|
Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 16: Verses 15-30
Extermination of the Ksatriyas by Parasurama : an account of the posterity of the sage Viswamitra
Utterly confounded with an outburst of agony, anger, indignation, affliction and grief, Parasurama then cried:- "Ah -noble and most virtuous father, leaving us, you have ascended to heaven!" Wailing thus, he himself tightly gripped his battle-axe and, entrusting the father's dead body to the care of his brothers, made up his mind to extirpate the Ksatriya race.[1]. Going to Mahismati (that had been) completely robbed of its splendour by the (sin of the) murderers of a Brahmana (sage), Parasurama raised in the heart of the city a huge mountain of their heads and with their blood created a ghastly river that inspired terror into (the heart of) Brahmana-haters. Making the murder of his father an excuse-on the Ksatriyas having taken to unrighteous ways-the mighty Parasurama rid the globe of the Ksatriyas thrice seven times and (from their blood) created at Samantapancaka (Kuruksetra) tanks filled with blood instead of water, O protector of men ! Having brought (back) the head of his father, Parasurama joined it to his trunk and, placing his body on (blades of) the sacred Kusa grass, propitiated through (a number of) sacrifices the (supreme) Deity, his own Self, who represents all the gods in His person. (At the end of these sacrifices) he actually gave away the eastern quarter to the Hota, the southern to the Brahma, the western to the Adhwaryu (and) the northern to the Udgata. He bestowed the intermediate corners on the other priests, the central region on the sage Kasyapa, the Aryavarta (the tract of land bounded on the north by the Himalayas and on the south by the Vindhya mountains), on the Upadrasta (the supervisor) and the region beyond (viz., that lying to the south of the Vindhya range) on the Sadasyas (superintending priests). And then, having washed off his entire sin (incurred by killing numberless Ksatriyas) through a bath, taken at the conclusion of the sacrifices in (the waters of) the Saraswati, a river representing the Vedas, he shone like the cloudless sun. Having regained his own body (which was now completely) spiritualized (consisting as it did of consciousness alone), Jamadagni too, the adored of Parasurama, became the seventh in the group of the seven seers (looking after the welfare of the universe). Indeed, Jamadagni's son, the worshipful Parasurama too, who has eyes beautiful as a pair of lotuses, will propagate the Vedas (as one of the seven seers), O king, in the ensuing Manvantara. He stays even to this day on Mount Mahendra, having renounced, (all forms of) violence and with a perfectly serene mind, his exploits being sung by Siddhas, Gandharvas and Caranas. Descending in the midst of the Bhrgus, the almighty Lord Sri Hari, the Soul of the universe, thus slew several times kings (Ksatriyas) who constituted a great burden on the (bosom of the) earth. Gadhi's son was (the celebrated sage) Viswamitra possessed of extraordinary effulgence, like a blazing fire, who, shedding his Ksatriyahood, attained Brahmanical glory through (his) asceticism. And Viswamitra had one hundred and one sons, O protector of men! The fifty-first son (who formed the middle of the whole lot, was (named) Madhucchanda; (hence) they (all) came to be known as Madhucchandas. Adopting Ajigarta's son unahsepa, also known as Devarata, a scion of the sage Bhrgu, as his own son, the sage Viswamitra said to his sons, "Let this boy be treated as the eldest (of you all).
|
|
