Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 110 of 119 · 34 verses
Vasishtha Recites the Ikshvaku Line
Seeing Rama angry, Vasishtha says: “Jabali too knows the coming and going of this world; he said this only wishing to bring you back. Hear from me the origin of the world, lord of the world. All was water, in which the earth was formed. Then self-born Brahma arose with the gods; becoming a boar, he raised up the earth, and with his sons, perfected souls, created the whole world. Brahma, born of space, is eternal, everlasting and imperishable. From him Marichi was born, and Kashyapa was the son of Marichi. Vivasvan was born of Kashyapa, and Manu Vaivasvata was his son, the first lord of creatures; Ikshvaku was Manu’s son. Know Ikshvaku, to whom Manu first gave this rich earth, as the first king in Ayodhya.” Vasishtha then recites the line: Ikshvaku’s son Kukshi; Kukshi’s son Vikukshi; his son Bana; Bana’s son, mighty Anaranya, under whom there was no drought, no famine and no thief; Anaranya’s son Prithu; Prithu’s son Trishanku, who by his truthful word went bodily to heaven; Trishanku’s son Dhundhumara; then Yuvanashva; Yuvanashva’s son Mandhatri; then Susandhi; Susandhi’s sons Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit; Dhruvasandhi’s son Bharata, slayer of foes; Bharata’s son Asita, against whom the Haihayas, Talajanghas, and the brave Shashabindus rose as rival kings. Defeated in battle, Asita was driven out and became a sage on a lovely mountain. His two wives were pregnant; one gave poison (gara) to the other to destroy her child. The other went to the Bhargava sage Cyavana on the Himalaya, and that Kalindi saluted him. The sage told her: “You will have a son, great-souled, famous, righteous, of good character, founder of a line, slayer of foes.” She walked round him joyfully and, going home, bore a son with eyes like lotus petals, radiant as the heart of a lotus. Because he was born together with the poison his co-wife had given to kill him in the womb, he was called Sagara. It was King Sagara who had the ocean dug, terrifying these creatures with its force at the festival. Sagara’s son, we have heard, was Asamanja, banished by his father while he lived for his wicked deeds. Asamanja’s son was mighty Amshuman; Amshuman’s son Dilipa; Dilipa’s son Bhagiratha; Bhagiratha’s son Kakutstha, from whom the Kakutsthas are named; Kakutstha’s son Raghu, from whom the Raghavas come; Raghu’s son, the splendid Pravriddha, the man-eater, known on earth as Kalmashapada Saudasa; his son Shankhana, who met his end with his army; Shankhana’s son, brave Sudarshana; his son Agnivarna; Agnivarna’s son Shighraga; Shighraga’s son Maru; Maru’s son Prashushruka; Prashushruka’s son, radiant Ambarisha; Ambarisha’s son Nahusha, true in valour; Nahusha’s son Nabhaga, most righteous; Nabhaga’s two sons Aja and Suvrata; and Aja’s son, the righteous King Dasharatha.
“You are his eldest heir, known as Rama. So take your own kingdom and look after the people, king. Among all the Ikshvakus, the firstborn becomes king; while the firstborn lives, no younger son is consecrated; the eldest is consecrated to the kingdom. You should not today destroy the eternal family dharma of the Raghavas, your own. Rule the earth, rich in jewels and in many lands, like your father, greatly glorious one.”
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क्रुद्धमाज्ञाय रामं तं वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह । जाबालिरपि जानीते लोकस्यास्य गतागतिम् ॥ १ ॥
Knowing Rama to be angry, Vasishtha replied: “Jabali too knows the coming and going of this world.
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Vasishtha Recites the Ikshvaku Line 1 min read.
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निवर्त्तयितुकामस्तु त्वामेतद्वाक्यमुक्तवान् । इमां लोकसमुत्पत्तिं लोकनाथ निबोध मे ॥ २ ॥
“But wishing to bring you back, he spoke these words. Learn from me, lord of the world, this origin of the world.
सर्वं सलिलमेवासीत् पृथिवी यत्र निर्मिता । ततः समभवद्ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूर्दैवतैः सह । स वराहस्ततो भूत्वा प्रोज्जहार वसुन्धराम् ॥ ३ ॥
“All was water, in which the earth was made. Then self-born Brahma came into being with the gods; then, becoming a boar, he lifted up the earth,
असृजच्च जगत् सर्वं सह पुत्रैः कृतात्मभिः । आकाशप्रभवो ब्रह्मा शाश्वतो नित्य अव्ययः ॥ ४ ॥
“and created the whole world with his sons of perfected self. Brahma, born of space, is eternal, permanent, imperishable.
तस्मान्मरीचिः संजज्ञे मरीचेः काश्यपः सुतः ॥ ५ ॥
“From him Marichi was born; Kashyapa was the son of Marichi.
विवस्वान् काश्यपाज्जज्ञे मनुर्वैवस्वतस्सुतः । स तु प्रजापतिः पूर्वमिक्ष्वाकुस्तु मनोः सुतः ॥ ६ ॥
“Vivasvan was born of Kashyapa; Manu was the son of Vivasvan. He was the first lord of creatures; Ikshvaku was Manu’s son.
यस्येयं प्रथमं दत्ता समृद्धा मनुना मही । तमिक्ष्वाकुमयोध्यायां राजानं विद्धि पूर्वकम् ॥ ७ ॥
“Know Ikshvaku, to whom this rich earth was first given by Manu, as the first king in Ayodhya.
इक्ष्वाकोस्तु सुतः श्रीमान् कुक्षिरेवेति विश्रुतः । कुक्षेरथात्मजो ऺवीरो विकुक्षिरुदपद्यत ॥ ८ ॥
“Ikshvaku’s son was the glorious one known as Kukshi. From Kukshi the heroic son Vikukshi was born.
विकुक्षेस्तु महातेजा बाणः पुत्रः प्रतापवान् । बाणस्य तु महाबाहुरनरण्यो महायशाः ॥ ९ ॥
“Vikukshi’s son was the very splendid, mighty Bana; Bana’s son was mighty-armed, greatly glorious Anaranya.
नानावृष्टिर्बभूवास्मिन्न दुर्भिक्षं सतां वरे । अनरण्ये महाराजे तस्करो नापि कश्चन ॥ १० ॥
“Under him there was no drought and no famine, best of the good; under the great king Anaranya there was not a single thief.
अनरण्यान्महाबाहुः पृथू राजा बभूव ह । तस्मात् पृथोर्महाराजस्त्रिशङ्कुरुदपद्यत । स सत्यवचनाद्वीरः सशरीरो दिवङ्गतः ॥ ११ ॥
“From Anaranya came the mighty-armed King Prithu; from that Prithu the great king Trishanku was born. That hero went to heaven with his body through his truthful word.
त्रिशङ्कोरभवत्सूनुर्धुन्धुमारो महायशाः । धुन्धुमारो महातेजा युवनाश्वो व्यजायत ॥ १२ ॥
“Trishanku’s son was greatly glorious Dhundhumara; from Dhundhumara, of great splendour, Yuvanashva was born.
युवनाश्वसुतः श्रीमान् मान्धाता समपद्यत । मान्धातुस्तु महातेजाः सुसन्धिरुदपद्यत ॥ १३ ॥
“Yuvanashva’s son was glorious Mandhatri; from Mandhatri the very splendid Susandhi was born.
सुसन्धेरपि पुत्रौ द्वौ ध्रुवसन्धिः प्रसेनजित् । यशस्वी ध्रुवसन्धेस्तु भरतो रिपुसूदनः ॥ १४ ॥
“Susandhi had two sons, Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit; Dhruvasandhi’s son was glorious Bharata, slayer of enemies.
भरतात्तु महाबाहोरसितो नाम जायत । यस्यैते प्रतिराजान उदपद्यन्त शत्रवः । हैहयास्तालजङ्घाश्च शूराश्च शशिबिन्दवः ॥ १५ ॥
“From mighty-armed Bharata was born one named Asita, against whom these rival kings arose as enemies: the Haihayas, the Talajanghas and the brave Shashabindus.
तांस्तु सर्वान् प्रतिव्यूह्य युद्धे राजा प्रवासितः । स च शैलवरे रम्ये बभूवाभिरतो मुनिः ॥ १६ ॥
“Arraying himself against all of them in battle, the king was driven into exile, and became a sage, delighting in a lovely, excellent mountain.
द्वे चास्य भार्ये गर्भिण्यौ बभूवतुरिति श्रुतिः । एका गर्भविनाशाय सपत्न्यै सगरं ददौ ॥ १७ ॥
“His two wives were pregnant, so it is told. One gave poison to her co-wife to destroy her unborn child.
भार्गवश्च्यवनो नाम हिमवन्तमुपाश्रितः । तमृषिं समुपागम्य कालिन्दी त्वभ्यवादयत् ॥ १८ ॥
“There was a Bhargava named Cyavana, who lived on the Himalaya. Approaching that seer, Kalindi saluted him.
स तामभ्यवदद्विप्रो वरेप्सुं पुत्रजन्मनि । पुत्रस्ते भविता देवि महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः । धार्मिकश्च सुशीलश्च वंशकर्त्ता ऽरिसूदनः ॥ १९ ॥
“The brahmana spoke to her, who wished for a boon at the birth of a son: ‘A son will be born to you, queen, great-souled, famed in the world, righteous and of good character, founder of a line, slayer of enemies.’
कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं हृष्टा मुनिं तमनुमान्य च । पद्मपत्रसमानाक्षं पद्मगर्भसमप्रभम् । ततः सा गृहमागम्य देवी पुत्रं व्यजायत ॥ २० ॥
“Having walked round the sage joyfully and taken leave of him, the queen went home and bore a son with eyes like lotus petals, radiant as the heart of a lotus.
सपत्न्या तु गरस्तस्यै दत्तो गर्भजिघांसया । गरेण सह तेनैव जातः स सगरो ऽभवत् ॥ २१ ॥
“Poison had been given to her by her co-wife wishing to kill the unborn child; because he was born together with that poison, he became Sagara.
स राजा सगरो नाम यः समुद्रमखानयत् । इष्ट्वा पर्वणि वेगेन त्रासयन्तमिमाः प्रजाः ॥ २२ ॥
“That was the king named Sagara who had the ocean dug, terrifying these creatures with its force when he sacrificed at the festival.
असमञ्जस्तु पुत्रोभूत् सगरस्येति नः श्रुतम् । जीवन्नेव स पित्रा तु निरस्तः पापकर्मकृत् ॥ २३ ॥
“Sagara’s son was Asamanja, we have heard; he, a doer of wicked deeds, was cast out by his father while still alive.
अंशुमानपि पुत्रो ऽभूदसमञ्जस्य वीर्य्यवान् । दिलीपों ऽशुमतः पुत्रो दिलीपस्य भगीरथः ॥ २४ ॥
“Asamanja’s son was mighty Amshuman; Dilipa was Amshuman’s son, and Bhagiratha Dilipa’s.
भगीरथात् ककुत्स्थस्तु काकुत्स्था येन विश्रुताः । ककुत्स्थस्य च पुत्रो ऽभूद्रघुर्येन तु राघवाः ॥ २५ ॥
“From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, by whom the Kakutsthas are known; Kakutstha’s son was Raghu, from whom come the Raghavas.
रघोस्तु पुत्रस्तेजस्वी प्रवृद्धः पुरुषादकः । कल्माषपादः सौदास इत्येवं प्रथितो भुवि ॥ २६ ॥
“Raghu’s son was the splendid Pravriddha, the man-eater, known on earth as Kalmashapada Saudasa.
कल्माषपादपुत्रो ऽभूच्छङ्खणस्त्विति विश्रुतः । यस्तु तद्वीर्यमासाद्य सहसैन्यो व्यनीनशत् ॥ २७ ॥
“Kalmashapada’s son was the one known as Shankhana, who, having come by that valour, perished with his army.
शङ्खणस्य च पुत्रो ऽभूच्छूरः श्रीमान् सुदर्शनः । सुदर्शनस्याग्निवर्ण अग्निवर्णस्य शीघ्रगः ॥ २८ ॥
“Shankhana’s son was the brave, glorious Sudarshana; Sudarshana’s son was Agnivarna, and Agnivarna’s Shighraga.
शीघ्रगस्य मरुः पुत्रो मरोः पुत्रः प्रशुश्रुकः । प्रशुश्रुकस्य पुत्रो ऽभूदम्बरीषो महाद्युतिः ॥ २९ ॥
“Shighraga’s son was Maru; Maru’s son was Prashushruka; Prashushruka’s son was Ambarisha of great radiance.
अम्बरीषस्य पुत्रो ऽभून्नहुषः सत्यविक्रमः । नहुषस्य च नाभागः पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः ॥ ३० ॥
“Ambarisha’s son was Nahusha of true valour; and Nahusha’s son was Nabhaga, supremely righteous.
अजश्च सुव्रतश्चैव नाभागस्य सुतावुभौ । अजस्य चैव धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथः सुतः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Aja and Suvrata were both sons of Nabhaga; and the son of Aja was the righteous King Dasharatha.
तस्य ज्येष्ठो ऽसि दायादो राम इत्यभिविश्रुतः । तद्गृहाण स्वकं राज्यमवेक्षस्व जनं नृप ॥ ३२ ॥
“You are his eldest heir, famed as Rama. So take your own kingdom and look after the people, king.
इक्ष्वाकूणां हि सर्वेषां राजा भवति पूर्वजः । पूर्वजे नावरः पुत्रो ज्येष्ठो राज्ये ऽभिषिच्यते ॥ ३३ ॥
“For among all the Ikshvakus the firstborn becomes king. While the firstborn lives, no younger son is consecrated; the eldest is consecrated to the kingdom.
स राघवाणां कुलधर्ममात्मनः सनातनं नाद्य विहन्तुमर्हसि । प्रभूतरत्नामनुशाधि मेदिनीं प्रभूतराष्ट्रां पितृवन्महायशः ॥ ३४ ॥
“You should not today destroy the eternal family dharma of the Raghavas, your own. Rule the earth, with abundant jewels and abundant kingdoms, like your father, greatly glorious one.”