Jahnu, Gadhi, and the Birth of Jamadagni and Vishvamitra

Verse 1 (vishnu.4.7.1)

तस्याप्य् आयुर् धीमान् अमावसुर् विश्वावसुः शतायुर् श्रुतायुः संज्ञाः षड् अभवन् पुत्राः

tasyāpy āyur dhīmān amāvasur viśvāvasuḥ śatāyur śrutāyuḥ saṁjñāḥ ṣaḍ abhavan putrāḥ

His son too, the wise Ayus, had six sons, named Amavasu, Vishvavasu, Shatayu, and Shrutayu.

Verse 2 (vishnu.4.7.2)

अमावसोर् भीमो नाम पुत्रोऽभवत्

amāvasor bhīmo nāma putro'bhavat

Amavasu's son was named Bhima.

Verse 3 (vishnu.4.7.3)

भीमस्य काञ्चनः काञ्चनात् सुहोत्रस् तस्यापि जह्नुः । योऽसौ यज्ञवाटम् अखिलं गङ्गाम्भसा प्लावितम् आलोक्य क्रोधसंरक्तनयनो भगवन्तं यज्ञपुरुषम् आत्मनि परमेण समाधिना समारोप्याखिलाम् एव गङ्गाम् अपिबत्

bhīmasya kāñcanaḥ kāñcanāt suhotras tasyāpi jahnuḥ | yo'sau yajñavāṭam akhilaṁ gaṅgāmbhasā plāvitam ālokya krodhasaṁraktanayano bhagavantaṁ yajñapuruṣam ātmani parameṇa samādhinā samāropyākhilām eva gaṅgām apibat

Bhima's son was Kanchana; from Kanchana, Suhotra; his son too was Jahnu. He, seeing his entire sacrificial ground flooded by the Ganga's waters, his eyes red with anger, fixing the Lord, the very form of sacrifice, within himself through deepest meditation, drank up the whole Ganga.

Verse 4 (vishnu.4.7.4)

अथैनं देवर्षयः प्रसादयाम् आसुः । दुहितृत्वे चास्य गङ्गाम् अनयन्

athainaṁ devarṣayaḥ prasādayām āsuḥ | duhitṛtve cāsya gaṅgām anayan

Then the divine sages sought to appease him. And they brought forth the Ganga in the position of his daughter.

Verse 5 (vishnu.4.7.5)

जह्नोश् च सुमन्तुर् नाम पुत्रोऽभवत् । तस्याप्य् अजकस् ततो बलाकाश्वस् तस्मात् कुशः कुशस्य कुशाम्बकुशनाभामूर्तरयामावसवश् चत्वारः पुत्रा बभूवुः

jahnoś ca sumantur nāma putro'bhavat | tasyāpy ajakas tato balākāśvas tasmāt kuśaḥ kuśasya kuśāmbakuśanābhāmūrtarayāmāvasavaś catvāraḥ putrā babhūvuḥ

Jahnu had a son named Sumantu. His son too was Ajaka; from him, Balakashva; from him, Kusha; and Kusha had four sons: Kushamba, Kushanabha, Amurtaraya, and Amavasu.

Verse 6 (vishnu.4.7.6)

तेषां कुशाम्बः शक्रतुल्यो मे पुत्रो भवेद् इति तपश् चकार । तं चोग्रतपसम् अवलोक्य मा भवत्व् अन्योऽस्मत्तुल्यवीर्य इत्य् आत्मनैवास्येन्द्रः पुत्रत्वम् अगच्छत्

teṣāṁ kuśāmbaḥ śakratulyo me putro bhaved iti tapaś cakāra | taṁ cogratapasam avalokya mā bhavatv anyo'smattulyavīrya ity ātmanaivāsyendraḥ putratvam agacchat

Among them, Kushamba performed austerities, wishing: 'May my son be equal to Indra.' Seeing his fierce austerity, and thinking 'let there be no other of might equal to mine,' Indra himself became his son.

Verse 7 (vishnu.4.7.7)

गाधिर् नाम स कौशिकोऽभवत् । गाधिश् च सत्यवतीं कन्याम् अजनयत् । तां च भार्गव ऋचीको वव्रे

gādhir nāma sa kauśiko'bhavat | gādhiś ca satyavatīṁ kanyām ajanayat | tāṁ ca bhārgava ṛcīko vavre

Being born in Kusha's line, he became known as Gadhi, of the Kaushika family. Gadhi begot a daughter named Satyavati. Richika, of the Bhargava line, sought her in marriage.

Verse 8 (vishnu.4.7.8)

गाधिर् अप्य् अतिरोषणायातिवृद्धाय च ब्राह्मणाय दातुम् अनिच्छन्न् एकतः श्यामकर्णानाम् इन्दुवर्चसाम् अनिलरंहसाम् अश्वानां सहस्रं कन्याशुल्कम् अयाचत

gādhir apy atiroṣaṇāyātivṛddhāya ca brāhmaṇāya dātum anicchann ekataḥ śyāmakarṇānām induvarcasām anilaraṁhasām aśvānāṁ sahasraṁ kanyāśulkam ayācata

Gadhi, unwilling to give his daughter to so quick-tempered and aged a brahmin, demanded as her bride-price a thousand horses, dark-eared, moon-bright, and swift as the wind.

Verse 9 (vishnu.4.7.9)

तेनाप्य् ऋष्.इणा वरुणसकाशाद् उपलभ्याश्वतीर्थोत्पन्नं तादृगश्वसहस्रं दत्तम् । ततस् ताम् ऋचीकः कन्याम् उपयेमे । ऋचीकश् च तस्याश् चरुम् अपत्यार्थं चकार

tenāpy ṛṣ.iṇā varuṇasakāśād upalabhyāśvatīrthotpannaṁ tādṛgaśvasahasraṁ dattam | tatas tām ṛcīkaḥ kanyām upayeme | ṛcīkaś ca tasyāś carum apatyārthaṁ cakāra

That sage, obtaining from Varuna a thousand such horses born at the sacred ford of horses, gave them. Then Richika married that maiden. And Richika prepared a sacred offering for her, for the sake of offspring.

Verse 10 (vishnu.4.7.10)

तत्प्रसादितश् च तन्मात्रे क्षत्रवरपुत्रोत्पत्तये चरुम् अपरं साधयाम् आस

tatprasāditaś ca tanmātre kṣatravaraputrotpattaye carum aparaṁ sādhayām āsa

Being pleased by her request, he also prepared another offering for her mother, for the birth of an excellent kshatriya son.

Verse 11 (vishnu.4.7.11)

एष चरुर् भवत्यायम् अपरस् त्वन्मात्रा सम्यग् उपयोज्य इत्य् उक्त्वा वनं जगाम

eṣa carur bhavatyāyam aparas tvanmātrā samyag upayojya ity uktvā vanaṁ jagāma

'This offering is for you; this other is to be duly eaten by your mother' — saying this, he went into the forest.

Verse 12 (vishnu.4.7.12)

उपयोगकाले च तां माता सत्यवतीम् आह । पुत्रि सर्व एवात्मपुत्रम् अतिगुणं समभिलषति नात्मजायाभ्रातृगुणेष्व् अतीवादृतो भवति ॥ अतोऽर्हसि ममात्मीयं चरुं दातुं मदीयं चरुम् आत्मनोपयोक्तुम्

upayogakāle ca tāṁ mātā satyavatīm āha | putri sarva evātmaputram atiguṇaṁ samabhilaṣati nātmajāyābhrātṛguṇeṣv atīvādṛto bhavati || ato'rhasi mamātmīyaṁ caruṁ dātuṁ madīyaṁ carum ātmanopayoktum

At the time of eating, the mother said to Satyavati: 'My daughter, everyone desires their own son to be exceedingly virtuous; one is not so devoted to a brother's-son's qualities. Therefore you should give me your own offering, and yourself take mine.'

Verse 13 (vishnu.4.7.13)

मत्पुत्रेण हि सकलभूमण्डलपरिपालनं कार्यं कियद् वा ब्राह्मणस्य बलवीर्यसंपद् इत्य् उक्त्वा सा स्वचरुं मात्रे दत्तवती

matputreṇa hi sakalabhūmaṇḍalaparipālanaṁ kāryaṁ kiyad vā brāhmaṇasya balavīryasaṁpad ity uktvā sā svacaruṁ mātre dattavatī

'For my son must govern the whole circle of the earth — what need has a brahmin of strength and valor?' Saying this, she gave her own offering to her mother.

Verse 14 (vishnu.4.7.14)

अथ वनाद् अप्य् आगम्य सत्यवतीम् ऋषिर् अपश्यत्

atha vanād apy āgamya satyavatīm ṛṣir apaśyat

Then, returning from the forest, the sage looked upon Satyavati.

Verse 15 (vishnu.4.7.15)

आह चैनाम् अतिपापे किम् इदम् अकार्यं भवत्या कृतम् । अतिरौद्रं ते वपुर् आलक्ष्यते । नूनं त्वया त्वन्मातृसात्कृतश् चरुर् उपयुक्तो न युक्तम् एतत्

āha cainām atipāpe kim idam akāryaṁ bhavatyā kṛtam | atiraudraṁ te vapur ālakṣyate | nūnaṁ tvayā tvanmātṛsātkṛtaś carur upayukto na yuktam etat

And said to her: 'O most sinful one, what improper thing have you done? Your body appears exceedingly terrible. Surely you have eaten the offering meant for your mother — this is not right.'

Verse 16 (vishnu.4.7.16)

मया हि तत्र चरौ सकलैव शौर्यवीर्यबलसंपद् आरोपिता । त्वदीये चराव् अप्य् अखिलशान्तिज्ञानतितिक्षादिकी ब्राह्मणसंपत् । एतच् च विपरीतं कुर्वन्त्यास् तवातिरौद्रास्त्रधारणमारणनिष्ठः क्षत्रियाचारः पुत्रो भविष्यत्य् अस्या । चोपशमरुचिर् ब्राह्मणाचार इत्य् आकर्ण्यैव सा तस्य पादौ जग्राह

mayā hi tatra carau sakalaiva śauryavīryabalasaṁpad āropitā | tvadīye carāv apy akhilaśāntijñānatitikṣādikī brāhmaṇasaṁpat | etac ca viparītaṁ kurvantyās tavātiraudrāstradhāraṇamāraṇaniṣṭhaḥ kṣatriyācāraḥ putro bhaviṣyaty asyā | copaśamarucir brāhmaṇācāra ity ākarṇyaiva sā tasya pādau jagrāha

'For in that offering I had placed the entire endowment of heroism, valor, and strength. And in your own offering was placed the whole brahmanical endowment — peace, knowledge, forbearance, and the rest. Because of this reversal, your own son shall be one who bears terrible weapons and is devoted to slaughter, of kshatriya conduct; while hers shall delight in peace, of brahmanical conduct.' Hearing this, she at once seized his feet.

Verse 17 (vishnu.4.7.17)

प्रणिपत्य चैनम् आह । भगवन् मयैतद् अज्ञानाद् अनुष्ठितम् । प्रसादं मे कुरु । मैवंविधः पुत्रो भवतु । कामम् एवंविधः पौत्रो भवत्व् इत्य् उक्तो मुनिर् अप्य् आहैवम् अस्त्व् इति

praṇipatya cainam āha | bhagavan mayaitad ajñānād anuṣṭhitam | prasādaṁ me kuru | maivaṁvidhaḥ putro bhavatu | kāmam evaṁvidhaḥ pautro bhavatv ity ukto munir apy āhaivam astv iti

Falling before him, she said: 'Lord, this was done by me unknowingly. Show me grace. Let not my son be of this kind. Let it instead be my grandson who is so.' Thus addressed, the sage said: 'So be it.'

Verse 18 (vishnu.4.7.18)

अनन्तरं च सा जमदग्निम् अजीजनत् । तन्माता च विश्वामित्रं जनयाम् आस । सत्यवती च कौशिकी नाम नद्य् अभवत् । जमदग्निर् इक्ष्वाकुवंशोद्भवस्य रेणोस् तनयां रेणुकाम् उपयेमे । तस्यां चाशेषक्षत्रहन्तारं परशुरामसंज्ञं भगवतः सकललोकगुरोर् नारायणस्यांशं जमदग्निर् अजीजनत्

anantaraṁ ca sā jamadagnim ajījanat | tanmātā ca viśvāmitraṁ janayām āsa | satyavatī ca kauśikī nāma nady abhavat | jamadagnir ikṣvākuvaṁśodbhavasya reṇos tanayāṁ reṇukām upayeme | tasyāṁ cāśeṣakṣatrahantāraṁ paraśurāmasaṁjñaṁ bhagavataḥ sakalalokaguror nārāyaṇasyāṁśaṁ jamadagnir ajījanat

Afterward she gave birth to Jamadagni. And her mother gave birth to Vishvamitra. Satyavati became the river named Kaushiki. Jamadagni married Renuka, daughter of Renu, born in the Ikshvaku line. Upon her, Jamadagni begot the destroyer of all kshatriyas, named Parashurama, a portion of the Lord Narayana, teacher of all the worlds.

Verse 19 (vishnu.4.7.19)

विश्वामित्रपुत्रस् तु भार्गव एव शुनःशेपो देवैर् दत्तः । ततश् च देवरातनामाभवत् । ततश् चान्ये मधुच्छन्दजयकृतदेवाष्टककच्छपहारीतकाख्या विश्वामित्रपुत्रा बभूवुः

viśvāmitraputras tu bhārgava eva śunaḥśepo devair dattaḥ | tataś ca devarātanāmābhavat | tataś cānye madhucchandajayakṛtadevāṣṭakakacchapahārītakākhyā viśvāmitraputrā babhūvuḥ

Vishvamitra's son was that very Bhargava, Shunahshepa, given to him by the gods. And so he obtained the name Devarata. And besides him, Vishvamitra had other sons named Madhuchhanda, Jaya, Kritadeva, Ashtaka, Kachchhapa, and Harita.

Verse 20 (vishnu.4.7.20)

तेषां च बहूनि कौशिकगोत्राण्य् ऋष्यन्तरेषु वैवाह्यानि भवन्तीति

teṣāṁ ca bahūni kauśikagotrāṇy ṛṣyantareṣu vaivāhyāni bhavantīti

And from them arose many Kaushika gotras, which intermarry with the lines of other sages.