UNIV. OF THE VISHNU PURÁŇA: A SYSTEM OF HINDU MYTHOLOGY AND TRADITION. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SANSKRIT, AND ILLUSTRATED BY NOTES DERIVED CHIEFLY FROM OTHER PURANAS, BY THE LATE H. H. WILSON, M. A., F.R.S., BODEN PROFESSOR OF SANSKRIT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, EDITED BY FITZEDWARD HALL. VOL. IV. LONDON: TRÜBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1868. BL 1135 P8A6. 1864 bor. 4. MAIN UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA VISHNU PURÁNA. BOOK IV. (continued). CHAPTER VI. Kings of the lunar dynasty. Origin of Soma or the Moon: he carries off Tárá, the wife of Brihaspati: war between the gods and Asuras, in consequence: appeased by Brahmá. Birth of Budha: married to Ilá, daughter of Vaivaswata. Legend of his son Purúravas and the nymph Urvasí: the former institutes offerings with fire: ascends to the sphere of the Gandharvas. MAITREYA. You have given me, reverend (preceptor), an account of (the kings of) the dynasty of the Sun. I am now desirous to hear a description of the princes who trace their lineage from the Moon, and whose race is still celebrated for glorious deeds. Thou art able to relate it to me, Brahman, if thou wilt so favour me. PARÁSARA. You shall hear from me, Maitreya,* an account of the illustrious family of the Moon, which has produced (many celebrated) rulers of the earth,a race adorned by (the regal qualities of) strength, valour, magnificence, prudence,† and activity, and enumerating, amongst its monarchs, Nahusha, Yayáti, *Literally, "tiger of a sage," muni-śárdúla. See Vol. III., p. 118, note §. + Dyuti and sila. 222742 MIA OL Kártavíryárjuna,* and others equally renowned. That race will I describe to you. Do you attend. Atri was the son of Brahmá, the creator of the universe, who sprang from the lotos that grew from the navel of Nárayana. The son of Atri was Soma1 (the moon), whom Brahmᆠinstalled as the sovereign of plants, of Brahmans, and of the stars. Soma celebrated the Rájasúya (sacrifice); and, from the glory thence acquired, and the extensive dominion with which he had been invested, he became arrogant (and licentious), and carried off Tárá, the wife of Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods. In vain Brihaspati sought to recover his bride; in vain Brahmá commanded, and the holy sages remonstrated: Soma refused to relinquish her. § Uśanas, out of enmity to Brihaspati, took part with Soma. Rudra, who had studied under Angiras, 1 The Váyu says, the essence of Soma (Somatwa) issued from the eyes of Atri, and impregnated the ten quarters. The Bhágavata ** says, merely, that Soma was born from the eyes of Atri. The Brahma Purána and Hari Vamsa give a grosser name to the effusion. * That is to say, Arjuna, son of Kŕitavirya. See, for him, Chapter XI. of this Book. Called, in the original, by his epithet abjayoni. Compare Vol. II., p. 85. § बहुशस्तु बृहस्पतिचोदितेन ब्रह्मणा चोद्यमानः सकलदेवर्षिभिर्यीच्यमानोऽपि न मुमोच । In the corresponding passage of the Bhagavata-puráňa,—IX., XIV., 6,—the name is Sukra. For the discordant accounts of the parentage of Uśanas, see Vol. II., p. 152, note 1; for Sukra, ibid., pp. 117, 155. न तस्य हि बृहस्पतिद्वेषादुशना पार्ष्णिग्राहोऽभवत् । ** IX., XIV., 3. |