सम्भव पर्व — भीष्म और सत्यवती का संवाद

Bhishma said: The king Haihayas was killed by (Parashu) Rama, the son of Jamadagni, with his battle axe from his anger at the death of his father. Cutting off one thousand arms of Arjuna (Haihayas), he achieved a most difficult feat in the world.

He set out on his car to conquer the world; and taking up his bow, he hurled his mighty weapons to exterminate the Kshatriyas. In olden time the illustrious descendant of the Bhrigu race, exterminated the Kshatriya race for twenty one times with his swift arrows.

When the earth was thus in olden time made Kshatriya-less by that great Rishi, the Kshatriya women raised children by the Brahmanas, learned in the Vedas. They went to the Brahmanas not lustfully, but from virtuous motives. It is said in the Vedas that the son so raised belongs to him that had married the mother.

Having established Dharma in mind those Brahmanas reached there. In this world we have seen rebirth of Kshatriyas.

Thus it was that the Kshatriya race was again brought into existence all over the world. There is an old history in connection with this matter and I shall narrate it to you.

There was in the time of yore, a wise Rishi, named Utathya. He had a wife, name Mamata whom he dearly loved. One day Utathya's younger brother, the priest of the celestials, the greatly effulgent Brihaspati, proposed to Mamata.

Mamata said to her Devara (husband's younger brother), that best of eloquent men, “I am pregnant by your elder brother; therefore you should not seek me now.

O illustrious Brihaspati, the child, who is now in my womb, has studied there the Vedas with six Angas. Your seed is also infallible. How is it possible for two children to live there at the same time? Therefore, you should not desire me to-day.”

Having been thus addressed by her, Brihaspati, though greatly intelligent, could not suppress his desire.

(Slokas 14 to 21 are not translated for obvious reasons.)

From the curse of the Rishi Brihaspati, Utathy's son, as illustrious and as effulgent as Brihaspati, was born blind; and he was named Dirghatamas. The born-blind, Veda-knowing and greatly wise Rishi obtained for his wife by his learning a young and handsome Brahmana maiden, named Pradveshi.

He begot on her Gautama and other sons in order to keep up the illustrious line of Utathya's race. But Gautama and others were all covetous and fools. The virtuous-minded, high souled and learned in the Vedas and Vedangas. (Dirghatamas) learnt from Surabhi's son the practices of the cow race and he began publicly to commit the vice.

The excellent Rishis, the dwellers of the same hermitage, became indignant to see him transgress all propriety. They said, “This man transgresses all propriety. He deserves not to live in the hermitage. We shall all renounce this sinful wretch."

They said many things else regarding the Rishi Dirghatamas. His wife also, having (already) obtained sons, was not pleased with him.

Pradveshi said : The husband then addressing his wife Pradveshi said, "Why are you dissatisfied with me?" The husband is called Bhatri, because he supports his wife; he is called Pati, because he protects her, but you are neither to me. O great ascetic, as you are blind from your birth, it is I who have supported you and your children. But I shall do it no longer.

Bhishma said: Having heard her words, the Rishi became angry and he said to his wife Pradveshi and her sons "Take me to the Kshatriyas (kings) and you will then be rich."

Pradveshi said : O Brahmana, I do not desire to possess the wealth, earned by you, which would always be the cause of misery. O best of Brahmanas, do what you like; I shall not support you as I did before.

Dirghatamas said : From this day I make this rule among men that every woman shall stick to one husband only all through her life. Whether the husband is dead, or whether he is alive, she must not have connection with another man. She, who will have it, will be considered as fallen. A woman without a husband will always be liable to be sinful. Even if she is wealthy, she will not be able to enjoy it truly. Calumny and evil report will always follow her.

Bhishma said: Having heard these words, the Brahmana lady became exceedingly angry and said, “O sons, throw him into the Ganges.”

Her avaricious and foolish sons, Gautama and his brothers, exclaimed, “Why should we support this blind old man?” Thus thinking, those wicked men tied him on a raft and threw him into the Ganges. They then returned home.

The Brahmana, drifting along the stream on that raft, passed through the territories of many kings. One day a king, named Bali, learned in all the precepts of religion, saw him (the blind Rishi) drifting along the stream and approaching near him.

O best of the Bharata race, the virtuousminded Bali, whose strength was truth, knowing who he was, took him up (from the stream) for the purpose of raising up offspring. He said. "O illustrious man, I have to raise up a few sons on my wife. Therefore, beget on her some virtuous and wise sons.'

Thus addressed, the greatly effulgent Rishi said to him, “Be it so.” Thereupon, that king sent his wife Sudeshna to him.

That lady, knowing him to be blind and old, did not go to him. She sent to him her old nurse. The virtuous-minded Rishi begot on that Shudra woman eleven sons.

O descendant of the Bharata race, seeing all those sons, Kakshivata being their eldest, who studied all the Vedas, the king one day asked the Rishi, "Are these sons mine?”

The great Rishi said to him, "No, they are mine. I have begotten Kakshivat and others on a Shudra woman.

Your queen, Sudeshna, finding me old and blind, the foolish woman, insulted me (by not coming herself) and sent her nurse to me.

He (the king) then gratified the excellent Rishi and sent his wife, Sudeshna, again to him.

Dhirghatama touched that lady's body and told her, “You will give birth to sons, as effulgent as the sun.

Namely, Anga, Vanga, Kalinga Pundra and Sunga. Five countries will be named on earth after their names,

From Anga a country will be called Anga, from Banga one Banga, from Kalinga one Kalinga, from Pundra one Pundra and from Suhma one Sahma. It was thus the line of Bali was perpetuated by the Rishi.

It was thus that many virtuous, greatly energetic and exceedingly strong bow-men, Kshatriyas, were born from the Brahmanas. Hearing this, O mother, do as you like in this matter. Q