122 - Avikshita’s exploits.

Canto cxxiii in the Calcutta edition. 

Karandhama had a son Avikshita, who wins so called because benign planets looked upon his birth - Avihshita was a great prince; He; was chosen by many princesses and he also carried off others at their svayam -varas—He carried off Vaishalini princess of Vidisha, and other kings arrayed themselves against him. 

Markandeya spoke:

1       Virya-chandra’s § beautiful-browed daughter was named Vira she was noble in her vows. She chose the great king Karan

§ I have not found this king elsewliere. 

2 dhama for her husband at her svayam-vara. That valiant king of kings begat of her a son named Avikshita, || who -attaiined

|| He is called Avikshit and Avikshi in various passages in the following cantos (see canto cxxx, verse 22); see also Ma-ha-Bh., Ashvam.-p.iii. 80-85, and Vishnu Pur. IV. i. In the former of these passages he is also called Karandhama, is highly extolled as a great king, and is said to have reigned at the beginning of the Treta Age with Angiras as his priest

3 fame on the face of the earth. When that son was born, the king asked the astrologers -who could read fate— “I trust my son is born under an excellent constellation, at an excellent

4 conjuncture? And I trust that benignant planets have looked upon my son’s birth; I trust it did not pass into the path of view of evil planets? “

5       When addressed thus by him, the astrologers spake then to the king— “When the moment, the constellation and the conjuncture

6 have been excellent, thy son has been born to be great in valour, great in his parts, great in strength. O great king, thy

7 son shall be a great king. The planet Jupiter, preceptor of the gods, has looked on him, and Venus which is the seventh; and the Moon the fourth planet has looked upon this thy son

8 and Soma’s son Mercury also, which is stationed at the edge,

9 has guarded him. The Sun has not looked on him; nor has Mars or Saturn looked on thy son, O great king. Happy is this thy son! he will be endowed with all good fortune and prosperity.” 

Markandeya spoke:

10 On hearing this the astrologers’ speech, the king was filled with gladness in his mind, and going then to his own abode he said- 

11      “The preceptor of the gods has looked on him, and so has Soma’s son* Mercury. The Sun has not looked on him, nor

* Arka-sunu. 

12 has the Sun’s son* nor Mars. This word ‘ as looked upon’ † that ye, sirs, have uttered often,— celebrated by reason of it his name shall be Avikshita.” 

† Avaikshata from the root ava†iksh.

Markandeya spoke:

13 His son Avikshita learnt the whole of the Vedas and Vedangas. He acquired too from Kanva’s son perfect skill in every

14 weapon. The prince surpassed both the Physicians of the gods in figure, Vachas-pati in intellect, the Moon in loveliness,

15 the Sun in splendour, the Ocean in steadfastness, and the Earth in endurance, full of valour as he teas. In heroism no one was the equal of that high-souled prince. 

16 At her svayam-vara Hema-dharma’s daughterVara chose him for ‘her husband; so also did Sudeva’s daughter Gauri, Balin’s

17 daughter Su-hhadra, Vira’s daughter Lilavati, Vira-bhadra’s daughter Anibha,* Bhima’s daughter Manya-vati, Dambha’s

* Or Nibha. 

18 daughter Kumud-vati. And those maidens who, awaiting the precise moment at their svayam-varas, did not approve him,†

† For chaivam nabhinandanti read chainam nabhyanandanta as in the Poona edition. 

19 even them the hero prince took by force. Driving off all the kings and the fathers and families of those princesses and trusting in his own valour, the mighty prince was indeed proud of his strength. 

20    Now one day he seised Vaishalini of the beautiful teeth, daughter of the Vaidisha †† king Vishala, as she was waiting for

†† The adjective of Vidisha, a town, see p. 343, note † 

21 the proper moment at her svayam-vara; after vanquishing all the kings he seized her by force, because in her own free fancy she chose him not, O brahman-rishi, just as, proud of

22 his strength, he had seized other princesses. Then all those kings, being repeatedly driven off by that haughty prince and being sorely dejected, spoke to one another, all throng

23 ing together, -

“Fie on the birth of you kings, who being endowed with strength submit to this defrauding deed § at the hands of

§ For lalanam read vanchanam as in the Bombay edition. 

24 a single man, and who are many, of the same caste! A kshatriya is he who delivers from injury|| a man, who is being killed by ferocious men; that is the name of such a one; for

|| Kshatriyo yah, kshata-tranam karoti. This fanciful derivation is also in Raghu-Vamsa ii. 53. For a different derivation, see ante, canto cxiv, 36.

25 in vain verily do others bear that name! Of you, sirs, who, though born of kshatriya lineage, cannot save even your own selves from injury at the hands of this scoundrel, what is

26 your resolution like? Let the praise, which is poured forth to you ¶ by bards and minstrels and heralds, be true—let it not be in vain— O heroes, by reason of the destruction of your

¶For cha read vah with the Bombay edition.

27 foes!, Let not this  story vainly spread itself abont by messengers belonging to other regions,* kings! Ye all rely on your manhood, ye are sprung from exalted families. Who fears

* The Calcutta edition reads charatam sa vrithaivaisha bhupash charair digantaraih; the Bombay edition charatam sa tathaivaisha bhupas charair dig-antare and the Poona edition charatam ind vrithaivaisha bhupa-shabdo dig-antare. The first is incorrect; the second is sound whether it reads dig-antare or dig-antaraih, and the third is also good. Comparing these, the best reading appears to be charatam ma vrithaivaisha bhupash charair dig-antaraih, and I have taken this.

28 not death? Who is immortal without battling? With these thoughts ye whose profession is arms must not abandon your manhood.” 

29 On hearing this the kings were filled with openly displayed wrath; all spoke at once to one another and rose up with

30 their weapons. Some mounted chariots, some elephants and others horses; others overpowered with wrath, advanced on foot against him.