79 -The praise of Vaivasvata in the Savarnika Manv-antara.

This is a mistaken title as the canto shews. 

         Markandeya names the deities, munis and kings of the Vaivasvata Manv-antara.

Markandeya spoke:

1 The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Vishve-devas, the Maruts, the Bhrigus, and the Arigirases are the eight whereof the classes of gods are traditionally held 

2 to he composed. The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras are to be known as Kashyapa’s sons; and the Sadhyas, the “Vasus,§ 

§ This seems a mistake for Maruts; for vasavo read maruto? But both editions read alike.

3 the Vishve-devas are the three groups of Dharma’s sons. Now the Bhrigu class of gods are the sons of Bhrigu, and the Angirases are the sons of Angiras. And it is the present creation. Marich’a is to be known as the lord at present. 

4 And the Indra is named Urjjasvin, high-souled, the consumer of a share of the sacrifices. Now all those lords of

6 the thirty gods, who have passed away, and who have not yet come, and who reign now, are to be known as having equal characteristics —all indeed are thousand-eyed, wielders 

6 of the thunder-bolt, smiters asunder of cities; all are bestowers of gifts, pre-eminent, bearers of crests, walking like elephants; they are all receivers of a hundred sacrifices, 

7 dominating created things with their splendour, possessing the good qualities of sovereignty with righteousness and other pure actions, masters of the past, the future and the present. 

8 Hear also about this triple world,O brahman. Bhur-loka is traditionally held to be this earth; antariksha is held to be the sky,* and svarga is called heaven †- such is spoken of as the triple-world. 

* Divah; read divam, neuter? 

† Divya. 

9 And Atri and Yashishtha and the great rishi Kashyapa, and

10 Gautama, Bharadvaja and Vishva-mitra Kaushika, and also the adorable son of the high-souled Rich’ika, namely Jamadagni—these seven are thus the munis in the present period.

11 Ikshvakn,†† and Nabhaga,§ and Dhj-ishta-sarmati,|| and 

†† Ikshvaku was the eldest son of Manu Vaivasvata. He got Madhyadesha and was the ancestor of several dynasties, the chief of which was the Solar dynasty that reigned in Ayodhya (Hari-Vamsha, x. 634, and xi. 661-8; M.-Bh., Sabha-P. xiii. 568-9; Ramay., Adi-K. lxxii. and Ayodh.-K. cxix).

§ Or Nabhaga. He was father or ancestor of famous king Ambarisha (Hari-V., x. 613 and 641; M.-Bh., Drona-P. lxiv; Santi-P. xxix. 993-7, and ccxxxiv. 8597; and Anushas.-P. cxxxvii. 6252). 

|| This is given as a single name, but should be two: thus for Dhrishta- sharmatir read Dhrishtah Sharyatir, “Dhrishta and Sharyati “according to the Bombay edition. Dhrishta or Dhrishnu was ancestor of the Dharshnaka kshattriyas (Hari-V., x. 613 and 642). Sharmati should be Shaiyiti or Sharyata; he dwelt in the country around the Gulf of Camhay, and founded a dynasty which reigned in Anarta (Hari-V., x. 613 and 642-9: M.-Bh., Vana-P. cxxi. 10312, and cxxii; Anushas.-P. xxx. 1945j Sh’ata-p. Brah. iv. 1. 5; and page 368 note§§). 

12 famous Narishyanta,* Nabhaga† and Dishta,†† and Kurusha,§ and Prushadhru,|| world renowned Vasu-mat¶—these are the nine celebrated sons of Manu Vaivasvata. 

*Or Narishya; he is said to have been the progenitor of the Sh’akas (Hari-V., x. 614 and 641). 

† This and the next name should apparently be read aa one, viz., for Nabhago dishta read Nabhagadishta, or better, Nabhagarishta. He is said to have had two sons, who were vaisyas and became brahmans (Hari-V., x. 614, and xi. 658). 

†† See the preceding note. 

§ This should be Karusha as the Bombay edition reads. He was the progenitor of the Karushas, who were reckoned as kshattriyas (Hari-V., x. 614, and xi. 658); they occupied the country of which Rewa is the centre, see page 341 note †.

||Or better, Prishadhra as the Bombay edition reads; it is said he was cursed by his guru and became a shudra (Hari-V., x. 614, and xi. 659).

¶ He must be the same as Pramshu (Hari-V., x. 614), but I have found no clear allusions to him elsewhere. 

13 I have declared this Vaivasvata period to thee, brdhman, When he hears and reads this, a man forthwith is freed from all sins and gains great merit, O best of munis.