The Curse of Nimi and the Line of Janaka

Verse 1 (vishnu.4.5.1)

इक्ष्वाकुतनयो योऽसौ निमिर् नामा स तु सहस्रसंवत्सरं सत्रम् आरेभे वसिष्ठं च होतारं वरयाम् आस

ikṣvākutanayo yo'sau nimir nāmā sa tu sahasrasaṁvatsaraṁ satram ārebhe vasiṣṭhaṁ ca hotāraṁ varayām āsa

That son of Ikshvaku named Nimi undertook a sacrificial session of a thousand years, and chose Vasishtha as the officiating priest.

Verse 2 (vishnu.4.5.2)

तम् आह वसिष्ठोऽहम् इन्द्रेण पञ्चवर्षशतं यागार्थं प्रथमतरं वृतस् तदनन्तरं प्रतिपाल्यताम् आगतस् तवापि ऋत्विग् भविष्यामीत्य् उक्ते स पृथिवीपतिर् न किंचिद् उक्तवान्

tam āha vasiṣṭho'ham indreṇa pañcavarṣaśataṁ yāgārthaṁ prathamataraṁ vṛtas tadanantaraṁ pratipālyatām āgatas tavāpi ṛtvig bhaviṣyāmīty ukte sa pṛthivīpatir na kiṁcid uktavān

Vasishtha said to him: 'I have already been engaged beforehand by Indra for a sacrifice of five hundred years; wait until that is finished, and then I shall be your priest too.' Thus told, that king said nothing in reply.

Verse 3 (vishnu.4.5.3)

वसिष्ठोऽप्य् अनेन समन्विच्छितम् इत्य् अमरपतेर् यागम् अकरोत्

vasiṣṭho'py anena samanvicchitam ity amarapater yāgam akarot

And Vasishtha, taking this as agreement, proceeded with Indra's sacrifice.

Verse 4 (vishnu.4.5.4)

सोऽपि तत्कालम् एवान्यैर् गौतमादिभिर् यागम् अकारयत् । समाप्ते चामरपतेर् यागे त्वरावान् वसिष्ठो निमेः कर्म करिष्यामीत्य् आजगाम । तत्कर्मकर्तृत्वं च तत्र गौतमस्य दृष्ट्वाथ स्वपते तस्मै राज्ञे माम् अप्रत्याख्यायैतद् अनेन गौतमाय कर्मान्तरं समर्पितं यस्मात् तस्माद् अयं विदेहो भविष्यतीति शापं ददौ

so'pi tatkālam evānyair gautamādibhir yāgam akārayat | samāpte cāmarapater yāge tvarāvān vasiṣṭho nimeḥ karma kariṣyāmīty ājagāma | tatkarmakartṛtvaṁ ca tatra gautamasya dṛṣṭvātha svapate tasmai rājñe mām apratyākhyāyaitad anena gautamāya karmāntaraṁ samarpitaṁ yasmāt tasmād ayaṁ videho bhaviṣyatīti śāpaṁ dadau

Nimi, meanwhile, at that very time had the sacrifice performed by other priests headed by Gautama. When Indra's sacrifice ended, Vasishtha came in haste saying, 'Now I shall perform Nimi's rite.' But finding Gautama already installed as its performer, he said to the king: 'Since you, without formally refusing me, handed this rite to Gautama, you shall become bodiless (videha)' — and pronounced this curse.

Verse 5 (vishnu.4.5.5)

प्रतिबुद्धश् चासाव् अवनिपतिर् अपि प्राह । यस्मान् माम् असंभाष्याज्ञानत एव शयानस्य शापोत्सर्गम् असौ दुष्टगुरुश् चकार तस्मात् तस्यापि देहः पतितो भविष्यतीति प्रतिशापं दत्त्वा देहम् अत्यजत्

pratibuddhaś cāsāv avanipatir api prāha | yasmān mām asaṁbhāṣyājñānata eva śayānasya śāpotsargam asau duṣṭaguruś cakāra tasmāt tasyāpi dehaḥ patito bhaviṣyatīti pratiśāpaṁ dattvā deham atyajat

That king, roused from silence, also spoke: 'Since this wicked teacher, without consulting me, cursed me as though I were asleep and unaware, his body too shall fall away.' Having pronounced this counter-curse, he gave up his own body.

Verse 6 (vishnu.4.5.6)

तस्माच् छापाच् च मित्रावरुणयोस् तेजसि वसिष्ठतेजः प्रविष्टम् । उर्वशीदर्शनाद् उद्भूतबीजप्रपातयोस् सकाशाद् वसिष्ठो देहम् अपरं लेभे

tasmāc chāpāc ca mitrāvaruṇayos tejasi vasiṣṭhatejaḥ praviṣṭam | urvaśīdarśanād udbhūtabījaprapātayos sakāśād vasiṣṭho deham aparaṁ lebhe

By that curse, Vasishtha's essence entered into the combined energy of Mitra and Varuna; and from the seed that fell from them at the sight of Urvashi, Vasishtha obtained another body.

Verse 7 (vishnu.4.5.7)

निमेर् अपि तच्छरीरम् अतिमनोहरतैलगन्धादिभिर् उपसंस्क्रियमाणं नैव क्लेदादिकं दोषम् अवाप सद्योमृतम् इव तस्थौ । यज्ञसमाप्तौ भागग्रहणायागतान् देवान् आगतान् ऋत्विज ऊचुः । यजमानाय वरो दीयताम् इति देवैश् च छन्दितोऽसौ निमिर् आह

nimer api taccharīram atimanoharatailagandhādibhir upasaṁskriyamāṇaṁ naiva kledādikaṁ doṣam avāpa sadyomṛtam iva tasthau | yajñasamāptau bhāgagrahaṇāyāgatān devān āgatān ṛtvija ūcuḥ | yajamānāya varo dīyatām iti devaiś ca chandito'sau nimir āha

Nimi's body, meanwhile, preserved with exceedingly fragrant oils and the like, never suffered decay or such defect, and lay as though only just dead. When the sacrifice was completed, the priests said to the gods who had come for their portion: 'Let a boon be given to the sacrificer.' Thus invited by the gods, Nimi said —

Verse 8 (vishnu.4.5.8)

भगवन्तोऽखिलसंसारदुःखसंघातस्य छेत्तारो न ह्य् एतावज् जगत्य् अन्यद् दुःखम् अस्ति यच् छरीरात्मनोर् वियोगे भवति । तद् अहम् इच्छामि सकललोकलोचनेषु वस्तुं न पुनः शरीरग्रहणं कर्तुम् इत्य् एवम् उक्तैर् देवैर् असाव् अशेषभूतानां नेत्रेष्व् अवतारितः

bhagavanto'khilasaṁsāraduḥkhasaṁghātasya chettāro na hy etāvaj jagaty anyad duḥkham asti yac charīrātmanor viyoge bhavati | tad aham icchāmi sakalalokalocaneṣu vastuṁ na punaḥ śarīragrahaṇaṁ kartum ity evam uktair devair asāv aśeṣabhūtānāṁ netreṣv avatāritaḥ

'O lords, cutters-off of the world's accumulated sorrow! There is no sorrow in this world greater than that of the separation of body and soul. Therefore I wish to dwell within the eyes of all beings, and never again take on a body.' Thus told, the gods established him within the eyes of all beings.

Verse 9 (vishnu.4.5.9)

ततो भूतान्य् उन्मेषनिमेषं चक्रुः । अपुत्रस्य तस्य भूभुजः शरीरम् अराजकभीरवस् ते मुनयोऽरण्या ममन्थुः

tato bhūtāny unmeṣanimeṣaṁ cakruḥ | aputrasya tasya bhūbhujaḥ śarīram arājakabhīravas te munayo'raṇyā mamanthuḥ

Since then, all beings blink (unmesha-nimesha). Then, that king being sonless, and the sages fearing anarchy, they churned his body with a churning-stick.

Verse 10 (vishnu.4.5.10)

तत्र च कुमारो जज्ञे जननाज् जनकसंज्ञां चावाप

tatra ca kumāro jajñe jananāj janakasaṁjñāṁ cāvāpa

From it a prince was born, who, from that manner of birth, obtained the name Janaka.

Verse 11 (vishnu.4.5.11)

अभूद् विदेहोऽस्य पितेति वैदेहो मथनान् मिथिर् अभूत् । तस्योदावसुः पुत्रोऽभवत् । उदावसोर् नन्दिवर्धनस् ततः सुकेतुः तस्माच् च देवरातस् ततश् च बृहदुक्थस् तस्य च महावीर्यस् तस्यापि सत्यधृतिस् धृतिः ततश् च धृष्टकेतुर् अजायत धृष्टकेतोर् हर्यश्वस् तस्य च मरुर् मरोः प्रतिबन्धकस् तस्मात् कृतरथस् तस्मात् कृतिस् तस्य विबुधः तस्यापि महाधृतिस् ततश् च कृतिरातस् ततो महारोमा । तस्य सुवर्णरोमा तस्यापि ह्रस्वरोमा ततः सीरध्वजोऽभूत् । तस्य पुत्रार्थं यजनभुवं कृषतः सीरे सीता दुहिता समुत्पन्ना । सीरध्वजस्य भ्राता सांकाश्याधिपतिः कुशध्वजनामा । सीरध्वजस्यापत्यं भानुमान् भानुमतः शतद्युम्नः तस्य शुचिस् तस्माद् ऊर्जवहो पुत्रो जज्ञे

abhūd videho'sya piteti vaideho mathanān mithir abhūt | tasyodāvasuḥ putro'bhavat | udāvasor nandivardhanas tataḥ suketuḥ tasmāc ca devarātas tataś ca bṛhadukthas tasya ca mahāvīryas tasyāpi satyadhṛtis dhṛtiḥ tataś ca dhṛṣṭaketur ajāyata dhṛṣṭaketor haryaśvas tasya ca marur maroḥ pratibandhakas tasmāt kṛtarathas tasmāt kṛtis tasya vibudhaḥ tasyāpi mahādhṛtis tataś ca kṛtirātas tato mahāromā | tasya suvarṇaromā tasyāpi hrasvaromā tataḥ sīradhvajo'bhūt | tasya putrārthaṁ yajanabhuvaṁ kṛṣataḥ sīre sītā duhitā samutpannā | sīradhvajasya bhrātā sāṁkāśyādhipatiḥ kuśadhvajanāmā | sīradhvajasyāpatyaṁ bhānumān bhānumataḥ śatadyumnaḥ tasya śucis tasmād ūrjavaho putro jajñe

Since his father was Videha, he was called Vaideha, and, being born of churning, was also named Mithi. His son was Udavasu. From Udavasu, Nandivardhana; from him, Suketu; from him, Devarata; from him, Brihaduktha; his son, Mahavirya; his son, Satyadhriti; from him, Dhrishtaketu was born; Dhrishtaketu's son, Haryashva; his son, Maru; Maru's son, Pratibandhaka; from him, Kritaratha; from him, Kriti; his son, Vibudha; his son, Mahadhriti; from him, Kritirata; from him, Maharoma. His son was Suvarnaroma; his son, Hrasvaroma; from him came Siradhvaja. While plowing the sacrificial ground for a son, a daughter, Sita, sprang up at the touch of the plough. Siradhvaja's brother, lord of Sankashya, was named Kushadhvaja. Siradhvaja's son was Bhanuman; from Bhanuman, Shatadyumna; his son, Shuchi; from him was born a son, Urjavaha.

Verse 12 (vishnu.4.5.12)

तस्यापि शतध्वजः ततः कुणिः कुणेर् अञ्जनस् तत्पुत्र ऋतुजित् ततोऽरिष्टनेमिस् तस्माच् छ्रुतायुः श्रुतायुषः सुपार्वस् तस्मात् संजयस् ततः क्षेमारिस् तस्माद् अनेनास् तस्माद् मीनरथस् तस्य सत्यरथस् तस्य सात्यरथिः सात्यरथेर् उपगुस् तस्माच् छाश्वतस् तस्मात् सुधन्वा तस्यापि सुभाषः ततः सुश्रुतस् तस्माज् जयो जयपुत्रो विजयस् तस्य च ऋतो नाम सुश्रुतः तस्मात् सुश्रुताज् जयः तस्य पुत्रो विजयः विजयस्य ऋतः ऋतात् सुनयस् ततो वीतहव्यस् तस्माद् धृतिर् धृतेर् बहुलाश्वस् तस्य पुत्रः कृतिः कृतौ संतिष्टतेऽयं जनकवंशः

tasyāpi śatadhvajaḥ tataḥ kuṇiḥ kuṇer añjanas tatputra ṛtujit tato'riṣṭanemis tasmāc chrutāyuḥ śrutāyuṣaḥ supārvas tasmāt saṁjayas tataḥ kṣemāris tasmād anenās tasmād mīnarathas tasya satyarathas tasya sātyarathiḥ sātyarather upagus tasmāc chāśvatas tasmāt sudhanvā tasyāpi subhāṣaḥ tataḥ suśrutas tasmāj jayo jayaputro vijayas tasya ca ṛto nāma suśrutaḥ tasmāt suśrutāj jayaḥ tasya putro vijayaḥ vijayasya ṛtaḥ ṛtāt sunayas tato vītahavyas tasmād dhṛtir dhṛter bahulāśvas tasya putraḥ kṛtiḥ kṛtau saṁtiṣṭate'yaṁ janakavaṁśaḥ

His son was Shatadhvaja; from him, Kuni; Kuni's son, Anjana; his son, Ritujit; from him, Arishtanemi; from him, Shrutayu; Shrutayu's son, Suparva; from him, Sanjaya; from him, Kshemari; from him, Anena; from him, Minaratha; his son, Satyaratha; his son, Satyarathi; from him, Upagu; from him, Shashvata; from him, Sudhanva; his son, Subhasha; from him, Sushruta; from him, Jaya; Jaya's son, Vijaya; his son too was known as Rita, or Sushruta; from him, Jaya; his son, Vijaya; Vijaya's son, Rita; from Rita, Sunaya; from him, Vitahavya; from him, Dhriti; Dhriti's son, Bahulashva; his son, Kriti — in Kriti this line of Janaka comes to rest.

Verse 13 (vishnu.4.5.13)

इत्य् एते मैथिलाः प्राचुर्येण तेषाम् आत्मविद्याश्रयिणो भूपाला भविष्यन्तीति

ity ete maithilāḥ prācuryeṇa teṣām ātmavidyāśrayiṇo bhūpālā bhaviṣyantīti

These, then, are the Maithila kings; for the most part, they were kings devoted to the knowledge of the self.