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

Chapter Twenty-two

SB9.22.25

TEXT 25

ksetre ’prajasya vai bhratur

matrokto badarayanah

dhrtarastram ca pandum ca

viduram capy ajijanat

SYNONYMS

ksetre—in the wives and maidservant; aprajasya—of Vicitravirya, who had no progeny; vai—indeed; bhratuh—of the brother; matra uktah—being ordered by the mother; badarayanah—Vedavyasa; dhrtarastram—a son named Dhrtarastra; ca—and; pandum—a son named Pandu; ca—also; viduram—a son named Vidura; ca—also; api—indeed; ajijanat—begot.

TRANSLATION

Badarayana, Sri Vyasadeva, following the order of his mother, Satyavati, begot three sons, two by the womb of Ambika and Ambalika, the two wives of his brother Vicitravirya, and the third by Vicitravirya’s maidservant. These sons were Dhrtarastra, Pandu and Vidura.

PURPORT

Vicitravirya died of tuberculosis, and his wives, Ambika and Ambalika, had no issue. Therefore, after Vicitravirya’s death, his mother, Satyavati, who was also the mother of Vyasadeva, asked Vyasadeva to beget children through the wives of Vicitravirya. In those days, the brother of the husband could beget children through the womb of his sister-in-law. This was known as devarena sutotpatti. If the husband was somehow unable to beget children, his brother could do so through the womb of his sister-in-law. This devarena sutotpatti and the sacrifices of asvamedha and gomedha are forbidden in the age of Kali.

asvamedham gavalambham
sannyasam pala-paitrkam
devarena sutotpattim
kalau panca vivarjayet

[Cc. Adi 17.164]

“In this age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order of sannyasa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a man’s begetting children in his brother’s wife.” (Brahma-vaivarta Purana).

SB9.22.26

TEXT 26

gandharyam dhrtarastrasya

jajne putra-satam nrpa

tatra duryodhano jyestho

duhsala capi kanyaka

SYNONYMS

gandharyam—in the womb of Gandhari; dhrtarastrasya—of Dhrtarastra; jajne—were born; putra-satam—one hundred sons; nrpa—O King Pariksit; tatra—among the sons; duryodhanah—the son named Duryodhana; jyesthah—the eldest; duhsala—Duhsala; ca api—also; kanyaka—one daughter.

TRANSLATION

Dhrtarastra’s wife, Gandhari, gave birth to one hundred sons and one daughter, O King. The oldest of the sons was Duryodhana, and the daughter’s name was Duhsala.

SB9.22.27-28

TEXTS 27–28

sapan maithuna-ruddhasya

pandoh kuntyam maha-rathah

jata dharmanilendrebhyo

yudhisthira-mukhas trayah

nakulah sahadevas ca

madryam nasatya-dasrayoh

draupadyam panca pancabhyah

putras te pitaro ’bhavan

SYNONYMS

sapat—due to being cursed; maithuna-ruddhasya—who had to restrain sexual life; pandoh—of Pandu; kuntyam—in the womb of Kunti; maha-rathah—great heroes; jatah—took birth; dharma—by Maharaja Dharma, or Dharmaraja; anila—by the demigod controlling the wind; indrebhyah—and by the demigod Indra, the controller of rain; yudhisthira—Yudhisthira; mukhah—headed by; trayah—three sons (Yudhisthira, Bhima and Arjuna); nakulah—Nakula; sahadevah—Sahadeva; ca—also; madryam—in the womb of Madri; nasatya-dasrayoh—by Nasatya and Dasra, the Asvini-kumaras; draupadyam—in the womb of Draupadi; panca—five; pancabhyah—from the five brothers (Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva); putrah—sons; te—they; pitarah—uncles; abhavan—became.

TRANSLATION

Pandu was restrained from sexual life because of having been cursed by a sage, and therefore his three sons Yudhisthira, Bhima and Arjuna were begotten through the womb of his wife, Kunti, by Dharmaraja, by the demigod controlling the wind, and by the demigod controlling the rain. Pandu’s second wife, Madri, gave birth to Nakula and Sahadeva, who were begotten by the two Asvini-kumaras. The five brothers, headed by Yudhisthira, begot five sons through the womb of Draupadi. These five sons were your uncles.

SB9.22.29

TEXT 29

yudhisthirat prativindhyah

srutaseno vrkodarat

arjunac chrutakirtis tu

satanikas tu nakulih

SYNONYMS

yudhisthirat—from Maharaja Yudhisthira; prativindhyah—a son named Prativindhya; srutasenah—Srutasena; vrkodarat—begotten by Bhima; arjunat—from Arjuna; srutakirtih—a son named Srutakirti; tu—indeed; satanikah—a son named Satanika; tu—indeed; nakulih—of Nakula.

TRANSLATION

From Yudhisthira came a son named Prativindhya, from Bhima a son named Srutasena, from Arjuna a son named Srutakirti, and from Nakula a son named Satanika.

SB9.22.30-31

TEXTS 30–31

sahadeva-suto rajan

chrutakarma tathapare

yudhisthirat tu pauravyam

devako ’tha ghatotkacah

bhimasenad dhidimbayam

kalyam sarvagatas tatah

sahadevat suhotram tu

vijayasuta parvati

SYNONYMS

sahadeva-sutah—the son of Sahadeva; rajan—O King; srutakarma—Srutakarma; tatha—as well as; apare—others; yudhisthirat—from Yudhisthira; tu—indeed; pauravyam—in the womb of Pauravi; devakah—a son named Devaka; atha—as well as; ghatotkacah—Ghatotkaca; bhimasenat—from Bhimasena; hidimbayam—in the womb of Hidimba; kalyam—in the womb of Kali; sarvagatah—Sarvagata; tatah—thereafter; sahadevat—from Sahadeva; suhotram—Suhotra; tu—indeed; vijaya—Vijaya; asuta—gave birth to; parvati—the daughter of the Himalayan king.

TRANSLATION

O King, the son of Sahadeva was Srutakarma. Furthermore, Yudhisthira and his brothers begot other sons in other wives. Yudhisthira begot a son named Devaka through the womb of Pauravi, and Bhimasena begot a son named Ghatotkaca through his wife Hidimba and a son named Sarvagata through his wife Kali. Similarly, Sahadeva had a son named Suhotra through his wife named Vijaya, who was the daughter of the king of the mountains.

SB9.22.32

TEXT 32

karenumatyam nakulo

naramitram tatharjunah

iravantam ulupyam vai

sutayam babhruvahanam

manipura-pateh so ’pi

tat-putrah putrika-sutah

SYNONYMS

karenumatyam—in the wife named Karenumati; nakulah—Nakula; naramitram—a son named Naramitra; tatha—also; arjunah—Arjuna; iravantam—Iravan; ulupyam—in the womb of the Naga-kanya named Ulupi; vai—indeed; sutayam—in the daughter; babhruvahanam—a son named Babhruvahana; manipura-pateh—of the king of Manipura; sah—he; api—although; tat-putrah—the son of Arjuna; putrika-sutah—the son of his maternal grandfather.

TRANSLATION

Nakula begot a son named Naramitra through his wife named Karenumati. Similarly, Arjuna begot a son named Iravan through his wife known as Ulupi, the daughter of the Nagas, and a son named Babhruvahana by the womb of the princess of Manipura. Babhruvahana became the adopted son of the king of Manipura.

PURPORT

It is to be understood that Parvati is the daughter of the king of the very, very old mountainous country known as the Manipura state. Five thousand years ago, therefore, when the Pandavas ruled, Manipura existed, as did its king. Therefore this kingdom is a very old, aristocratic Vaisnava kingdom. If this kingdom is organized as a Vaisnava state, this revitalization will be a great success because for five thousand years this state has maintained its identity. If the Vaisnava spirit is revived there, it will be a wonderful place, renowned throughout the entire world. Manipuri Vaisnavas are very famous in Vaisnava society. In Vrndavana and Navadvipa there are many temples constructed by the king of Manipura. Some of our devotees belong to the Manipura state. The Krsna consciousness movement, therefore, can be well spread in the state of Manipura by the cooperative efforts of the Krsna conscious devotees.

SB9.22.33

TEXT 33

tava tatah subhadrayam

abhimanyur ajayata

sarvatirathajid vira

uttarayam tato bhavan

SYNONYMS

tava—your; tatah—father; subhadrayam—in the womb of Subhadra; abhimanyuh—Abhimanyu; ajayata—was born; sarva-atiratha-jit—a great fighter who could defeat the atirathas; virah—a great hero; uttarayam—in the womb of Uttara; tatah—from Abhimanyu; bhavan—your good self.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Pariksit, your father, Abhimanyu, was born from the womb of Subhadra as the son of Arjuna. He was the conqueror of all atirathas [those who could fight with one thousand charioteers]. From him, by the womb of Uttara, the daughter of Viradraja, you were born.

SB9.22.34

TEXT 34

pariksinesu kurusu

drauner brahmastra-tejasa

tvam ca krsnanubhavena

sajivo mocito ’ntakat

SYNONYMS

pariksinesu—because of being annihilated in the Kuruksetra war; kurusu—the members of the Kuru dynasty, such as Duryodhana; drauneh—Asvatthama, the son of Dronacarya; brahmastra-tejasa—because of the heat of the brahmastra nuclear weapon; tvam ca—your good self also; krsna-anubhavena—because of the mercy of Lord Krsna; sajivah—with your life; mocitah—released; antakat—from death.

TRANSLATION

After the Kuru dynasty was annihilated in the Battle of Kuruksetra, you also were about to be destroyed by the brahmastra atomic weapon released by the son of Dronacarya, but by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, you were saved from death.

SB9.22.35

TEXT 35

taveme tanayas tata

janamejaya-purvakah

srutaseno bhimasena

ugrasenas ca viryavan

SYNONYMS

tava—your; ime—all these; tanayah—sons; tata—my dear King Pariksit; janamejaya—Janamejaya; purvakah—headed by; srutasenah—Srutasena; bhimasenah—Bhimasena; ugrasenah—Ugrasena; ca—also; viryavan—all very powerful.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, your four sons—Janamejaya, Srutasena, Bhimasena and Ugrasena—are very powerful. Janamejaya is the eldest.

SB9.22.36

TEXT 36

janamejayas tvam viditva

taksakan nidhanam gatam

sarpan vai sarpa-yagagnau

sa hosyati rusanvitah

SYNONYMS

janamejayah—the eldest son; tvam—about you; viditva—knowing; taksakat—by the Taksaka serpent; nidhanam—death; gatam—undergone; sarpan—the snakes; vai—indeed; sarpa-yaga-agnau—in the fire of the sacrifice for killing all the snakes; sah—he (Janamejaya); hosyati—will offer as a sacrifice; rusa-anvitah—because of being very angry.

TRANSLATION

Because of your death by the Taksaka snake, your son Janamejaya will be very angry and will perform a sacrifice to kill all the snakes in the world.

SB9.22.37

TEXT 37

kalaseyam purodhaya

turam turaga-medhasat

samantat prthivim sarvam

jitva yaksyati cadhvaraih

SYNONYMS

kalaseyam—the son of Kalasa; purodhaya—accepting as the priest; turam—Tura; turaga-medhasat—he will be known as Turaga-medhasat (a performer of many horse sacrifices); samantat—including all parts; prthivim—the world; sarvam—everywhere; jitva—conquering; yaksyati—will execute sacrifices; ca—and; adhvaraih—by performing asvamedha-yajnas.

TRANSLATION

After conquering throughout the world and after accepting Tura, the son of Kalasa, as his priest, Janamejaya will perform asvamedha-yajnas, for which he will be known as Turaga-medhasat.

SB9.22.38

TEXT 38

tasya putrah sataniko

yajnavalkyat trayim pathan

astra-jnanam kriya-jnanam

saunakat param esyati

SYNONYMS

tasya—of Janamejaya; putrah—the son; satanikah—Satanika; yajnavalkyat—from the great sage known as Yajnavalkya; trayim—the three Vedas (Sama, Yajur and Rg); pathan—studying thoroughly; astra-jnanam—the art of military administration; kriya-jnanam—the art of performing ritualistic ceremonies; saunakat—from Saunaka Rsi; param—transcendental knowledge; esyati—will achieve.

TRANSLATION

The son of Janamejaya known as Satanika will learn from Yajnavalkya the three Vedas and the art of performing ritualistic ceremonies. He will also learn the military art from Krpacarya and the transcendental science from the sage Saunaka.

SB9.22.39

TEXT 39

sahasranikas tat-putras

tatas caivasvamedhajah

asimakrsnas tasyapi

nemicakras tu tat-sutah

SYNONYMS

sahasranikah—Sahasranika; tat-putrah—the son of Satanika; tatah—from him (Sahasranika); ca—also; eva—indeed; asvamedhajah—Asvamedhaja; asimakrsnah—Asimakrsna; tasya—from him (Asvamedhaja); api—also; nemicakrah—Nemicakra; tu—indeed; tat-sutah—his son.

TRANSLATION

The son of Satanika will be Sahasranika, and from him will come the son named Asvamedhaja. From Asvamedhaja will come Asimakrsna, and his son will be Nemicakra.

SB9.22.40

TEXT 40

gajahvaye hrte nadya

kausambyam sadhu vatsyati

uktas tatas citrarathas

tasmac chucirathah sutah

SYNONYMS

gajahvaye—on the town of Hastinapura (New Delhi); hrte—being inundated; nadya—by the river; kausambyam—in the place known as Kausambi; sadhu—duly; vatsyati—will live there; uktah—celebrated; tatah—thereafter; citrarathah—Citraratha; tasmat—from him; sucirathah—Suciratha; sutah—the son.

TRANSLATION

When the town of Hastinapura [New Delhi] is inundated by the river, Nemicakra will live in the place known as Kausambi. His son will be celebrated as Citraratha, and the son of Citraratha will be Suciratha.

SB9.22.41

TEXT 41

tasmac ca vrstimams tasya

suseno ’tha mahipatih

sunithas tasya bhavita

nrcaksur yat sukhinalah

SYNONYMS

tasmat—from him (Suciratha); ca—also; vrstiman—the son known as Vrstiman; tasya—his (son); susenah—Susena; atha—thereafter; mahi-patih—the emperor of the whole world; sunithah—Sunitha; tasya—his; bhavita—will be; nrcaksuh—his son, Nrcaksu; yat—from him; sukhinalah—Sukhinala.

TRANSLATION

From Suciratha will come the son named Vrstiman, and his son, Susena, will be the emperor of the entire world. The son of Susena will be Sunitha, his son will be Nrcaksu, and from Nrcaksu will come a son named Sukhinala.

SB9.22.42

TEXT 42

pariplavah sutas tasman

medhavi sunayatmajah

nrpanjayas tato durvas

timis tasmaj janisyati

SYNONYMS

pariplavah—Pariplava; sutah—the son; tasmat—from him (Pariplava); medhavi—Medhavi; sunaya-atmajah—the son of Sunaya; nrpanjayah—Nrpanjaya; tatah—from him; durvah—Durva; timih—Timi; tasmat—from him; janisyati—will take birth.

TRANSLATION

The son of Sukhinala will be Pariplava, and his son will be Sunaya. From Sunaya will come a son named Medhavi; from Medhavi, Nrpanjaya; from Nrpanjaya, Durva; and from Durva, Timi.

SB9.22.43

TEXT 43

timer brhadrathas tasmac

chatanikah sudasajah

satanikad durdamanas

tasyapatyam mahinarah

SYNONYMS

timeh—of Timi; brhadrathah—Brhadratha; tasmat—from him (Brhadratha); satanikah—Satanika; sudasa-jah—the son of Sudasa; satanikat—from Satanika; durdamanah—a son named Durdamana; tasya apatyam—his son; mahinarah—Mahinara.

TRANSLATION

From Timi will come Brhadratha; from Brhadratha, Sudasa; and from Sudasa, Satanika. From Satanika will come Durdamana, and from him will come a son named Mahinara.

SB9.22.44-45

TEXTS 44–45

dandapanir nimis tasya

ksemako bhavita yatah

brahma-ksatrasya vai yonir

vamso devarsi-satkrtah

ksemakam prapya rajanam

samstham prapsyati vai kalau

atha magadha-rajano

bhavino ye vadami te

SYNONYMS

dandapanih—Dandapani; nimih—Nimi; tasya—from him (Mahinara); ksemakah—a son named Ksemaka; bhavita—will take birth; yatah—from whom (Nimi); brahma-ksatrasya—of brahmanas and ksatriyas; vai—indeed; yonih—the source; vamsah—the dynasty; deva-rsi-satkrtah—respected by great saintly persons and demigods; ksemakam—King Ksemaka; prapya—up to this point; rajanam—the monarch; samstham—an end to them; prapsyati—there will be; vai—indeed; kalau—in this Kali-yuga; atha—thereafter; magadha-rajanah—the kings in the Magadha dynasty; bhavinah—the future; ye—all those who; vadami—I shall explain; te—unto you.

TRANSLATION

The son of Mahinara will be Dandapani, and his son will be Nimi, from whom King Ksemaka will be born. I have now described to you the moon-god’s dynasty, which is the source of brahmanas and ksatriyas and is worshiped by demigods and great saints. In this Kali-yuga, Ksemaka will be the last monarch. Now I shall describe to you the future of the Magadha dynasty. Please listen.

SB9.22.46-48

TEXTS 46–48

bhavita sahadevasya

marjarir yac chrutasravah

tato yutayus tasyapi

niramitro ’tha tat-sutah

sunaksatrah sunaksatrad

brhatseno ’tha karmajit

tatah sutanjayad viprah

sucis tasya bhavisyati

ksemo ’tha suvratas tasmad

dharmasutrah samas tatah

dyumatseno ’tha sumatih

subalo janita tatah

SYNONYMS

bhavita—will take birth; sahadevasya—the son of Sahadeva; marjarih—Marjari; yat—his son; srutasravah—Srutasrava; tatah—from him; yutayuh—Yutayu; tasya—his son; api—also; niramitrah—Niramitra; atha—thereafter; tat-sutah—his son; sunaksatrah—Sunaksatra; sunaksatrat—from Sunaksatra; brhatsenah—Brhatsena; atha—from him; karmajit—Karmajit; tatah—from him; sutanjayat—from Sutanjaya; viprah—Vipra; sucih—a son named Suci; tasya—from him; bhavisyati—will take birth; ksemah—a son named Ksema; atha—thereafter; suvratah—a son named Suvrata; tasmat—from him; dharmasutrah—Dharmasutra; samah—Sama; tatah—from him; dyumatsenah—Dyumatsena; atha—thereafter; sumatih—Sumati; subalah—Subala; janita—will take birth; tatah—thereafter.

TRANSLATION

Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha, will have a son named Marjari. From Marjari will come Srutasrava; from Srutasrava, Yutayu; and from Yutayu, Niramitra. The son of Niramitra will be Sunaksatra, from Sunaksatra will come Brhatsena, and from Brhatsena, Karmajit. The son of Karmajit will be Sutanjaya, the son of Sutanjaya will be Vipra, and his son will be Suci. The son of Suci will be Ksema, the son of Ksema will be Suvrata, and the son of Suvrata will be Dharmasutra. From Dharmasutra will come Sama; from Sama, Dyumatsena; from Dyumatsena, Sumati; and from Sumati, Subala.

SB9.22.49

TEXT 49

sunithah satyajid atha

visvajid yad ripunjayah

barhadrathas ca bhupala

bhavyah sahasra-vatsaram

SYNONYMS

sunithah—from Subala will come Sunitha; satyajit—Satyajit; atha—from him; visvajit—from Visvajit; yat—from whom; ripunjayah—Ripunjaya; barhadrathah—all in the line of Brhadratha; ca—also; bhupalah—all those kings; bhavyah—will take birth; sahasra-vatsaram—continuously for one thousand years.

TRANSLATION

From Subala will come Sunitha; from Sunitha, Satyajit; from Satyajit, Visvajit; and from Visvajit, Ripunjaya. All of these personalities will belong to the dynasty of Brhadratha, which will rule the world for one thousand years.

PURPORT

This is the history of a monarchy that began with Jarasandha and continues for one thousand years as the above-mentioned kings appear on the surface of the globe.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twenty-second Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Descendants of Ajamidha.”

Next chapter (SB 9.23)