अवश्यं कथनीयं मे तवैतन्नरपुङ्गव। यदर्थं त्वाहमुच्छेत्तुं सम्प्राप्तो मनुजाधिप॥
I should certainly, O king, tell you everything about the circumstance for which, O monarch, I came hither for exterminating your race.
भृगूणां क्षत्रिया याज्या नित्यमेतज्जनाधिप। ते च भेदं गमिष्यन्ति दैवयुक्तेन हेतुना॥
This is wellknown, o king, that the Kshatriyas should always have the help of the sons of Bhrigu in the matter of sacrifices. Through an irresistible decree of destiny, the Kshatriyas and the Bhargavas will quarrel,
क्षत्रियाश्च भृगून् सर्वान् वधिष्यन्ति नराधिप। आ गर्भादनुकृन्तन्तो दैवदण्डनिपीडिताः॥
The Kshatriyas, o king, will kill all the descendants of Bhrigu. By an ordinance of fate, they will root out the race of Bhrigu, not sparing even infants in their mothers wombs.
तत उत्पत्स्यतेऽस्माकं कुले गोत्रविवर्धनः। उर्वो नाम महातेजा ज्वलनार्कसमद्युतिः॥
There will then be born in Bhrigu's race a Rishi of the name of Urva. Gifted with great energy, he will in splendour certainly resemble fire or the sun.
स त्रैलोक्यविनाशाय कोपाग्निं जनयिष्यति। महीं सपर्वतवनां यः करिष्यति भस्मसात्॥
He will cherish such anger as will be sufficient to consume the three worlds. He will be competent to reduce the whole Earth with all her mountains and forests into ashes.
कंचित् कालं तु वह्निं च स एव शमयिष्यति। समुद्रे वडवावको प्रक्षिप्य मुनिसत्तमः॥
For a little while he will put out the flames of that fiery rage, throwing it into the Mare's mouth that wanders through the ocean.
पुत्रं तस्य महाराज ऋचीकं भृगुनन्दनम्। साक्षात् कृत्स्नो धनुर्वेदः समुपस्थास्यतेऽनघ।॥ क्षत्रियाणामभावाय दैवयुक्तेन हेतुना। स तु तं प्रतिगृह्मैव पुत्रे संक्रामयिष्यति॥ जमदग्नौ महाभागे तपसा भावितात्मनि। स चापि भृगुशार्दूलस्तं वेदं धारयिष्यति॥
He will have a son of the name of Richika. The whole science of arms, O sinless one, on its embodied form, will come to him, for the extermination of the entire Kshatriya caste, through a decree of Destiny. Receiving that science by inward light, he will, by Yogapower, communicate it to his son, the highly blessed Jamadagni of purified soul. That foremost of Bhrigu's race will bear that science in his mind.
कुलात् तु तव धर्मात्मन् कन्यां सोऽधिगमिष्यति। उद्भावनार्थं भवतो वंशस्य नृपसत्तम॥
O you of righteous soul, Jamadagni will marry a girl, taking her from your race, for spreading its glory, O chief of the Bharatas.
गाधेर्दुहितरं प्राप्य पौत्रीं तव महातपाः। ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रधर्माणं पुत्रमुत्पादयिष्यति॥
Having obtained for wife the daughter of Gadhi and your granddaughter, O king, that great ascetic will beget a twiceborn son gifted with Kshatriya accomplishments.
क्षत्रियं विप्रकर्माणं बृहस्पतिमिवौजसा। विश्वामित्रं तव कुले गाधेः पुत्रं सुधार्मिकम्॥
In your race will be born a son, a Kshatriya gifted with the virtues of a Brahmana. Possessed of great virtue, he will be the son of Gadhi. Known by the name of Vishvamitra, he will in energy come to be considered as the equal of Brihaspati himself, the preceptor of the celestials.
तपसा महता युक्तं प्रदास्यति महाद्युते। स्त्रियौ त कारणं तत्र परिवर्ते भविष्यतः॥
The illustrious Richika will grant this son to your race, this Kshatriya who will be endued with high penances. Two women will be the cause in the matter of this exchange of sons.
पितामहनियोगाद् वै नान्यथैतद् भविष्यति। तृतीये पुरुषे तुभ्यं ब्राह्मणत्वमुपैष्यति॥ भविता त्वं च सम्बन्धी भृगूणां भावितात्मनाम्।
All this will take place at the command of the Grandfather. It will never be otherwise. The status of Brahmanahood will attach to one who is third in descent from you. You shall become a relative of the Bhargavas!
भीष्म उवाच कुशिकस्तु मुनेर्वाक्यं च्यवनस्य महात्मनः॥ श्रुत्वा हृष्टोऽभवद् राजा वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह।
Bhishma said Hearing these words of the great ascetic Chyavana, king Kushika became filled with joy, and answered as followएवमस्त्विति धर्मात्मा तदा भरतसत्तम॥
पुनरेव नराधिपम्। वरार्थं चोदयामास तमुवाच स पार्थिवः॥ बाढमेवं करिष्यामि कामं त्वत्तो महामुने।
Indeed, O best of the Bharatas, he saidSo be it! Gifted with high energy, Chyavana once more addressed the king, and urged him to accept a boon from himself. The king replied, Very well. From you, O great ascetic, I shall obtain the fruition of my wish.
च्यवनस्तु महातेजाः ब्रह्मभूतं कुलं मेऽस्तु धर्मे चास्य मनो भवेत्॥ एवमुक्तस्तथेत्येवं प्रत्युक्त्वा च्यवनो मुनिः। अभ्यनुज्ञाय नृपति तीर्थयात्रा ययौ तदा॥ एतत् ते कथितं सर्वमशेषेण मया नृप। भृगूणां कुशिकानां च अभिसम्बन्धकारणम्॥
Let my family become invested with the dignity of Brahmanahood, and let it always set its heart upon virtue. The ascetic Chyavana, thus solicited, granted the king's prayer, and bidding farewell to the king, started on his intended sojourn to the sacred waters. I have now told you everything, O Bharata, relating to your questions, viz., how the Bhrigus and the Kushikas became connected with each other by marriage.
यथोक्तमृषिणा चापि तदा तदभवन्नृप। जन्म रामस्य च मुनेर्विश्वामित्रस्य चैव हि॥
Indeed, O king, everything took place as the Rishi Chyavana had said. The birth of Rama (of Bhrigu's race) and of Vishvamitra (of Kushika's race) happened in the way that Chyavana had said,