Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 24:1-15

Book 4: Chapter 24

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 24: Verses 1-15
The hymn sung by Lord Siva (and taught to the Pracetas)

Maitreya began again : (Now) Prthu's son, Vijitaswa of great renown, became the emperor. Full of fraternal love, he gave to his younger brothers a quarter each of the earth's surface (to rule over). To Haryaksa, the emperor assigned the eastern quarter; to Dhumrakesa, the southern; to the one known as Vrka, the western, and the fourth (viz., the northern) to Dravina. Having acquired from Indra (the lord of paradise) the secret of invisibility, he earned the surname of Antardhana. Through (his wife) Sikhandini he begot three sons, who were highly esteemed (by all). Pavaka, Pavamana and Suci (by name), they were fire-gods (bearing the same names) formerly (in their previous incarnation), born (as human beings) under the curse of the sage Vasistha, they (eventually) attained once more to the glorious state of fire-gods by practising Yoga. Antardhana, who (it will be remembered) had refused to strike Indra, even though he had come to know that Indra had stolen (his father's) horse [1], got (a fourth son) Havirdhana (by name) by (his other wife) Nabhaswati. Under the pretext of (participating in) a protracted sacrificial session he relinquished the kingly duties, regarding them as cruel in that they involved (the unpleasant task of) exacting tributes, inflicting punishment and levying taxes and so on. Even though occupied with that sacrificial session, the king (who had realized the Self) adored the Supreme Spirit, who is perfect (in everyway) and ends the suffering of His votaries, and attained a residence in the same Heaven with the Lord by dint of thorough and uninterrupted concentration of mind. Through Havirdhana (Antardhana's son), O Vidura, Havirdhani (his wife) bore six sons-Barhisad, Gaya, ukia, Krsna, Satya and Jitavrata (by name). (Of these) the highly blessed Barhisad, the eldest son of Havirdhana, became the ruler. He was well-versed in the sections of the Veda dealing with the rituals, as well as in the methods of Yoga, 0 worthy scion of Kuru. As a result of his performing sacrifices (one after another) close to the place enclosed for each foregoing sacrifice the entire land was covered with blades of Kusa grass with their pointed ends turned towards the east. He married Satadruti, a daughter of the deity presiding over the ocean, recommended by Brahma (the god of gods), who was charming in every limb and was still very young, and for whom the fire-god (himself) conceived a passion the moment he saw her going round the fire during the nuptials, richly bedecked with ornaments, even as he did (on yet another occasion) for Suki (a princess of that name). Nay, even (other) gods, demons, Gandharvas (celestial musicians), sages, Siddhas (a class of demigods endowed with mystic powers from their very birth), human beings and Nagas in every quarter were captivated by the newly-married bride (as she walked) producing a tinkling sound with her anklets. Ten sons were born to king Pracinabarhi (to-called because of his having covered the earth's surface with blades of Kusa grass with their pointed ends turned eastward-vide verse 10 above), through (his wife) Satadruti. They bore the common name of Praceta; their mode of life was the same and they were all fully conversant with the moral code. Enjoined by their father to beget children, they entered a lake (almost as extensive as a sea) for austerities and, having duly controlled their mind, worshipped Sri Hari (the lord of austerities) through (their) asceticism for ten thousand years, contemplating on and adoring Him and muttering what had been imparted to them by Lord Siva, whom they had met on the way and who had showered His grace on them.

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References

  1. (vide IV. xix. 20)

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