Texts 9-10] Appearance of Sukadeva Gosvami 997

Angira, Paragurama, Utathya, Indrapramada, Idhmavahu, Medhiatithi,
Devala, Arstisena, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Pippalada, Maitreya, Aurva,
Kavasa, Kumbhayoni, Dvaipayana and the great personality Narada.

PURPORT

Cyavana: A great sage and one of the sons of Bhrgu Muni. He was born
prematurely when his pregnant mother was kidnapped. Cyavana is one of
the six sons of his father.

Bhrgu: When Brahmaji was performing a great sacrifice on behalf of
Varuna, Maharsi Bhrgu was born from the sacrificial fire. He was a great
sage, and his very dear wife was Puloma. He could travel in space like
Durvasa, Narada and others, and he used to visit all planets of the
universe. Before the Battle of Kuruksetra, he tried to stop the battle.
Sometimes he instructed Bharadvaja Muni about astronomical evolution,
and he is the author of the great Bhrgu-samhita, the astrological calcula-
tion. He explained how air, fire, water and earth are generated from ether.
He explained how the air in the stomach works and regulates the intestines.
As a great philosopher, he logically established the eternity of the living
entity (Mahabharata, Santi, Ch. 87). He was also a great anthropologist,
and the theory of evolution was long ago explained by him. He was a
scientific propounder of the four divisions and orders of human society
known as the vamdsrama institution. He converted the ksatrnya king
Bitahavyak to become a brahmana.

Parasara: He is the grandson of Vasistha Muni and father of Vyasadeva.
He is the son of Maharsi Sakti, and his mother’s name was Adrisyanti. He’
was in the womb of his mother when she was only twelve years old. And
from within the womb of his mother he learned the Vedas. His father was
killed by a demon, Kalmaspada, and to avenge this he wanted to annihilate
the whole world. He was, however, restrained by his grandfather Vasistha.
He then performed a Raksas-killing yajiia, but Maharsi Pulasta restrained
him. He begot Vyasadeva, being attracted by Satyavati, who was to
become the wife of Maharaja Santanu. By the blessings of Parasara,
Satyavati became fragrant for miles. He was present also during the time
of Bhisma’s death. He was spiritual master of Maharaja Janaka and a great
devotee of Lord Siva. He is the author of many Vedic scriptures and
sociological directions.

Gadhi-suta or Visvimitra: A great sage of austerity and mystic power.
He is famous as Gadhi-suta because his father was Gadhi, a powerful
king of the province of Kanyakubja (part of Uttar Pradesh). Although he
was a ksatriya by birth, he became a brihmana in the very same body by
