Adhyaya 52: The Genealogy of Trivarṇa, Manohvā, and the Akṣa Lineage, with the Construction of the Nine-Gated City

Verse 1

अगस्त्य उवाच । स त्रिवर्णो नृपोत्सृष्टः स्वतन्त्रत्वाच्च पार्थिव । अहं नामानमसृजत् पुत्रं पुत्रस्त्रिवर्णकम् ॥ ५२.१ ॥

Agastya said: “O king, that Trivarṇa—released by the king—became independent. Then I begot a son named Nāmāna; and that son was Trivarṇaka.”

Verse 2

तस्यापि चाभवत् कन्या अवबोधस्वरूपिणी । सा तु विज्ञानदं पुत्रं मनोह्वं विससर्ज ॥ ५२.२ ॥

And for him as well there was born a daughter whose very nature was awakening and clear understanding. She, in turn, bore a son—Vijñānada—named Manohva.

Verse 3

तस्यापि सर्वरूपाः स्युः स्तनयाः पञ्चभोगिनः । यथासंख्येन पुत्रास्तु तेषामक्षाभिधानकाः ॥ ५२.३ ॥

Of him as well, the sons were of all forms, known as the five enjoyers. In due order, their sons are those who bear the designation “Akṣa”.

Verse 4

एते पूर्वं दस्यवः स्युस्ततो राज्ञा वशीकृताः । अमूर्ता इव ते सर्वे चक्रुरायतनं शुभम् ॥ ५२.४ ॥

These were formerly dāsyu; thereafter they were brought under the king’s control. Then, as if without bodily form, they all made a splendid sanctuary (āyatana).

Verse 5

नवद्बारं पुरं तस्य त्वेकस्तम्भं चतुष्पथम् । नदीसहस्रसङ्कीर्णं जलक्रीत्या समास्थितम् ॥ ५२.५ ॥

That city of his had nine gates; it was marked by a single pillar and a four-way crossroads. It was interwoven with a thousand rivers, and established as a place for water-sport and aquatic recreation.

Verse 6

तत्पुरं ते प्रविविशुरेकीभूतास्ततो नव । पुरुषो मूर्त्तिमान् राजा पशुपालोऽभवत् क्षणात् ॥ ५२.६ ॥

Then those nine, having become as one, entered that city; in an instant, the king became a corporeal man—a keeper of cattle.

Verse 7

ततस्तत्पुरसंस्थस्तु पशुपालो महान्नृपः । संसूच्य वाचकाञ्छब्दान् वेदान् सस्मार तत्पुरे ॥ ५२.७ ॥

Then, while residing in that city, the great king—acting as a keeper of cattle—having signaled the indicative words as cues, recalled the Vedas there in that place.

Verse 8

आत्मस्वरूपिणो नित्यास्तदुक्तानि व्रतानि च । नियमाञ् क्रतवश्चैव सर्वान् राजा चकार ह ॥ ५२.८ ॥

Those who were ever established in their own essential nature—together with the vows and disciplines that had been prescribed—indeed all the regulations and ritual rites as well, the king undertook and performed.

Verse 9

स कदाचिन्नृपः खिन्नः कर्मकाण्डं प्ररोचयन् । सर्वज्ञो योगनिद्रायां स्थित्वा पुत्रं ससर्ज ह ॥ ५२.९ ॥

At a certain time, that king—wearied—turned his preference toward the ritual discipline (karmakāṇḍa). The omniscient one, having entered yogic sleep (yoganidrā), then brought forth a son.

Verse 10

चतुर्वक्त्रं चतुर्बाहुं चतुर्वेदं चतुष्पथम् । तस्मादारभ्य नृपतेर्वशे पश्वादयः स्थिताः ॥ ५२.१० ॥

(He is) four-faced, four-armed, associated with the four Vedas, and the presiding lord of the four roads (crossroads). From that time onward, animals and other beings remained under the king’s control.

Verse 11

तस्मिन् समुद्रे स नृपो वने तस्मिंस्तथैव च । तृणादिषु नृपस्सैव हस्त्यादिषु तथैव च । समोऽभवत् कर्मकाण्डादनुज्ञाय महामते ॥ ५२.११ ॥

In that ocean—and likewise in that forest—the king existed in the same way; among grasses and the like, and likewise among elephants and the like. Having been permitted by the karmakāṇḍa (the ritual-karmic order), O great-minded one, he became equal—undifferentiated across such forms.