Vasishtha's Discourse: The Line of Ikshvaku

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.110.1)

क्रुद्धम् आज्ञाय राम तु वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह। जाबालिः अपि जानीते लोकस्य अस्य गत आगतिम्॥ 110.1 ॥

kruddham ājñāya rāma tu vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha| jābāliḥ api jānīte lokasya asya gata āgatim

Perceiving that Rama had grown angry, Vasishtha then spoke in reply: "Even Jabali well understands the coming and going of this world.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.110.2)

निवर्तयितु कामः तु त्वाम् एतद् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्। इमाम् लोक समुत्पत्तिम् लोक नाथ निबोध मे॥ 110.2 ॥

nivartayitu kāmaḥ tu tvām etad vākyam abravīt| imām loka samutpattim loka nātha nibodha me

It was only out of his wish to make you turn back that he spoke these words. O lord of the people, now learn from me the origin of this world.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.110.3)

सर्वम् सलिलम् एव आसीत् पृथिवी यत्र निर्मिता। ततः समभवद् ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूर् दैवतैः सह॥ 110.3 ॥

sarvam salilam eva āsīt pṛthivī yatra nirmitā| tataḥ samabhavad brahmā svayambhūr daivataiḥ saha

In the beginning all was water alone, out of which the earth was formed; thereafter the self-existent Brahma came into being, together with the gods.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.110.4)

स वराहः ततो भूत्वा प्रोज्जहार वसुंधराम्। असृजच् च जगत् सर्वम् सह पुत्रैः कृत आत्मभिः॥ 110.4 ॥

sa varāhaḥ tato bhūtvā projjahāra vasuṃdharām| asṛjac ca jagat sarvam saha putraiḥ kṛta ātmabhiḥ

He then, taking the form of a boar, raised up the earth, and together with his self-realised sons, created this entire world.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.110.5)

आकाश प्रभवो ब्रह्मा शाश्वतो नित्य अव्ययः। तस्मान् मरीचिः सम्जज्ञे मरीचेः कश्यपः सुतः॥ 110.5 ॥

ākāśa prabhavo brahmā śāśvato nitya avyayaḥ| tasmān marīciḥ samjajñe marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ sutaḥ

Brahma, the eternal, everlasting, and imperishable, arose from ether; from him was born Marichi, and Marichi's son was Kashyapa.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.110.6)

विवस्वान् कश्यपाज् जज्ञे मनुर् वैवस्तवः स्मृतः। स तु प्रजापतिः पूर्वम् इक्ष्वाकुः तु मनोः सुतः॥ 110.6 ॥

vivasvān kaśyapāj jajñe manur vaivastavaḥ smṛtaḥ| sa tu prajāpatiḥ pūrvam ikṣvākuḥ tu manoḥ sutaḥ

From Kashyapa was born Vivasvan; from him came Manu, known as Vaivasvata, who in the beginning was the lord of creatures; and Ikshvaku was Manu's son.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.110.7)

यस्य इयम् प्रथमम् दत्ता समृद्धा मनुना मही। तम् इक्ष्वाकुम् अयोध्यायाम् राजानम् विद्धि पूर्वकम्॥ 110.7 ॥

yasya iyam prathamam dattā samṛddhā manunā mahī| tam ikṣvākum ayodhyāyām rājānam viddhi pūrvakam

This fertile earth was first given by Manu to him; know that same Ikshvaku as the very first king of Ayodhya.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.110.8)

इक्ष्वाकोः तु सुतः श्रीमान् कुक्षिर् एव इति विश्रुतः। कुक्षेर् अथ आत्मजो वीरो विकुक्षिर् उदपद्यत॥ 110.8 ॥

ikṣvākoḥ tu sutaḥ śrīmān kukṣir eva iti viśrutaḥ| kukṣer atha ātmajo vīro vikukṣir udapadyata

Ikshvaku's illustrious son was known by the name Kukshi; and from Kukshi was born his valiant son, Vikukshi.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.110.9)

विकुक्षेः तु महा तेजा बाणः पुत्रः प्रतापवान्। बाणस्य तु महा बाहुर् अनरण्यो महा यशाः॥ 110.9 ॥

vikukṣeḥ tu mahā tejā bāṇaḥ putraḥ pratāpavān| bāṇasya tu mahā bāhur anaraṇyo mahā yaśāḥ

To Vikukshi was born the mighty, splendid, and powerful son Bana; and to Bana, the mighty-armed and greatly renowned Anaranya.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.110.10)

नाना वृष्टिर् बभूव अस्मिन् न दुर्भिक्षम् सताम् वरे। अनरण्ये महा राजे तस्करो वा अपि कश्चन॥ 110.10 ॥

nānā vṛṣṭir babhūva asmin na durbhikṣam satām vare| anaraṇye mahā rāje taskaro vā api kaścana

While this Anaranya, foremost among the virtuous, reigned as great king, there was never lack of rain, nor famine, nor was there even a single thief.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.110.11)

अनरण्यान् महा बाहुः पृथू राजा बभूव ह। तस्मात् पृथोर् महा राजः त्रिशन्कुर् उदपद्यत॥ 110.11 ॥

anaraṇyān mahā bāhuḥ pṛthū rājā babhūva ha| tasmāt pṛthor mahā rājaḥ triśankur udapadyata

From Anaranya was born the mighty-armed King Prithu; and from that Prithu was born the great King Trishanku.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.110.12)

स सत्य वचनाद् वीरः सशरीरो दिवम् गतः। त्रिशन्कोर् अभवत् सूनुर् धुन्धुमारो महा यशाः॥ 110.12 ॥

sa satya vacanād vīraḥ saśarīro divam gataḥ| triśankor abhavat sūnur dhundhumāro mahā yaśāḥ

That valiant one, on account of his truthful speech, ascended to heaven in his own body; from Trishanku was born his highly renowned son, Dhundhumara.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.110.13)

धुन्धुमारान् महा तेजा युवन अश्वो व्यजायत। युवन अश्व सुतः श्रीमान् मान्धाता समपद्यत॥ 110.13 ॥

dhundhumārān mahā tejā yuvana aśvo vyajāyata| yuvana aśva sutaḥ śrīmān māndhātā samapadyata

From Dhundhumara was born the greatly splendid Yuvanashva; and Yuvanashva's illustrious son was Mandhata.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.110.14)

मान्धातुः तु महा तेजाः सुसंधिर् उदपद्यत। सुसंधेर् अपि पुत्रौ द्वौ ध्रुव संधिः प्रसेनजित्॥ 110.14 ॥

māndhātuḥ tu mahā tejāḥ susaṃdhir udapadyata| susaṃdher api putrau dvau dhruva saṃdhiḥ prasenajit

From the greatly splendid Mandhata was born Susandhi; and to Susandhi were born two sons, Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.110.15)

यशस्वी ध्रुव संधेः तु भरतो रिपु सूदनः। भरतात् तु महा बाहोर् असितो नाम जायत॥ 110.15 ॥

yaśasvī dhruva saṃdheḥ tu bharato ripu sūdanaḥ| bharatāt tu mahā bāhor asito nāma jāyata

From Dhruvasandhi came the illustrious Bharata, destroyer of foes; and from the mighty-armed Bharata was born a son named Asita.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.110.16)

यस्य एते प्रतिराजान उदपद्यन्त शत्रवः। हैहयाः ताल जन्घाः च शूराः च शश बिन्दवः॥ 110.16 ॥

yasya ete pratirājāna udapadyanta śatravaḥ| haihayāḥ tāla janghāḥ ca śūrāḥ ca śaśa bindavaḥ

Against him there rose up rival kings as enemies — the Haihayas, the Talajanghas, and the valiant Shashabindus.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.110.17)

तान् तु सर्वान् प्रतिव्यूह्य युद्धे राजा प्रवासितः। स च शैल वरे रम्ये बभूव अभिरतो मुनिः॥ 110.17 ॥

tān tu sarvān prativyūhya yuddhe rājā pravāsitaḥ| sa ca śaila vare ramye babhūva abhirato muniḥ

Though the king arrayed his forces against all of them in battle, he was driven from his kingdom; and he then became a sage, content to dwell upon a beautiful and excellent mountain.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.110.18)

द्वे च अस्य भार्ये गर्भिण्यौ बभूवतुर् इति श्रुतिः। एका गर्भविनाशाय सपत्न्यै गरळं ददौ॥ 110.18 ॥

dve ca asya bhārye garbhiṇyau babhūvatur iti śrutiḥ| ekā garbhavināśāya sapatnyai garaḷaṃ dadau

It is told that his two wives both became pregnant; and one of them gave the other poison, meaning to destroy her unborn child.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.110.19)

भार्गवः च्यवनो नाम हिमवन्तम् उपाश्रितः। तम् ऋषिम् समुपागम्य कालिन्दी तु अभ्यवादयत्॥ 110.19 ॥

bhārgavaḥ cyavano nāma himavantam upāśritaḥ| tam ṛṣim samupāgamya kālindī tu abhyavādayat

A sage of the Bhrigu line named Chyavana dwelt upon the Himalaya; Kalindi approached that sage and offered him her respectful salutation.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.110.20)

स ताम् अभ्यवदद् विप्रो वर ईप्सुम् पुत्र जन्मनि। पुत्रस्ते भविता देवि महात्मा लोकविश्रुतः॥ 110.20 ॥

sa tām abhyavadad vipro vara īpsum putra janmani| putraste bhavitā devi mahātmā lokaviśrutaḥ

That brahmin spoke to her, who sought a boon for the birth of a son: "O queen, a great-souled son, renowned throughout the world, shall be born to you —

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.110.21)

धार्मिकश्च सुशीलश्च वंशकर्तारिसूदनः। कृत्वाप्रदक्षिणं हृष्टा मुनिं तमनुमान्य च॥ 110.21 ॥

dhārmikaśca suśīlaśca vaṃśakartārisūdanaḥ| kṛtvāpradakṣiṇaṃ hṛṣṭā muniṃ tamanumānya ca

— righteous and of good conduct, a continuer of the lineage and a destroyer of foes." Delighted, she circled the sage in reverence and, having taken his leave —

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.110.22)

पद्मपत्रसमानाक्षं पद्मगर्भसमप्रभम्। ततः सा गृहम् आगम्य देवी पुत्रम् व्यजायत॥ 110.22 ॥

padmapatrasamānākṣaṃ padmagarbhasamaprabham| tataḥ sā gṛham āgamya devī putram vyajāyata

— the queen then returned home and gave birth to a son whose eyes resembled lotus petals and whose radiance was like that of the lotus-born Brahma.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.110.23)

सपत्न्या तु गरः तस्यै दत्तो गर्भ जिघांसया। गरेण सह तेन एव जातः स सगरो अभवत्॥ 110.23 ॥

sapatnyā tu garaḥ tasyai datto garbha jighāṃsayā| gareṇa saha tena eva jātaḥ sa sagaro abhavat

Since poison had earlier been given to her by her co-wife with intent to destroy the child in the womb, he who was born together with that very poison came to be called Sagara (born-with-poison).

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.110.24)

स राजा सगरो नाम यः समुद्रम् अखानयत्। इष्ट्वा पर्वणि वेगेन त्रासयन्तम् इमाः प्रजाः॥ 110.24 ॥

sa rājā sagaro nāma yaḥ samudram akhānayat| iṣṭvā parvaṇi vegena trāsayantam imāḥ prajāḥ

That was King Sagara, who, having performed sacrifice, caused the ocean to be dug out on the day of the full moon, its onrush terrifying these very people.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.110.25)

असमन्जः तु पुत्रो अभूत् सगरस्य इति नः श्रुतम्। जीवन्न् एव स पित्रा तु निरस्तः पाप कर्म कृत्॥ 110.25 ॥

asamanjaḥ tu putro abhūt sagarasya iti naḥ śrutam| jīvann eva sa pitrā tu nirastaḥ pāpa karma kṛt

Asamanjas, we have heard, was Sagara's son; because of his wicked deeds, he was cast out by his own father even while yet living.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.110.26)

अंशुमान् इति पुत्रो अभूद् असमन्जस्य वीर्यवान्। दिलीपो अंशुमतः पुत्रो दिलीपस्य भगीरथः॥ 110.26 ॥

aṃśumān iti putro abhūd asamanjasya vīryavān| dilīpo aṃśumataḥ putro dilīpasya bhagīrathaḥ

To Asamanjas was born a valiant son named Amshuman; Dilipa was Amshuman's son, and Bhagiratha was Dilipa's son.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.110.27)

भगीरथात् ककुत्स्थः तु काकुत्स्था येन तु स्मृताः। ककुत्स्थस्य तु पुत्रो अभूद् रघुर् येन तु राघवः॥ 110.27 ॥

bhagīrathāt kakutsthaḥ tu kākutsthā yena tu smṛtāḥ| kakutsthasya tu putro abhūd raghur yena tu rāghavaḥ

From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, from whom the name 'Kakutstha' descends; and to Kakutstha was born a son, Raghu, from whom springs the name 'Raghava.'

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.110.28)

रघोः तु पुत्रः तेजस्वी प्रवृद्धः पुरुष अदकः। कल्माष पादः सौदास इत्य् एवम् प्रथितो भुवि॥ 110.28 ॥

raghoḥ tu putraḥ tejasvī pravṛddhaḥ puruṣa adakaḥ| kalmāṣa pādaḥ saudāsa ity evam prathito bhuvi

Raghu's splendid son was known in this world by the names Pravriddha, Purushadaka, Kalmashapada, and Saudasa.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.110.29)

कल्माष पाद पुत्रो अभूत् शन्खणः तु इति विश्रुतः। यः तु तद् वीर्यम् आसाद्य सह सेनो व्यनीनशत्॥ 110.29 ॥

kalmāṣa pāda putro abhūt śankhaṇaḥ tu iti viśrutaḥ| yaḥ tu tad vīryam āsādya saha seno vyanīnaśat

Kalmashapada's son was known as Shankhana, who, having encountered that foe's might, perished together with his army.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.110.30)

शन्खणस्य तु पुत्रो अभूत् शूरः श्रीमान् सुदर्शनः। सुदर्शनस्य अग्नि वर्ण अग्नि वर्षस्य शीघ्रगः॥ 110.30 ॥

śankhaṇasya tu putro abhūt śūraḥ śrīmān sudarśanaḥ| sudarśanasya agni varṇa agni varṣasya śīghragaḥ

Shankhana's son was the valiant and illustrious Sudarshana; Sudarshana's son was Agnivarna, and Agnivarna's son was Shighraga.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.110.31)

शीघ्रगस्य मरुः पुत्रो मरोः पुत्रः प्रशुश्रुकः। प्रशुश्रुकस्य पुत्रो अभूद् अम्बरीषो महा द्युतिः॥ 110.31 ॥

śīghragasya maruḥ putro maroḥ putraḥ praśuśrukaḥ| praśuśrukasya putro abhūd ambarīṣo mahā dyutiḥ

Shighraga's son was Maru; Maru's son was Prashushruka; and Prashushruka's son was the greatly radiant Ambarisha.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.110.32)

अम्बरीषस्य पुत्रो अभून् नहुषः सत्य विक्रमः। नहुषस्य च नाभागः पुत्रः परम धार्मिकः॥ 110.32 ॥

ambarīṣasya putro abhūn nahuṣaḥ satya vikramaḥ| nahuṣasya ca nābhāgaḥ putraḥ parama dhārmikaḥ

Ambarisha's son was the truly valiant Nahusha; and Nahusha's son was Nabhaga, of the utmost righteousness.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.110.33)

अजः च सुव्रतः चैव नाभागस्य सुताउ उभौ। अजस्य चैव धर्म आत्मा राजा दशरथः सुतः॥ 110.33 ॥

ajaḥ ca suvrataḥ caiva nābhāgasya sutāu ubhau| ajasya caiva dharma ātmā rājā daśarathaḥ sutaḥ

Aja and Suvrata were the two sons of Nabhaga; and Aja's son was the righteous-souled King Dasharatha.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.110.34)

तस्य ज्येष्ठो असि दायादो राम इत्य् अभिविश्रुतः। तद् गृहाण स्वकम् राज्यम् अवेक्षस्व जगन् नृप॥ 110.34 ॥

tasya jyeṣṭho asi dāyādo rāma ity abhiviśrutaḥ| tad gṛhāṇa svakam rājyam avekṣasva jagan nṛpa

You, renowned as Rama, are his eldest son and rightful heir; therefore, O king, take up your own kingdom and watch over your people.

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.110.35)

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् हि सर्वेषाम् राजा भवति पूर्वजः। पूर्वजेन अवरः पुत्रो ज्येष्ठो राज्ये अभिषिच्यते॥ 110.35 ॥

ikṣvākūṇām hi sarveṣām rājā bhavati pūrvajaḥ| pūrvajena avaraḥ putro jyeṣṭho rājye abhiṣicyate

For among all the Ikshvakus, it is ever the first-born who becomes king; while the eldest lives, the younger son is not consecrated to the throne.

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.110.36)

स राघवाणाम् कुल धर्मम् आत्मनः। सनातनम् न अद्य विहातुम् अर्हसि। प्रभूत रत्नाम् अनुशाधि मेदिनीम्। प्रभूत राष्ट्राम् पितृवन् महा यशाः॥ 110.36 ॥

sa rāghavāṇām kula dharmam ātmanaḥ| sanātanam na adya vihātum arhasi| prabhūta ratnām anuśādhi medinīm| prabhūta rāṣṭrām pitṛvan mahā yaśāḥ

O greatly renowned one, you ought not now to abandon this eternal custom of your own line, the house of Raghu; rule instead over this earth, rich in jewels and vast in its dominions, just as your father did.