॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 25 March 2023 - IX.23 - Several kings and their progeny, notably a mention of Karna and also the virtues of the great king Kartaveeryarjuna.
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Sage Shuka catalogues in great detail the names of many kings of the Lunar dynasty. There are many cross-connections and cross-fertilisations. For example, King Dasharatha, Sri Rama's father, had a daughter too called Shanta whom he gave in adoption to King Romapada of the Lunar line. She married Rishyashringa, the great sage who was the only one who could conduct the Putrakameshti Yajna for Dasharatha to be graced with four sons!
Here is a mention of Karna:
विजयस्तस्य सम्भूत्यां ततो धृतिरजायत । ततो धृतव्रतस्तस्य सत्कर्माधिरथस्ततः ॥ १२॥
योऽसौ गङ्गातटे क्रीडन् मञ्जूषान्तर्गतं शिशुम् । कुन्त्यापविद्धं कानीनमनपत्योऽकरोत्सुतम् ॥ १३॥
वृषसेनः सुतस्तस्य कर्णस्य जगतीपतेः ।द्रुह्योश्च तनयो बभ्रुः सेतुस्तस्यात्मजस्ततः ॥
T: Vijaya's great-grandson was Adiratha. While once sporting on the bank of the Ganga, Adhiratha found a baby wrapped up in a basket. The baby had been left by Princess Kunti because he was born before she was married. Because Adhiratha had no sons, he raised this baby as his own. This son was later known as Karna. The only son of Karna was Vrishasena.
There are many words of praise for the Lunar dynasty king Arjuna or Kartaveeryarjuna of the thousand limbs.
अर्जुनः कृतवीर्यस्य सप्तद्वीपेश्वरोऽभवत् । दत्तात्रेयाद्धरेरंशात्प्राप्तयोगमहागुणः ॥
न नूनं कार्तवीर्यस्य गतिं यास्यन्ति पार्थिवाः । यज्ञदानतपोयोगश्रुतवीर्यदयादिभिः ॥
पञ्चाशीति सहस्राणि ह्यव्याहतबलः समाः । अनष्टवित्तस्मरणो बुभुजेऽक्षय्यषड्वसु ॥
तस्य पुत्रसहस्रेषु पञ्चैवोर्वरिता मृधे । जयध्वजः शूरसेनो वृषभो मधुरूर्जितः ॥
T: Arjuna, the son of Kritaveerya, became the ruler of all the seven great island continents. He was graced by Bhagavan Dattatreya Himself, who was an incarnation of Bhagavan Sri Hari. So Arjuna was adept in Yoga. One can say no one will ever excel Kartaveeryarjuna as a king. He was most generous and adept in doing Yajnas, giving gifts, doing penance, living in Yoga, in the knowledge of scriptures, in military exploits and showing compassion to the defeated. For eighty-five thousand years, Kartaveeryarjuna continuously enjoyed material prosperity with full bodily strength and unimpaired memory.
No wonder Sage Jamadagni was upset when Parashurama killed Arjuna.
There is another intriguing story. Queen Shaibya who had no children was extremely jealous. Her husband was afraid of her and did not take any other wives. Once, after his military expedition, he brought a young girl in his chariot. Shaibya flew into a rage and abused him. He laughed and replied that this girl was not his bride would be indeed Shaibya's daughter-in-law. You can imagine the histrionics that played on the childless queen's face. But indeed, the king was soon blessed by celestial sages and begot a son with Shaibya, and that prince later married this girl brought home! Ahem!
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
