Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 9: “Liberation”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twenty-one
SB9.21.19-20
TEXTS 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].
SB9.21.21
TEXT 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. SB9.21.22 TEXT 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. SB9.21.23 TEXT 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. SB9.21.24 TEXT 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. SB9.21.25 TEXT 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. SB9.21.26 TEXT 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. SB9.21.27 TEXT 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. SB9.21.28-29 TEXTS 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. SB9.21.30 TEXT 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. SB9.21.31-33 TEXTS 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. SB9.21.34 TEXT 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. SB9.21.35 TEXT 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. SB9.21.36 TEXT 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. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twenty-first Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Dynasty of Bharata.”