Skandapurana 3.2.9
English (machine translation) 3.2.9
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3.2.9.1
Vyāsa said:
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"Listen, O tiger among kings, to this sacred, supreme narrative.
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Being praised, the Lord of the World spoke these words:
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Viṣṇu said:
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'For what purpose have all the best of the gods, headed by Brahmā, come?
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Is all well on earth? Whence has fear come to you?'
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Then Brahmā, truly delighted, addressed these words to Keśava:
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'There is no fear for us in the three worlds, with all that moves and is still.
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I have come to your presence to make a single request.
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I shall declare that to you; listen to these words of mine.
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An excellent sacred ford was formerly established by Dharma.
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Desiring to see that, O Lord Janārdana, by your grace,
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set your mind on going there, O Lord of the gods of gods,
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so that the unsurpassed Dharmāraṇya may attain the status of a true sacred ford.'"
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Viṣṇu said:
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"Well done, well done, O highly fortunate one! Let there be haste thither; do not delay!
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My mind too is set eagerly upon that very place, longing to see it."
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Vyāsa said:
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Having mounted Garuḍa, Govinda went there very swiftly indeed.
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Then by Dharma those gods along with Indra and the hosts of seers,
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headed by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa, were seen from afar, and he rejoiced.
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Dharmarāja, seeing those gods with Viṣṇu at their head,
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came there from his own hermitage, taking worship [materials] before them.
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He quickly rose from his seat, and taking the materials for worship and greeting,
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he then performed worship for each one individually.
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The son of the Sun duly performed worship of them there.
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Having seated them on thrones and performed great worship,
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Yama said:
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"This sacred field has become a sacred ford by your grace, O son of Devakī,
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and today by the ritual of your satisfaction and by the mercy of Śiva.
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Today my birth is fruitful; today my austerity is fruitful;
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today my dwelling place is fruitful, through the arrival of the lords of heaven."
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Vyāsa said:
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Thus praised, Viṣṇu then spoke these sweet words:
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"I am pleased, O sovereign lord of Dharma, by your hymn of praise, O all-pervading one!
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Ask something of me; I will grant your wish.
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Whatever is desired by you, that I shall grant to you, without doubt."
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Yama said:
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"If you are pleased, O Lord of gods, if you will fulfill my desire,
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establish hermitages of seers in the greatly sacred Dharmāraṇya,
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where brahmins dwell and sacrificers perform sacrifices."
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Filled with the sound of the Vedas, that supreme sacred ford shines.
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Lacking brahmins, creatures will afflict this sacred ford.
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Therefore, O Śauri, bring here brahmins and many seers,
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so that Dharmāraṇya shines throughout the three worlds, both moving and unmoving.
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Then Viṣṇu, thousand-eyed, thousand-headed, and thousand-footed,
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the lover of righteousness, assumed thousands of forms at that time.
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In whichever place there were brahmins of good conduct and auspicious vows,
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skilled in all virtues of righteousness, versed in every scripture,
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renowned in austerity and knowledge, devoted to the recitation of the Veda—
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all these seers, eighteen thousand in number, were settled [there].
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Brought from various regions, they were settled there by the gods,
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along with many hermitages fashioned there by the lords of creation.
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In accordance with the instruction on righteousness, by Kṛṣṇa, Brahmā, and Śiva,
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Keśava established them in their respective places as appropriate.
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Yudhiṣṭhira said:
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From which lineage were born these brahmins who have crossed to the end of the Vedas,
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who were established along with their households, surrounded by sons and grandsons,
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accompanied by many disciples, and devoted to the agnihotra?
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Tell me properly their settlements and their names.
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Vyāsa said:
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Listen, O tiger among kings, regarding the dwellers of Dharmāraṇya,
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the great-souled brahmins, the seers of upward-drawn seed;
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I shall tell you their names and those of their sons and grandsons.
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There are twenty-four clans of the twice-born, O bull of the Pāṇḍavas.
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Their branches and sub-branches, as well as sons, grandsons, and the like—
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many sons were born, by hundreds and thousands.
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I shall declare to you the names of the twenty-four primary [clans].
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The seers of the twice-born are declared; hear also their ancestral lineages:
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Bhāradvāja, Vatsa, Kauśika, and Kuśa,
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Śāṇḍilya, Kāśyapa, Gautama, and Chāndhana,
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Jātūkarṇya, Vatsa, Vasiṣṭha, and Dhāraṇa,
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Ātreya, Bhāṇḍila, and Laukika; after these,
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Kṛṣṇāyana, Upamanyu, Gārgya, Mudgala, Mauṣaka,
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Puṇyāsana, Parāśara, and after that Kauṇḍinya,
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and also Gānyāsana—these are the twenty-four ancestral lineages.
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For the clan of Jāmadagnya, there are five ancestral sages:
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Bhārgava, Cyavana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnika.
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These five are celebrated, famous throughout the world, O king.
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Born from such clans, the brahmins, masters of the Vedas,
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engaged in worship of the twice-born and devoted to performing various sacrifices,
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were endowed with virtue and committed to the six duties.
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Such illustrious twice-born had come from diverse lands.
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[…] the third, and there are five ancestral sages:
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joined as Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnya.
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Ātreya, Arcanānasa, and Śyāvāśva is the third.
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The brahmins born in this clan are harsh and cunning,
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wealthy, steadfast in duty, and versed in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,
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all devoted to gift-giving and enjoyment, acknowledged in Vedic and traditional rites.
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Those of the Māṇḍavya clan should be known as endowed with five ancestral sages:
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Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Atri, Āpnuvāna, and Aurva.
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Brahmins born in this clan are devoted to Vedic revelation and tradition,
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afflicted with disease, greedy, harsh, yet engaged in sacrificing and conducting sacrifices,
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all devoted to sacred rites, the Māṇḍavyas, O best of Kurus.
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Those born in the clan of Gārgya have three ancestral sages:
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Aṅgiras, Ambarīṣa, and Yauvanāśva is the third.
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Those born in this clan are of upright conduct, truthful in speech,
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tranquil, varied in complexion, poor, and wearing ragged garments,
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endowed with affection for their company, and steadfast in the Vedic scriptures.
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For the twice-born of the Vatsa clan, O king, there are indeed five ancestral sages:
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Bhārgava, Cyavana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnika.
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By these [seers], indeed, five are renowned. The twice-born embody the nature of Brahman;
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they are tranquil, self-restrained, virtuous, and well-endowed with righteous sons.
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Though destitute of Vedic recitation, they are skilled in all rites,
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handsome, well-behaved, and steadfast in all duties.
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All are devoted to the virtue of giving; the twice-born are givers of food and givers of water,
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compassionate, virtuous, and devoted to the welfare of all beings.
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The Kāśyapa brahmins, O king, are endowed with three ancestral sages:
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Kāśyapa, Avatsāra, and Naidhruva is the third.
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They are knowers of the Veda, fair-complexioned, committed to vows, and performers of sacrifices,
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fond of fine garments, highly capable, and always devoted to revering their gurus.
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Possessed of honor and reputation, and devoted to the welfare of all beings,
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these twice-born scions of Kāśyapa perform great sacrifices.
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Those born in the Dhārīṇa lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:
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namely, Agasti, Darvi, Śvetāśva, [or] Dadhyavāhana.
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Those who are born in this lineage, though dedicated to religious rites,
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are all cruel in their deeds, and likewise pot-bellied.
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With pendulous ears and large tusks, these twice-born are devoted to wealth,
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wrathful, spiteful, and terrifying to all living beings.
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Those brahmins who originate from Laugākṣa are dedicated to truth.
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Their three ancestral sages embody knowledge of reality:
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Kaśyapa, Vatsa, and Vasiṣṭha as the third.
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Renowned for good conduct, they are Vaiṣṇavas of varied occupations,
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covered with abundant body hair, dark-complexioned brahmins,
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tranquil, generous, of good character, and always faithful to their own wives.
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Those born in the Kuśika lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:
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Viśvāmitra, Devarāta, and Audala—these three.
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Those born in this lineage are weak and depressed in mind,
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untruthful-speaking brahmins, handsome, O best of kings,
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skilled in all sciences, brahmins foremost among knowers of Brahman.
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Those belonging to the Upamanyu lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:
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Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, and Indrapramada.
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The brahmins born in this lineage are cruel, devious in conduct,
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fault-finding, malicious, vile, intent on hoarding everything,
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skilled at stirring up quarrels, wealthy, and arrogant,
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ever wicked and devoted to keeping bad company,
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diseased, weak, and devoid of legitimate livelihoods.
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The brahmins born in the Vātsya lineage are endowed with five ancestral sages:
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Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnya.
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The brahmins born in this lineage are stout and possessed of vast intellect,
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engaged in all rites, and steadfast in all duties,
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skilled in the meaning of the Vedas and treatises, devoted to sacrificing and officiating for others,
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virtuous in conduct, handsome, and far-sighted in intellect.
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Those belonging to the Vātsyāyana lineage are endowed with five ancestral sages:
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Bhārgava, Cyāvana, Āpnuvāna, Aurva, and Jāmadagnya.
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These previously mentioned ancestral sages have been declared to you, O Bhārata.
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Those born in this lineage are ever devoted to domestic sacrifices;
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greedy and wrathful, they produce numerous progeny.
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Ever devoted to ablutions, gifts, and the like, with senses restrained,
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constructors of stepwells, wells, and ponds by the thousands,
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constant in vows and discerning of virtues, yet foolish and bereft of the Vedas.
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Those born in the Kauśika lineage are endowed with three ancestral sages:
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Viśvāmitra, Aghamarṣaṇa, and Kauśika as the third.
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The brahmins born in this lineage are knowers of Brahman,
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tranquil, restrained, virtuous, and dedicated to all duties,
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yet childless, rough, and devoid of brilliance, though best of the twice-born.
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Those belonging to the Bhāradvāja lineage are endowed with five ancestral sages:
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Āṅgirasa, Bārhaspatya, Bhāradvāja, Sainyasa,
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and Gārgya—these are to be known as the five ancestral sages.
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The brahmins born in this lineage are wealthy, auspicious,
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adorned with clothes and ornaments, and devoted to reverence for the twice-born.
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Devoted entirely to feeding brahmins, intent upon all righteous duties.
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Those who were born in the lineage of Kaśyapa have three ancestral seers:
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Kaśyapa, Apavatsāra, and Raibhya—these three are celebrated.
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The brahmins born in this gotra have red eyes and fierce glances;
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They are all addicted to the pleasures of the tongue, yet all of them seek the highest truth;
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They are poor and diseased, thieves and speakers of falsehood;
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They are ignorant of the meaning of the śāstras and devoid of the Veda and smṛti.
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And the brahmins born among the Śunakas are intent on meditation,
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Practitioners of austerity, yogins, masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,
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Virtuous, of good conduct, and devoted to the worship of Viṣṇu,
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Short in stature, of varied complexion, having many women, best of the twice-born,
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Compassionate, straightforward, peaceful, and intent on feeding brahmins.
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Those born among the Śaunakas possess three ancestral seers:
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Bhārgava, Śaunahotra, and Gārtsapramada—these are the three.
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The brahmins born in this region are irresistible, O king,
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Very fierce, large-bodied, tall, and arrogant with pride,
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Distressing in form, dark-complexioned, and learned in all the śāstras,
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Voracious eaters, proud, capable, free from passion and hatred,
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Adorned with fine garments and ornaments, indeed, brahmins who expound the Veda.
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Those who are born in the gotra of Vasiṣṭha possess three ancestral seers:
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Vasiṣṭha, Bhāradvāja, and Indrapramada.
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The brahmins born in this gotra are masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas,
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Sacrificers, inclined to sacrifice, sweet-voiced, and happy,
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Spiteful, wealthy, possessing sons, and virtuous,
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Broad-chested, O king, heroic, and destroyers of foes.
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Those born in the gotra of Gautama indeed have five ancestral seers:
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Kautsa, Gārgya, Somavāha, Asita, and Devala.
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The brahmins born in this gotra are exceedingly purifying,
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All benefactors of others, devoted to the śruti and smṛti;
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They sit like herons, are deceitful, and are intent on fraudulent conduct;
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Skilled in the meaning of various śāstras, adorned with various ornaments,
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Skilled in work with trees and [gardening], slow to forgive anger, and sickly.
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Those born in the gotra of Aṅgiras possess three ancestral seers:
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Āṅgirasa, Ambarīṣa, and Yauvanāśva as the third.
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Those born in this gotra speak the truth,
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Have conquered their senses, are handsome, eat little, and have auspicious faces,
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Observant of great vows, knowers of the Purāṇas, devoted to making great gifts,
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Free from malice, yet prone to greed, intent upon Vedic study,
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Farsighted, of great splendor, yet deluded by great māyā.
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Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit