Discussion between Markandeya and Sanatkumara, on ganas, lokas, Sakti and unmarried girls, besided achieving of the divine sight by Markandeya

Markandeya said: О Bhisma, the son of Ganga, the illustrious lord Sanatkumara - the god of gods, when so spoke, then I asked him for the clearing of all the doubts of my mind, which he did. You please listen about the same.

I asked them, about the numbers of ganas of the manes who are better than the moon and are responsible for its growth, and in which loka are established?

Sanatkumara said - О Markandeya - the best among the performers of the yajnas. It is behind them that seven manes dwell in the heaven, out of them four (Bhukata, Ahgirasa, Susundha and Somapa) are in physical form having the divine borders, while Vairaja, Aquisvatt and Barhisd are formless.

О great ascetic, I shall extensively describe about their lokas, creation, influence and importance, which you please listen.

At the same time, the three supreme ganas having the divine bodies I shall narrate their names and their lokas as well, which you also please listen.

Those manes are lodged in Sanatana lokas, where they are free from the illustrious heaven bodies. These manes have the divine form, who are sons of Prajapati and dwell there.

О best of the Brahmanas, because of being the sons of Viraja Prajapati they are known as Vairajas. The gods adore these Vairaja manes, according to the methods prescribed in the Sastras.

They, having followed the yogic practices, reached the Sanatana loka. But inspite of that, they do not get separated from Brahma, even after the lapse of thousands of yugas. Therefore in the next kalpa (they) emerge from Brahma himself as the sages - exponents of Brahman.

Preserving the memory of the earlier kalpa, they performing the excellent Samkhya Yoga, turn as Siddhas and getting free from birth and death, achieve the position of Yoga.

О excellent one, those who adore soma, earlier by Yogic means, the same manes, increase the Yogic powers of the Yogis.

Therefore special sraddhas be performed for such Yogis. This is the first sarga of Somapa manes which enhance the growth of the moon.

Mena is the name of the mind born daughter of these manes known as Vairaja, who happens to be the wife of the great Himalaya mountain, she has a son named Mainaka.

Mahagiri is the name of the son of Mainaka. Mainaka has the sons named Kraunca, which is the best of the mountains several types of diamonds are enshrined in that mountains.

Himalaya - the king of mountains produced three daughter from the wombs of Mena, who were known by the names of Aparna, Ekaparna and Ekapatala.

All the three girls started performing severe tapas which was beyond the reach of the Dandvas as well as the gods. The severe tapas performed by all the three sisters disturbed the mobiles and immobiles of the three worlds.

At that point of time Арапа lived on consuming first a leaf in a day and Ekapatala consumed only a flower of the patala tree in a day.

Out of them Aparna started living without taking anything. Then Mena, feeling painful because of the natural love of the mother said u-ma(donot do it). Thus she disproved her fasting.

The beautiful one, (Aparna) because of her performing a difficult vrata was known as Uma in the world.

Similarly she, having been engaged in those difficult Yogic practices came to be known by the same name (of Uma). All the three girls performed severe tapas and the universe will be sustained because of the same. The bodies of all the three of them represent tapas.

The bodies of all the three of them is like tapas and possess, the strength of Yoga. They are speakers of Brahman and preserve their chastity.

Uma happens to be the eldest of all, besides being the best, most beautiful, and possesses the best form of Yoga. She was married to lord Mahadeva. О great Brahmana, Ekaparna, was married to Mahatma and intelligent Yogacaya Asita Devala and she became his wife.

Similarly Ekapatala was married to Jaigisavya. Both the fortunate girls appeared before the yogacarya, to serve him.

(Now, the ganas of Agnivata manes are described.) There are the other lokas known by the name of Somapala and are meant for the manes, where the sons of Marici - Prajapati, are established as Manus. The gods adore them here.

The immensely illustrious manes are known by the name of Agnisvata. The river named Achhoda happens to be their mind born daughter.

The famous loka named Achhoda emerged out of the same river. The said mind born daughter of the manes had never met the manes earlier.

Then the same river, having the serene smile over her lips, visualised the manes with her divine sight. But even after looking at them, she could not realise that they were her father and she was born of them.

Then the beautiful Achhoda because of that pain became shameful. There she finding Vasu seated in a plane, was the son of Ayu and was knwon by the name of Amavasu, flying in the sky and was seated with Apsra Adrika of the heaven, and she took him to be her father.

The damsel who could change her form at will, by indulging in the mental improspriety was about to fall from the heaven because of the evil deed.

When so discarded from the heaven and Achhoddi spotted three planes of the size of Trasrence, in which the manes were seated in smallest and invisible forms, who were illuminating like the burning fire. Then the falling Achhoda, cried for help from them.

The manes said, “Donot be afraid.” At these words spoken by them, Achhoda was held up in the sky. They tried to please her with meek and humble voice.

Finding that their daughter had fallen from fortunes because of the moves of destiny, they said to her.»O damsel with serene smile, you are falling from the heaven because of your own fault.

The sins performed by the gods of the heaven with particular bodies, have to face the reward, having the same bodies.

The deeds performed in the Devayonis bestow the instant reward, while the deeds performed as humans, give them the reward after death. Therefore, О daughter, you will receive the reward of your tapas after your death.

At these words of the manes, she pleased her manes. Then those manes, having been filled with compassion, thought about her welfare.

There the manes, realising about the unavoidable events, they said to her, “when this Mahatma Vasu would be born as a human on earth, then you would be born as the daughter of this king. Thus after having a birth as his daughter, there you will gain your loka which is difficult to achieve.

You will give birth to the sons of Parasara dynasty. He will be a Brahmarsi and shall divide the veda in four parts. Then you will increase the glory of Mahamesa (Santanu) by producing two sons in his race, known by the names of Vicitraverya and Citrangada.

After giving birth to these sons, you will return to your own loka. Because of the humiliation of the manes by you, you will achieve a evil birth.

You will be born of the same king from the womb of Adrika as a daughter and in the twenty-eight Dvaparayou will be born as the child of a fish.”

At these words of the manes, she becoming the daughter of the king Vasu was born in as a family of a fisherman and was then known as (Matsyagandha) or Satyavatl.

(Now the Barhisads the third gana of the manes is being described.) There is a beautiful loka in the heaven, known as Vaibhraja. It is in this loka that the manes well known as Barhisads on earth are dwelling.

They are adored by all the gods, yaksas, Gandharvas, Raksasas, Nagas, Serpents, besides the illustrious Garuda and others, on earth.

These manes known by the names of Barhisads, are possessing enormous fortunes, are illustrious, tapasvis (perfomers of tapas) are great souls. They are the sons of Prajapati Pulastya.

Pivari is the mind born daughter of these manes. Ptvari is herself a Yogini, wife of a Yogi, besides being the mother of the yogis. She happens to be the best of the religious minded women, and is likely to be born in Dvapara. In the same yuga, Suka the best of Brahmanas, who would be like the fire without smoke, illustrious, a great tapasvi, and a great yogi, would be born.

The same Sukadeva, shall produce from the womb of Pivart - the daughters of manes, four sons named Krstia, Gaura, Prabhu and Sambhu, who would be great yogacarya, besides the daughter Arinha’s wife known as Krtvi and mother of Brahmadatta.

She after producing the great yogacdryas, shall listen from their father Vyasa, the secrets of dharma. Thereafter, the immensely wise Suka - the great yogi, would achieve the final beautitude, which is free from anixiety, everlasting and eternal form of Brahman.

О sage, the formless manes, have the virtuous bodies. The story of the dynasties of Andhaka and Vrsni starts from them.

The manes known as Sukalas are the sons of Prajapati Vasistha. They are illustrious manes and they dwell in the heaven full of pleasures. They are adored by the Brahmanas.

(Markandeya says - О Bhisma) the mind born daughter of the Sukala manes, is known in the heaven as Gau and was given to your dynasty alone. She was the beloved wife of Suka. The said Gau, came to be known as Ekasrnga and increases the glory of her devoters (Sadhyas).

(Now we describe the adorable Angirasa manes.) Those who were adored earlier by the Sadhyas, the Angirasa manes - sons Angirasa, were placed in the lokas which are illuminated by the sun rays.

О excellent one, the Ksatriyas, desirous of achieving the reward, adore the Angirasa manes. Yasoda is the well known daughter of these manes.

She is the wife of Visvamahan, daughter- in-law of Vrddha-Sarma and is the mother of Rajrisi-Mahatma Dilipa.

О excellent one, at that point of time, in Devaygna, (Dilipa) performed an Asvamedha yajna, by which, the sages getting delighted narrated the story.

A person who concentrating his mind, would listen to the birth story of Mahatma Agni, who was born in the Sandilya gotra, was truthful also known as Dilip, performing the yajna, they also overpower the heaven.

The manes named Susvastha belong to Prajapati Kardama. They are best among Brahmanas and possess the enormous mental strength. They were born from Maharsi Pulaha.

О excellent one, they roam about in the sky, (manes known by the name of Svadha) live in the loka, which fulfills all the desires. The Vaisyas desirous of getting the rewards, adore these manes.

(Sanatkumara says,) О Brahmana their mind born daughter is known by the name of Viraja who is the mother of Yayati and wife of Nahusa.

Thus I have described three types of ganas of manes, who are adorable by the humans. Now you listen from me the description of the fourth type of the manes. These manes were born from the womb of Svadha - the daughter of Kavi and are called Somapa. They are the sons of Agni, and are adored by the Sudras.

They dwell in Manasolokas in the heaven Narmada is known to be their mind born daughter, which is the best of the rivers.

It flows towards the Daksinapatha, and purifies the people. She is the wife of Purakutsa and is the mother of Trasaddasyu.

О excellent one, Prajapati, Manu, at the start of each one of the yuga, taking these manes, to be adorable, had redeemed the or revised the discontinued practice of performing Sraddhas.

О best of the Brahmanas, (Yama) is born ahead of the seven types of manes and they are the exponents of their respective dharmas. Because of this, he is called as Sraddhadeva.

All these manes are pleased by offering a silver vase or vase of someother metal mixed with silver reciting the mantra - “Svadha - Pitrbhyad.”

A person, who invoking soma, Agni, Vaivasvata(san) or yama, consigns the offering in fire or water and satisfies the manes with devotion, the manes in turn delights him. The manes bestow enormous progeny, increase in riches, heaven, good health, besides all the desired things. О sage infact the task of the manes is far better than the task of the gods.

When the manes are pleased, the gods are automatically pleased. The manes get easily pleased and are free from anger and delight the lokas.

(Sanatkumara then spoke to the sage Markandeya) О Bhagava, the grace of the manes is everlasting, therefore, you should bow in reverance to them always. You are devoted to the manes and also to myself.

О sinless Maharsi, therefore, I shall bestow welfare on you today, which you will witness for yourself. I bestow on you the divine sight together with the divine knowledge.

О Markandeya, now, you because of the reward of your serving the manes, you visualise the position emerging out of the performing of Sraddha. A siddha - purusa like you can not visualise the divine movement of the yogis with the eyes of flesh, besides those of the manes.” Thus speaking, he bestowing on me the divine sight, which was burning and resprendent like the fire, beside divine knowledge, left for his abode.

О Bhisma - the best of the Kura’s race, by the grace of the gods, the incident - witnessed by me, you listen to the same. It is extremely difficult to know about that event in earth.

Here ends Chapter -18, of the Harivansa Parva of the khilabhaga of the Mahabharata starting to the discussion between Mahakandeya and Sanatkumara, on ganas, lokas, saktis and unmarried girls, besides achieving of the divine sight by Markandeya(Vrs. 1-82, P.T.= 988)

Chapter 19

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