STORY OF PRITHU

STORY OF PRITHU Part 1 

Dear friends,

Today I am posting the story of Prithu told in Sreemad Bhagavatham. It may give an interesting reading and new information. 

Sincerely,

Gopala Krishnan 26-8-2011. 

REPOSTED on 24-9-2020. After editing and updating. R.Gopala krishnan. 

1. Dhruva, Anga, Vena and Pithru. 

First let me recapitulate a little. In the lineage of King Dhruva who became the pole star later was born the pious king Anga. His son was king Vena. He was a wicked king and was killed by sages for his atrocities in disturbing them. His thigh was churned and first appeared Nishada. The sages continued churning… Read further 

The sages continued to churn the arms of the issueless Vena, when a couple, a man and a woman emerged as Amsas of the Lord and goddess Lakshmi, called PRITHU AND ARCHI. 

The Brahmanas glorified, the Gandharvas sang, the Siddhas showered flowers and the Apsaras danced.   Hosts of Devas, Pitris and Rishis gathered overhead and the sky reverberated with the sounds of conch, drums and pipes.   Brahma, Devas and deities of the quarters all assembled.   

1a. Brahma notice emblems of Vishnu in Prithu 

Brahma noticed on Prithu the emblems of Mahavishnu, like the mark of Chakra, His divine discus and lotus mark on his feet and declared him a part-manifestation of Mahavishnu. Prithu was anointed king and the celestials Kubera, Varuna, Vayu, Dharma, Indra, along with Brahma, Mahavishnu, Saraswathi, Mahalakshmi, Rudra, Ambika, Soma, Twashta, Agni, Sun-god, Earth - all lavished presents on them. 

1b. Prithu marries Archi 

Prithu and Archi were married. He brought all the quarters under his sway and removed the ills of the world. In short, Prithu's rulership was synonymous with the divine rule in all respects, with prosperity, peace and joy reigning everywhere and ever. 

1c. Prithu becomes  king of a famine world 

When Prithu was installed King, there was famine and the earth was not productive.   Sympathizing with the afflicted people and realizing that mother earth was withholding her bounties, Prithu aimed an arrow at the earth.   The frightened earth took the form of a cow and tried to escape.   The king pursued and overcame the mother earth, who sought refuge in Prithu.   

 Prithu levels the earth on pleading by Goddess earth to make it fertile. 

Goddess earth respectfully counselled patience to the angered king and suggested recourse to the path employed by seers and sages for positive results.   She said that wicked creatures, destitute of piety and austerity, consumed the plants and herbs originally produced by Brahma.   When robbers infested the world, the rulers neglected her, the plants and herbs were withdrawn in to the bowels as there was no sacrificial activity and they became decayed.   

Goddess earth promised to yield everything desired, provided a calf and a milking vessel were arranged.   Then milk could be drawn and used as a nutritious food for all beings.   If the earth were levelled plain, the pouring water would collect on the land for producing food grains. 

1e Earth yields every  thing to Prithu 

Thereupon, King Prithu broke down mountain peaks and heights with the ends of his bow and converted most of the earth into a level surface.   Villages, towns, cities and forts were formed with suitable dwelling places and farms.. 

Earth yielded every desired thing for all creations, which employed the excellent ones in their classes for their calves. 

The great king Prithu and the entire population derived all food and prosperity from Goddess earth, employing a calf and a vessel differently.   During Prithus reign, people were free from fear and lived their lives in comfort, peace and plenty, with full devotion to the great king and the Supreme Lord.. 

2. Prithu performs 99 Aswamedha sacrifices 

Pithru took up Deeksha (Preparation or consecration for a religious ceremony) to perform a 

 hundred Asvamedha sacrifices at Brahmavartha, where the holy river Saraswati flowed eastward.   The Supreme Lord, accompanied by Brahma, Mahadeva and the deities of the quarters (Lokapalas) with their retinue, with their glories sung by Gandharvas, Rishis and Apsaras, appeared in person at the sacrifice of Prithu.  

Indra could not bear the excellence, which exceeded his own festivals.   Being desirous of the Darshan (Sight of the Lord), Siddhas, Viddhyadharas, Guhyas, Daithyas, Dhanavas, Sunanda, Nanda, Kapila, Narada and Datta also arrived.   

The wish-yielding mother earth appeared as a cow and gave all the Haviz and other items required for the sacrifice.   The river began to flow with milk, curd and juices of sugarcane and grapes.   Trees assuming huge forms yielded fruits with honey dripping from them. 

The ocean gave heaps of precious gems and the mountains gave the four types of food (Bakshyam, Bhojyam, Lehyam and Soshyam).   Offerings from all the worlds with their chiefs arrived. 

2a. Indra gets  jealous of Prithu and steals the sacred horse 

The grandeur of Prithus sacrifice was more than what Indra could bear.   When Prithu was propitiating the Supreme Lord with the hundredth Asvamedha sacrifice, overcome by jealousy, Indra stole the consecrated horse and hid himself.   

2b Sage Attri  identifies  Indra in disguise 

Maharshi Attri observed Indra hastening skyward in the guise of Pakhanda, wherein Adharma paraded as Dharma.   Urged by Attri, Prithus warrior son chased Indra, roaring Halt, halt!   Looking at the matted and ash-smeared and therefore sacred looking Indra in disguise, Prithus son desisted from aiming his arrow at him.   

2 c The son  of Prithu gets back  the sacred horse 

Attri advised Prithus son, saying, Child, Slay that Indra, destroyer of the sacrifice and low among the devas.   Prithus son again chased Indra, who being frightened, abandoned both the sacrificial horse and his disguise and disappeared. 

Prithus son brought back the horse and the Rishis gave him the Honorific title Vijithasvan (conqueror of the horse).  

2d Indra steals the horse a 2^nd time 

The jealous Indra created a dense darkness and himself unseen, again stole the consecrated horse together with the gilded rope.   Attri pointed to Vijithasvan the skyward rising Indra wearing skull and Katvangan (weapon) but Vijitasvan did not hit him.   

Then prompted by Attri, Vijithasvan shot an arrow at Indra, whereupon, Indra gave up the horse as well as his assumed form and disappeared.   

Prithus son returned with the horse to the sacrificial spot, while men of lesser intelligence adopted that crude form as taken by Indra and appeared in the yagya spot. On learning of Indras depredation, the valiant and angry Prithu fixed an arrow on his bow for attacking Indra.   

3. Prithu was informed by Brahma that the present Indra is a part of Vishnu and he has no right to kill him. 

 The preceptors at the sacrifice restrained Prithu, saying, In this sacrificial spot, killing of none other than the sacrificial animal is permitted.

 We shall invoke Indra's presence here by potent Mantras and then by force make an oblation of him in the fire.   Permitted by Prithu, the invocation was about to commence. 

Now Brahma appeared on the scene and forbade them, saying the present Indra, named Yajna (son of Akuti and Ruchi) is a part manifestation of Mahavishnu.   He does not deserve to be killed by you.   O Brhamanas!    

Let Prithu be satisfied with the ninety-nine Yajnas, which are already completed.   For you, Prithu, there is nothing more to be achieved through performance of Yajnas.   You are already endowed with the wisdom of Moksha Dharma.   It is not appropriate for you to be inimical with Indra, who and you are both expressions of Mahavishnu.   

You are also a part of the manifestation of the Supreme Lord, as Indra is, and have come into the world to restore Dharma, which was endangered by the perversity of Vena. 

Acknowledgement- Earlier Mr Dilipkumar Raveendran had  posted as series Srimad Bhagavatham in US Brahmins groups. This posting is based on the same. 

Compiler- R.Gopala Krishnan, 77 , retired AGM Kerala Telecom Trivandrum, a Keralite iyer now settled in Chennai. 

4. King Prithu concludes with 99^th Aswa medha yaga 

Heeding the advice of Brahma, Prithu refrained from his resolve to continue with the hundredth Yajna and made peace with Indra.   The great deities who were invoked and propitiated at the Yajna bestowed liberal boons on Prithu, who concluded the holy sacrificial ceremonies with the Avabhrita snana (Concluding ritual bath). 

The great Brahmanas, whose good wishes never go in vain, were very much pleased with the parting gifts given respectfully and happily.  They pronounced their blessings on Prithu, saying, O heroic one!   All Devas, Pitris and men invited by you and gathered here, have been appropriately honoured and propitiated by you. 

5. Mahavishnu blesses Prithu       

Mahavishnu, the supreme of all yajnas and deities adored therein, in the company of Indra, spoke to Prithu thus: You are worthy of forgiving this  penitent Indra, who obstructed your Yajna and who seeks forgiveness….         

The supreme Lord continued, O, King! Seek of me a boon. By your   virtuous traits like patience, restraint and non-jealous nature, I am won over by you! I reside in even-minded persons. I cannot be overcome by the Yajnas / austerities performed by persons lacking in virtuous nature or conduct. 

King Prithu gladly / lovingly embraced Indra, who was now prostrating at his feet. The Supreme Lord and the friend of the good were now worshipped by Prithu by clinging to His feet in utter devotion. 

What boon am I to seek of you, the Supreme of even the boon-granting   divinities and the granter of liberation? I do not desire anything    other than drinking the nectar of your feet. Grant me ten thousand ears to imbibe that narration of Thy glories and excellence, nectar from the hearts of Thy heavenly devotees flowing through their lips.…  Thou     alone know what is meting for me!?        

The Lord said, May you have devotion for me. That wisdom, through   which Maya can be overcome, you have directed to me. Do my commands. The universe, which complies with my commands, reaps all auspicious attributes.        

 All Devas, Rishis, Pitris, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Charanas, Nagas,  Kinnaras, Apsaras, men, birds and various other kinds of beings, after  being adored appropriately by the king by the offer of gifts, words and   salutations, departed for their respective abodes. The Supreme Lord         disappeared, taking away the kings heart in the process. After   prostration to the Lord, the king departed for the city. 

6. Prithu's kingdom 

Prithu lived in a region between the Ganga and Yamuna, enjoying the fruits of Karma, only to exhaust them as a prelude to liberation.  His sway extended over all, except Brahmanas and devotees.    Rising  up in Satra   long drawn - Yajna, Pithru, endowed with perfect and   resplendent features, addressed his subjects:          

The aspirant for wisdom should at first reveal his own thoughts. I am installed as a king to administer justice, to protect the country    and people, provide livelihood for the people and establish them in their respective sphere of activities. May I attain to those   higher realms, which the wise prescribe for the just ruler and with whom the Supreme Lord, the eternal witness, is pleased?    O my    subjects!    Help me by adhering to your respective duties, devoid of jealousy and with dedication to God.    O pure-hearted Pitris, Devas and Rishis!    You also commend my behest to my subjects.      

Prithu had a sense of fulfilment, offering all actions and fruits to the Lord.   Considering himself a spirit transcending matter, assuming  the attitude of a mere onlooker in all his actions, Prithu lived,  unattached, mind gathered in, unaffected by sense-objects, like the sun  who shines over everything.         

7. Prithu entrusts kingdom to his children 

Prithu got five sons Vijitasva, Dhumrakesa, Haryaksha, Dravina and    Vrika, through his consort, Archi.   Prithu imbibed all the qualities   of all the Lokapalas.   He collected tax, but gave it back at the proper time.He was formidable like fire, invincible like Indra, patient and equanimous like the Earth and generous like the sky.   Just like Sri    Rama, Prithus name and fame reached the ears of all, through the poems  of praise sung all over his country. 

King Prithu had set an example of righteous life by practicing it   himself.   Realizing his old age and the appropriateness of resorting to Vanaprasta, Prithu entrusted earth to his sons and entered ascetics to the sorrow of the earth he ruled.           

8. King Prithu leaves to forest followed by wife and unite with supreme lord 

Prithu resorted to severe austerities, such as braving the heat and cold   and hunger and thirst, controlled the Pranas and restrained his senses and thus rid his mind of all impurities and meditated on the Lord. In his mind, purified by divine service and perfected by the intense love of God, renunciation and wisdom dawned automatically.  Prithu united   his Atman with the Supreme Lord and attained to an abiding divine  consciousness.In due time, he abandoned his body. 

Archi, Prithu's wife and queen, noted for her beauty, who had till then never travelled   on foot, had accompanied Prithu to the forest, but never felt for the  suffering, because she could serve her husband and have his affection.        

9. Archi unite with Prithu 

 Having set Prithus body on the funeral pyre, Archi bathed, offered water libations, made obeisance to the Devas, went round the flaming   funeral fire thrice and herself entered the blazing pyre with her mind   concentrated on her husband.   

The consorts of Devas sang praise of Archi and showered flowers, to the playing of the musical instruments and said, Glory unto this queen who served her husband devotedly in both life and death even as Sri attends on Mahavishnu. 

Archi is bound to attain regions much loftier than   ours.   Having attained human birth that can culminate in salvation itself, if a person fritters it away in sense-enjoyments; he is indeed a God-forsaken man.   Archi attained to the same realms as the great  Prithu.         

10. Fruitfulness of reading this episode 

Such was the greatness of Prithu,unique among the devotees of the Lord. 

Whoever reads, hears or expounds this holy episode with faith and   devotion, will attain to the same realm as Prithu.   

Brahmanas will be endowed with Brahmic splendor, Kshatriya will become a king, Vaisya will become wealthy and a Sudra a respectable person. Those hearing this         account will get a good progeny and abundance of wealth.