Bhishma and Satyavati

Janmajeya wanted to know what happened to Devavrata? How did his meeting with the fisherman go?

The sage continued :

Dasa greeted Devavrata and said : Your father had visited me and I had spoken to him. Your father is very handsome. Anyone would die to give over his daughter to such a person. There is something else I had told him, which I am not sure if I should tell you.

Devavrata wanted to know what that was. He further said, if it was possible, he would do anything possible to make his father happy.

Dasa said, the king has a worthy son like you. Everyone has heard of you and your might.

Understand what the fisherman meant, Devavrata said, I promise that from this day on, I give up all rights to the throne of Hastinapur. The child born of your daughter will rule Hastinapur.

Dasa said : I respect your word. I have one doubt. While you will abide by your word, what about your children? Will they not start fighting for the throne?

Devavrata said, If I can easily give up the rights to the throne, why do you doubt my word. I hereby make another promise, I will remain a bachelor till my dying day.

The Gods in the heaven were amazed to hear this. All over, on earth and heaven, everyone started praising Devavrata. The Gods said - Such a task has not been done any one so far. As you have undertaken a great task, from today you will be known as Bhishma. Also because of your promise and knowing that you have taken the path of truth for a girl, the girl hence forth will be known as Satyavati.

Matsyagandha and Vyasa

Desiring Matsyagandha, Parasara asked the maiden to lie with him.
The girl said, No one comes near me because of the odour that comes from my body. How will you be able to withstand that smell?

The sage smiled. He said from now onwards, the smell of the fishes will be replaced by the smell of lotus. Even after lying with me, your virginity will remain intact. You will be a queen one day.

The maiden suddenly looked more beautiful and her smell was gone.

Folding her hands, she said There are many people on the banks of the river. I am ashamed to sleep with you while others are watching.

An island appeared in the midst of the river. Away from all, the sage and the girl spent some time. Soon the girl was pregnant and gave birth to a boy who was called Vyasa.

As he was born on an island (Dweep) he was named Dwaipayana. As soon as he was born, the child asked permission from his mother to go into the forests to pray. He said if ever he was needed, all his mother had to do was, to call for him and he would appear.

Matsyagandha born

There was a king once called Parichar. Giving up everything, he went into the forests where he spent his days in meditation. Indra thought the king would take over his throne.
Riding his mount, Airavata, he arrived in the spot where the king was meditating. Addressing the king, he asked him to give up the austere penance. He gave the king many divine clothes and a garland called Vaijayanti. Crowing him as the king of Chedi, Indra left.

He got married to a beautiful woman.

One day he left for a hunt, to kill some deer. Though he was in the forest, hunting, his mind was thinking of his wife. Struck with passion, his seed feel on a leaf. He asked his pet falcon to take the semen to his wife.

When the bird was flying, he was spotted by another falcon. The birds started fighting and the leaf feel into the river Yamuna.

Dirghika, an apsara was living the waters. She had been cursed by a sage to live the life of a fish.  She ended up swallowing the semen that had fallen in the waters and became pregnant.

The fish was caught one day and the moment the fishermen lifted her on the banks, the fish gave birth to a tiny baby boy and a tiny baby girl, and taking the form of the apsara, she left for the heaven.

The people were amazed. They took the children and brought them to king Parichar. The king accepted the boy as his son, and gave the girl to the chief of fishermen, to be raised as his daughter.

The king named his son Matsyaraj and raised him as his son.

The chief of fishermen raised the girl was very beautiful except that she had a very strong fishy odour which would emanate from her body. So strong was the smell that no wanted to go near her.

He asked his daughter to live on the banks of Yamuna and help all who wanted to cross the river.

The sage Parasara one day happened to be there. He spotted the girl sitting on the banks of the river.
Moved by her beauty and driven by passion, the sage desired her. He asked her who she was.

She said was the daughter of a fisherman and because the smell that came from her body, she had been named Matsyagandha.

Shantanu meets Dasa's daughter

Few years after crowing Devavrata, Shantanu decided to go an a hunt. Roaming on the banks of river Yamuna, he smelt a wonderful smell. Wanting to know from where the perfume was coming, he tried to follow the smell, to see what was the origin of it.
He saw a beautiful woman sitting on a boat. The king was enamored.
He approached the woman and asked her who she was.
She said she was the daughter of Dasa and her father had told her to tend to the boat.
The king went where Dasa, chief of fishermen lived.

Dasa seeing the king coming folded his hands and asked why the king had graced his humble dwelling.

The king asked for his daughter's hand in wedding. Dasa said he would only one condition, if the son born of his daughter would be made king.

King thinking of his son Devavrata went back home. He spent sleepless nights and gave up food. He wanted the woman yet he did not want Devavrata to loose out of what was rightfully his.

Devavrata found out what had happened and he left to meet Dasa.

Devavrata meets Shantanu

The king was grief stricken when Ganga left him. He was inconsolable. Somehow he went about his daily duties.
One day, after many years, the king was strolling on the banks of the river Ganga. He saw the flow Ganga had been divided into six streams by arrows. The king saw sitting in the banks, a boy clad in armour with bows and arrows. Seeing the king approach, the boy vanished in the waters of Ganga.

Suddenly, taking a human form Ganga appeared there. She took the boy and prsented him to Shantanu. Take your son - this is the boy who was saved. His name is Devavrata. He has studied from the Gurus of the Gods and Shukra and has no equal in knowledge. Make him the crown prince.

Ganga vanished, and Shantanu brought Devavrata home.

The curse of the Vasus

Shantanu saw a beautiful woman on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) and asked her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition: that Shantanu would not ask any questions about her actions. She said that if he ever questioned her actions, he would never see her again.
A beautiful son was born soon after and the child was drowned by its mother in the water of the Ganges. Shantanu could not ask her the reason, because of his promise, lest she would leave him. One by one, seven sons were born to them and were drowned by Ganga. When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, Shantanu, devastated, could not restrain himself and confronted her. 'What kind of enchanted person are you, who kills its child, the moment it is born'.

Ganga then said - I am the river Ganga. I was cursed to be born as a human and I had to bear the eight Vasus as my children. The Vasus had come to me and asked me to relive them of the curse, which is why I took the child when it was born and threw it in the waters.

The king wanted to know why the Vasus had been cursed.

Ganga said - Vashistha, son of Varuna, lived in the Himalayas. He was married to Surabhi, a daughter of Daksha. He had a  cow called Kamadhenu. One day the eight Vasus came to visit Vashistha along with their wives. (As per Hindu mythology, the Vasus were demi Gods and lived in the court of Indra and then later in the court of Vishnu.). They roamed around in the hermitage of Vashistha.

One of the Vasus, Divya, had a wife who seeing the cow wanted it. She told her husband to get her the cow. Getting convinced by his wife's idea, the Vasu started pulling the cow, to take it along with him. With the help of the other Vasus, he stole the cow and took it home.

When Vashitha noticed his cow missing, he went into a trance and discovered that the Vasus had stolen his cow. He cursed the Vasus to be born as humans.

The Vasus went to Vashistha and pleaded with him. Relenting, Vashistha said while the seven who had assisted in the stealing would be born and would die the next day and be relieved, the Vasu who had performed the act of stealing would have to live long on earth.

They went to Ganga who agreed to drown them the moment they were born. The eighth child that was destined to live could not be drowned.

Ending her story Ganga said she would leave with the child. When the child had grown up, she would bring him over to his rightful place.

Saying this, Ganga vanished along with the new born child.

Shantanu

The sage continued:
There was a king called Mahibisha.  He possessed many virtuous qualities, and after performing a thousand Ashwamedha Yagnas  and a hundred Rajasuya Yagnas , he had attained heaven after his death. Once he got an opportunity to visit the court of Brahma where all the Devas and Ganga were also present. While the celestials were worshipping Brahma, a wind blew and displaced Ganga's clothes revealing her body. Everybody present there bashfully bent their heads except Mahabhisha who kept on gazing at her body. Ganga was flattered by this and she also desired Mahabhisha . Upon seeing this act, Brahma lost his temper and cursed him and Ganga to be born as mortals and that Ganga will cause much emotional pain to him. He also said that he will be only freed from this curse when he becomes angry upon Ganga's deeds. Mahabhisha then requested Brahma to be born as the son of Kuru king Pratipa and his wish was granted by Brahma.

The eight Vasus who had been cursed by the sage Vashistha to born as mortals on earth as a punishment for stealing his divine cow approached Ganga. They requested to be born as her  sons and also requested her to kill them. Ganga agreed upon the condition that at least one child might live. They accepted her condition and told her that they will all contribute an eighth part of their energies to that child and he will be remain childless for his whole life.

 The Kuru king Pratipa was once meditating. At that time Ganga took the form of a beautiful woman approached the king and sat on his right thigh. When he asked her what did she want, Ganga requested him to become her husband. Pratipa however refused since he had taken a vow not to lust for anybody and that she had sat on his right thigh and according to traditions a man's right thigh was for his daughter or daughter-in-law while the left thigh was for his wife.

He then proposed her for marrying his son to which she agreed. She also said that his son should never question her acts.

A child was born to Pratipa and his wife in their old age. He was named Shantanu because when he was born his father had controlled his passions by ascetic penances. When he grew up into youth, his father told him that if he meets a celestial damsel in secret who asks to marry him, he should agree and he should never question her acts. Pratipa then installed Shantanu as king of Hastinapura and retired into the woods to perform penances. Bahlika who was elder than Shantanu also gave permission to him for becoming the king of Hastinapura.

Puru's Dynasty

Janmajeya asked what happened to the sons of Yayati? What happened to Puru?
The sage said, from Yadu were born the Yadavas, Tuvravasu's dynasty was that of the Yavana.
 Druhyu's dynasty was the Bhoja dynasty. Anu's dynasty was that of the Mlechhas.
Paurava was the son of Puru, in whose dynasty the Pandavas and Kauravas were born.
Puru's had three sons, of whom the eldest succeded him. In the dynasty of Puru was born Dushyanta who married Shakuntala.
One of the sons in the dynasty was called Hasti in whose name was formed the kingdom of Hastinapur.
In his clan, one of the kings married, Tapati, daughter of the sun. Tapati's son was Kuru in whose name was named the place, Kurukshetra.
In this dynasty was born Shantanu, whose son was Bhishma. He married Satyawati and had two more sons - Chitrangad and Vichitravirya. Chitrangad was killed by a Gandharva. With the blessings of Vyasa, Vichitravirya had three sons - Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura.
Dhritrarashtra had a hundred sons. Pandu became king and had five sons. Arjuna was one of them, whose son was Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu's son was Parikshit, whose son is you, Janmajeya.

Janmajeya said, what you told me, is very brief. Please give me the details. How did Ganga, who is supposed to be a part of Vishnu, become a wife of Shantanu? 

Yayati leaves for heaven

Yayati have given off the kingdom to Puru left for the forests to leave his worldly pleasures and live the life of an ascetic. For years, he lived in the forests and gradually gave up food. He was reduced to just skins and bones.
One day, leaving his body, the king left for the heaven. Living for sometime in the realm of Brahma, he went to realm of Indra.
Indra wanted to know what advice he had given Puru.
Yayati said, Treat your subjects as your children, Get rid of evil people, When it is time give the kingdom over to who is able and leave for the forests.

He also started praising himself and his good work, for which Indra said he could not remain in the heaven. Yayati started falling towards the earth.

Poor Yayati was about to return to earth because Indra was forcing him when suddenly Ashtaka, his grandson, appeared. Ashtaka was a son of Madhavi, Devyani and Yayati's daughter.  Ashtaka was accompanied by two of his friends, Vasuman and Shaivi. Ashtaka said to his grandfather, "Please stay in the highest Heaven with us. Here I will give you shelter. Our region perhaps is not as great as you deserve, but please accept our heart's humble offering."

Vasuman and Shaivi also said the same: "We would be honoured to be able to give you shelter here, O Yayati. Do stay."

On hearing this, Indra got furious. "What right do you have to say that to this shamelessly proud human being? Heaven is all mine; each part belongs to me. I forbid you to give him shelter in my Heaven."

"Please, Indra," the three friends pleaded, "we beg you to allow Yayati to stay with us."

"All right!" cried Indra. "For this disobedience, all four of you must descend into the world."

"Impossible!" the three friends replied.

But Indra forced them to return to earth, along with King Yayati. When they descended to earth, they started praying and meditating very soulfully. After a few years, again Yayati was in a position to go to Heaven. Just through his meditation power he had developed the capacity to leave his body and go back to Heaven.

But Ashtaka, Vasuman and Shaivi hadn't yet acquired that kind of power, so Yayati said to them, "I have the power to go to Heaven, but I shall not go. Because you three were very kind to me when we were in Heaven, now I shall wait for you."

All three friends immediately said, "No, you should go. When our time comes, when we have acquired this power, when we are illumined like you, then we shall also ascend to Heaven."

But Yayati said, "No, I can't do that. I shall wait."

So the King waited and eventually the others also were in a position to go to Heaven. This time Indra again asked Yayati, "How did you come?"

Yayati said wisely, "Oh, I have practiced a little austerities, but it is all due to your Grace. The very fact that I practised those austerities was also due to your Grace."

Indra was extremely pleased with Yayati's answer. "Yayati, this kind of humility is good. Now you can stay in Heaven as long as you want to. You can stay because you have learned the true meaning of humility," he said.

Yayati and Puru

Coming back Yayati called for his sons. He said - I have been cursed with old age. I have the wish to live for a few more years, enjoy my youth and life. Who of you will be willing to accept my age, give me your age?
Yadu refused and was cursed to have a bad dynasty. Turvavasu refused and was cursed to be the king of tribals (mlechhas).
When the sons of Devyani refused, he asked the sons of Sharmistha.
Druhyu refused and was cursed to lead a life of Adharma. Anu refused and was cursed to have all the ill effects of old age.
The youngest of the sons, Puru agreed to accept the old age. Puru was blessed to be a great king.
Puru became old and Yayati regained his youth.
The king enjoyed himself for years. One day he saw his son Puru suffering and suddenly he felt very ashamed of himself. He realized that desires and wishes were never ending. He went to him and gave him back his youth. He also declared that after him, Puru would be crowned the king.

Yayati Cursed

One day Yayati went with Devyani into the forests to just roam around. Sharmistha happened to be there with her three sons. The sons seeing their father, called out to him and went to him. Devyani asked the boys who they were. The boys said that they were the sons of Yayati and Sharmistha. She asked Sharmistha to tell the truth. Sharmistha said, as Devyani's maid, the king was her lord too and that was the reason why she had sons with the king. She said her sons were willing to serve her sons also.

Angry, Devyani left the king's land taking her sons along with her. She went to her father's place. The king followed trying to console her. It was all futile. Devyani went to her father and said that her husband had secretly married Sharmistha and also had sons with her.

Shukra in anger cursed Yayati to age immediately and become old. The king's body began to age. His hair started turning grey. Turning to Shukra, he said if I become old and die, your daughter will be widowed.

Shukracharya also said that his curse once uttered, could not be taken back, and added that the only concession he could give was that if Yayati wanted, he could give his old age to someone, and take his youth from him.

Devyani's marriage

One Devyani with Sharmistha, went to a forest and played around. Yayati was passing by. Seeing Devyani, the king asked her who she was. She said was Devyani and introducing Sharmistha, she said this was her hand maiden. She then wanted to know who he was.

When she learnt that this was the same king who had rescued her from the well, she said as he had held her by her right hand, he needed to marry her.

The king said he knew that she was the daughter of Shukra, a great brahmin priest and he did not dare to marry her. Devyani said the marriage would take place with her father's blessings.

Shukra came and met Yayati. He gave away his daughter to the king. Sharmistha, as the hand maiden went along with Yayati to Hastinapur, wshere Yayati lived.

After some time Devyani gave birth to son who was named Yadu. One day Yayati happened to pass by the place where Sharmishtha lived. Seeing him, Sharmishtha confessed that she too was in love with the king and wanted him to marry her. She told him that she belonged to a royal family, and Yayati could marry her. Yayati agreed and they wed in secret.

Soon after Sharmistha gave birth to a son. When Devyani heard this, she wanted to know with whom Sharmistha had slept and how she had a child. Sharmistha said she had been given a boon by a sage to have a child, thus she had given birth.

In time, Devyani gave birth to another son - Tuvravasu. Sharmistha had three sons totally - Druhyu, Anu and Puru.

Devyani believed that these were the sons of Sharmistha and a sage.

The boys began growing up.

Devyani and Sharmistha

Janmajeya wanted to know about Devyani and what happened to her.
The sage continuing said :
One Devyani along with her friends and the pricess Sharmistha went for a bath in the river nearby. Taking their clothes off and keeping it on the banks, the women entered the waters and stared playing in the water. A wind blew suddenly, and all clothes on the bank were blown off. The girls realizing got off and wore what they could recognize as theirs. Sharmista and Devyani's clothes got mixed and they ended up wearing each other's clothes.
Devyani seeing Sharmista wearing her clothes got angry and said as a daughter of a lower caste (Devyani was the daughter of a priest, so considered herself higher than all) how dare she touched the clothes.
A quarrel ensued. Sharmistha said it was because of her father that Devyani and her father were alive. The quarrel took the form a fist between the two. Sharmisthain anger, pushed Devyani  into a ditch and went away, not bothering to see whether Devyani  was dead or alive.

Yayati, son of Nahusha, was around that area for hunting. Feeling thirsty, he and his courtiers started searching for water and found a lady fallen in a ditch.The courtiers reported back to the king that they had seen a deep ditch and had seen a beautiful woman stuck there.

The king coming there asked her, who she was. She said she was Devyani, daughter of Shukra and requested the king to get her out of the ditch. Taking the girl's right hand, the king pulled her out and went off to his land.

Coming out, Devyani told a friend that she was ashamed of being in the same land as Sharmitha, and did not want to go to her home. She asked the friend to inform her father.

Shukra hearing this came and saw his daughter, eyes full of tears, sitting in the forest. Shukra, when he heard all that had happened, told her to let go of her anger. Anger would destroy all, it would not give rise to any good.

Shukra went to Vrishaparva, the asura king, whose daughter, Sharmistha had pushed his daughter. Shukra said, because of the behavious of Sharmistha, he would leave the land and leave forever. Vrishaparva wasted no time and went to Devayani taking his daughter Sharmistha along. He begged forgiveness for his daughter. Devayani agreed to return on one condition that Sharmistha be her handmaiden for the rest of her life. Sharmistha agreed for the sake of her father.

Devyani's curse

One day Devyani asked Kacha to get some flowers. She wanted to worship the Gods and wanted some flowers for that. The asuras seeing him, killed him again., This time, they cut him up, ground him into a fine paste and fed him to Shukra.

Seeing no sign of Kacha in the evening, Devyani went to her father and wanted to know he could help Kacha. She said she feared that the asuras had killed him again. She said she loved KAcha and would not live without him. Shukra tried to console her, but she would not listen.

Shukra sat in meditation and relaized Kacha was inside his own body. He wanted to know how this had happened. Kacha told him the whole story.

Shukra started thinking what to do. If Kacha came out, Shukra would die. If Kacha did not live, Devyani would kill herself and also he would get the sin of the death of Kacha.

He decided to teach Kacha the mantra and asked to use that, come out and revive him. Tearing Shukra's belly. Kacha came out and then using the mantra, he revived Shukra.

He cursed the asuras who mixed Kacha's flesh in his drink, saying if a brahman ever drank alcohol after this, it would be considered a sin.

Having learnt all he could, Kacha decided to take leave of Shukra and Devyani. Devyani said she would not be able to live without him and asked Kacha to marry her.

Kacha said he would not be able to do so. As his guru's daughter, she was his sister and marrying her would be a sin.

Angry she cursed Kacha, saying all that he had learnt so far, he would forget. Kacha in turn cursed her, saying she would marry a Kshatriya (which was below her level, as she was a brahmin). He also said, he would not use the matras, but teach his disciples, who would put mantras to good use.

Kacha comes to Shukra

The Gods and Asuras were in constant wars. They appointed priests for both sides. While Brisahpati was the priest for the Gods, Shukracharya became the priest for the asuras. Shukra knew the mantras for reviving the dead and when the asuras would be killed in the wards between Gods, Shukra would bring them back to life.The same was not possible for Brihaspati. The Gods decided to do something. They approached Kacha, son of Brihaspati and asked him to learn the mantra form Shukra.

He was asked to go to Shukra and stay with him as his disciple and learn the mantra and bring that back to the Devas. Shukra had a daughter, Devyani. Kacha was told to go and become friendly with Devyani.

Kacha went to Shukra and introduced himself and became a disciple of Shukra.

In Shukra's ashrama, Kacha learnt all that he could. He also served Devyani, getting her whatever she wished for, and also entertaining her by singing and dancing.

One day Shukra asked Kacha to go to the fields to graze the cattle. The asuras saw Kacha with the cattle. Knowing him to be the son of Brihaspati, They attacked him, killed him cut his body into pieces and fed him to the wild beasts.

Shukra saw the cattle return without Kacha in the evening. Devyani, missing Kacha, went to her father and asked him if knew where Kacha was. Shukra realizing what had happened to Kacha, said I will revive him with my mantras. Devyani wanted to know where he was, and Kacha said he had been killed when he went out with the cattle.

Devyani forbade him going with the cattle ever again.

Lunar Dynasty

Janmajeya asked the sage, Bharat was born in the lunar clan. Please tell me more about this.
Vaishampayana said Son of Parikshit, listen as I tell you about the dynasty.
Marich was the son of Brahma, whose son was the rishi Kashyapa. His son was Surya, In his family was born Ila, who because of a curse became a woman and married Budha, son of Chandra. Ila's son was the king Pururava who wed the apsara, Urvashi. His son was Nahusha. He became the king of heavens and because of his ill deeds was cursed to become a snake. His son was Yayati who cursed to age and become old, bu Shukracharya.

Janmajeya wanted to know what Yayati had done to deserve a curse like this.

Shakuntala's Grief

The king asked Shakuntala to his wife. He said, the clothes of bark and grass are not for you, who should be wearing dresses made of fine silk, jewels made from the finest of the gems.

Shakuntala shyly said, You have my consent O King. I will have to wait for the sage Kanva to come and give me over to you.

The king said, I understand your concern but think of me. I have made up my mind to have you, and I will not be able to wait till the sage returns. Vedas talk about different forms of Vedas and the Gandharva style of wedding is one of the forms. If you give your consent and are willing to marry me, I am sure your foster father will have no objection.

Shakuntala said I agree to marry on one condition, that child that shall be born to us, will be your heir and will take over the kingdom from you.

Burning with desire, the king agreed to the condition. They got married, made love and then the king said he would be leaving and once he reached his kingdom, he would send his courtiers to fetch her and take her back to his kingdom.

After the king left, Kanva came back. He had gone to collect fruits and he came back with a bundle of fruits. Taking the bundle off his shoulder and throwing it on the floor, he called for Shakuntala. Shy and scared, she did not dare come out.The sage, guessing something was wrong closed his eyes. He was able to understand what had happened. He called out to Shakuntala and said, what you have done is not proper. Shakuntala said she had married the king following the laws of Gandharva marriage.

Months passed, and in Kanva;s ashrama, Shakuntala gave birth to a healthy boy. The boy began growing in Kanva's ashrama. He learnt all the vedas and the art of warfare. He was fearless and could easily tackle wild animals like lions, tigers and elephants single handed.

One day Kanva came to Shakuntala and said it was time for the boy to meet his father and stay in Hastinapur, where his father was the king.

Shakuntala went to Hastinapur. The king was in his palace, sitting in the court. Prsenting her son, she said , O king I bring forth your son. Remember the promise that you made to me and accept this boy as your heir.

The king said you are someone from an ashrama, someone's daughter. I do not know you and I am not sure if I have ever met you before.

Angry Shakuntala said you have forgotten the promises that you made to me. This is not what a good king should be like. The Gods know I am speaking the truth. For a lie like, o King, you will have to live for years in hell. I have not thought of any man other than you, and you have no right to show me down. This son here, is a sign of our love. A wife is considered half of her husband, and a wife without a wife cannot perform any sacrifices or perform any pious deeds. From a wife, a king gets his heir and the kingdom their kings. You should be proud of your son and should embrace him, instead of rejecting him. You can reject me if you have to, but acknowledge your son. My mother rejected me, and today I am being rejected by you.

The king still refused to acknowledge her and kept insulting her.

Shakuntala said - Do not think of me as a helpless woman, I can go where where I want, and live the way I want. If this is the kind of character that you have, I refuse to be here another minute.

She was about to leave, when a voice from the heavens said Shakuntala is indeed your wife, the boy with her is your son. Her anger will destroy you. Give her the respect that she deserves. Name your son Bharata. The clan of Bharata will be named after him.

The king got up, and taking Shakuntala's hand, led her back to his palace.

In time, when the king was old, Bharata was made the king.

He was a great king, ruling his subjects wisely performing many sacrifices. 

Shakuntala

The sage continued.

The story of dynasty of Bharata, needs to start with Bharat himself. And to tell that I need to tell you about Dushyanta.
He was a great king, enemy of enemies; friend of all good. He kept his subjects very happy.

One day the king was out hunting. Loosing his way, he found himself in a deep forest. He found the forest full of wild animals which he killed. Roaming around he across a hut of a sage. He could hear the sound of birds chirping there. He did not dare shoot any of the birds, lest the sage curse him.

He told his followers to wait there. He decided to go, meet the sage and after taking his blessings, he would return. The sage was not in his hut at that time, but the sage's daughter, Shakuntala, was there and she served the king, as a guest who was visiting the sage.

The king seeing Shakuntala, fell in love with her. He had never anyone else who was so beautiful. He said, Fair Maiden, I am Dushyanta, the king, I have come to meet and take blessings of the sage Kanva, who lives here. Where has he gone? Who are you, fair maiden?

The girl said Father has gone deep into the forests and will be back soon. If stay a bit longer you will meet him. I am daughter of the sage Kanva.

The king said he had not seen anyone so beautiful. He also said that he had heard that the sage was celibate and had no wife. So how could he then have a daughter, so beautiful? Tell me the truth - Who are you?

The girl, Listen to the story of my birth and how I became the daughter of Kanva,

The sage Vishwamitra was praying in the forests. He had given up food and his penance was austere. Seeing this Indra got scared. Indra thought Vishwamitra wanted to take over his heaven. He sent for the apsara Menaka, whose beauty was incomparable in all the worlds. He told her to go and break the penance of Vishwamitra.

Menaka, with folded hands, bowed down to Indra. She said Vishwamitra is known in all three worlds for his anger. He was responsible for the death of the sons of Vashistha. Though born a king, by his own qualities he has become a brahman. You are afraid of him and his penance, how can I go and destroy that? As you have asked me to go, I will not disrespect your command and will go, whatever be the consequences. I need Kama, God of Love and gentle breezes to accompany me.

She went to the mountain where the sage was meditating and seeing him, started trembling in fear.Controlling herself, she went near the sage and started playing around, singing and dancing. The winds that were blowing blew off her garments which went and fell on the sage. At the same time, Kama shot his darts of love. The sage opened his eyes and saw a naked woman trying to collect her clothes. The darts of Kama had their effect. The sage's meditation was broken. He grabbed Menaka and taking her to a clearing, made love.

For a few days, Vishwamitra and Menaka stayed together in the sage's hut. One day, during dusk, the sage asked Menaka to get him some water. Menaka said, after so many days you remembered that you need to pray during dusk. Hearing this, the sage got angry. Menaka in fear, fled.

At that time, she was heavy with child. She gave birth in the forest, and left the child born in the forest and left. Seeing a child lying around, the birds of the forest, started flying over it to protect it from the harsh rays of the sun. The sage Kanva was passing by. Seeing a girl child on the forest ground, he took pity and took the child home.

Thus I came to be the daughter of Kanva.

Vyasa's epic

Vyasa, in his meditation, saw what was happening. Wise in age and experience, he was the son of Satyawati. His matted hair was golden yellow in colour. Skin was dark in colour.
Knowing that the king was in grief, Vyasa went to the spot where Janmajeya had just killed the brahman. Vyasa asked his desciple, Vaisampayana, to tell Janmajeya about the story of Bharata, listening to which would relieve all griefs and sins.
Janmajeya also wanted to listen to the story. He the rishis, place to sit and then sat down to listen to the story from Vaisampayana.

Vaisampayana bowed down to his Guru, Vyasa, who had composed this epic. Taking his permission, he started. This was a composition listening to which all fears would be dispelled; one who did not have a child would give birth; all griefs would vanish on listening to this.

When there was turmoil on earth, to ensure balance, Narayana took birrth in the dynasty of Brighu as Rama (Parasurama). He went about destroying Kshatriyas and made the earth devoid of them. There were no Khastriyas left. Who would rule the land? Inter marriage took place between Khatriya women and Brahmana men. The progeny that was born was very pious and religious. The land was like another heaven.

Asuras seeing this as opportunity attacked. People started praying to the Gods. Agreeing to relieve their woes, Narayana agreed to be born on the earth to relieve the earth. He requested the other Gods to also take birth on the earth.

Marich was the son of Brahma. His son was Kashyap. Kashyap was married to the daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Twelve Adityas (Surya) were born of Aditi.
Hiranyakashipu was a son of Diti and Kashyapa. He had many sons, primary of which was Prahlad. Prahlad had three sons, Virochan, Kumbha and Nikumbha. Virochan's son was Bali.
His son was Bana, who pleased Shiva by playing his musical instruments.
Thus the progeny the Asuras and Dananavs kept increasing.

Vinata's son was Garuda, who was the Lord of all flying creatures.
Arun, Garuda's brother was the guide of Surya.
Vasuki, the snake was the son of Kadaru.

Similarly were born the Gandharvas and Kinnaras on the earth.

Vishwashrawa was the son of Pulastya. He was the father of Kubera. Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana were also his sons.

Yama had three sons - Shama, Harsha and Kama.
Kama's consort was Rati.
Prapti was the consort of Shama.
Nanda was the consort of Harsha.

Manu was a son of Brahma whose son was Prajapati.

One of the great asuras was born as Jarasandha, king of Magadha.
Other asuras were born as Shishupala, Salya , Dhristaketu, Bhagdatta, Kamsa, Rukmi, Keechak,

Brihaspati was born as Drona, the archer. Rudra was born as Kripacharya.
The Vasus were born as Drupada and Satyaki.

Gandharva Subhau was born as Dhritarashtra.

Dhrma was born as Yudhistira . Bhima , wasVayu born. Indra was born as Arjuna. Ashwini Kumar were born as sons of Madri.

Chandra was born as Abhimanyu,

Narayan was born as Krishna and Balarama.

Dhritarashta had a hundred sons and a daughter, Dushala, who was married to Jayadhratha.

The dancing head

Janmayeja said to all present that he was still hurt and angry, and that his feelings had not vanished. He said, a sage without seeing reason cursed my father and another came and saved me from a grave sin. He said he felt frustrated and wanted to kill and destroy all the brahmanas in his land. In older days there was a king, Kartavirya, who had also pledged to kill Brahmanas.
His ministers were worried seeing the state of the king. They said, No one will advise you to perform such acts. If there was a Kartavirya, there was also a Parashurama who killed Kartavirya.

Knowing the state the mind of the king, Vyasa, the great rishi came there.
Seeing Vyasa, the king was very happy. He welcomed him and washed his feet.

Vyasa said, do not be angry at all brahmanas because of the fault of one. The entira dynasty of Yadu got destroyed because of a brahman. The dynasty of Sagara also got destroyed because of a brahman.

The king said I have killed many snakes as part of this sacrifice. How can I atone for those sins? He decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yagna to wash off his sins. Vyasa asked him not to do so and went away from there.

The king went ahead. At the end of the Yagna, the horse was sacrificed. Suddenly the cut head of the horse started dancing.

Seeing this, a brahman boy was amused and started claping his hands. The king felt insulted and taking a sword, he cut off the boy's head.

Astika interferes with the sacrifice

Seeing Janmejeya angry, Indra told Takshaka to leave as he did not to invite trouble. As soon as he did so, by the power of the sacrifice, Takshaka found himself being pulled into the sacrifice.

Astika saw his relative being pulled, and utter the mantra Tishta (Stop). Takshaka stopped in the mid air.

Astika then turned to the king and said he wanted something from the king. The king said he would happily give what the young sage wished for. He further said, let Takshaka burn and then all the wealth that was needed, would be given.

Astika said, if Takshaka burned, then there was nothing else for him to ask for. Parikshita dies because of a curse. Takshaka did not deliberately go and attack Parikshita. 

Hearing Astika speak, the sages and priests found this reasonable and decided to stop the sacrifice.

Vasuki and Takshaka and the other nagas blessed Astika.

Astika at the sacrifice

Entering the hall, Astika started reciting shlokas from the Vedas. He then started praising Janmajeya and his ancestors. Pleased the king asked him to ask for something for himself. Astika said he did not want anything. The king said he was looking for Takshaka. Astika said, Takshaka had taken refuge with Indra.
Janmajeya was angry. How dare Indra give shelter to an enemy?

Janmajeya's sacrifice

Tons of clarified butter, clothes and grains were ordered to get the snake sacrifice ready. All great rishis were invited for the event. With the chanting of the vedic mantras, the holy fire was lit.
The sages presiding over the sacrifice started by taking the names of nagas. Pulled by the power of the mantras, they got pulled into the fire. Soon the air was full of the stench from burning snakes.
Takshaka seeing this, along his followers ran and hid in Indra's abode.
Vasuki, the king of Nagas saw this. He asked his sister to send for Astika.
When Astika came, his mother told him, 'Our mother had cursed us to be destroyed in the snake sacrifice of Janmajeya. It had had also been said that you, Astika, will be the one who will save teh nagas from their destruction. Please go and stop this destruction'.

Astika left for the place where the sacrifice was happening. He was not allowed inside the sacrificial hall. Astika got angry and told the guards stopping him, were they not aware that stopping a brahman was not proper. The guards not knowing what to say,allowed him to go inside.

Janmajeya decides

Janmajeya's ministers spoke to him. 'Your father was great king. He was out hunting when he accidentally placed a dead snake on a sage who had taken a vow of silence. Angry his son cursed your father to die by the bite of Takshaka. There was a sage who could have helped your father, but Takshaka intervened and did not let him save your father.'.
Janmajeya wanted to know how the ministers knew about the conversation between the sage and Takshaka. They said 'When Takshaka had destroyed the tree, there was a woodcutter on the tree. He was burnt along with the tree. When the sage revived the tree, the woodcutter was revived along with the tree. It is from this person that we heard this story'.
Janmajeya said what you have said is true and  what Uttanka is also true. Takshaka is the root of many evils.
He called for his priests and asked what to do.
They discussed among themselves and decided to have a sacrifice to destroy the snakes.
Invitations were sent out to all to attend the sacrifice.

Astika is born

Leaving his wife, Jaratkaru left for the forests. His wife was alone. With eyes full of tears, Jaratkari left for her brother's house.
Vasuki wanted to know what troubled his sister. She said for no fault of mine, my husband has left me and gone off, never to return.
Vasuki consoled her. He said if you remember mother had cursed us to die in the snake sacrifice. We will survive the sacrifice because of your son. He will be our savior.
Jaratkari said her husband has also said the same before he left. He had said that this son of ours will save both my ancestors and your family.
Vasuki wanted to know why Jaratkaru had left the house. She told her the brother the whole story:

One day my husband was resting with his head on my lap. It was time for sunset - the time when one needs to get up, light the fire and don the worship.Fearing that he will face ill will as he was sleeping away, I woke him. He was angry when he work up. He said even dusk cannot come unless I wake up. As my wife you should have known this.
After this my husband said I had offend him, and he left.

Vasuki consoled his sister and told her not to worry. Her brother's house was her house and she had no cause to worry now.
On a full moon night, Jaratkari gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The boy was named Astika. When he grew up he started his education learning the vedas.

Uttanka

Uttanka was the third disciple of the Guru.
Once, the guru left his ashram , entrusting all of the administrative duties to Uttanka. Guru's wife was then in her menstrual period. The women of the ashram urged Uttanka to cohabit with her so that her fertility period would not be wasted, but Uttanka refused to oblige as he was duty bound to his guru and he considered the act immoral. When this episode was conveyed to Guru upon his return to the ashram, he was pleased with his disciple and blessed Uttanka.

After Uttanka completed his education, he asked his guru about gurudakshina . The guru suggested that he should ask his wife and give him the gift that she desired. The guru's wife harboured a grudge against Uttanka, as he had refused to fulfil her desire in her fertility period. She asked Uttanka to get the earrings of King Pushya’s queen in seven days so that she could wear them during a religious fast on the eighth day. Uttanka set out to accomplish the task.

On the way, he encountered a huge bullock and sought his blessings. The bullUttanka to eat it's dung and drink it's urine . Uttanka hesitated but ultimately complied after being informed that his guru, had acted likewise.

Uttanka then went to King Pushya and conveyed to him the wish of his guru’s wife for the earrings of his queen so that he could pay his gurudakshina. This wish was granted and Uttanka left with earrings. Unknown to him, Takshaka also wanted the earrings, and slowly followed him.

As Uttanka was returning to Guru's ashram, he decided to take a bath in a water tank. He left his things on the bank of the river and went to take a bath. At that time, Takshaka came there in the disguise of a naked mendicant and stole the earrings. Uttanka tried to pursue the mendicant, but Takshaka had reverted to his original form of a serpent and slithered away into a hole in the ground, reaching Naga-loka, the abode of the Nagas. Uttanka then tried to dig through the hole. Indra, the king of the gods, saw Uttanka in the process of digging and sent his weapon Vajra (thunder-bolt) to help him carve a tunnel to the realm of the Nagas. When Uttanka entered the snake world, he started looking for Takshaka to take the earrings back.

Uttanka came across a horse who instructed Uttanka to blow at the rear end of the horse. Uttanka did as suggested. Then flames emerged from all parts of the horse's body and filled the realm of the serpents with fire and smoke. The terrified Takshaka came out of hiding and gave up the earrings to Uttanka.

Uttanka then wondered whether he could reach his guru's ashram to hand over the earrings to the guru's wife before the prescribed time. The horse, noting Uttanka's concern, gave Uttanka a ride to the ashram.

He reached the ashram just before sunset as the guru's wife was in the process of casting a curse on Uttanka for not arriving in time. When Uttanka narrated his experience in procuring the earrings, the guru and his wife blessed him.After handing over the earrings and taking leave of his guru, Uttanka went to Hastinapur, the kingdom of King Janamejaya. He resolved to teach a lesson to Takshaka who had caused him trouble. He informed Janamejaya that it was Takshaka who had killed his father Parikshit and advised Janamejaya to perform a snake sacrifice to exterminate the serpents.

Upamanyu and Aruni

Sauti continuing his story said now I will tell you about the happenings of AvantiNagar.
There was a sage called Sandipan who ran an ashrama where many people came to learn. Once someone gifted him a cow. He kept the cow carefully in his ashrama.
One day he called his disciples and said you look very healthy here, what is the cause of this?
The disciples said after the calves had drunk the milk, they would drink the milk and that was causing them to be healthy.
The sage said they were depriving the calves of their food and should not do that.
One day the sage asked one of the disciples, Upamanyu, what he ate as he looked hungry. Upamanyu said he would beg and ask for specific food items and that was helping him be healthy. The guru told him not to do that either.
One day, Upamanyu was in the forest guarding the cow, which was grazing nearby. He was feeling very hungry and seeing some calotropis leaves, he ate those. Those leaves were poisonous and caused Upamanyu to loose his vision. Trying to find his way about, Upamanyu fell into a deep pit.
In the evening, the cows came back home without Upamanyu.
The guru worried, went in search and found Upamanyu in the pit, blinded.
Pleased with his devotion, the Guru called for the Ashwini Kumaras, twin gods of medicine, who came restored Upamanyu's sight.

 One day the Guru called a disciple, Aruni, and asked him to check the boundary of the paddy fields. It was raining heavily, and washing away of the walls would spoil the crops.  Aruni  left for the field and saw that in the heavy rain, the boundary was damaged and all the water was flowing away. He tried all means to stop the flow, but when nothing worked, he himself lay down across the boundary and blocked the flow with his body.When Aruni did not return the whole night, the guru got worried, and set out to look for him. When he reached the field, he saw Aruni lying unconscious stopping the water flow with his own body.

He was pleased with his devotion and blessed him.

Takshaka and Parikshit

Sauti continued this tale.
In the land there was a sage who knew how to combat snakes. Seeing this as an opportunity to earn wealth, he decided to go and meet the king.
On the way, he met an old man. This old man was actually Takshaka, in disguise. The old man asked the sage where he was coming from. The sage said he was going to protect the king from Takshaka. The old man said Takshaka was very powerful and it would not be possible to combat him. The sage said, he knew mantras that would not let Takshaka come close. He also said if Takshaka did somehow bite, he had a way to counter that.
The old man disclosed his identity. He was angry at the audacity of the sage. He asked the sage to go home, as he would be unsuccessful. To prove himself, Takshak bit a tree nearby. The tree was reduced to ashes. The sage uttered some mantras. The ashes transformed into a sapling. The sapling began growing till it reached the same height as the tree.
Takshaka told the sage, Parikshita had to die because of the curse on him. If it was wealth that the sage, Takshaka promised him more than what he could expect from the king.
The sage said he was poor and needed  wealth. If he would get that, then he did not need to go to the king.
Going to the king, he saw the house on the pedestal and saw people going to the king, with gifts of fruits.
Takshaka disguised himself as a worm and hid himself inside a fruit, thereby he was able to avoid the herbs that would repel snakes.
The king took that fruit in hand, incidentally and saw a small worm. He said he had no worry. This was the evening of the seventh day. If he passed this evening, he would be free from the curse.

The worm suddenly changed itself into Takshak and dug his fangs into the king's body. The king died. Takshak vanished.

Sorrow engulfed Hastinapur. The ministers decided to crown Janmajeya, Parikshit's son as the king of Hastinapur.

Curse of Parikshit

In the clan of Pandavas was born a king called Parikshit. One when out hunting he lost his way., Tired and thirsty he kept roaming around. He suddenly saw a person sitting on the ground. 'I was hunting and a deer escaped from me. Do you know where the animal went', the king asked this person.
This person was a sage who had taken a vow of silence, something which was not known to the king. The king was offended. He saw a dead snake lying on the ground. Picking that by his bow, he placed it on the sage and left.
The sage had a son called Sringi. Sringi had a friend called Kusha. Kusha pointed out to Sringi the antics of the king. Sringi in anger, took some water in his hand and cursed the king. 'Within seven days from today, the naga Takshaka will bite you and will die'.
The sage breaking his vow got up and said what the king did was out of ignorance. You have cursed a great king and thus you have also lost all the virtue that you had attained so far through your prayers and meditation.
The sage then called a disciple of his and asked him to go and inform the king about the curse.
The king asked the disciple to convey to the sage, that he was very hurt by his own actions.

He then called his ministers to see if there was a way to avoid this curse. The ministers told the king to create a house on the top of a tall pillar. When the house was built, the ministers had those herbs placed all around the house that would repel snakes.

Jaratkaru leaves his wife

Saunaka then asked Sauti about Jaratkaru, his wife and what happened to them.

Sauti continued.

One day Vasuki called his sister and wanted to know how Jaratkaru was treating her. She said her husband was roaming around the forests leaving her at home.
Vasuki sent for Jaratkaru and asked him why he was behaving thus. Jaratkaru said he never wanted to get married in the first place, but was compelled to , by his ancestors.
Even though he was now married, he had no interest in the life of a house holder. He said he would live with his wife. If, for some reason his wife said something he did not like, he would leave her forever.

In time, Jaratkari became heavy with child. One day, Jaratkaru was sleeping at home. It was daytime. Soon the sun set but the sage kept sleeping. Jaratkari knew this was an inauspicious time for sleeping. She woke up her husband who got up in anger and said he was leaving for ever.

Before leaving he told her, the son who would be born, would be the one who deliver the nagas from their destruction.

Shesha and Vasuki

Of the Naga sons of Kadaru, there was one called Shesha, who was pious and holy in character. He could not tolerate the ways of his brothers, so one day he left all and went off into the forests to meditate. His meditation was very austere.
Pleased with his devotion, Brahma appeared before him and wanted to know the reason for his prayers..
Shesha said - Garuda is a brother to me. All my brothers have become enemies of Garuda due to their own behavior. Brahma said your prayer has been selfless and you have not asked for anything for yourself. I bestow on you the weight of the world. On your hood, O thousand headed snake, you will balance the earth.

Back among the Nagas, they were all scared. They had been cursed by their mother to die in the snake sacrifice of Janmajeya. Would there be a way out?
The wisest among them, Vasuki, asked his brothers not to worry. He said when their mother had cursed them, the Gods had also decided on the way out.
Jaratkaru, the rishi would marry Jaratkari, sister of Vasuki. They would have a son called Astika, who would put an end to the sacrifice. 

Nagas and Nectar

Garuda and Indra then arrived in the land of the Nagas. He called out to the Nagas and asked them to come and see the pot of nectar. He also asked the Nagas to free his mother. Happily the Nagas freed his mother from slavery.

Garuda asked the Nagas to have a bath and come and said the nectar would be in the bed of kusha grass. When the nagas left, Indra took the pot of nectar and left.

When the Nagas came back, they could not see the nectar and realized that they had been tricked. Thinking that some drops would have spilled on the grass, they started licking the grass, and the sharp grass cut their tongue into, which is why now Nagas have a forked tongue.

As the nectar had been kept on the bed of Kusha grass, this grass became holy and became an essential part of all worships.