Abhimanyu-Vadha Parva — The story of Mandhata

Narada said O Srinjaya, we also heard that Yuvanasva's son, king Mandhata, who vanquished the celestials, the Asuras and the gods and the worlds, had to undergo death.

The twin Asvinas, (the celestial physicians) drew him out of his fathers womb. Once on a time when out hunting, king Yuvanasva became thirsty and his steed became exhausted.

Seeing at a distance, a curl of smoke, the monarch (guided by it) reached a sacrificial compound and he drank the sacrificial butter that lay scattered there. (Thereupon the monarch conceived). Then seeing the king quick with child.

The two foremost of celestials physicians, the twin Asvins drew out the child from the kings womb. Then beholding the new-born babe of divine radiance lie on the lap of his father. one

The gods spoke to another saying-'Whom shall this child suck.' Then Vasava said-"Let this child suck, my finger first.'

Thereupon from the fingers of Indra nectareous milk flowed out. Because Indra had, out of compassion for the child, said “Let him suck me.'

Therefore the celestials designated him as Mandhatri. Then streams of milk and clarified butter flowed into the mouth of Yuvanasva's son from the finger of the high-souled Indra. He then drank the nectar flowing from Indra's hand and thus went on growing.

In twelve days he became twelve cubits in stature and was also endued with great prowess. And he conquered this extensive earth in the course of a single day.

Of righteous soul, endued with great intelligence and heroic and devoted to truth and of controlled passions, Mandhatri conquered, through the force of his bow, Janarmejaya, Sudhanva, Gaya, Puru, Brihadratha, Asita and king Nriga.

The hill where the sun rises and the hill where it sets, all the land lying between these two hills, is called the dominion of the king Mandhatri, the son of Yuvanasva.

Having accomplished a hundred horsesacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices also. He gave away to the Brahmanas, O ruler of men, some Rohita fish made of gold that were ten yojanas in length and one yojana in breadth.

Piles of delicate and tasteful foods and edibles, after the Brahmanas had been entertained, were partaken of by other people and greatly enhanced their joy.

Enormous quantities of food, viands edibles and drinks and potion and piles of cooked rice were there and shone beautiful. Many rivers, having lakes of clarified butter, with various kinds of soup for their mud, curds for their forth and honey for their water, looking charming and flowing in currents of milk and honey, wended round the mountains of solid edibles.

Gods, Asuras, men, Jakshas, Gandharvas, snakes, birds and many Vipras, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliaries, came at this sacrifices. Among the Brahmanas and the sages who came there, there was none who was not learned.

King Mandhatri having given away as gift the earth bounded by the ocean and replete with all sorts of wealth, to the Brahmanas, at last set like the sun itself.

Then having filled the quarters with his fame, he repaired to the regions of righteous. Even when such a king, O Srinjaya, died, who was superior to you in all the four cardinal qualities and consequently much more superior to your son-you should not lament for your son saying-'Oh Shvaitya'-who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial gifts.