Śúra had a friend named Kuntibhoja, to whom, as he had no children, the presented in due form his daughter Pritha. She was married to Pańd́u, and bore him Yudhisht́hira, Bhíma, and Arjuna, who were in fact the sons of the deities Dharma, Váyu (air), and Indra. Whilst she was yet unmarried, also, she had a son named Karńa, begotten by the divine Áditya (the sun). Pańd́u had another wife, named Mádrí, who had by the twin sons of Áditya, Násatya and Dasra, two sons, Nakula and Sahadeva 18.

Śrutadevá was married to the Kárusha prince Vriddhaśarman, and bore him the fierce Asura Dantavaktra. Dhrisht́aketu, raja of Kaikeya 19, married Śrutakírtti, and had by her Santarddana and four other sons, known as the five Kaikeyas. Jayasena, king of Avanti, married Rájádhideví, and had Vinda and Anavinda. Śrutaśravas was wedded to Damaghosha, raja of Chedi, and bore him Śiśupála 20. This prince was in a former existence the unrighteous but valiant monarch of the Daityas, Hirańyakaśipu, who was killed by the divine guardian of creation (in the man-lion Avatára). He was next the ten-headed sovereign Rávańa, whose unequalled prowess, strength, and power were overcome by the lord of the three worlds, Ráma. Having been killed by the deity in the form of Rághava, he had long enjoyed the reward of his virtues in exemption from an embodied state, but had now received birth once more as Śiśupála, the son of Damaghosha, king of Chedi. In this character he renewed, with greater inveteracy than ever, his hostile hatred towards the god surnamed Puńd́arikáksha, a portion of the supreme being, who had descended to lighten the burdens of the earth; and was in consequence slain by him: but from the circumstance of his thoughts being constantly engrossed by the supreme being, Śiśupála was united with him after death; for the lord giveth to those to whom he is favourable whatever they desire, and he bestows a heavenly and exalted station even upon those whom he slays in his displeasure.

Footnotes

435:1 Bhúti: Váyu. Kuni: Bhágavata. Dyumni: Matsya.

435:2 The Agni makes these all brother's sons of Satyaka, and adds another, Rishabha, the father of Śwaphalka.

435:3 The authorities are not agreed here. Śwaphalka, according to the Agni, as just remarked, comes from Śini, the son of Anamitra. The Bhágavata, instead of Priśni, has Vrishńi, son of Anamitra; the Bráhma and Hari V. have Vrishńi; and the Agni, Prishńi, son of Yudhájit. The Matsya also makes Yudhájit the ancestor of Akrúra, through Rishabha and Jayanta. Yudhájit in the Bráhma, &c. is the son of Krosht́ri.

435:4 The different authorities vary in the reading of these names, though they generally concur in the number.

435:5 The Matsya and Padma call them sons of Akrúra, but no doubt incorrectly.

435:6 Śami: Váyu. Śaśi: Matsya. Śini Agni. This last makes them the sons of Babhru, and calls the first Sundara.