Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 9: “Liberation”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter Sixteen

SB9.16.23

TEXT 23

tatas cavabhrtha-snana-

vidhutasesa-kilbisah

sarasvatyam maha-nadyam

reje vyabbhra ivamsuman

SYNONYMS

tatah—thereafter; ca—also; avabhrtha-snana—by bathing after finishing the sacrifice; vidhuta—cleansed; asesa—unlimited; kilbisah—whose reactions of sinful activities; sarasvatyam—on the bank of the great river Sarasvati; maha-nadyam—one of the biggest rivers in India; reje—Lord Parasurama appeared; vyabbhrah—cloudless; iva amsuman—like the sun.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, having completed the ritualistic sacrificial ceremonies, Lord Parasurama took the bath known as the avabhrtha-snana. Standing on the bank of the great river Sarasvati, cleared of all sins, Lord Parasurama appeared like the sun in a clear, cloudless sky.

PURPORT

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.9), yajnarthat karmano ’nyatra loko ’yam karma-bandhanah: “Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world.” Karma-bandhanah refers to the repeated acceptance of one material body after another. The whole problem of life is this repetition of birth and death. Therefore one is advised to work to perform yajna meant for satisfying Lord Visnu. Although Lord Parasurama was an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he had to account for sinful activities. Anyone in this material world, however careful he may be, must commit some sinful activities, even though he does not want to. For example, one may trample many small ants and other insects while walking on the street and kill many living beings unknowingly. Therefore the Vedic principle of panca-yajna, five kinds of recommended sacrifice, is compulsory. In this age of Kali, however, there is a great concession given to people in general. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah: [SB 11.5.32] we may worship Lord Caitanya, the hidden incarnation of Krsna. Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam: although He is Krsna Himself, He always chants Hare Krsna and preaches Krsna consciousness. One is recommended to worship this incarnation by chanting, the sankirtana-yajna. The performance of sankirtana-yajna is a special concession for human society to save people from being affected by known or unknown sinful activities. We are surrounded by unlimited sins, and therefore it is compulsory that one take to Krsna consciousness and chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

SB9.16.24

TEXT 24

sva-deham jamadagnis tu

labdhva samjnana-laksanam

rsinam mandale so ’bhut

saptamo rama-pujitah

SYNONYMS

sva-deham—his own body; jamadagnih—the great sage Jamadagni; tu—but; labdhva—regaining; samjnana-laksanam—showing full symptoms of life, knowledge and remembrance; rsinam—of the great rsis; mandale—in the group of seven stars; sah—he, Jamadagni; abhut—later became; saptamah—the seventh; rama-pujitah—because of being worshiped by Lord Parasurama.

TRANSLATION

Thus Jamadagni, being worshiped by Lord Parasurama, was brought back to life with full remembrance, and he became one of the seven sages in the group of seven stars.

PURPORT

The seven stars revolving around the polestar at the zenith are called saptarsi-mandala. On these seven stars, which form the topmost part of our planetary system, reside seven sages: Kasyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. These seven stars are seen every night, and they each make a complete orbit around the polestar within twenty-four hours. Along with these seven stars, all the others stars also orbit from east to west. The upper portion of the universe is called the north, and the lower portion is called the south. Even in our ordinary dealings, while studying a map, we regard the upper portion of the map as north.

SB9.16.25

TEXT 25

jamadagnyo ’pi bhagavan

ramah kamala-locanah

agaminy antare rajan

vartayisyati vai brhat

SYNONYMS

jamadagnyah—the son of Jamadagni; api—also; bhagavan—the Personality of Godhead; ramah—Lord Parasurama; kamala-locanah—whose eyes are like lotus petals; agamini—coming; antare—in the manvantara, the time of one Manu; rajan—O King Pariksit; vartayisyati—will propound; vai—indeed; brhat—Vedic knowledge.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Pariksit, in the next manvantara the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead Lord Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni, will be a great propounder of Vedic knowledge. In other words, he will be one of the seven sages.

SB9.16.26

TEXT 26

aste ’dyapi mahendradrau

nyasta-dandah prasanta-dhih

upagiyamana-caritah

siddha-gandharva-caranaih

SYNONYMS

aste—is still existing; adya api—even now; mahendra-adrau—in the hilly country known as Mahendra; nyasta-dandah—having given up the weapons of a ksatriya (the bow, arrows and axe); prasanta—now fully satisfied as a brahmana; dhih—in such intelligence; upagiyamana-caritah—being worshiped and adored for his exalted character and activities; siddha-gandharva-caranaih—by such celestial persons as the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, Siddhaloka and Caranaloka.

TRANSLATION

Lord Parasurama still lives as an intelligent brahmana in the mountainous country known as Mahendra. Completely satisfied, having given up all the weapons of a ksatriya, he is always worshiped, adored and offered prayers for his exalted character and activities by such celestial beings as the Siddhas, Caranas and Gandharvas.

SB9.16.27

TEXT 27

evam bhrgusu visvatma

bhagavan harir isvarah

avatirya param bharam

bhuvo ’han bahuso nrpan

SYNONYMS

evam—in this way; bhrgusu—in the dynasty of Bhrgu; visva-atma—the soul of the universe, the Supersoul; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harih—the Lord; isvarah—the supreme controller; avatirya—appearing as an incarnation; param—great; bharam—the burden; bhuvah—of the world; ahan—killed; bahusah—many times; nrpan—kings.

TRANSLATION

In this way the supreme soul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord and the supreme controller, descended as an incarnation in the Bhrgu dynasty and released the universe from the burden of undesirable kings by killing them many times.

SB9.16.28

TEXT 28

gadher abhun maha-tejah

samiddha iva pavakah

tapasa ksatram utsrjya

yo lebhe brahma-varcasam

SYNONYMS

gadheh—from Maharaja Gadhi; abhut—was born; maha-tejah—very powerful; samiddhah—inflamed; iva—like; pavakah—fire; tapasa—by austerities and penances; ksatram—the position of a ksatriya; utsrjya—giving up; yah—one who (Visvamitra); lebhe—achieved; brahma-varcasam—the quality of a brahmana.

TRANSLATION

Visvamitra, the son of Maharaja Gadhi, was as powerful as the flames of fire. From the position of a ksatriya, he achieved the position of a powerful brahmana by undergoing penances and austerities.

PURPORT

Now, having narrated the history of Lord Parasurama, Sukadeva Gosvami begins the history of Visvamitra. From the history of Parasurama we can understand that although Parasurama belonged to the brahminical group, he circumstantially had to work as a ksatriya. Later, after finishing his work as a ksatriya, he again became a brahmana and returned to Mahendra-parvata. Similarly, we can see that although Visvamitra was born in a ksatriya family, by austerities and penances he achieved the position of a brahmana. These histories confirm the statements in sastra that a brahmana may become a ksatriya, a ksatriya may become a brahmana or vaisya, and a vaisya may become a brahmana, by achieving the required qualities. One’s status does not depend upon birth. As confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.11.35) by Narada:

yasya yal laksanam proktam
pumso varnabhivyanjakam
yad anyatrapi drsyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiset

“If one shows the symptoms of being a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification.” To know who is a brahmana and who is a ksatriya, one must consider a man’s quality and work. If all the unqualified sudras become so-called brahmanas and ksatriyas, social order will be impossible to maintain. Thus there will be discrepancies, human society will turn into a society of animals, and the situation all over the world will be hellish.

SB9.16.29

TEXT 29

visvamitrasya caivasan

putra eka-satam nrpa

madhyamas tu madhucchanda

madhucchandasa eva te

SYNONYMS

visvamitrasya—of Visvamitra; ca—also; eva—indeed; asan—there were; putrah—sons; eka-satam—101; nrpa—O King Pariksit; madhyamah—the middle one; tu—indeed; madhucchandah—known as Madhucchanda; madhucchandasah—named the Madhucchandas; eva—indeed; te—all of them.

TRANSLATION

O King Pariksit, Visvamitra had 101 sons, of whom the middle one was known as Madhucchanda. In relation to him, all the other sons were celebrated as the Madhucchandas.

PURPORT

In this connection, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura quotes this statement from the Vedas: tasya ha visvamitrasyaika-satam putra asuh pancasad eva jyayamso madhucchandasah pancasat kaniyamsah. “Visvamitra had 101 sons. Fifty were older than Madhucchanda and fifty younger.”

SB9.16.30

TEXT 30

putram krtva sunahsepham

devaratam ca bhargavam

ajigartam sutan aha

jyestha esa prakalpyatam

SYNONYMS

putram—a son; krtva—accepting; sunahsepham—whose name was Sunahsepha; devaratam—Devarata, whose life was saved by the demigods; ca—also; bhargavam—born in the Bhrgu dynasty; ajigartam—the son of Ajigarta; sutan—to his own sons; aha—ordered; jyesthah—the eldest; esah—Sunahsepha; prakalpyatam—accept as such.

TRANSLATION

Visvamitra accepted the son of Ajigarta known as Sunahsepha, who was born in the Bhrgu dynasty and was also known as Devarata, as one of his own sons. Visvamitra ordered his other sons to accept Sunahsepha as their eldest brother.

SB9.16.31

TEXT 31

yo vai hariscandra-makhe

vikritah purusah pasuh

stutva devan prajesadin

mumuce pasa-bandhanat

SYNONYMS

yah—he who (Sunahsepha); vai—indeed; hariscandra-makhe—in the sacrifice performed by King Hariscandra; vikritah—was sold; purusah—man; pasuh—sacrificial animal; stutva—offering prayers; devan—to the demigods; praja-isa-adin—headed by Lord Brahma; mumuce—was released; pasa-bandhanat—from being bound with ropes like an animal.

TRANSLATION

Sunahsepha’s father sold Sunahsepha to be sacrificed as a man-animal in the yajna of King Hariscandra. When Sunahsepha was brought into the sacrificial arena, he prayed to the demigods for release and was released by their mercy.

PURPORT

Here is a description of Sunahsepha. When Hariscandra was to sacrifice his son Rohita, Rohita arranged to save his own life by purchasing Sunahsepha from Sunahsepha’s father to be sacrificed in the yajna. Sunahsepha was sold to Maharaja Hariscandra because he was the middle son, between the oldest and the youngest. It appears that the sacrifice of a man as an animal in yajna has been practiced for a very long time.

SB9.16.32

TEXT 32

yo rato deva-yajane

devair gadhisu tapasah

deva-rata iti khyatah

sunahsephas tu bhargavah

SYNONYMS

yah—he who (Sunahsepha); ratah—was protected; deva-yajane—in the arena for worshiping the demigods; devaih—by the same demigods; gadhisu—in the dynasty of Gadhi; tapasah—advanced in executing spiritual life; deva-ratah—protected by the demigods; iti—thus; khyatah—celebrated; sunahsephah tu—as well as Sunahsepha; bhargavah—in the dynasty of Bhrgu.

TRANSLATION

Although Sunahsepha was born in the Bhargava dynasty, he was greatly advanced in spiritual life, and therefore the demigods involved in the sacrifice protected him. Consequently he was also celebrated as the descendant of Gadhi named Devarata.

SB9.16.33

TEXT 33

ye madhucchandaso jyesthah

kusalam menire na tat

asapat tan munih kruddho

mleccha bhavata durjanah

SYNONYMS

ye—those who; madhucchandasah—sons of Visvamitra, celebrated as the Madhucchandas; jyesthah—eldest; kusalam—very good; menire—accepting; na—not; tat—that (the proposal that he be accepted as the eldest brother); asapat—cursed; tan—all the sons; munih—Visvamitra Muni; kruddhah—being angry; mlecchah—disobedient to the Vedic principles; bhavata—all of you become; durjanah—very bad sons.

TRANSLATION

When requested by their father to accept Sunahsepha as the eldest son, the elder fifty of the Madhucchandas, the sons of Visvamitra, did not agree. Therefore Visvamitra, being angry, cursed them. “May all of you bad sons become mlecchas,” he said, “being opposed to the principles of Vedic culture.”

PURPORT

In Vedic literature there are names like mleccha and yavana. The mlecchas are understood to be those who do not follow the Vedic principles. In former days, the mlecchas were fewer, and Visvamitra Muni cursed his sons to become mlecchas. But in the present age, Kali-yuga, there is no need of cursing, for people are automatically mlecchas. This is only the beginning of Kali-yuga, but at the end of Kali-yuga the entire population will consist of mlecchas because no one will follow the Vedic principles. At that time the incarnation Kalki will appear. Mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi kara-balam. He will kill all the mlecchas indiscriminately with his sword.

SB9.16.34

TEXT 34

sa hovaca madhucchandah

sardham pancasata tatah

yan no bhavan sanjanite

tasmims tisthamahe vayam

SYNONYMS

sah—the middle son of Visvamitra; ha—indeed; uvaca—said; madhucchandah—Madhucchanda; sardham—with; pancasata—the second fifty of the sons known as the Madhucchandas; tatah—then, after the first half were thus cursed; yat—what; nah—unto us; bhavan—O father; sanjanite—as you please; tasmin—in that; tisthamahe—shall remain; vayam—all of us.

TRANSLATION

When the elder Madhucchandas were cursed, the younger fifty, along with Madhucchanda himself, approached their father and agreed to accept his proposal. “Dear father,” they said, “we shall abide by whatever arrangement you like.”

SB9.16.35

TEXT 35

jyestham mantra-drsam cakrus

tvam anvanco vayam sma hi

visvamitrah sutan aha

viravanto bhavisyatha

ye manam me ’nugrhnanto

viravantam akarta mam

SYNONYMS

jyestham—the eldest; mantra-drsam—a seer of mantras; cakruh—they accepted; tvam—you; anvancah—have agreed to follow; vayam—we; sma—indeed; hi—certainly; visvamitrah—the great sage Visvamitra; sutan—to the obedient sons; aha—said; vira-vantah—fathers of sons; bhavisyatha—become in the future; ye—all of you who; manam—honor; me—my; anugrhnantah—accepted; vira-vantam—the father of good sons; akarta—you have made; mam—me.

TRANSLATION

Thus the younger Madhucchandas accepted Sunahsepha as their eldest brother and told him, “We shall follow your orders.” Visvamitra then said to his obedient sons, “Because you have accepted Sunahsepha as your eldest brother, I am very satisfied. By accepting my order, you have made me a father of worthy sons, and therefore I bless all of you to become the fathers of sons also.”

PURPORT

Of the one hundred sons, half disobeyed Visvamitra by not accepting Sunahsepha as their eldest brother, but the other half accepted his order. Therefore the father blessed the obedient sons to become the fathers of sons. Otherwise they too would have been cursed to be sonless mlecchas.

SB9.16.36

TEXT 36

esa vah kusika viro

devaratas tam anvita

anye castaka-harita-

jaya-kratumad-adayah

SYNONYMS

esah—this (Sunahsepha); vah—like you; kusikah—O Kusikas; virah—my son; devaratah—he is known as Devarata; tam—him; anvita—just obey; anye—others; ca—also; astaka—Astaka; harita—Harita; jaya—Jaya; kratumat—Kratuman; adayah—and others.

TRANSLATION

Visvamitra said, “O Kusikas [descendants of Kausika], this Devarata is my son and is one of you. Please obey his orders.” O King Pariksit, Visvamitra had many other sons, such as Astaka, Harita, Jaya and Kratuman.

SB9.16.37

TEXT 37

evam kausika-gotram tu

visvamitraih prthag-vidham

pravarantaram apannam

tad dhi caivam prakalpitam

SYNONYMS

evam—in this way (some sons having been cursed and some blessed); kausika-gotram—the dynasty of Kausika; tu—indeed; visvamitraih—by the sons of Visvamitra; prthak-vidham—in different varieties; pravara-antaram—differences between one another; apannam—obtained; tat—that; hi—indeed; ca—also; evam—thus; prakalpitam—ascertained.

TRANSLATION

Visvamitra cursed some of his sons and blessed the others, and he also adopted a son. Thus there were varieties in the Kausika dynasty, but among all the sons, Devarata was considered the eldest.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Sixteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Lord Parasurama Destroys the World’s Ruling Class.”

Next chapter (SB 9.17)