Sankarśanāya namah

Maharishi Śuka continued, “Nikumbha’s son was Bṛhanāśva whose son was Kṛśāśva. Kṛśāśva’s son was Senajit whose son was Yuvanāśva. Yuvanāśva remained childless. Yuvanāśva who was grieving at this retired into the forests together with his hundred wives. The ever-compassionate saints who lived in the forests helped the king perform a Yāga so that he could be blessed with a child.

During the period of the Yagna, one night the king was exceedingly thirsty. In search of water he entered the sacrificial hall. By then, the priests were fast asleep. In order to quench his thirst he drank the sanctified water that had been stored in the pot.

The next morning the Maharishis were startled to see the empty pot. They were puzzled as to who could drink the sanctified water from the pot kept in the sacrificial hall. They discussed at length but then realized that the king, influenced by the Lord’s will, had drunk the sanctified water. Astonished with these developments they exclaimed, “Aha! Who can go against the will of the Lord?” Saying this, they offered obeisance to the Lord.

After some period, a son emerged from King Yuvanāśva tearing the lower right side of his abdomen. The infant began to cry piteously for milk. Unable to help the wailing infant, the sages wondered, “What should this infant drink?” At that moment Lord Indra appeared and said, “My child, do not cry. Drink my finger.” Saying this Lord Indra placed his forefinger into the infant’s mouth. Since Indra had said, ‘mām dhāta’ i.e. “drink me” the boy was known as Māndhāta.

Even though the boy tore his abdomen to emerge into this world, King Yuvanāśva survived due to the grace of the Maharishis. At that very spot he engaged in deep penance and obtained liberation. Indra named this infant Trasat-dasyuh. This was because Ravana and other demons who cause other living entities to tremble feared Māndhāta.

The blessings of the Supreme Lord Srihari ensured that Māndhāta became a mighty emperor. He was the sole emperor for entire Earth which consisted of seven continents. He was of great renown. Although he was Self-realized, Māndhāta worshipped the Supreme Lord through the medium of Yagna and offered substantial dakshina (money offerings) to the priests who conducted them.

Lord Srihari is the embodiment of all the Devatas. He is the Self for everything. He who is Self-illuminating, is beyond the perception of the senses. Materials, Mantra, methodology, Yagna, the performer of the Yagna, the priests, the righteous principles, specifications such as date and time are all forms of the Supreme Lord Srihari.

The supremely valourous Māndhāta ruled over the entire area between the horizon of Sun-rise to Sun-set. He married Bindumati, the daughter of Śaśabindu. Purukutsa, Ambarīṣa and the Yogi Mucukunda were born to this couple. They had fifty daughters. All his daughters married Maharishi Saubhari.

Once when Maharishi Saubhari was seated in the waters of River Yamuna immersed in deep penance, he saw a pair of fish engaged in sexual union. With this, such desire entered his mind. He approached Emperor Māndhāta and begged, “O king, please give me one of your daughters in marriage.”

Māndhāta replied, “O Maharishi! I have fifty daughters. I will arrange for a swayamvara. Abiding by this tradition, you can accept your wife.”

Maharishi Saubhari interpreted the king’s statement to suggest that he was old and feeble. He presumed that the king was ridiculing him that due to his grey hair, wrinkled body, trembling head and ugly appearance, none of the king’s daughters would marry him. They will be disgusted seeing him. In order to teach the king a lesson, he decided to take on a handsome appearance that would infatuate even celestial damsels. ‘With this, is there any specific necessity to mention that the king’s daughters will definitely admire me?’- he thought.

On the day of Swayamvara (where the bride chooses her groom), Maharishi Saubhari arrived at the palace. The attendant allowed the sage to proceed into the quarters where the princesses resided. Seeing the handsome, attractive features of the sage, all the fifty princesses accepted him as their husband.

These sisters, who until then were bound by sisterly love and attachment, now began to fight amongst themselves. ‘He is fit to be with me alone. He is not suitable for you’ –hurling such abuses at each other they quarrelled.

All of them had fixed him firmly in their hearts. Maharishi Saubhari had mastered the Rig veda. Using his mystical powers he constructed a palatial mansion replete with all kingly comforts and lived in it comfortably with his fifty wives. In this palace men and women were always decked in royal finery. Costly valuable beds, sofas, clothings, ornaments, bathing rooms were arranged in that mansion. Together with them he enjoyed all royal comforts such as exquisite perfumes, tasty foods, flower garlands etc. They enjoyed in the many wonderful gardens in which were situated many lakes that were replete with lotuses.

Emperor Māndhāta, who was the sole ruler for the entire earth consisting of the seven continents, was astonished seeing the grandeur of Maharishi Saubhari’s home. Seeing this grandeur, he gave up the ego that he was the sole ruler of the world”.

Krishnaya namah