Pracetasas Upākhyāna

Pracetasas Upākhyāna is the account of the ten sons of King Prācīnabarhish, told in the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapters 24, 30 and 31. The ten brothers did ten thousand years of tapas in the ocean. On the way they received the Rudra Gīta from Bhagavān Śiva. They saw Śrī Hari, who gave them Mārisha as wife. They became the fathers of Daksha born again. They burned the forests of the earth with fire from their mouths until Brahmā calmed them. At the end they reached liberation after Nārada taught them on the shore of the western ocean.

Background: Prācīnabarhish’s command

King Prācīnabarhish was also called Barhishat. He was a great-great-grandson of Dhruva and the son of Havirdhāna. By his many yajñas he had spread sacred darbha grass, with its tips pointing east, over the whole earth. He married Śatadruti, the daughter of the ocean. They had ten sons, all called Pracetasas. They were the same in name, nature and dharma.

Nārada woke Prācīnabarhish from his attachment to the world through the Purañjana allegory. The king told his sons to marry and fill the world with people according to dharma. He himself went to Kapilāśrama to seek liberation.

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 24 (opening part), gives this account.

The meeting with Bhagavān Śiva

The Pracetasas went west to do tapas in the ocean. On the way they found a great lake of rare beauty. Its water was as clear as the mind of a mahātmā. It was full of blue, red and dark lotuses and it rang with the calls of haṃsas (swans), herons and koels. The trees on its banks shook with the hum of drunken bees, and the air was thick with the scent of lotus pollen. They heard divine music: the mṛdaṅga, the bherī and divine voices.

While they stood and wondered, Bhagavān Śiva himself rose from the lake with his followers. He shone like pure gold, and gandharvas sang his praise. The Pracetasas bowed to the ground at once. Bhagavān Śiva was pleased and spoke to them:

“Bhagavān Vāsudeva, who is beyond both Prakṛti and the jīva-tattva, is dear to me above all. A person who has taken refuge directly in him is as dear to me as Bhagavān Vāsudeva himself. Because you are devotees of Bhagavān Vāsudeva, I am glad to see you. I will teach you a great hymn. It purifies, it brings every good, and it can even give moksha.”

Bhagavān Śiva then taught them the Rudra Gīta. He said:

“This yogādeśa, the instruction of yoga, was first taught to me by Brahmā at the beginning of creation. We Prajāpatis recited it. Our avidyā (ignorance) was destroyed, and we could create the worlds. Recite it with pure hearts, go to the ocean, and worship Śrī Hari.”

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 24, gives this account.

Ten thousand years of tapas in the ocean

The Pracetasas went into the ocean and did tapas for ten thousand years. They worshipped Śrī Hari, the master of all tapas. They recited the Rudra Gīta, thought on its meaning, and practised yoga with their senses fully held in control.

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 30, gives this account.

Darśana of Śrī Hari

After ten thousand years Śrī Hari appeared in the ocean. He wore yellow silk (pītāmbara) and rode Garuḍa as the sun rides a cloud. The Kaustubha gem shone on his chest. He was dark like a rain cloud and had eight arms that held his divine āyudhas (weapons). Great ṛshis, attendants and the Lokapālas stood around him. Lakshmī shone between his eight arms like a golden line. Garuḍa sang the praise of his master.

Bhagavān Vishṇu said to the Pracetasas:

“I am pleased with your love for one another and your one dharma. Ask for a vara (a boon).”

“One who remembers you at the two daily sandhyās will have brotherly love for his brothers and kindness toward all beings.”

“Those who worship me morning and evening with the Rudra Gīta will receive the boons they ask for, and also a clear mind.”

“A son will be born to you, as glorious as Brahmā himself, who will fill the three worlds with his children.”

“Marry Mārisha, the woman born to the trees through Pramlocā, the daughter of Kaṇḍu Maharshi. She was born from an apsarā who left her in the forest. The trees raised her. Candra fed her by placing his finger, dripping with nectar, in her mouth. She has chosen you.”

“Enjoy both earthly and divine pleasures for a long time. Then, through deeper bhakti, you will reach liberation.”

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 30, gives this account.

The burning of the forests and Brahmā’s coming

When the Pracetasas came out of the ocean they found the earth covered with trees. The trees had grown so tall and thick that they shut out the sky and crowded out all other life. The Pracetasas were furious at this block to the work of sṛshṭi (creation) that had been given to them. They breathed fire and wind from their mouths and began to burn the forests over the earth.

When great numbers of trees were burning, Brahmā came. He calmed the Pracetasas with gentle words and explained why the trees are needed in the order of the world. Then he told the trees that were left: “Give your daughter to these Pracetasas.” The remaining trees were grateful to Brahmā for stepping in. They offered Mārisha, the woman born of the trees, to the Pracetasas.

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 30, gives this account.

Daksha born again

The Pracetasas took Mārisha as wife at Brahmā’s word. From their union with her was born Daksha Prajāpati. This was Daksha in a new round of birth. He had to be born again after his earlier life, in which he insulted Bhagavān Śiva and his yajña was destroyed. From the moment of his birth Daksha outshone everyone with his tejas (radiance). He was called Daksha because of his great skill in all karmas (actions).

Svāyambhuva Brahmā anointed this new Daksha as the overlord of all the Prajāpatis. He told him to lead the work of creation for the new age.

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 30, gives this account.

Nārada’s upadeśa and liberation

When they had done their duty as Prajāpatis, the Pracetasas handed the work of creation to their sons. They went to the shore of the western ocean to practise brahmavidyā (knowledge of Brahman). They sat in āsana, held their prāṇa in control, and fixed their minds on pure Parabrahman.

Nārada came. The Pracetasas stood up, honoured him with great respect, and said: “Devarshi! Both Bhagavān Śiva and Śrī Hari have taught us the truth of the ātmā. But so much time went by in household life that we have mostly forgotten it. Please shine light again on the knowledge of the ātmā that destroys all duality, so that we may cross this ocean of saṃsāra.”

Nārada taught them the highest truth: the whole world is Śrī Hari. Birth, deeds, life, mind and speech have meaning only when they are given to Śrī Hari. The whole world comes from Śrī Hari, rests in Śrī Hari and is dissolved in Śrī Hari. It is not different from him, as waves are not different from water. The boat that crosses the ocean of saṃsāra is bhakti-yoga toward Śrī Hari, which brings jñāna and vairāgya (detachment).

He said: “Sarvabhūteshu dayā, saṃtosha, indriya-nigraha: kindness to all beings, contentment and control of the senses. These three are the quickest way to please Śrī Hari. Even Lakshmī, who never leaves his side, even Brahmā, even Indra, are not as dear to Bhagavān Vishṇu as the devotee in whose pure heart Śrī Hari is set.”

After receiving Nārada’s teaching, the Pracetasas fixed their minds on Śrī Hari and meditated on his lotus feet. They reached his dhāma (abode) and were freed from the bonds of saṃsāra.

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 31, gives this account.

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 24
• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 30
• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 4th Skanda, Chapter 31