An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s9.352

An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s9.352

Language: English

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[Mātaliyopākhyāna(m)] (“the episode relating to Mātali”). (Cf. *Mātaliyam upākhyānam*.) § 564 (Bhagavady.). The holy Rshi (*bhagavān ṛṣiḥ*) Kaṇva said to Duryodhana in the assembly of the Kurus: Brahmán, the grandsire of the universe (*Lokapitāmahaḥ*), is indestructible and eternal. The holy Rshis (*bhagavantāv ṛṣī*) Nara and Nārāyaṇa are of the same character. Of all the sons of Aditi, *Vishnu* alone is eternal . . . In this connection is cited an old story: *Mātali*, the charioteer of Indra, had, by his wife *Sudharmā*, one beautiful daughter, *Guṇakeçī*. As he found no suitable husband for her amongst D., Dai., G., or men and R., *Mātali* set out for the *Nāgaloka* (V, 97). On the way Nārada, proceeding to visit *Varuṇa*, followed *Mātali*, and first showed him the abode of *Varuṇa*, surrounded by his sons and grandsons. *Varuṇa*’s son *Pushkara* had been chosen as husband by Soma’s daughter *Jyotsnākālī* (who had [before] chosen (so PCR.) the eldest and foremost of *Aditi*’s sons (i.e. Sūrya, Nil.)). He then showed him the abode, entirely made of gold, of the liquor (*Vāruṇyam*): to the possession of that liquor (*surā*) the gods owe their being *Surāḥ*. He showed him also the weapons that had belonged to the *Daityas* and had been obtained by the gods as a booty of war; when hurled at the foe they always return into the hand that hurls them. Here dwelt in days of yore many tribes of Rā. and Dai. Here is that fire of blazing flames and the discus of *Vishnu*;

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and that knotty bow that was created for the destruction of the world; it is always protected with great vigilance by the gods, and it is from this how that the one wielded by *Arjuna* has taken its name; it is endued with the strength of 100,000 bows; it punishes all wicked (*raksho-bandhushu*) kings; it was first created by *Brahmán* and praised by *Çukra* (B. *Çakrena*); it is held by the sons of the Lord nf waters. He showed him also *Varuṇa*’s umbrella in the umbrella-house, always dropping water that cannot be seen. Innumerable are the wonders to be seen here (V, 98). In the very centre of the *Nāgaloka* is the city *Pātāla* with *Daityas* and *Dānavas*, the *Asura* fire, fed by water; here the gods, having first vanquished their foes, quaffed the *amṛta* and deposited the residue; the *Aditya* *Hayaçiras*; from here *Airāvata* takes up water in order to impart it to the clouds, and it is that water which Indra pours down as rain; aquatic animals, the *timi*, etc., which subsist on the rays of the moon; here *Mahādeva* practised ascetic austerities for the benefit of all creatures; *maharshis* addicted to the vow of go (*govratinaḥ*); here in the race of the celebrated elephant *Supratīka* were born the elephants *Airāvaṇa* (the king of his tribe), *Vāmana*, *Kumuda*, an egg in the waters from the commencement of the creation, whence, when the end of the world comes, a fire bursts forth and consumes the three worlds, etc.

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*Mātali* said: “No one here seems to be eligible” (V, 99). In *Pātāla* is *Hiraṇyapura*, built by the *Dānava* (so PCR.; B. and C. *Viçvakarmaṇā*) *Maya*, belonging to the *Daityas* and *Dānavas*, who in days of yore lived here having obtained boons, exhibiting 1,000 different kinds of illusion, incapable of being vanquished by *Çakra*, *Yama*, *Varuṇa*, or *Kubera*, etc. The *Kālakhañjas* (Asuras, who sprang from *Vishnu* (?), so PCR.: *Asurāḥ Kālakhañjāç ca tathā Vishnupadodbhavāḥ*; C. *Kālaka°*) and the *Yātudhānas* (*Rākshasas*, who sprang from the feet of *Brahmán* (?), so PCR.: *Nairṛtā Yātudhānāç ca Brahmapadodbhavāç ca ye*) (description); the *Nirātakavacas* (*Dānavas*); “many times, O Mātali! thon with thy son Gomukha and Indra hadst to retreat before them"; description of their abodes (the gems arkasphaṭika, vajrasāra, padmarāga, etc.). Mātali would not choose a son-in-law among the Dānavas, the enemies of the gods; "as regards thyself (i.e. Nārada), I know that thy heart is ever set on fomenting quarrels (himsātmakam)" (V, 100). Then the world of the Suparṇas, who subsist on snakes and have sprung from the six sons of Garuḍa: Sumukha, etc. (a), of Kaçyapa's and Vinatā's race, adorned with the Çrīvatsa, belonging to the kshatriya order, for they never attain to brahmanhood (brāhmaṇyam) in consequence of their preying upon their kinsmen; they are shown favour by Vishnu, and adore Vishnu. The names of the principal are: Suvarṇacūḍa, etc. (β) (V, 101).

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Rasātala is the seventh stratum below the earth; here dwells Surabhi, the mother of kine, born of the amṛta; her milk springs from the essence of the six different kinds of tastes; she sprang of old from the mouth of Brahmán, who was gratified with drinking the amṛta and vomited the best of things (i.e. the cow and the brahman, PCR.). A jet of her milk created the Milky Ocean (kshīranidhi), covered with white foam that is the food of the ascetics (munisattamāḥ) Phenapāḥ ("Foam-drinkers"); the very gods fear them because of their austerities. From Surabhi are born the four kine that support the quarters (diçām pālyāḥ): in the East Surūpā, in the South Hamsikā, in the West Subhadrā, in the North (dharmyam Ailavīlasañjñitam) Sarvakāmadugha. The gods and the Asuras, making Mandara their pole, churned the Ocean, and obtained Vāruṇī, Lakshmī, amṛta, Uccaiḥçravas, and Kaustubha. Surabhī milks sudhā to those who live on sudhā (i.e. the Nāgas, PCR.), svadhā to those who live on svadhā (i.e. the Pitrs, PCR.), and amṛta to those who live on amṛta (i.e. the gods, PCR.). The gāthā that was sung by the dwellers of Rasātala in days of old is still heard to be recited in the world by persons of learning: "Neither in the Nāga-loka, nor in Svarga, nor in a vimāna, nor in heaven (Tripishṭape) is residence so happy as in Rasātala" (V, 102). The city of Bhogavatī resembles Indra's city Amarāvatī; it is ruled over by Vāsuki, the king of the Nāgas; here dwells Çesha (b);

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here dwell the innumerable Nāgas (description), the sons of Surasā, wearing svastika, etc. The principal are Vāsuki, etc. (γ). Mātali wished to get for his son-in-law the Nāga Sumukha of Airāvata's race, the son of Cikura (who had been not long before slain by Garuḍa), and the grandson of Āryaka Kauravya and the daughter's son of Vāmana (V, 103). Nārada introduced Mātali to Āryaka as the friend and chariotcer of Indra, who drives his chariot drawn by 1,000 steeds, and thereby has vanquished the enemies of the gods. Āryaka objected that Garuḍa, when he left these regions had said that after a month he would devour Sumukha also. According to a proposal of Mātali, they all visited Indra and Vishnu; Vishnu proposed to give amṛta to Sumukha; but Indra disagreed on account of the prowess of Garuḍa; instead he gave him an excellent lease of life, and having married Mātali's daughter he returned home (V, 104). Garuḍa made remonstrances to Indra, saying that he, like him, can without any fatigue bear the weight of the three worlds; that he had slain the Daityas Çuṭaṭri, etc. (δ); that he not only perches on Vishnu's flagstaff, but sometimes carries him with all his friends on his back, and he can carry Vishnu without fatigue on only one of his feathers. Vishnu shows him that he cannot bear the weight of his one right arm; then he threw Sumukha with the toe of his foot upon Garuḍa's breast. And from that time Garuḍa has ever lived (in friendship?) with that snake.

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Kaṇva continued: "In the same way, O Duryodhana! thou canst note ucounter Bhīma, etc. (ε)." Duryodhana, fixing his eyes on Karṇa, burst into laughter, saying: "I am precisely what the creator has made me" (V, 105).