III. THE STORY OF THE PRACHINA BARHIS OR BARHISHAD.
The âgavataPurâeldest son of Prithu was Vijitâsva. He was so called for having restored the sacrificial horse stolen by Indra. Indra taught him the art of becoming invisible. Hence he was also called Antardhâna. He had four brothers -- Havyaksha, Dhûmrakesha, Vrika and Dravinas. To them he gave the east, the south, the west and the north respectively. By his wife Sikhandini, Vijitâsva had three sons -- Pâvaka, Pavamâna, and Suchi.
These fire-gods descended by the curse of Vasishtha but the descent was only temporary. Antardhâna had by his other wife Nabhâsvati one son, Havirdhâna. Havirdhâna had six sons -- Barhishad, Gaya, Sukla, Krishna, Satya and Jitavrata. Of these, Barhishad was a great votary of Kriyâ, (action) and he constantly performed Yajnas. Even while he was performing one Yajna, the place for another was preparing close by. Hence he was called Prâchina-Barhis. King Prâchina-Barhis married Satadruti, the daughter of the Ocean-god. And he had by her ten sons, all of whom were called Prachetas. The King ordered his sons to enlarge the creation. They went out to make Tapas for one thousand years. Nârada came to the King and told him that the way to Mukti was not through Kriyâ Kânda. By. performing sacrifices he was only acquiring new karma. The only way to attain liberation was to know oneself. The Rishi illustrated his teachings by the famous allegory of Puranjana. The King heard the story and its explanation from Nârada. He did not wait for the return of his sons. But he called his ministers together and delivered to them his mandate that his sons were to succeed him on the throne. He went to the Âsrama of Kapila for Tapas and attained liberation.
There was a king called Puranjana. He had a friend, but the king knew not his name nor his doings. Puranjana went in search of a place to live in. He went about on all sides, but found no suitable abode. At last while roaming south of the Himâlayâs, he found one Puri (town) in Bhârata Varsha (India), The marks were all favourable. There were nine gateways. In one of the gardens he found a most beautiful young lady. She had ten attendants. Each of them had hundreds of wives. One five-headed serpent was the warder of the town and he constantly guarded his mistress. The lady was on the look out for one to be her lord. Puranjana broke forth into words of love, and asked who she was. "O thou greatest of men!" exclaimed the lady, "I know not who I am or who thou art. Nor do I know who made us both. This only I know, that I now exist. I do not know even who made this town for me. These are my companions male and female. This serpent guards the town, even when we are all asleep. Luckily hast thou come here. I shall try with all my companions to bring to thee all objects of desire. Be thou the lord of this Puri for one hundred years. And accept all enjoyments brought by me." Puranjana entered the Puri and lived in enjoyment there for one hundred years.