Narayananeeyam Dashakam 19
The story of Prachethas
पृथोस्तु नप्ता पृथुधर्मकर्मठ:
प्राचीनबर्हिर्युवतौ शतद्रुतौ ।
प्रचेतसो नाम सुचेतस: सुता-
नजीजनत्त्वत्करुणाङ्कुरानिव ॥१॥
pR^ithOstu naptaa pR^ithudharmakarmaThaH
praachiinabarhiryuvatau shatadrutau|
prachetasO naama suchetasaH sutaa
najiijanattvatkaruNaankuraaniva॥1॥
The life of Prachetas, Pruthu’s Great Great Grandsons, is covered in the Ninteenth Dashakam of the Narayaneeyam. Prithu’s great-grandson Praacheenbarhis, who was renowned for his world-benefitting endeavors, was married to Shatadruti. Ten noble-souled sons, collectively referred to as Prachetas, were born to him from her as though they were buds of the Lord’s mercy.
पितु: सिसृक्षानिरतस्य शासनाद्-
भवत्तपस्याभिरता दशापि ते
पयोनिधिं पश्चिममेत्य तत्तटे
सरोवरं सन्ददृशुर्मनोहरम् ॥२॥
pituH sisR^ikshaaniratasya shaasanaad
bhavattapasyaanirataa dashaapi te |
payOnidhiM pashchimametya tattaTe
sarOvaraM sandadR^ishurmanOharam॥2॥
To ensure the continuation of their generation, their father instructed these ten brothers to procreate and they headed towards the western sea to tapas(deep meditation) and worship the Lord. On the shore of that sea, they saw a beautiful lake of fresh water.
तदा भवत्तीर्थमिदं समागतो
भवो भवत्सेवकदर्शनादृत: ।
प्रकाशमासाद्य पुर: प्रचेतसा-
मुपादिशत् भक्ततमस्तव स्तवम् ॥३॥
tadaa bhavattiirthamidaM samaagatO
bhavO bhavatsevakadarshanaadR^itaH |
prakaashamaasaadya puraH prachetasaa
mupaadishat bhaktatamastava stavam ||3॥
Bhattathiri explains in the third sloka of the Ninteenth Dashakam how Lord Shiva, the greatest devotee and the one who came from the Supreme Lord and is constantly eager to see his followers, visited this sacred lake, appeared before the Prachetaas, and bestowed blessings upon them. They were taught a great hymn about the Lord, the Rudra Geetham, by Lord Shiva himself.
स्तवं जपन्तस्तममी जलान्तरे
भवन्तमासेविषतायुतं समा: ।
भवत्सुखास्वादरसादमीष्वियान्
बभूव कालो ध्रुववन्न शीघ्रता ॥४॥
stavaM japantastamamii jalaantare
bhavantamaaseviShataayutaM samaaH |
bhavatsukhaasvaadarasaadamiiShviyaan
babhuuva kaalO dhruvavanna shiighrataa ||4 ॥
Reciting this hymn, Prachetas spent ten thousand years in the water meditating and worshiping the Lord. In contrast to Dhruva, who attained the ultimate wisdom swiftly, they had to perform austerities for a very long time before they could experience the bliss of the Supreme wisdom.
तपोभिरेषामतिमात्रवर्धिभि:
स यज्ञहिंसानिरतोऽपि पावित: ।
पिताऽपि तेषां गृहयातनारद-
प्रदर्शितात्मा भवदात्मतां ययौ ॥५॥
tapObhireShaamatimaatravardhibhiH
sa yaj~nahimsaaniratO(a)pi paavitaH|
pitaa(a)pi teShaaM gR^ihayaatanaarada
pradarshitaatmaa bhavadaatmataaM yayau ||5॥
By the increasing strength of their Tapas, their father Praacheenbarhis also became purified who had killed many animals in order to perform Yagas. Thus, he received Moksha and merged with the Lord after Naarada, who had come to his home, taught him the knowledge of Aatman.
कृपाबलेनैव पुर: प्रचेतसां
प्रकाशमागा: पतगेन्द्रवाहन: ।
विराजि चक्रादिवरायुधांशुभि-
र्भुजाभिरष्टाभिरुदञ्चितद्युति: ॥६॥
kR^ipaabalenaiva puraH prachetasaaM
prakaashamaagaaH patagendravaahanaH |
viraaji chakraadivaraayudhaamshubhir
bhujaabhiraShTaabhiruda~nchitadyutiH ||6॥
O Lord!, “With deep compassion you appeared sitting on Garuda, before Prachetas. With eight arms, a shimmering discus, and other divine weapons that radiated brilliance everywhere, you emerged in your Viswaroopam.”
प्रचेतसां तावदयाचतामपि
त्वमेव कारुण्यभराद्वरानदा: ।
भवद्विचिन्ताऽपि शिवाय देहिनां
भवत्वसौ रुद्रनुतिश्च कामदा ॥७॥
prachetasaaM taavadayaachataamapi
tvameva kaaruNyabharaadvaraanadaaH |
bhavadvichintaa(a)pi shivaaya dehinaaM
bhavatvasau rudranutishcha kaamadaa ||7॥
The Prachetas were showered with blessings from the Lord, even though they did not ask for them. It is possible that even the great Lord believed it would benefit humanity and bestowed welfare upon them. The Lord also blessed the Rudra Geeta, making it the repository of all desires.
अवाप्य कान्तां तनयां महीरुहां
तया रमध्वं दशलक्षवत्सरीम् ।
सुतोऽस्तु दक्षो ननु तत्क्षणाच्च मां
प्रयास्यथेति न्यगदो मुदैव तान् ॥८॥
avaapya kaantaaM tanayaaM mahiiruhaaM
tayaa ramadhvaM dashalakshavatsariim |
sutO(a)stu dakshO nanu tatkshaNaachcha maaM
prayaasyatheti nyagadO mudaiva taan ||8॥
Thus immensely pleased with the Prachetas, Lord bestowed upon them that they should have the daughter of the trees for their wife. They would live happily together with her for millions of years. A son named Daksha will also be born, and after that, they will be able to achieve Moksha.
ततश्च ते भूतलरोधिनस्तरून्
क्रुधा दहन्तो द्रुहिणेन वारिता: ।
द्रुमैश्च दत्तां तनयामवाप्य तां
त्वदुक्तकालं सुखिनोऽभिरेमिरे ॥९॥
tatashcha te bhuutalarOdhinastaruun
krudhaa dahantO druhiNena vaaritaaH |
drumaishcha dattaaM tanayaamavaapya taaM
tvaduktakaalaM sukhinO(a)bhiremire ||9॥
As Bhattathiri correctly notes in the Ninteenth Dashakam’s ninth slokam, one event comes after another. The Prachetas’ marriage to a tree’s daughter is a blessing from the Lord. There had to be another event for that to occur. It was at that point that the Prachetas, displeased with the overabundance of trees that had spread across the earth and become a hindrance, started burning them. Brahmaa prevented them from doing so. Gratefully the trees provided them with their daughter and they spent time with her as the Lord has deemed fit.
अवाप्य दक्षं च सुतं कृताध्वरा:
प्रचेतसो नारदलब्धया धिया ।
अवापुरानन्दपदं तथाविध-
स्त्वमीश वातालयनाथ पाहि माम् ॥१०॥
avaapya dakshaM cha sutaM kR^itaadhvaraaH
prachetasO naaradalabdhayaa dhiyaa|
avaapuraanandapadaM tathaavidhastvamiisha
vaataalayanaatha paahi maam ||10॥
Following the birth of the son Daksha and performing a series of yagas, Prechetas received Moksha after learning the supreme knowledge from Naarada. O Lord! Oh Guruvaayurappa, who is so merciful, protect me, says Bhattathiri.
To explore, understand, and recite the Narayana Kavacham, please visit the following link: https://meditationaffinity.com/narayaneeyam/narayana-kavacham-history-significance-lyrics/.