In the previous episode, we had completed our discussion on the long “Amsa-Avatarana-Parva”, which is one of the most important “Upa-Parvas” under the “Aadhi Parva”. We had witnessed in this Upa-Parva as to who all took birth as part of the “Chandra-Vamsa” and as which “Amsas”. With the brief discussion of Bhagawan Krishna’s divine incarnation as part of the “Chandra Vamsa”, we had concluded the “Amsa-Avatarana-Parva”. Now we move on to the next “Upa-Parva” called “Sambhava Parva”. This is also a lengthy “Parva” just like the “Amsa-Avatarana-Parva”. This forms the entire crux of the initial Mahabharata text, wherein we’re going to witness the birth of each and every person in the “Chandra-Vamsa” one by one. This “Upa-Parva” might be a bit confusing too, and even if we miss out on a single event, we would not be able to understand subsequent events after that. Hence, readers should focus their full attention while reading through, so that the entire crux could be clearly understood.
As Sage Vaishampaayana had outlined the “Chandra-Vamsa” thus, King Janame-Jaya wanted to listen to more details. Even our interest has been triggered with that touching description that Sage Vaishampayana gave, isn’t it? If such is the case, King Janame-Jaya had listened directly from him first-hand! This triggered his interest to understand things in detail and hence, requested Sage Vaishampaayana to put everything to perspective. Thus, Sage Vaishampaayana starts from Mareechi, in the Chandra-Vamsa. Sage Mareechi was the direct son of Bhagawan Brahma. Sage Mareechi, along with the other sages of Athri, Angiras, Pulasthya, Pulaha, Krathu were all Bhagawan Brahma’s “Manasaputras”. This means that they were born out of Bhagawan Brahma’s mere thought process in his mind. They were not biologically created. Sage Mareechi in turn gave birth to Sage Kashyapa. It is this Sage Kashyapa who had four wives namely Diti, Aditi, Kadru and Vinata. We’ve seen this earlier too. Aditi gave birth to the twelve “Aadityas” who form the core group of the Devas. Diti gave birth to Hiranyaksha and Hiranya Kashibu, through whom subsequently the Raakshasas were born. As Sage Vaishampayana explains about the birth of Hiranya-Kashibu, he adds an accord on Prahlaada and how Bhagawan Narasimha finishes off Hirayna-Kashibu!
We might wonder here as to why Sage Vaishampaayana is talking about all this! We should be discussing the “Chandra-Vamsa”, isn’t it? In the middle, from where did Sage Mareechi come? Where did Sage Kashyapa come from? There is a connection and a definitive purpose behind which Sage Vaishampayana is explaining all this. But, if we’ve to understand the purpose, we need to wait for the right context and the right time and for that, we need patience! Only if we keep listening to the entire story and the narrative, we would be able to understand why is Sage Vaishampayana going off track every now and then. Moving on further, all we see here is the “Surya-Vamsa”. Sage Kashyapa marries Aditi. Aditi gives birth to Bhagawan Surya. It is in this “Surya-Vamsa”, King Iksvaaku and King Manu are born. After King Ikshvaaku, King Maandhaata, King Sagara, King Ambareesha, King Katvaanga, King Raghu, King Aja, King Dasharata and finally Bhagawan Rama were born! Thus, we can see here that Bhagawan Rama was born as part of the Surya-Vamsa.
Now that we’ve witnessed the “Surya-Vamsa”, it is now time that we discuss the “Chandra-Vamsa” too. It all starts from Pururavas. Subsequently, Nagusha was born. Subsequently came Yayaati, Yadhu Maharaja and Kuru. It is in the clan of Yadhu Maharaja where Bhagawan Krishna was born. This is why this community is referred to as the “Yaadava Community”. Subsequently, the children who were born in Kuru’s lineage were none other than the “Kauravas”. Now with this, we’ve witnessed a brief about both the “Surya Vamsa” and the “Chandra Vamsa”, isn’t it? With this, we can also see what is the connection between Bhagawan Rama and Bhagawan Krishna. We’ve witnessed that the former was born in the Surya-Vamsa and the latter incarnated in the Chandra-Vamsa. We’ve witnessed earlier itself that Bhagawan Krishna and the Paandavas are relatives to each other. How? We’ve seen the ancestors to Bhagawan Krishna and one of them was Yadhu. Similarly, the ancestor of the Kauravas and the Paandavas, who was Kuru. Kuru was the last son and Yadhu was the eldest son to Yayaati, who had married Devayani and Sharmishta. Thus, we can see here that Yadhu and Kuru were brothers. This is why, the Paandavas and Bhagawan Krishna are cousins to each other.
As King Janame-Jaya was listening to all this, he had a question in his mind! Now what was his question? Let us continue this discussion in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 