वंशार्थं तप आतिष्ठद्देवीं ध्यात्वा निरन्तरम् । नारदस्योपदेशेन प्राप्य दीक्षामनुत्तमाम्
For the sake of his lineage, he undertook austerities, constantly meditating on the Goddess, and, by Nārada's instruction, received the highest initiation.
तस्य पुत्रशतं राजन्निक्ष्वाकोरिति विश्रुतम् । विकुक्षिः प्रथमस्तेषां बलवीर्यसमन्वितः
That Ikṣvāku, famed among kings, had a hundred sons; the first among them was Vikukṣi, endowed with great strength and valor.
अयोध्यायां स्थितो राजा इक्ष्वाकुरिति विश्रुतः । शकुनिप्रमुखाः पुत्रा पञ्चाशद्बलवत्तराः
The king Ikṣvāku, renowned, resided in Ayodhyā; his sons, led by Śakuni, fifty in number, were even mightier.
उत्तरापथदेशस्य रक्षितारः कृताः किल । दक्षिणस्यां तथा राजन्नादिष्टास्तेन ते सुताः
It is said that these sons were appointed as protectors of the northern regions; likewise, O king, others were assigned by him to the southern lands.
चत्वारिंशत्तथाष्टौ च रक्षणार्थं महात्मना । अन्यौ द्वौ संस्थितौ पार्श्वे सेवार्थं तस्य भूपतेः
Forty-eight were assigned for protection, and two others remained at his side to serve the king.
मान्धातोत्पत्तिवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - कदाचिदष्टकाश्राद्धे विकुक्षिं पृथिवीपतिः । आज्ञापयदसंमूढो मांसमानय सत्वरम्
The Origin of Māndhātṛ
मेध्यं श्राद्धार्थमधुना वने गत्वा सूतादरात् । उत्युक्तोऽसौ तथेत्याशु जगाम वनमस्त्रभृत्
Told by the charioteer to fetch pure meat for the śrāddha, he agreed and swiftly went to the forest, armed with weapons.
गत्वा जघान बाणैः स वराहान्सूकरान्मृगान् । शशांश्चापि परिश्रान्तो बभूवाथ बुभूक्षितः
There he killed boars, pigs, and deer with arrows; exhausted and hungry, he also slew hares.
विस्मृता चाष्टका तस्य शशं चाददसौ वने । शेषं निवेदयामास पित्रे मांसमनुत्तमम्
Forgetting the aṣṭakā, he ate a hare in the forest; the rest of the excellent meat he offered to his father.
प्रोक्षणाय समानीतं मांसं दृष्ट्वा गुरुस्तदा । अनर्हमिति तज्ज्ञात्वा चुकोप मुनिसत्तमः
When the guru saw the meat brought for consecration, he realized it was unsuitable and, knowing this, the great sage became angry.
भुक्तशेषं तु न श्राद्धे प्रोक्षणीयमिति स्थितिः । राज्ञे निवेदयामास वसिष्ठः पाकदूषणम्
It is established that leftovers are not to be consecrated for a śrāddha; Vasiṣṭha informed the king of this impurity in the offering.
पुत्रस्य कर्म तज्ज्ञात्वा भूपतिर्गुरुणोदितम् । चुकोप विधिलोपात्तं देशान्निःसारयत्ततः
Learning of his son's deed as told by the guru, the king grew angry at the breach of rule and banished him from the land.
शशाप इति विख्यातो नाम्ना जातो नृपात्मजः । गतो वने शशादस्तु पितृकोपादसम्भ्रमः
He became known as Śaśāda, for he had eaten a hare; the prince, out of fear of his father's wrath, went to the forest.
वन्येन वर्तयन्कालं नीतवान् धर्मतत्परः । पितर्युपरते राज्यं प्राप्तं तेन महात्मना
Living in the forest on wild fare, devoted to righteousness, he spent his time; when his father passed, that great soul obtained the kingdom.
शशादस्त्वकरोद्राज्यमयोध्यायाः पतिः स्वयम् । यज्ञाननेकशः पूर्णांश्चकार सरयूतटे
Śaśāda himself became king of Ayodhyā, performing many completed sacrifices on the banks of the Sarayū.
शशादस्याभवत्पुत्रः ककुत्स्थ इति विश्रुतः । तस्यैव नामभेदाद्वै इन्द्रवाहः पुरञ्जयः
Śaśāda had a son named Kakutstha, who became renowned; due to his deeds, he was also called Indravāha and Purañjaya.
जनमेजय उवाच - नामभेदः कथं जातो राजपुत्रस्य चानघ । कारणं ब्रूहि मे सर्वं कर्मणा येन चाभवत्
Janamejaya said: How did the prince acquire different names, O sinless one? Tell me the entire reason, and by what actions this came to be.
व्यास उवाच - शशादे स्वर्गते राजा ककुत्स्थ इति चाभवत् । [राज्यं चकार धर्मज्ञः पितृपैतामहं बलात् ।] एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवा दैत्यैः सर्वे पराजिताः
Vyasa said: After Shashada ascended to heaven, the king became known as Kakutstha. He ruled the kingdom, knowledgeable in righteousness, by the strength of his ancestors. Meanwhile, all the gods were defeated by the demons.
जग्मुस्त्रिलोकाधिपतिं विष्णुं शरणमव्ययम् । तान्प्रोवाच महाविष्णुस्तदा देवान्सनातनः
They went to Vishnu, the eternal lord of the three worlds, seeking refuge. At that time, the great Vishnu spoke to the gods.
विष्णुरुवाच - पार्ष्णिग्राहं महीपालं प्रार्थयन्तु शशादजम् । स हनिष्यति वै दैत्यान्संग्रामे सुरसत्तमाः
Vishnu said: Seek out the king born of Shashada, the ruler who seizes by the heel. He will surely slay the demons in battle, O best of the gods.
आगमिष्यति धर्मात्मा साहाय्यार्थं धनुर्धरः । पराशक्तेः प्रसादेन सामर्थ्यं तस्य चातुलम्
The righteous archer will come to aid you. By the grace of the supreme power, his ability will be unmatched.
हरेः सुवचनाद्देवा ययुः सर्वे सवासवाः । अयोध्यायां महाराज शशादतनयं प्रति
At Hari's command, all the gods, along with Indra, went to Ayodhya, O great king, to approach the son of Shashada.
तानागतान् सुरान् राजा पूजयामास धर्मतः । पप्रच्छागमने राजा प्रयोजनमतन्द्रितः
The king honored the arriving gods according to righteousness, and attentively asked the purpose of their visit.
राजोवाच - धन्योऽहं पावितश्चास्मि जीवितं सफलं मम । यदागत्य गृहे देवा ददुश्च दर्शनं महत्
The king said: I am blessed and purified; my life is fulfilled, for the gods have come to my house and granted me their great presence.
ब्रुवन्तु कृत्यं देवेशा दुःसाध्यमपि मानवैः । करिष्यामि महत्कार्यं सर्वथा भवतां महत्
Let the lords of the gods declare their task, even if it is difficult for mortals. I will accomplish your great work by all means.
देवा ऊचुः - साहाय्यं कुरु राजेन्द्र सखा भव शचीपतेः । संग्रामे जय दैत्येन्द्रान्दुर्जयांस्त्रिदशैरपि
The gods said: Help us, O king, and be a friend to Indra, lord of Shachi. In battle, defeat the demon chiefs who are unconquerable even by the gods.
पराशक्तिप्रसादेन दुर्लभं नास्ति ते क्वचित् । विष्णुना प्रेरिताश्चैवमागतास्तव सन्निधौ
By the grace of the supreme power, nothing is unattainable for you. Sent by Vishnu, we have thus come into your presence.
राजोवाच - पार्ष्णिग्राहो भवाम्यद्य देवानां सुरसत्तमाः । इन्द्रो मे वाहनं तत्र भवेद्यदि सुराधिपः
The king said: Today I shall become the heel-grasper for the gods, O best of the gods. Let Indra be my mount there, if the lord of the gods agrees.
संग्रामं तु करिष्यामि दैत्यैर्देवकृतेऽधुना । आरुह्येन्द्रं गमिष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्
I will now wage battle against the demons for the sake of the gods. Mounting Indra, I shall go; I speak this truthfully.
तदोचुर्वासवं देवाः कर्तव्यं कार्यमद्भुतम् । पत्रं भव नरेन्द्रस्य त्यक्त्वा लज्जां शचीपते
Then the gods said to Indra: You must perform this wondrous task. Become the mount for the king, O lord of Shachi, casting aside your shame.