Yudhishthira said I have heard this great description, 0, perpetuater of Kuru's race. You, O foremost of eloquent men, have said that the dignity of a Brahmana is greatly difficult of acquisition.

It is heard, however, that in former times the dignity of a Brahmana had been acquired by Vishvamitra. You, however, O best of men, tell us that dignity is incapable of being won.

I have also heard that formerly king Vitahavya had succeeded in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana. O powerful one, I wish to hear, O son of Ganga, the story of king Vitahavya's promotion.

By what acts did that best of kings succeed in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana? Was it through some boon or was it through the virtue of penances? You should tell me everything.

Bhishma said Hear, O king, how the highly illustrious royal sage Vitahavya succeeded formerly in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana that is so difficult to attain and that is held in such high esteem by all the world.

While the great Manu in days of yore was employed in ruling righteously his subjects, he obtained a son of righteous soul who become celebrated under the name of Sharyati.

In Sharyati's family, O monarch, two kings were born viz., Haihaya and Talajangha. Both of them were sons of Vatsa, O foremost of victorious kings.

Haihaya, O monarch, had ten wives. Upon them he beget, O Bharata, hundred sons all of whom were heroes who never returned from the battle field.

All of them resembled one another in features and prowess. All of them were gifted with great strength and all of them were possessed of great skill in battle. They all studied the Vedas and the science of weapons thoroughly.

In Kashi also, O monarch, there was a king who was the grandfather of Divodasa. The foremost of victorious men, he passed by the name of Haryashva.

The sons of king Haihaya, O chief of men, invaded the kingdom of Kashi, and advancing to the country that lies between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna fought a battle with king Haryashva and killed him in it.

Having killed king Haryashva thus, the sons of Haihaya, those great car warriors fearlessly returned to their own charming city in the country of the Vatsas.

Meanwhile Haryashva's son Sudeva who looked like a celestial in splendour and who was a second god of virtue, was installed on the throne of Kashi as its king.

The delighter of Kashi, the righteous-souled prince ruled his kingdom for some time when the hundred sons of Vitihavya once more attacked his territories and defeated him in battle.

Having defeated king Sudeva thus, the victors returned to their own city. After this, Divodasa, the son of Sudeva, became installed on the throne of Kashi as its king.

Understanding the prowess of those great princess viz., the sons of Vitihavya, king Divodasa, gifted with great energy, rebuilt and fortified the city of Varanasi at the command of Indra.

The territories of Divodasa were full of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. and they teemed with all sorts of articles and provisions, and were adorned with prosperous shops and marts. Those territories O best of kings, extended northwards from the banks of Ganga to the southern Banks of Gomati, and resembled a second Amaravati (the city of Indra).

The Haihayas once again, O Bharata, attacked that foremost of kings as he ruled his kingdom.

The powerful king Divodasa gifted with great splendour, issuing out of his capital, gave them battle. The engagement between the two parties terrible like the encounter in days of old between the celestials and the Asuras.

King Divodasa fought the enemy for a thousand days at the end of which, having lost a large number of followers and animals, he became greatly distressed.

King Divodasa, O king, having lost his army and seeing his treasury exhausted left his capital and fled away.

Going to the charming herinitage of the wise Bharadvaja, the king, O chastiser of foes, joining his hands in respect sought the Rishi's protection.

Seeing king Divodasa before him, the eldest son of Brihaspati, viz., Bharadvaja of excellent conduct, who was the monarch's priest, said to him What is the reason of your coming here? Tell me everything, o king! I shall do that which is agreeable to you, without any scruple.

The king said O holy one, the sons of Vitahavya have killed all the children and men of my house. I only have escaped with life, totally discomfited by the enemy, I seek refuge with you.

You should, O holy one, protect me with such affection as you have for a disciple! Those princes of sinful deeds have killed my whole family, leaving myself only alive.

Bhishma said Bharadvaja of great energy said to him who pleaded so piteously Do not fear! Do not fear! O son of Sudeva, let your fears be gone.

son on I shall perform a sacrifice, O monarch, in order that you may have a son through whom you will be able to smite thousand upon thousands of Vitahavya's party.

After this, the Rishi performed a sacrifice with the object of bestowing a Divodasa. As the result thereof, to Divodasa was born a son named Pratarddana.

As soon as he was born, he grew into a child of full three and ten years, and quickly mastered the entire Vedas and the whole sciences of arms.

Helped by his Yoga powers, the highly intelligent Bharadvaja had entered into the prince. Indeed, collecting all the energy of the objects of the universe, Bharadvaja caused it to enter the body of prince Pratarddana.

Casing his person in shining mail and armed with the bow, Pratarddana, his praises lauded by bards and the celestial Rishi, shone resplendent like the Sun.

Mounted on his car and with the scimitar tied to his belt, he shone like a burning fire. With scimitar and shield and whirling his shield, as he went, he proceeded to the presence of his father.

Seeing the prince, the son of Sudeva, viz., king Divodasa become filled with joy. Indeed, the old king thought the sons of his enemy Vitahavya as already killed.

Divodasa then installed his son Pratarddana as the heirapparent, and considering himself crowned with success became highly happy.

After this, the old king commanded that chastiser of foes, viz., prince Pratarddana, to march against the sons of Vitahavya and kill them in battle.

Gifted with great prowess Pratarddana, that subjugator of hostile cities, speedily crossed Ganga on his car and proceeded against the city of the Vitahavyas.

Hearing the clatter of the wheels of his car, the sons of Vitahavya riding on their own cars that looked fortified citadels and that were capable of destroying hostile vehicles, issued out of their city.

Coming out of their capital. those foremost of men., viz., the sons of Vitahavya, who were all skilful warriors cased in mail rushed with uplifted weapons towards Pratarddana, covering him with showers of arrows.

Surrounding him with numberless cars, O Yudhishthira, the Vitahavyas poured upon Pratarddana showers of weapons of various sorts like the clouds pouring torrents of rain on the breast of Himavat.

Baffling their weapons with his own, prince Pratarddana gifted with great energy killed them all with arrows that resembled the thunder bolt of Indra.

Their heads cut off, O king, with hundreds and thousands of broad headed arrows, the warriors of Vitahavya dropped down with blood dyed bodies like Kinshuka trees felled on every side by woodmen with their axes.

After all his warriors and sons had been killed in battle, king Vitahavya fled away from his capital to the hermitage of Bhrigu.

Indeed, arrived there the royal fugitive sought refuge with Bhrigu. The Rishi Bhrigu, O monarch, assured the defeated king of his protection.

Pratarddana followed in the footsteps of Vitahavya. Arrived at the Rishi's hermitage, the son of Divodasa said in a loud voice Ho, listen ye disciples of the great Bhrigu that may happen to be present! I wish to see the sage, Go and inform him of this.

Knowing that it was Pratarddana who had come, the Rishi Bhrigu himself came out of his hermitage and adored that best of kings according to due rites.

Addressing him then, the Rishi said: Tell me, o king, what is your business! The king, at this informed the Rishi of the reason of his arrival.

The king said King Vitahavya has come here, O Brahmana! Do you surrender him. His sons, O Brahmana, had destroyed my family.

They had devastated the territories and the wealth of the Kashis. Those hundred sons, however, of this king proud of his power, have all been killed by me.

By killing that king himself I shall today satisfy the debt I owe to my father! To him that foremost of righteous men, viz., the Rishi Bhrigu, stricken with mercy, replied by saying There is no Kshatriya in this hermitage. They who are here, are all Brahmanas! Hearing these words of Bhrigu, that must he thought be consonant with truth Pratarddana touched the Rishi's feet slowly and filled with joy said By this, O holy one, I am forsooth crowned with success, since this king becomes divested of the very order of his birth on account of my prowess! Give me your permission O Brahmana, to leave you and let me solicit you to pray for my wellbeing.

cause. This king, O founder of the family that goes by your name becomes divested of the very order of his birth, on account of my might! Dismissed by the Rishi Bhrigu, king Pratarddana then left that hermitage, and went to the place he had come from, having, in the way I have described, voinited forth the poison of specch even as a snake vomits forth its real poison. Meanwhile, king Vitahavya, acquired the dignity of the twice born sage by virtue of the worth only of Bhrigu.

And he acquired also a complete mastery of all the Vedas through the same Vitahavya had a son named Gritsamada who in beauty of person was a second Indra.

Once on a time the Daityas afflicted him much taking him for none else than Indra. With regard to that great Rishi, there is this foremost of Shrutis in the Richs viz., There where Gritsamada is, O Brahmana, he is held in high respect by all twice born persons! Gifted with great intelligence, Gritsamada became a twice born Rishi in the observance of Brahmacharya.

Gritsamada had a regenerate son of the name of Sutejas. Sutejas had a son of the name of Varchas and the son of Varchas was known by the name of Vihavya.

Vihavya had a own begotten son who was named Vitatya, and Vitatya had a son of name Satya. Satya had a son of name Santa.

Santa had a son viz., the Rishi Shravas. Shravas begot a son named Tama. Tama begot a son named Prakasha who was a very great Brahmana.

Prakasha had a son named Vagindra who was the foremost of all silent reciters of sacred Mantras. Vagindra begot a son named Pramati who was a perfect master of all the Vedas and their auxiliaries. Pramati begot upon the Apsara Ghritachi a son who was named Ruru.

Ruru begot a son upon his wife Pramadvara. That son was the regenerate Rishi Shunaka. Shunaka begot a son who is named Shaunaka.

It was thus, O foremost of monarchs that king Vitahavya, though a Kshatriya by the order of his birth, acquired the dignity of a Brahmana, O chief of Kshatriyas, through the grace of Bhrigu.

I have also told you the genealogy of the race that originated from his son Gritsamada. What else would you ask?