Narayaneeyam

[soundararajan50]

Narayaneeyam Dasakam-18 The Story Of Venan and Avatar Of Prithu
The Story Of Venan and Avatar Of Prithu
After the passing of such a heroic soul like Dhruva, there appeared on thescene, Venan the personification of senseless wickedness. Born in the same line of illustrious kings Venan was the son of king Anga and queen Sumitha. Even as a child, his evil nature showed up. As he grew up his wickedness also grew. The people became desperate and appealed to the king who in desperation banished him to the forest. King Anga was disconsolate and , he too retired to the forest. He did tapas like his forefathers and attained the feet of Lord. The land was without a ruler and soon the effects were seen. Robbers had a field day, roaming everywhere looting and killing. the rishis requested Venan, to resume his kingship. But now he was more arrogant. He proclaimed himself that he alone was to be worshiped and yagnas should be conducted for him only. When several sages came to advise him for his own good, but he was upset and fumed.” spurned their advice, boasting that he alone was the supreme lord on earth, and blaspheming Thee using vile words.
The Rishis were roused and enraged by his behavior, cursed him. The Kundalini fire was roused. It rose up their spines and blazed through their eyes and Venan was burned up. The charred body remained. Venan’s mother, queen Sumitha had somehow kept his body intact. The Rishis approached and took the dead body. Chanting powerful hymns they churned Venan’s thigh. A black dwarf with low forehead, a flat nose and curly hair came out. “Give me a place to live,” he cried and the rishis assigned him the forest. From that day onwards, the dark forests have been the dwelling place of his race. The right arm of the corpse was churned next and a divine form with all the marks of divinity emerged. The conch, the disc and lotus marks were all clear. With further churning a goddess of the same figure emerged. The celestials showered heavenly flowers and garlands and danced overhead to the music of flutes and cymbals. A cool breeze blew wafting divine scent and there was an unutterable peace everywhere. Evidently here was an avatar of Hari . The rishis named them as Prithu and Archis.
Prithu andArchis.were the greatest of all kings and queens. Peace was restored almost immediately, as punishment was quick and stern. The earth which was untilled and barren was tilled by the king himself setting an example. In his golden chariot he went round the earth seven times levelling down the hill tops, levelling up the valleys and throwing bridges across wide rivers. He constructed broad road ways throughout the land. There was prosperity and happiness everywhere .The great poet Sage Veda Vyasa compares the earthto a great cow and the king to a master milkman, who could milkout anything and every thing needed for man.The cow, goddess earth, was very generous and various people milked whatever they wanted. The devas milked off nectar The rishis gotkusa grass and materials for conducting yagnas The asuras milkedoff wine that inebriates. The earth was covered with green fields.There was plenty of rain in season and no deluge. And even thesun’s heat did not scorch. Robbers did not dare show their faces.Justice was quick and stern and impartial. Heaven had almost come to earth. It was evident that an avatar of Sri Narayana


In this way King Prithu conducted ninety nine grand yagnas and thehundredth was in progress. Now, Indra, the king of god’s became jealous, instead of receiving his share with gratitude. He was theonly person who had completed hundred yagnas and received the title of Sata Kratu - performer of hundred yagnas - and now here was a rival. He could not brook this and so , disguised as a barbarianhe stole the sacrificial horse. As he was speeding across the skywith the stolen horse, the leader of the priests , sage Athri, spotted him and ordered the king’s son to pursue him and recover thehorse. The prince went in hot pursuit and recovered the horse.This was repeated two or three times. Finally king Prithu himselftook up the pursuit with his divine weapons He would have killed Indra when Brahma appeared and pleaded with king Prithu asIndra was one of the immortals and deserved to be spared. The magnanimous king obeyed out of respect and in return they showered many gifts on the king, though really he did not need any. Lord Brahma added that Prithu would get all the benefits andcredit of completing hundred yagnas.Receiving the ultimate knowledge imparted by Sanaka and other sages, and living in the forest, Thou realised Thy own self.
Dasakam: 018 -- Shlokam: 01


जातस्य ध्रुवकुल एव तुङ्गकीर्ते-
रङ्गस्य व्यजनि सुत: स वेननामा ।
यद्दोषव्यथितमति: स राजवर्य-
स्त्वत्पादे निहितमना वनं गतोऽभूत् ॥१॥

jaatasya dhruvakula eva tungakiirterangasya
vyajani sutaH sa venanaamaa |
taddOShavyathitamatiH sa raajavaryastvatpaade
nihitamanaa vanaM gatO(a)bhuut || 1

The famous king Anga, who was born in the same dynasty as Dhruva, had a son named Venan was wicked and evil. . Distressed at the evil nature of his son, the noble king Anga went to the forest, with his mind dedicated to Thy feet alone.