The Dynasty of Bharata
Summary
9.21
This Twenty-first Chapter describes the dynasty born from Maharaja Bharata, the son of Maharaja Dusmanta, and it also describes the glories of Rantideva, Ajamidha and others.
The son of Bharadvaja was Manyu, and Manyu’s sons were Brhatksatra, Jaya, Mahavirya, Nara and Garga.
Of these five, Nara had a son named Sankrti, who had two sons, named Guru and Rantideva.
As an exalted devotee, Rantideva saw every living entity in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore he completely engaged his mind, his words and his very self in the service of the Supreme Lord and His devotees.
Rantideva was so exalted that he would sometimes give away his own food in charity, and he and his family would fast.
Once, after Rantideva spent forty-eight days fasting, not even drinking water, excellent food made with ghee was brought to him, but when he was about to eat it a brahmana guest appeared.
Rantideva, therefore, did not eat the food, but instead immediately offered a portion of it to the brahmana.
When the brahmana left and Rantideva was just about to eat the remnants of the food, a sudra appeared.
Rantideva therefore divided the remnants between the sudra and himself.
Again, when he was just about to eat the remnants of the food, another guest appeared.
Rantideva therefore gave the rest of the food to the new guest and was about to content himself with drinking the water to quench his thirst, but this also was precluded, for a thirsty guest came and Rantideva gave him the water.
This was all ordained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead just to glorify His devotee and show how tolerant a devotee is in rendering service to the Lord.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being extremely pleased with Rantideva, entrusted him with very confidential service.
The special power to render the most confidential service is entrusted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to a pure devotee, not to ordinary devotees.
Garga, the son of Bharadvaja, had a son named Sini, and Sini’s son was Gargya.
Although Gargya was a ksatriya by birth, his sons became brahmanas.
The son of Mahavirya was Duritaksaya, whose sons were of a ksatriya king, they also achieved the position of brahmanas.
The son of Brhatksatra constructed the city of Hastinapura and was known as Hasti.
His sons were Ajamidha, Dvimidha and Purumidha.
From Ajamidha came Priyamedha and other brahmanas and also a son named Brhadisu.
The sons, grandsons and further descendants of Brhadisu were Brhaddhanu, Brhatkaya, Jayadratha, Visada and Syenajit.
From Syenajit came four sons—Rucirasva, Drdhahanu, Kasya and Vatsa.
From Rucirasva came a son named Para, whose sons were Prthusena and Nipa, and from Nipa came one hundred sons.
Another son of Nipa was Brahmadatta.
From Brahmadatta came Visvaksena; from Visvaksena, Udaksena; and from Udaksena, Bhallata.
The son of Dvimidha was Yavinara, and from Yavinara came many sons and grandsons, such as Krtiman, Satyadhrti, Drdhanemi, Suparsva, Sumati, Sannatiman, Krti, Nipa, Udgrayudha, Ksemya, Suvira, Ripunjaya and Bahuratha.
Purumidha had no sons, but Ajamidha, in addition to his other sons, had a son named Nila, whose son was Santi.
The descendants of Santi were Susanti, Puruja, Arka and Bharmyasva.
Bharmyasva had five sons, one of whom, Mudgala, begot a dynasty of brahmanas.
Mudgala had twins—a son, Divodasa, and a daughter, Ahalya.
From Ahalya, by her husband, Gautama, Satananda was born.
The son of Satananda was Satyadhrti, and his son was Saradvan.
Saradvan’s son was known as Krpa, and Saradvan’s daughter, known as Krpi, became the wife of Dronacarya.
9.21.1
sri-suka uvaca
vitathasya sutan manyor
brhatksatro jayas tatah
mahaviryo naro gargah
sankrtis tu naratmajah
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; vitathasya—of Vitatha (Bharadvaja), who was accepted in the family of Maharaja Bharata under special circumstances of disappointment; sutat—from the son; manyoh—named Manyu; brhatksatrah—Brhatksatra; jayah—Jaya; tatah—from him; mahaviryah—Mahavirya; narah—Nara; gargah—Garga; sankrtih—Sankrti; tu—certainly; nara-atmajah—the son of Nara.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Because Bharadvaja was delivered by the Marut demigods, he was known as Vitatha.
The son of Vitatha was Manyu, and from Manyu came five sons—Brhatksatra, Jaya, Mahavirya, Nara and Garga.
Of these five, the one known as Nara had a son named Sankrti.
9.21.2
gurus ca rantidevas ca
sankrteh pandu-nandana
rantidevasya mahima
ihamutra ca giyate
SYNONYMS
guruh—a son named Guru; ca—and; rantidevah ca—and a son named Rantideva; sankrteh—from Sankrti; pandu-nandana—O Maharaja Pariksit, descendant of Pandu; rantidevasya—of Rantideva; mahima—the glories; iha—in this world; amutra—and in the next world; ca—also; giyate—are glorified.
TRANSLATION
O Maharaja Pariksit, descendant of Pandu, Sankrti had two sons, named Guru and Rantideva.
Rantideva is famous in both this world and the next, for he is glorified not only in human society but also in the society of the demigods.
9.21.3-5
viyad-vittasya dadato
labdham labdham bubhuksatah
niskincanasya dhirasya
sakutumbasya sidatah
vyatiyur asta-catvarimsad
ahany apibatah kila
ghrta-payasa-samyavam
toyam pratar upasthitam
krcchra-prapta-kutumbasya
ksut-trdbhyam jata-vepathoh
atithir brahmanah kale
bhoktu-kamasya cagamat
SYNONYMS
viyat-vittasya—of Rantideva, who received things sent by providence, just as the cataka bird receives water from the sky; dadatah—who distributed to others; labdham—whatever he got; labdham—such gains; bubhuksatah—he enjoyed; niskincanasya—always penniless; dhirasya—yet very sober; sa-kutumbasya—even with his family members; sidatah—suffering very much; vyatiyuh—passed by; asta-catvarimsat—forty-eight; ahani—days; apibatah—without even drinking water; kila—indeed; ghrta-payasa—food prepared with ghee and milk; samyavam—varieties of food grains; toyam—water; pratah—in the morning; upasthitam—arrived by chance; krcchra-prapta—undergoing suffering; kutumbasya—whose family members; ksut-trdbhyam—by thirst and hunger; jata—became; vepathoh—trembling; atithih—a guest; brahmanah—a brahmana; kale—just at that time; bhoktu-kamasya—of Rantideva, who desired to eat something; ca—also; agamat—arrived there.
TRANSLATION
Rantideva never endeavored to earn anything.
He would enjoy whatever he got by the arrangement of providence, but when guests came he would give them everything.
Thus he underwent considerable suffering, along with the members of his family.
Indeed, he and his family members shivered for want of food and water, yet Rantideva always remained sober.
Once, after fasting for forty-eight days, in the morning Rantideva received some water and some foodstuffs made with milk and ghee, but when he and his family were about to eat, a brahmana guest arrived.
9.21.6
tasmai samvyabhajat so ’nnam
adrtya sraddhayanvitah
harim sarvatra sampasyan
sa bhuktva prayayau dvijah
SYNONYMS
tasmai—unto him (the brahmana); samvyabhajat—after dividing, gave his share; sah—he (Rantideva); annam—the food; adrtya—with great respect; sraddhaya anvitah—and with faith; harim—the Supreme Lord; sarvatra—everywhere, or in the heart of every living being; sampasyan—conceiving; sah—he; bhuktva—after eating the food; prayayau—left that place; dvijah—the brahmana.
TRANSLATION
Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Supreme Godhead everywhere, and in every living entity, he received the guest with faith and respect and gave him a share of the food.
The brahmana guest ate his share and then went away.
PURPORT
Rantideva perceived the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living being, but he never thought that because the Supreme Lord is present in every living being, every living being must be God.
Nor did he distinguish between one living being and another.
He perceived the presence of the Lord both in the brahmana and in the candala.
This is the true vision of equality, as confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (5.18):
vidya-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva sva-pake ca
panditah sama-darsinah
The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater (outcaste) A pandita, or learned person, perceives the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living being.
Therefore, although it has now become fashionable to give preference to the so-called daridra-narayana, or poor Narayana Rantideva had no reason to give preference to any one person.
The idea that because Narayana is present in the heart of one who is daridra, or poor, the poor man should be called daridra-narayana is a wrong conception.
By such logic, because the Lord is present within the hearts of the dogs and hogs, the dogs and hogs would also be Narayana.
One should not mistakenly think that Rantideva subscribed to this view.
Rather, he saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (hari-sambandhi-vastunah).
It is not that everyone is the Supreme Godhead.
Such a theory, which is propounded by the Mayavada philosophy, is always misleading, and Rantideva would never have accepted it.
9.21.7
athanyo bhoksyamanasya
vibhaktasya mahipateh
vibhaktam vyabhajat tasmai
vrsalaya harim smaran
SYNONYMS
atha—thereafter; anyah—another guest; bhoksyamanasya—who was just about to eat; vibhaktasya—after setting aside the share for the family; mahipateh—of the King; vibhaktam—the food allotted for the family; vyabhajat—he divided and distributed; tasmai—unto him; vrsalaya—unto a sudra; harim—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; smaran—remembering.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, having divided the remaining food with his relatives, Rantideva was just about to eat his own share when a sudra guest arrived.
Seeing the sudra in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, King Rantideva gave him also a share of the food.
PURPORT
Because King Rantideva saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he never distinguished between the brahmana and the sudra, the poor and the rich.
Such equal vision is called sama-darsinah (panditah sama-darsinah (Bg.5.18)).
One who has actually realized that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone’s heart and that every living being is part of the Lord does not make any distinction between the brahmana and the sudra, the poor (daridra) and the rich (dhani).
Such a person sees all living beings equally and treats them equally, without discrimination.
9.21.8
yate sudre tam anyo ’gad
atithih svabhir avrtah
rajan me diyatam annam
saganaya bubhuksate
SYNONYMS
yate—when he went away; sudre—the sudra guest; tam—unto the King; anyah—another; agat—arrived there; atithih—guest; svabhih avrtah—accompanied by dogs; rajan—O King; me—unto me; diyatam—deliver; annam—eatables; sa-ganaya—with my company of dogs; bubhuksate—hankering for food.
TRANSLATION
When the sudra went away, another guest arrived, surrounded by dogs, and said, O King, I and my company of dogs are very hungry.
9.21.9
sa adrtyavasistam yad
bahu-mana-puraskrtam
tac ca dattva namascakre
svabhyah sva-pataye vibhuh
SYNONYMS
sah—he (King Rantideva); adrtya—after honoring them; avasistam—the food that remained after the brahmana and sudra were fed; yat—whatever there was; bahu-mana-puraskrtam—offering him much respect; tat—that; ca—also; dattva—giving away; namah-cakre—offered obeisances; svabhyah—unto the dogs; sva-pataye—unto the master of the dogs; vibhuh—the all-powerful King.
TRANSLATION
With great respect, King Rantideva offered the balance of the food to the dogs and the master of the dogs, who had come as guests.
The King offered them all respects and obeisances.
9.21.10
paniya-matram ucchesam
tac caika-paritarpanam
pasyatah pulkaso ’bhyagad
apo dehy asubhaya me
SYNONYMS
paniya-matram—only the drinking water; ucchesam—what remained of the food; tat ca—that also; eka—for one; paritarpanam—satisfying; pasyatah—when the King was about to drink; pulkasah—a candala; abhyagat—came there; apah—water; dehi—please give; asubhaya—although I am a lowborn candala; me—to me.
TRANSLATION
9.21.11
tasya tam karunam vacam
nisamya vipula-sramam
krpaya bhrsa-santapta
idam ahamrtam vacah
SYNONYMS
tasya—of him (the candala); tam—those; karunam—pitiable; vacam—words; nisamya—hearing; vipula—very much; sramam—fatigued; krpaya—out of compassion; bhrsa-santaptah—very much aggrieved; idam—these; aha—spoke; amrtam—very sweet; vacah—words.
TRANSLATION
Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the poor fatigued candala, Maharaja Rantideva spoke the following nectarean words.
PURPORT
Maharaja Rantideva’s words were like amrta, or nectar, and therefore, aside from rendering bodily service to an aggrieved person, by his words alone the King could save the life of anyone who might hear him.
9.21.12
na kamaye ’ham gatim isvarat param
astarddhi-yuktam apunar-bhavam va
artim prapadye ’khila-deha-bhajam
antah-sthito yena bhavanty aduhkhah
SYNONYMS
na—not; kamaye—desire; aham—I; gatim—destination; isvarat—from the Supreme Personality of Godhead; param—great; asta-rddhi-yuktam—composed of the eight kinds of mystic perfection; apunah-bhavam—cessation of repeated birth (liberation, salvation); va—either; artim—sufferings; prapadye—I accept; akhila-deha-bhajam—of all living entities; antah-sthitah—staying among them; yena—by which; bhavanti—they become; aduhkhah—without distress.
TRANSLATION
I do not pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the eight perfections of mystic yoga, nor for salvation from repeated birth and death.
I want only to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering.
PURPORT
Vasudeva Datta made a similar statement to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, requesting the Lord to liberate all living entities in His presence.
Vasudeva Datta submitted that if they were unfit to be liberated, he himself would take all their sinful reactions and suffer personally so that the Lord might deliver them.
A Vaisnava is therefore described as being para-duhkha-duhkhi, very much aggrieved by the sufferings of others.
As such, a Vaisnava engages in activities for the real welfare of human society.
9.21.13
ksut-trt-sramo gatra-paribhramas ca
dainyam klamah soka-visada-mohah
sarve nivrttah krpanasya jantor
jijivisor jiva-jalarpanan me
SYNONYMS
ksut—from hunger; trt—and thirst; sramah—fatigue; gatra-paribhramah—trembling of the body; ca—also; dainyam—poverty; klamah—distress; soka—lamentation; visada—moroseness; mohah—and bewilderment; sarve—all of them; nivrttah—finished; krpanasya—of the poor; jantoh—living entity (the candala); jijivisoh—desiring to live; jiva—maintaining life; jala—water; arpanat—by delivering; me—mine.
TRANSLATION
By offering my water to maintain the life of this poor candala, who is struggling to live, I have been freed from all hunger, thirst, fatigue, trembling of the body, moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion.
9.21.14
iti prabhasya paniyam
mriyamanah pipasaya
pulkasayadadad dhiro
nisarga-karuno nrpah
SYNONYMS
iti—thus; prabhasya—giving his statement; paniyam—drinking water; mriyamanah—although on the verge of death; pipasaya—because of thirst; pulkasaya—unto the low-class candala; adadat—delivered; dhirah—sober; nisarga-karunah—by nature very kind; nrpah—the King.
TRANSLATION
Having spoken thus, King Rantideva, although on the verge of death because of thirst, gave his own portion of water to the candala without hesitation, for the King was naturally very kind and sober.
9.21.15
tasya tribhuvanadhisah
phaladah phalam icchatam
atmanam darsayam cakrur
maya visnu-vinirmitah
SYNONYMS
tasya—before him (King Rantideva); tri-bhuvana-adhisah—the controllers of the three worlds (demigods like Brahma and Siva); phaladah—who can bestow all fruitive results; phalam icchatam—of persons who desire material benefit; atmanam—their own identities; darsayam cakruh—manifested; mayah—the illusory energy; visnu—by Lord Visnu; vinirmitah—created.
TRANSLATION
Demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, who can satisfy all materially ambitious men by giving them the rewards they desire, then manifested their own identities before King Rantideva, for it was they who had presented themselves as the brahmana, sudra, candala and so on.
9.21.16
sa vai tebhyo namaskrtya
nihsango vigata-sprhah
vasudeve bhagavati
bhaktya cakre manah param
SYNONYMS
sah—he (King Rantideva); vai—indeed; tebhyah—unto Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and the other demigods; namah-krtya—offering obeisances; nihsangah—with no ambition to take any benefit from them; vigata-sprhah—completely free from desires for material possessions; vasudeve—unto Lord Vasudeva; bhagavati—the Supreme Lord; bhaktya—by devotional service; cakre—fixed; manah—the mind; param—as the ultimate goal of life.
TRANSLATION
King Rantideva had no ambition to enjoy material benefits from the demigods.
He offered them obeisances, but because he was factually attached to Lord Visnu, Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he fixed his mind at Lord Visnu’s lotus feet.
PURPORT
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung:
ei bhakti parama karana
If one wants to become a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, one should not hanker to take benedictions from the demigods.
As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.20), kamais tais tair hrta jnanah prapadyante ’nya-devatah: those befooled by the illusion of the material energy worship gods other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Therefore, although Rantideva was personally able to see Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, he did not hanker to take material benefits from them.
Rather, he fixed his mind upon Lord Vasudeva and rendered devotional service unto Him.
This is the sign of a pure devotee, whose heart is not adulterated by material desires anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
(Madhya 19.167)
One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation.
That is called pure devotional service
9.21.17
isvaralambanam cittam
kurvato ’nanya-radhasah
maya guna-mayi rajan
svapnavat pratyaliyata
SYNONYMS
isvara-alambanam—completely taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord; cittam—his consciousness; kurvatah—fixing; ananya-radhasah—for Rantideva, who was undeviating and desired nothing other than to serve the Supreme Lord; maya—the illusory energy; guna-mayi—consisting of the three modes of nature; rajan—O Maharaja Pariksit; svapna-vat—like a dream; pratyaliyata—merged.
TRANSLATION
O Maharaja Pariksit, because King Rantideva was a pure devotee, always Krsna conscious and free from all material desires, the Lord’s illusory energy, maya, could not exhibit herself before him.
On the contrary, for him maya entirely vanished, exactly like a dream.
PURPORT
As it is said:
krsna——surya-sama; maya haya andhakara
yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara
Just as there is no chance that darkness can exist in the sunshine, in a pure Krsna conscious person there can be no existence of maya.
The Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gita (7.14):
daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.
But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it If one wants to be free from the influence of maya, the illusory energy, one must become Krsna conscious and always keep Krsna prominent within the core of his heart.
In Bhagavad-gita (9.34) the Lord advises that one always think of Him (man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru).
In this way, by always being Krsna-minded or Krsna conscious, one can surpass the influence of maya (mayam etam taranti te (Bg.7.14)).
Because Rantideva was Krsna conscious, he was not under the influence of the illusory energy.
The word svapnavat is significant in this connection.
Because in the material world the mind is absorbed in materialistic activities, when one is asleep many contradictory activities appear in one’s dreams.
When one awakens, however, these activities automatically merge into the mind.
Similarly, as long as one is under the influence of the material energy he makes many plans and schemes, but when one is Krsna conscious such dreamlike plans automatically disappear.
9.21.18
tat-prasanganubhavena
rantidevanuvartinah
abhavan yoginah sarve
narayana-parayanah
SYNONYMS
tat-prasanga-anubhavena—because of associating with King Rantideva (when talking with him about bhakti-yoga); rantideva-anuvartinah—the followers of King Rantideva (that is, his servants, his family members, his friends and others); abhavan—became; yoginah—first-class mystic yogis, or bhakti-yogis; sarve—all of them; narayana-parayanah—devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana.
TRANSLATION
All those who followed the principles of King Rantideva were totally favored by his mercy and became pure devotees, attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana.
Thus they all became the best of yogis.
PURPORT
The best yogis or mystics are the devotees, as confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (6.47):
yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantaratmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
Of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all The best yogi is he who constantly thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within the core of the heart.
Because Rantideva was the king, the chief executive in the state, all the residents of the state became devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, by the king’s transcendental association.
This is the influence of a pure devotee.
If there is one pure devotee, his association can create hundreds and thousands of pure devotees.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said that a Vaisnava is meritorious in proportion to the number of devotees he has created.
A Vaisnava becomes superior not simply by jugglery of words but by the number of devotees he has created for the Lord.
Here the word rantidevanuvartinah indicates that Rantideva’s officers, friends, relatives and subjects all became first-class Vaisnavas by his association.
In other words, Rantideva is confirmed herein to be a first-class devotee, or maha-bhagavata.
Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh: (SB 5.5.2) one should render service to such mahatmas, for then one will automatically achieve the goal of liberation.
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has also said, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: one cannot be liberated by his own effort, but if one becomes subordinate to a pure Vaisnava, the door to liberation is open.
9.21.19-20
gargac chinis tato gargyah
ksatrad brahma hy avartata
duritaksayo mahaviryat
tasya trayyarunih kavih
puskararunir ity atra
ye brahmana-gatim gatah
brhatksatrasya putro ’bhud
dhasti yad-dhastinapuram
SYNONYMS
gargat—from Garga (another grandson of Bharadvaja); sinih—a son named Sini; tatah—from him (Sini); gargyah—a son named Gargya; ksatrat—although he was a ksatriya; brahma—the brahmanas; hi—in deed; avartata—became possible; duritaksayah—a son named Duritaksaya; mahaviryat—from Mahavirya (another grandson of Bharadvaja); tasya—his; trayyarunih—the son named Trayyaruni; kavih—a son named Kavi; puskararunih—a son named Puskararuni; iti—thus; atra—therein; ye—all of them; brahmana-gatim—the position of brahmanas; gatah—achieved; brhatksatrasya—of the grandson of Bharadvaja named Brhatksatra; putrah—the son; abhut—became; hasti—Hasti; yat—from whom; hastinapuram—the city of Hastinapura (New Delhi) was established.
TRANSLATION
From Garga came a son named Sini, and his son was Gargya.
Although Gargya was a ksatriya, there came from him a generation of brahmanas.
From Mahavirya came a son named Duritaksaya, whose sons were Trayyaruni, Kavi and Puskararuni.
Although these sons of Duritaksaya took birth in a dynasty of ksatriyas, they too attained the position of brahmanas.
Brhatksatra had a son named Hasti, who established the city of Hastinapura (now New Delhi).
9.21.21
ajamidho dvimidhas ca
purumidhas ca hastinah
ajamidhasya vamsyah syuh
priyamedhadayo dvijah
SYNONYMS
ajamidhah—Ajamidha; dvimidhah—Dvimidha; ca—also; purumidhah—Purumidha; ca—also; hastinah—became the sons of Hasti; ajamidhasya—of Ajamidha; vamsyah—descendants; syuh—are; priyamedha-adayah—headed by Priyamedha; dvijah—brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
From King Hasti came three sons, named Ajamidha, Dvimidha and Purumidha.
The descendants of Ajamidha, headed by Priyamedha, all achieved the position of brahmanas.
PURPORT
This verse gives evidence confirming the statement of Bhagavad-gita that the orders of society—brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra—are calculated in terms of qualities and activities (guna-karma-vibhagasah).
All the descendants of Ajamidha, who was a ksatriya, became brahmanas.
This was certainly because of their qualities and activities.
Similarly, sometimes the sons of brahmanas or ksatriyas become vaisyas (brahmana-vaisyatam gatah).
When a ksatriya or brahmana adopts the occupation or duty of a vaisya (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam (Bg.18.44)), he is certainly counted as a vaisya.
On the other hand, if one is born a vaisya, by his activities he can become a brahmana.
This is confirmed by Narada Muni.
Yasya yal-laksanam proktam.
The members of the varnas, or social orders—brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra—must be ascertained by their symptoms, not by birth.
Birth is immaterial; quality is essential.
9.21.22
ajamidhad brhadisus
tasya putro brhaddhanuh
brhatkayas tatas tasya
putra asij jayadrathah
SYNONYMS
ajamidhat—from Ajamidha; brhadisuh—a son named Brhadisu; tasya—his; putrah—son; brhaddhanuh—Brhaddhanu; brhatkayah—Brhatkaya; tatah—thereafter; tasya—his; putrah—son; asit—was; jayadrathah—Jayadratha.
TRANSLATION
From Ajamidha came a son named Brhadisu, from Brhadisu came a son named Brhaddhanu, from Brhaddhanu a son named Brhatkaya, and from Brhatkaya a son named Jayadratha.
9.21.23
tat-suto visadas tasya
syenajit samajayata
rucirasvo drdhahanuh
kasyo vatsas ca tat-sutah
SYNONYMS
tat-sutah—the son of Jayadratha; visadah—Visada; tasya—the son of Visada; syenajit—Syenajit; samajayata—was born; rucirasvah—Rucirasva; drdhahanuh—Drdhahanu; kasyah—Kasya; vatsah—Vatsa; ca—also; tat-sutah—sons of Syenajit.
TRANSLATION
The son of Jayadratha was Visada, and his son was Syenajit.
The sons of Syenajit were Rucirasva, Drdhahanu, Kasya and Vatsa.
9.21.24
rucirasva-sutah parah
prthusenas tad-atmajah
parasya tanayo nipas
tasya putra-satam tv abhut
SYNONYMS
rucirasva-sutah—the son of Rucirasva; parah—Para; prthusenah—Prthusena; tat—his; atmajah—son; parasya—from Para; tanayah—a son; nipah—Nipa; tasya—his; putra-satam—one hundred sons; tu—indeed; abhut—generated.
TRANSLATION
The son of Rucirasva was Para, and the sons of Para were Prthusena and Nipa.
Nipa had one hundred sons.
9.21.25
sa krtvyam suka-kanyayam
brahmadattam ajijanat
yogi sa gavi bharyayam
visvaksenam adhat sutam
SYNONYMS
sah—he (King Nipa); krtvyam—in his wife, Krtvi; suka-kanyayam—who was the daughter of Suka; brahmadattam—a son named Brahmadatta; ajijanat—begot; yogi—a mystic yogi; sah—that Brahmadatta; gavi—by the name Gau or Sarasvati; bharyayam—in the womb of his wife; visvaksenam—Visvaksena; adhat—begot; sutam—a son.
TRANSLATION
King Nipa begot a son named Brahmadatta through the womb of his wife, Krtvi, who was the daughter of Suka.
And Brahmadatta, who was a great yogi, begot a son named Visvaksena through the womb of his wife, Sarasvati.
PURPORT
The Suka mentioned here is different from the Sukadeva Gosvami who spoke Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Sukadeva Gosvami, the son of Vyasadeva, is described in great detail in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
There it is said that Vyasadeva maintained the daughter of Jabali as his wife and that after they performed penances together for many years, he placed his seed in her womb.
The child remained in the womb of his mother for twelve years, and when the father asked the son to come out, the son replied that he would not come out unless he were completely liberated from the influence of maya.
Vyasadeva then assured the child that he would not be influenced by maya, but the child did not believe his father, for the father was still attached to his wife and children.
Vyasadeva then went to Dvaraka and informed the Personality of Godhead about his problem, and the Personality of Godhead, at Vyasadeva’s request, went to Vyasadeva’s cottage, where He assured the child in the womb that he would not be influenced by maya.
Thus assured, the child came out, but he immediately went away as a parivrajakacarya.
When the father, very much aggrieved, began to follow his saintly boy, Sukadeva Gosvami, the boy created a duplicate Sukadeva, who later entered family life.
Therefore, the suka-kanya, or daughter of Sukadeva, mentioned in this verse is the daughter of the duplicate or imitation Sukadeva.
The original Sukadeva was a lifelong brahmacari.
9.21.26
jaigisavyopadesena
yoga-tantram cakara ha
udaksenas tatas tasmad
bhallato barhadisavah
SYNONYMS
jaigisavya—of the great rsi named Jaigisavya; upadesena—by the instruction; yoga-tantram—an elaborate description of the mystic yoga system; cakara—compiled; ha—in the past; udaksenah—Udaksena; tatah—from him (Visvaksena); tasmat—from him (Udaksena); bhallatah—a son named Bhallata; barhadisavah—(all of these are known as) descendants of Brhadisu.
TRANSLATION
Following the instructions of the great sage Jaigisavya, Visvaksena compiled an elaborate description of the mystic yoga system.
From Visvaksena, Udaksena was born, and from Udaksena, Bhallata.
All these sons are known as descendants of Brhadisu.
9.21.27
yavinaro dvimidhasya
krtimams tat-sutah smrtah
namna satyadhrtis tasya
drdhanemih suparsvakrt
SYNONYMS
yavinarah—Yavinara; dvimidhasya—the son of Dvimidha; krtiman—Krtiman; tat-sutah—the son of Yavinara; smrtah—is well known; namna—by name; satyadhrtih—Satyadhrti; tasya—of him (Satyadhrti); drdhanemih—Drdhanemi; suparsva-krt—the father of Suparsva.
TRANSLATION
The son of Dvimidha was Yavinara, whose son was Krtiman.
The son of Krtiman was well known as Satyadhrti.
From Satyadhrti came a son named Drdhanemi, who became the father of Suparsva.
9.21.28-29
suparsvat sumatis tasya
putrah sannatimams tatah
krti hiranyanabhad yo
yogam prapya jagau sma sat
samhitah pracyasamnam vai
nipo hy udgrayudhas tatah
tasya ksemyah suviro ’tha
suvirasya ripunjayah
SYNONYMS
suparsvat—from Suparsva; sumatih—a son named Sumati; tasya putrah—his son (Sumati’s son); sannatiman—Sannatiman; tatah—from him; krti—a son named Krti; hiranyanabhat—from Lord Brahma; yah—he who; yogam—mystic power; prapya—getting; jagau—taught; sma—in the past; sat—six; samhitah—descriptions; pracyasamnam—of the Pracyasama verses of the Sama Veda; vai—indeed; nipah—Nipa; hi—indeed; udgrayudhah—Udgrayudha; tatah—from him; tasya—his; ksemyah—Ksemya; suvirah—Suvira; atha—thereafter; suvirasya—of Suvira; ripunjayah—a son named Ripunjaya.
TRANSLATION
From Suparsva came a son named Sumati, from Sumati came Sannatiman, and from Sannatiman came Krti, who achieved mystic power from Brahma and taught six samhitas of the Pracyasama verses of the Sama Veda.
The son of Krti was Nipa; the son of Nipa, Udgrayudha; the son of Udgrayudha, Ksemya; the son of Ksemya, Suvira; and the son of Suvira, Ripunjaya.
9.21.30
tato bahuratho nama
purumidho ’prajo ’bhavat
nalinyam ajamidhasya
nilah santis tu tat-sutah
SYNONYMS
tatah—from him (Ripunjaya); bahurathah—Bahuratha; nama—named; purumidhah—Purumidha, the younger brother of Dvimidha; aprajah—sonless; abhavat—became; nalinyam—through Nalini; ajamidhasya—of Ajamidha; nilah—Nila; santih—Santi; tu—then; tat-sutah—the son of Nila.
TRANSLATION
From Ripunjaya came a son named Bahuratha.
Purumidha was sonless.
Ajamidha had a son named Nila by his wife known as Nalini, and the son of Nila was Santi.
9.21.31-33
santeh susantis tat-putrah
purujo ’rkas tato ’bhavat
bharmyasvas tanayas tasya
pancasan mudgaladayah
yavinaro brhadvisvah
kampillah sanjayah sutah
bharmyasvah praha putra me
pancanam raksanaya hi
visayanam alam ime
iti pancala-samjnitah
mudgalad brahma-nirvrttam
gotram maudgalya-samjnitam
SYNONYMS
santeh—of Santi; susantih—Susanti; tat-putrah—his son; purujah—Puruja; arkah—Arka; tatah—from him; abhavat—generated; bharmyasvah—Bharmyasva; tanayah—son; tasya—of him; panca—five sons; asan—were; mudgala-adayah—headed by Mudgala; yavinarah—Yavinara; brhadvisvah—Brhadvisva; kampillah—Kampilla; sanjayah—Sanjaya; sutah—sons; bharmyasvah—Bharmyasva; praha—said; putrah—sons; me—my; pancanam—of five; raksanaya—for protection; hi—indeed; visayanam—of different states; alam—competent; ime—all of them; iti—thus; pancala—Pancala; samjnitah—designated; mudgalat—from Mudgala; brahma-nirvrttam—consisting of brahmanas; gotram—a dynasty; maudgalya—Maudgalya; samjnitam—so designated.
TRANSLATION
The son of Santi was Susanti, the son of Susanti was Puruja, and the son of Puruja was Arka.
From Arka came Bharmyasva, and from Bharmyasva came five sons—Mudgala, Yavinara, Brhadvisva, Kampilla and Sanjaya.
Bharmyasva prayed to his sons, O my sons, please take charge of my five states, for you are quite competent to do so Thus his five sons were known as the Pancalas.
From Mudgala came a dynasty of brahmanas known as Maudgalya.
9.21.34
mithunam mudgalad bharmyad
divodasah puman abhut
ahalya kanyaka yasyam
satanandas tu gautamat
SYNONYMS
mithunam—twins, one male and one female; mudgalat—from Mudgala; bharmyat—the son of Bharmyasva; divodasah—Divodasa; puman—the male one; abhut—generated; ahalya—Ahalya; kanyaka—the female; yasyam—through whom; satanandah—Satananda; tu—indeed; gautamat—generated by her husband, Gautama.
TRANSLATION
Mudgala, the son of Bharmyasva, had twin children, one male and the other female.
The male child was named Divodasa, and the female child was named Ahalya.
From the womb of Ahalya by the semen of her husband, Gautama, came a son named Satananda.
9.21.35
tasya satyadhrtih putro
dhanur-veda-visaradah
saradvams tat-suto yasmad
urvasi-darsanat kila
sara-stambe ’patad reto
mithunam tad abhuc chubham
SYNONYMS
tasya—of him (Satananda); satyadhrtih—Satyadhrti; putrah—a son; dhanuh-veda-visaradah—very expert in the art of archery; saradvan—Saradvan; tat-sutah—the son of Satyadhrti; yasmat—from whom; urvasi-darsanat—simply by seeing the celestial Urvasi; kila—indeed; sara-stambe—on a clump of sara grass; apatat—fell; retah—semen; mithunam—a male and female; tat abhut—there were born; subham—all-auspicious.
TRANSLATION
The son of Satananda was Satyadhrti, who was expert in archery, and the son of Satyadhrti was Saradvan.
When Saradvan met Urvasi, he discharged semen, which fell on a clump of sara grass.
From this semen were born two all-auspicious babies, one male and the other female.
9.21.36
tad drstva krpayagrhnac
chantanur mrgayam caran
krpah kumarah kanya ca
drona-patny abhavat krpi
SYNONYMS
tat—those twin male and female babies; drstva—seeing; krpaya—out of compassion; agrhnat—took; santanuh—King Santanu; mrgayam—while hunting in the forest; caran—wandering in that way; krpah—Krpa; kumarah—the male child; kanya—the female child; ca—also; drona-patni—the wife of Dronacarya; abhavat—became; krpi—named Krpi.
TRANSLATION
While Maharaja Santanu was on a hunting excursion, he saw the male and female children lying in the forest, and out of compassion he took them home.
Consequently, the male child was known as Krpa, and the female child was named Krpi.
Krpi later became the wife of Dronacarya.