्दनमारोप्य स्वमधिष्ठानं नयामि

atha vaināṁ syandanamāropya svamadhiṣṭhānaṁ nayāmi

'Then let me set her upon my chariot and take her to my own capital.'

Verse 22 (vishnu.4.12.22)

तयैव देव्याशैव्ययाहमनुज्ञातःसमुद्वहामीति

tayaiva devyāśaivyayāhamanujñātaḥsamudvahāmīti

'And I shall marry her only with the permission of Queen Shaibya herself' — so he resolved.

Verse 23 (vishnu.4.12.23)

अथैनां रथमारोप्य स्वनगरमगच्छत्

athaināṁ rathamāropya svanagaramagacchat

Then, setting her upon his chariot, he went to his own city.

Verse 24 (vishnu.4.12.24)

विजयिनं च राजानमशेषपौरभृत्वयरिजनामात्यसमेता शैव्या द्रष्टुमधिष्ठनद्वारमागता

vijayinaṁ ca rājānamaśeṣapaurabhṛtvayarijanāmātyasametā śaivyā draṣṭumadhiṣṭhanadvāramāgatā

To behold her victorious king, Shaibya, accompanied by all the citizens, servants, and ministers, came to the gate of the capital.

Verse 25 (vishnu.4.12.25)

सा चावलोक्य राज्ञः सव्यपार्श्ववर्त्तिनीं कन्यामीषदुद्भूतामर्षस्फुरदधरपल्लवा राजानमवोचत्

sā cāvalokya rājñaḥ savyapārśvavarttinīṁ kanyāmīṣadudbhūtāmarṣasphuradadharapallavā rājānamavocat

Seeing that maiden seated at the king's left side, Shaibya, her lips trembling with a flicker of jealousy, said to the king —

Verse 26 (vishnu.4.12.26)

अतिचपलचित्तात्र स्यन्दने केयमारोपितेति

aticapalacittātra syandane keyamāropiteti

'O fickle-hearted one, who is this you have seated upon this chariot?'

Verse 27 (vishnu.4.12.27)

असावप्यनालोचितोत्तरवचनोऽतिभयात्तामाह स्नुषा ममेयमिति

asāvapyanālocitottaravacano'tibhayāttāmāha snuṣā mameyamiti

He, too, without thinking through his reply and out of sheer fear, said to her: 'She is my daughter-in-law.'

Verse 28 (vishnu.4.12.28)

अथैनं शैव्योवाच

athainaṁ śaivyovāca

Then Shaibya said to him —

Verse 29 (vishnu.4.12.29)

नाहं प्रसूता पुत्रेण नान्या पत्न्यभवत्तव । स्नुषासंबन्धता ह्योषा कतमेन सुतेन ते

nāhaṁ prasūtā putreṇa nānyā patnyabhavattava | snuṣāsaṁbandhatā hyoṣā katamena sutena te

'I have borne no son, nor have you had any other wife — by which son of yours, then, is she your daughter-in-law?'

Verse 30 (vishnu.4.12.30)

श्रीपराशर उवाच इत्यात्मेर्ष्याकोपकलुषितवचनमुषितविवेको भयाद्दुरुक्तापरिहारार्थमिदमवनीपतिराह

śrīparāśara uvāca ityātmerṣyākopakaluṣitavacanamuṣitaviveko bhayādduruktāparihārārthamidamavanīpatirāha

Sri Parashara said: Then the king, his judgment lost amid words made bitter by his own jealousy and anger, spoke thus in fear, seeking to undo his ill-considered words —

Verse 31 (vishnu.4.12.31)

यस्ते जनिष्यत्यात्मजस्तस्येयमनागतस्यैव भार्या निरूपितेत्याकर्ण्योद्भूतमृदुहासा तथेत्याह

yaste janiṣyatyātmajastasyeyamanāgatasyaiva bhāryā nirūpitetyākarṇyodbhūtamṛduhāsā tathetyāha

'She has been appointed as the bride of that very son who is yet to be born to you.' Hearing this, Shaibya broke into a faint smile and said, 'So be it.'

Verse 32 (vishnu.4.12.32)

प्रविवेश च राज्ञा सहाधिष्ठानम्

praviveśa ca rājñā sahādhiṣṭhānam

Then she entered the capital together with the king.

Verse 33 (vishnu.4.12.33)

अनन्तरं चातिशुद्धलग्नहोरांशकावयवोक्तकृतपुत्रजन्मलाभगुणाद्वयसः परिणाममुपगतापि शैव्या स्वल्पैरेवाहोभिर्गर्भमवाप

anantaraṁ cātiśuddhalagnahorāṁśakāvayavoktakṛtaputrajanmalābhaguṇādvayasaḥ pariṇāmamupagatāpi śaivyā svalpairevāhobhirgarbhamavāpa

Thereafter, although she had passed her years of youth, by the favorable influence of the auspicious ascendant and planetary divisions foretold for the birth of a son, Shaibya conceived within but a few days.

Verse 34 (vishnu.4.12.34)

कालेन च कुमारमजीजनत्

kālena ca kumāramajījanat

In due time she gave birth to a son.

Verse 35 (vishnu.4.12.35)

तस्य च विदर्भ इति पिता नाम चक्रे

tasya ca vidarbha iti pitā nāma cakre

His father named him Vidarbha.

Verse 36 (vishnu.4.12.36)

स च तां स्नुषामुपयेमे

sa ca tāṁ snuṣāmupayeme

And he married him to that same maiden earlier called his daughter-in-law.

Verse 37 (vishnu.4.12.37)

तस्यां चासौक्रथकैशिकसंज्ञौ पुत्रावजनयत्

tasyāṁ cāsaukrathakaiśikasaṁjñau putrāvajanayat

By her he begot two sons, named Kratha and Kaishika.

Verse 38 (vishnu.4.12.38)

पुनश्च तृतीयं रोमपादसंज्ञं पुत्रमजीजनद्यो नारदादवाप्तज्ञानवान्भविष्यतीति

punaśca tṛtīyaṁ romapādasaṁjñaṁ putramajījanadyo nāradādavāptajñānavānbhaviṣyatīti

He also begot a third son named Romapada, who would in time attain knowledge from Narada.

Verse 39 (vishnu.4.12.39)

रोमपादाद्बभ्रुः बभ्रोर्धृतिः धृतेः कैशिकः कैशिकस्यापि चेदिः पुत्रोऽभवत्यस्य संततौ चैद्या भूपालाः

romapādādbabhruḥ babhrordhṛtiḥ dhṛteḥ kaiśikaḥ kaiśikasyāpi cediḥ putro'bhavatyasya saṁtatau caidyā bhūpālāḥ

From Romapada came Babhru; from Babhru, Dhriti; from Dhriti, Kaishika; and Kaishika's son was Chedi — in whose line the kings called Chaidyas arose.

Verse 40 (vishnu.4.12.40)

क्रथस्य स्नुषापुत्रस्यकुन्तिरभवत्

krathasya snuṣāputrasyakuntirabhavat

Of Kratha, son of the maiden once called his daughter-in-law, the son was Kunti.

Verse 41 (vishnu.4.12.41)

कुन्तेर्धृष्टिः धृष्टेर्निधृतिः निधृतेर्दशार्हस्ततश्च व्योमः तस्यापि जीमूतः ततश्च विकृतिः ततश्च भीमरथः तस्मान्नवरथः तस्यापि दशरथः ततश्च शकुनिः तत्तनयः करंभिः करंभेर्देवरातोऽभवत्

kunterdhṛṣṭiḥ dhṛṣṭernidhṛtiḥ nidhṛterdaśārhastataśca vyomaḥ tasyāpi jīmūtaḥ tataśca vikṛtiḥ tataśca bhīmarathaḥ tasmānnavarathaḥ tasyāpi daśarathaḥ tataśca śakuniḥ tattanayaḥ karaṁbhiḥ karaṁbherdevarāto'bhavat

From Kunti came Dhrishti; from Dhrishti, Nidhriti; from Nidhriti, Dasharha, and from him, Vyoma. His son was Jimuta; from him, Vikriti; from him, Bhimaratha; from him, Navaratha; his son, Dasharatha; from him, Shakuni; his son, Karambhi; and from Karambhi came Devarata.

Verse 42 (vishnu.4.12.42)

तस्माद्देवक्षत्रः तस्यापि मधुः मधोः कुमारवंशः कुमारवंशादनुः अनोः पुरुमित्रः पृथिवीपतिरभवत्

tasmāddevakṣatraḥ tasyāpi madhuḥ madhoḥ kumāravaṁśaḥ kumāravaṁśādanuḥ anoḥ purumitraḥ pṛthivīpatirabhavat

From him came Devakshatra; his son was Madhu; from Madhu, Kumaravansha; from Kumaravansha, Anu; and from Anu, Purumitra, lord of the earth.

Verse 43 (vishnu.4.12.43)

ततश्चांशुस्तस्माच्च सत्वतः

tataścāṁśustasmācca satvataḥ

From him came Anshu, and from him, Satvata.

Verse 44 (vishnu.4.12.44)

सत्वतादेते सात्वताः

satvatādete sātvatāḥ

From this Satvata, all these are called Satvatas.

Verse 45 (vishnu.4.12.45)

इत्येतां ज्यामघस्य संततिं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः श्रुत्वा पुमान्मैत्रेय स्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

ityetāṁ jyāmaghasya saṁtatiṁ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ śrutvā pumānmaitreya svapāpaiḥ pramucyate

O Maitreya, whoever hears this lineage of Jyamagha with due reverence is freed from his own sins.