20 - Dharmangada’s conquest of quarters (world)

Vasishtha said:

1. Thus eight years passed on happily during which king Rukmangada was deluded by the sexual intercourse with Mohini.

2-3a. In the course of the ninth year, the king’s powerful son Dharmangada attacked and conquered five Vidyadharas on the Malaya, the excellent mountain. He brought as booty five splendid jewels that bestowed all cherished desires.

3b-5. One of the jewels yielded crores and crores of gold pieces, and was very auspicious. The second jewel bestowed lakhs and crores of garments, ornaments etc., the third jewel exuded nectar that rejuvenated the people: the fourth jewel could erect assembly halls and present cooked accomplished food and the fifth enable one to move about anywhere in the three worlds and range through the sky.

6-7. Taking with him those five jewels, the prince instantly came near his step mother and father Rukmangada accompanied by those defeated Vidyadharas and their women folk whose eyes were filled with tears. He bowed down to them and dedicated the five jewels at their feet. With the head bent down in humility he said: -

8. “O king, O dear father, these five Vidyadharas have been defeated by me in battle by the miraculous missile pertaining to Vishnu, on the Malaya, the excellent mountain.

9. O excel1ent king, these (Vidyadharas) and their women folk have come here as your servants. Please present the jewels to Mohini as ornaments for her arms.

10-11. They arc the bestowers of all cherished desires; they cause rejuvenation. By wearing the jewels, old shaky teeth become stronger once again. They yield garments, mansions, gold pieces, moven1ent through heaven and nectar. I had to fight them for a month and thanks to your brilliance, these jewels were obtained by me.

12. With great difficulty, O king, the seven island continents were won by me and thanks to your brilliance the people there are compelled to pay tributes.

13. A year elapsed since I entered into the ocean, and the city Bhogavati surrounded by serpents has been conquered by me.

14. Serpent virgins numbering to ten thousand have been brought over by me. Necklaces and jewels are brought by me in plenty.

15-17a. Thereafter, O dear father, I went to the great city of Danavas. After defeating them, eight thousand beautiful girls of great splendour are brought by me. O king, ten crores of jewels that carry on the duty of illumination at nightfall have been brought into your mansion.

17b-19. Then I went to the world of Varuna situated beneath Rasatala (netherworlds) There Lord Varuna who was puffed with pride of his power and influence, although he deserves to be the servant of your feet, was intimated by me thus- “Stay under the control of my father, King Rukmangada if you wish to remain alive. At my words Varuna was infuriated and he came to fight with me.

20. Then a fight ensued with him terribly at Rasatala and continued for a year. The leader of aquatic forces was defeated by me by means of the miraculous missile pertaining to Narayana.

21. At the supplication of young women (his wives), he was not killed. For the protection of his life, ten thousand horses as fast as the wind were given (as tribute) by the defeated (lord).

22. These horses were white in colour with the refulgence of the moon but had one of their ears dark in colour. With­ out grass and water they could live for many years.

23. A beautiful and fully bedecked virgin was presented to me. Varuna gave her to me as my wife. That auspicious girl also has been brought by me.

24-25. The girl was brought by me alongwith much wealth. O dear, there is no spot in the three worlds which had been difficult of access to me and which had not been conquered by me because of the merit of serving your feet. Hence get up and inspect carefully the great fortune earned by me through your grace.

26-27. O Lord of the subjects, myself, all my riches, everything is subservient to you. The son who says “This fortune has been earned by me, it shall not be given to Brahmanas,” will fall into hell. O dear father, self-esteem should not be indulged in by the son.

28-30. In regard to the hoarded wealth, the son is like a dagger or a sickle. It is thanks to the heroism of the father that the hoards of wealth of the son increase. Taking a sharp shining sickle, one cuts off clusters of grass.

If the cloth (mast) is filled with wind, one is enabled to cross a river etc. in a boat. (The sails filled with wind (i.e. the force of wind enables the man in the boat   to cross the river (lit. water). Just as the wooden doll of a       woman moves and dances in accordance with the desire of the (wire pulling) juggler, so also the sons arc instilled with brilliance and strength through the virility of the father.

31. Hence this good fortune that has been brought by me may be viewed at by you. You may distribute or preserve your riches as you wish or they may be given to the most excellent one among the groups of mothers.