The Dynasty of King Nimi

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.13.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच निमिरिक्ष्वाकुतनयो वसिष्ठमवृतर्त्विजम् । आरभ्य सत्रं सोऽप्याह शक्रेण प्राग्वृतोऽस्मि भोः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca nimir ikṣvāku-tanayo vasiṣṭham avṛtartvijam ārabhya satraṁ so ’py āha śakreṇa prāg vṛto ’smi bhoḥ

Shri Shuka said: Nimi, son of Ikshvaku, on beginning a sacrifice, invited Vasishtha to serve as his priest; but Vasishtha replied, "I have already been engaged beforehand by Indra."

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.13.2)

तं निर्वर्त्यागमिष्यामि तावन्मां प्रतिपालय । तूष्णीमासीद् गृहपतिः सोऽपीन्द्रस्याकरोन्मखम् ॥ २ ॥

taṁ nirvartyāgamiṣyāmi tāvan māṁ pratipālaya tūṣṇīm āsīd gṛha-patiḥ so ’pīndrasyākaron makham

"Once I have finished that rite, I shall come to you; until then, please wait for me." The householder Nimi said nothing, and Vasishtha went on to perform Indra's sacrifice.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.13.3)

निमिश्चलमिदं विद्वान् सत्रमारभतात्मवान् । ऋत्विग्भिरपरैस्तावन्नागमद् यावता गुरुः ॥ ३ ॥

nimiś calam idaṁ vidvān satram ārabhatātmavān ṛtvigbhir aparais tāvan nāgamad yāvatā guruḥ

Nimi, wise and self-possessed, knowing this life to be fleeting, began the sacrifice with other priests rather than wait for his guru's return.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.13.4)

शिष्यव्यतिक्रमं वीक्ष्य तं निर्वर्त्यागतो गुरुः । अशपत् पतताद् देहो निमेः पण्डितमानिनः ॥ ४ ॥

śiṣya-vyatikramaṁ vīkṣya taṁ nirvartyāgato guruḥ aśapat patatād deho nimeḥ paṇḍita-māninaḥ

Returning once his own rite was finished, the guru, seeing his disciple's transgression, cursed him: "Let the body of Nimi, who thinks himself so wise, fall dead!"

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.13.5)

निमिः प्रतिददौ शापं गुरवेऽधर्मवर्तिने । तवापि पतताद् देहो लोभाद्धर्ममजानतः ॥ ५ ॥

nimiḥ pratidadau śāpaṁ gurave ’dharma-vartine tavāpi patatād deho lobhād dharmam ajānataḥ

Nimi returned the curse upon his guru, who had strayed from dharma: "Since out of greed you have forgotten what is right, let your body too fall."

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.13.6)

इत्युत्ससर्ज स्वं देहं निमिरध्यात्मकोविदः । मित्रावरुणयोर्जज्ञे उर्वश्यां प्रपितामहः ॥ ६ ॥

ity utsasarja svaṁ dehaṁ nimir adhyātma-kovidaḥ mitrā-varuṇayor jajñe urvaśyāṁ prapitāmahaḥ

So saying, Nimi, learned in spiritual knowledge, gave up his body; and the great forefather Vasishtha too gave up his body, taking birth again from the seed of Mitra and Varuna upon seeing Urvashi.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.13.7)

गन्धवस्तुषु तद् देहं निधाय मुनिसत्तमाः । समाप्ते सत्रयागे च देवानूचुः समागतान् ॥ ७ ॥

gandha-vastuṣu tad-dehaṁ nidhāya muni-sattamāḥ samāpte satra-yāge ca devān ūcuḥ samāgatān

The great sages preserved Nimi's body in fragrant substances, and when the sacrifice was complete, they addressed the gods who had gathered there.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.13.8)

राज्ञो जीवतु देहोऽयं प्रसन्नाः प्रभवो यदि । तथेत्युक्ते निमिः प्राह मा भून्मे देहबन्धनम् ॥ ८ ॥

rājño jīvatu deho ’yaṁ prasannāḥ prabhavo yadi tathety ukte nimiḥ prāha mā bhūn me deha-bandhanam

"If you are pleased and able, let this king's body live again." The gods agreed, but Nimi himself said, "Let me not be bound again to a body."

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.13.9)

यस्य योगं न वाञ्छन्ति वियोगभयकातराः । भजन्ति चरणाम्भोजं मुनयो हरिमेधसः ॥ ९ ॥

yasya yogaṁ na vāñchanti viyoga-bhaya-kātarāḥ bhajanti caraṇāmbhojaṁ munayo hari-medhasaḥ

"It is those who fear the pain of separation who shun union with a body; but sages whose minds are steeped in the Lord instead worship his lotus feet without such fear."

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.13.10)

देहं नावरुरुत्सेऽहं दुःखशोकभयावहम् । सर्वत्रास्य यतो मृत्युर्मत्स्यानामुदके यथा ॥ १० ॥

dehaṁ nāvarurutse ’haṁ duḥkha-śoka-bhayāvaham sarvatrāsya yato mṛtyur matsyānām udake yathā

"I do not wish to take up a body again, for it brings suffering, grief and fear everywhere it goes — as death threatens a fish even in its own water."

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.13.11)

देवा ऊचुः विदेह उष्यतां कामं लोचनेषु शरीरिणाम् । उन्मेषणनिमेषाभ्यां लक्षितोऽध्यात्मसंस्थितः ॥ ११ ॥

devā ūcuḥ videha uṣyatāṁ kāmaṁ locaneṣu śarīriṇām unmeṣaṇa-nimeṣābhyāṁ lakṣito ’dhyātma-saṁsthitaḥ

The gods said: "Then let Nimi dwell bodiless, as he wishes, established in the spirit — visible to embodied beings only in the opening and closing of their eyes."

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.13.12)

अराजकभयं नृणां मन्यमाना महर्षयः । देहं ममन्थुः स्म निमेः कुमारः समजायत ॥ १२ ॥

arājaka-bhayaṁ nṝṇāṁ manyamānā maharṣayaḥ dehaṁ mamanthuḥ sma nimeḥ kumāraḥ samajāyata

Then, fearing for the people should the throne stand empty, the great sages churned the body of Nimi, and from it a son was born.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.13.13)

जन्मना जनकः सोऽभूद् वैदेहस्तु विदेहजः । मिथिलो मथनाज्जातो मिथिला येन निर्मिता ॥ १३ ॥

janmanā janakaḥ so ’bhūd vaidehas tu videhajaḥ mithilo mathanāj jāto mithilā yena nirmitā

Because of the manner of his birth he was called Janaka; being born of the bodiless Nimi, he was also Vaideha; and being born of the churning, he was Mithila — and by him the city of Mithila was founded.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.13.14)

तस्मादुदावसुस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्नन्दिवर्धनः । ततः सुकेतुस्तस्यापि देवरातो महीपते ॥ १४ ॥

tasmād udāvasus tasya putro ’bhūn nandivardhanaḥ tataḥ suketus tasyāpi devarāto mahīpate

O king, from him came Udavasu; his son was Nandivardhana; from him Suketu; and from him, Devarata.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.13.15)

तस्माद् बृहद्रथस्तस्य महावीर्यः सुधृत्पिता । सुधृतेर्धृष्टकेतुर्वै हर्यश्वोऽथ मरुस्ततः ॥ १५ ॥

tasmād bṛhadrathas tasya mahāvīryaḥ sudhṛt-pitā sudhṛter dhṛṣṭaketur vai haryaśvo ’tha marus tataḥ

From him came Brihadratha; his son Mahavirya, father of Sudhriti; Sudhriti's son was Dhrishtaketu; from him Haryashva; and from him, Maru.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.13.16)

मरोः प्रतीपकस्तस्माज्जातः कृतरथो यतः । देवमीढस्तस्य पुत्रो विश्रुतोऽथ महाधृतिः ॥ १६ ॥

maroḥ pratīpakas tasmāj jātaḥ kṛtaratho yataḥ devamīḍhas tasya putro viśruto ’tha mahādhṛtiḥ

From Maru came Pratipaka; from him Kritaratha; his son was Devamidha; then Vishruta; then Mahadhriti.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.13.17)

कृतिरातस्ततस्तस्मान्महारोमा च तत्सुतः । स्वर्णरोमा सुतस्तस्य ह्रस्वरोमा व्यजायत ॥ १७ ॥

kṛtirātas tatas tasmān mahāromā ca tat-sutaḥ svarṇaromā sutas tasya hrasvaromā vyajāyata

From him came Kritirata; his son Mahâroma; his son Svarnaroma; and from him was born Hrasvaroma.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.13.18)

ततः शीरध्वजो जज्ञे यज्ञार्थं कर्षतो महीम् । सीता शीराग्रतो जाता तस्मात् शीरध्वजः स्मृतः ॥ १८ ॥

tataḥ śīradhvajo jajñe yajñārthaṁ karṣato mahīm sītā śīrāgrato jātā tasmāt śīradhvajaḥ smṛtaḥ

From him was born Shiradhvaja; while plowing the earth for a sacrifice, Sita appeared before the tip of his plowshare — hence he is remembered as Shiradhvaja.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.13.19)

कुशध्वजस्तस्य पुत्रस्ततो धर्मध्वजो नृपः । धर्मध्वजस्य द्वौ पुत्रौ कृतध्वजमितध्वजौ ॥ १९ ॥

kuśadhvajas tasya putras tato dharmadhvajo nṛpaḥ dharmadhvajasya dvau putrau kṛtadhvaja-mitadhvajau

His son was Kushadhvaja; from him King Dharmadhvaja, who had two sons — Kritadhvaja and Mitadhvaja.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.13.20)

कृतध्वजात् केशिध्वजः खाण्डिक्यस्तु मितध्वजात् । कृतध्वजसुतो राजन्नात्मविद्याविशारदः ॥ २० ॥

kṛtadhvajāt keśidhvajaḥ khāṇḍikyas tu mitadhvajāt kṛtadhvaja-suto rājann ātma-vidyā-viśāradaḥ

From Kritadhvaja came Keshidhvaja; from Mitadhvaja, Khandikya. O king, the son of Kritadhvaja was expert in spiritual knowledge.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.13.21)

खाण्डिक्यः कर्मतत्त्वज्ञो भीतः केशिध्वजाद्द्रुतः । भानुमांस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभूच्छतद्युम्नस्तु तत्सुतः ॥ २१ ॥

khāṇḍikyaḥ karma-tattva-jño bhītaḥ keśidhvajād drutaḥ bhānumāṁs tasya putro ’bhūc chatadyumnas tu tat-sutaḥ

Khandikya was learned in the truths of ritual action, but fled in fear of Keshidhvaja. Keshidhvaja's son was Bhanuman, and his son was Shatadyumna.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.13.22)

शुचिस्तुतनयस्तस्मात् सनद्वाजः सुतोऽभवत् । ऊर्जकेतुः सनद्वाजादजोऽथ पुरुजित्सुतः ॥ २२ ॥

śucis tu tanayas tasmāt sanadvājaḥ suto ’bhavat ūrjaketuḥ sanadvājād ajo ’tha purujit sutaḥ

His son was Shuchi; from him came Sanadvaja; his son was Urjaketu; his son Aja; and Aja's son was Purujit.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.13.23)

अरिष्टनेमिस्तस्यापि श्रुतायुस्तत्सुपार्श्वकः । ततश्चित्ररथो यस्य क्षेमाधिर्मिथिलाधिपः ॥ २३ ॥

ariṣṭanemis tasyāpi śrutāyus tat supārśvakaḥ tataś citraratho yasya kṣemādhir mithilādhipaḥ

His son was Arishtanemi; his son Shrutayu; his son Suparshvaka; his son Chitraratha; and Chitraratha's son was Kshemadhi, who became lord of Mithila.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.13.24)

तस्मात् समरथस्तस्य सुतः सत्यरथस्ततः । आसीदुपगुरुस्तस्मादुपगुप्तोऽग्निसम्भवः ॥ २४ ॥

tasmāt samarathas tasya sutaḥ satyarathas tataḥ āsīd upagurus tasmād upagupto ’gni-sambhavaḥ

From him came Samaratha; his son Satyaratha; his son Upaguru; and his son Upagupta, a partial descent of the fire-god.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.13.25)

वस्वनन्तोऽथ तत्पुत्रो युयुधो यत् सुभाषणः । श्रुतस्ततो जयस्तस्माद् विजयोऽस्मादृतः सुतः ॥ २५ ॥

vasvananto ’tha tat-putro yuyudho yat subhāṣaṇaḥ śrutas tato jayas tasmād vijayo ’smād ṛtaḥ sutaḥ

His son was Vasvananta; then Yuyudha; then Subhashana; then Shruta; then Jaya; from him Vijaya; and Vijaya's son was Rita.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.13.26)

शुनकस्तत्सुतो जज्ञे वीतहव्यो धृतिस्ततः । बहुलाश्वो धृतेस्तस्य कृतिरस्य महावशी ॥ २६ ॥

śunakas tat-suto jajñe vītahavyo dhṛtis tataḥ bahulāśvo dhṛtes tasya kṛtir asya mahāvaśī

His son was Shunaka; then Vitahavya; then Dhriti; then Bahulashva; his son Kriti; and his son, Mahavashi.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.13.27)

एते वै मैथिला राजन्नात्मविद्याविशारदाः । योगेश्वरप्रसादेन द्वन्द्वैर्मुक्ता गृहेष्वपि ॥ २७ ॥

ete vai maithilā rājann ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ yogeśvara-prasādena dvandvair muktā gṛheṣv api

Shri Shuka said: O king, all these kings of Mithila were deeply versed in knowledge of the self; by the grace of the Lord of Yoga, they remained free from the dualities of the world even while living as householders.