The Lineage of the Ikshvakus

Shloka 1 (bala.70.1)

ततः प्रभाते जनकः कृतकर्मा महर्षिभिः । उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः शतानंदं पुरोहितम् ॥ 70.1 ॥

tataḥ prabhāte janakaḥ kṛtakarmā maharṣibhiḥ | uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajñaḥ śatānandaṃ purohitam ||

Then, in the morning, Janaka, having completed the rites with the great sages, that master of speech said this to his priest Shatananda.

Shloka 2 (bala.70.2)

भ्राता मम महातेजा यवीयानतिधार्मिकः । कुशध्वज इति ख्यातः पुरीमध्यवसच्छुभाम् ॥ 70.2 ॥

bhrātā mama mahātejā yavīyān atidhārmikaḥ | kuśadhvaja iti khyātaḥ purīm adhyavasac chubhām ||

"My greatly resplendent and most righteous younger brother, renowned as Kushadhvaja, dwells in a certain auspicious city—"

Shloka 3 (bala.70.3)

वार्या फलकपर्यन्तां पिबन्निक्षुमतीं नदीम् । सांकाश्यां पुण्यसंकाशां विमानमिव पुष्पकम् ॥ 70.3 ॥

vāryā phalakaparyantāṃ pibann ikṣumatīṃ nadīm | sāṅkāśyāṃ puṇyasaṃkāśāṃ vimānam iva puṣpakam ||

—the city of Sankashya, ringed round with water-defences, as if drinking of the River Ikshumati, a city as sacred as the Pushpaka chariot itself."

Shloka 4 (bala.70.4)

तमहं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि यज्ञगोप्ता स मे मतः । प्रीतिं सोऽपि महातेजा इमां भोक्ता मया सह ॥ 70.4 ॥

tam ahaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi yajñagoptā sa me mataḥ | prītiṃ so api mahātejā imāṃ bhoktā mayā saha ||

"I wish to see him, for he is appointed the protector of this sacrifice of mine; and that greatly resplendent one shall also share with me the joy of this occasion."

Shloka 5 (bala.70.5)

एवमुक्ते तु वचने शतानंदस्य संनिधौ । आगताः केचिदव्यग्रा जनकस्तान् समादिशत् ॥ 70.5 ॥

evam ukte tu vacane śatānandasya saṃnidhau | āgatāḥ kecid avyagrā janakas tān samādiśat ||

When this had thus been spoken in Shatananda's presence, some alert envoys who had come there were given their orders by Janaka.

Shloka 6 (bala.70.6)

शासनात्तु नरेन्द्रस्य प्रययुः शीघ्रवाजिभिः । समानेतुं नरव्याघ्रं विष्णुमिन्द्राज्ञया यथा ॥ 70.6 ॥

śāsanāt tu narendrasya prayayuḥ śīghravājibhiḥ | samānetuṃ naravyāghraṃ viṣṇum indrājñayā yathā ||

By the king's command they set out on swift horses to fetch that tiger among men, just as one might be sent by Indra's order to summon Vishnu.

Shloka 7 (bala.70.7)

सांकाश्यां ते समागम्य ददृशुश्च कुशध्वजम् । न्यवेदयन् यथावृत्तं जनकस्य च चिन्तितम् ॥ 70.7 ॥

sāṅkāśyāṃ te samāgamya dadṛśuś ca kuśadhvajam | nyavedayan yathāvṛttaṃ janakasya ca cintitam ||

Arriving at Sankashya, they saw Kushadhvaja, and reported to him all that had happened, together with Janaka's intent.

Shloka 8 (bala.70.8)

तद्वृत्तं नृपतिः श्रुत्वा दूतश्रेष्ठैर्महाजवैः । आज्ञया तु नरेन्द्रस्य आजगाम कुशध्वजः ॥ 70.8 ॥

tad vṛttaṃ nṛpatiḥ śrutvā dūtaśreṣṭhair mahājavaiḥ | ājñayā tu narendrasya ājagāma kuśadhvajaḥ ||

On hearing that news from those foremost and swiftest envoys, Kushadhvaja came at once by King Janaka's summons.

Shloka 9 (bala.70.9)

स ददर्श महात्मानं जनकं धर्मवत्सलम् । सोऽभिवाद्य शतानंदं जनकं चातिधार्मिकम् ॥ 70.9 ॥

sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ janakaṃ dharmavatsalam | so abhivādya śatānandaṃ janakaṃ ca atidhārmikam ||

He beheld the noble Janaka, ever devoted to righteousness; and, having paid homage first to Shatananda and then to the most righteous Janaka—

Shloka 10 (bala.70.10)

राजार्हं परमं दिव्यमासनं चाध्यरोहत । उपविष्टावुभौ तौ तु भ्रातरावमितौजसौ ॥ 70.10 ॥

rājārhaṃ paramaṃ divyam āsanaṃ ca adhyarohata | upaviṣṭāv ubhau tau tu bhrātarāv amitaujasau ||

—he took his seat upon a supremely resplendent throne befitting a king. Thus seated, those two brothers of boundless splendour—

Shloka 11 (bala.70.11)

प्रेषयामासतुर्वीरौ मन्त्रिश्रेष्ठं सुदामनम् । गच्छ मंत्रिपते शीघ्रमैक्ष्वाकममितप्रभम् ॥ 70.11 ॥

preṣayāmāsatur vīrau mantriśreṣṭhaṃ sudāmanam | gaccha mantripate śīghram aikṣvākam amitaprabham ||

Those two heroes then sent forth the eminent minister Sudamana, saying, "Go, O chief minister, quickly, to that Ikshvaku scion of boundless splendour—"

Shloka 12 (bala.70.12)

आत्मजैः सह दुर्धर्षमानयस्व समंत्रिणम् । औपकार्यां स गत्वा तु रघूणां कुलवर्धनम् ॥ 70.12 ॥

ātmajaiḥ saha durdharṣam ānayasva samantriṇam | aupakāryāṃ sa gatvā tu raghūṇāṃ kulavardhanam ||

—that unassailable king, and bring him here together with his sons and his ministers." Going then to the guest-house, he came before that promoter of Raghu's lineage—

Shloka 13 (bala.70.13)

ददर्श शिरसा चैनमभिवाद्येदमब्रवीत् । अयोध्याधिपते वीर वैदेहो मिथिलाधिपः ॥ 70.13 ॥

dadarśa śirasā ca enam abhivādya idam abravīt | ayodhyādhipate vīra vaideho mithilādhipaḥ ||

—and, bowing his head in salutation, said this: "O valiant lord of Ayodhya, the sovereign of Mithila, of Videha's line—"

Shloka 14 (bala.70.14)

स त्वां द्रष्टुं व्यवसितः सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम् । मंत्रिश्रेष्ठवचः श्रुत्वा राजा सर्षिगणस्तदा ॥ 70.14 ॥

sa tvāṃ draṣṭuṃ vyavasitaḥ sopādhyāyapurohitam | mantriśreṣṭhavacaḥ śrutvā rājā sarṣigaṇas tadā ||

—is eager to see you, along with your teachers and priest." On hearing the words of that foremost minister, the king, together with the assembled sages, then—

Shloka 15 (bala.70.15)

सबन्धुरगमत्तत्र जनको यत्र वर्तते । राजा च मंत्रिसहितः सोपाध्यायः सबांधवः ॥ 70.15 ॥

sabandhur agamat tatra janako yatra vartate | rājā ca mantrisahitaḥ sopādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ ||

—went, together with his kinsmen, to the place where Janaka was. The king, accompanied by his ministers, his teachers, and his kinsmen—

Shloka 16 (bala.70.16)

वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठो वैदेहमिदमब्रवीत् । विदितं ते महाराज इक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम् ॥ 70.16 ॥

vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭho vaidaham idam abravīt | viditaṃ te mahārāja ikṣvākukuladaivatam ||

—being himself foremost among those skilled in speech, said this to the king of Videha: "You already know, great king, that the one who is as a deity to the Ikshvaku line—"

Shloka 17 (bala.70.17)

वक्ता सर्वेषु कृत्येषु वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः । विश्वामित्राभ्यनुज्ञातः सह सर्वैर्महर्षिभिः ॥ 70.17 ॥

vaktā sarveṣu kṛtyeṣu vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ | viśvāmitrābhyanujñātaḥ saha sarvair maharṣibhiḥ ||

—the holy sage Vashishtha, is our spokesman in all such matters. With Vishvamitra's leave, and together with all the great sages—

Shloka 18 (bala.70.18)

एष वक्ष्यति धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठो मे यथाक्रमम् । तूष्णींभूते दशरथे वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः ॥ 70.18 ॥

eṣa vakṣyati dharmātmā vasiṣṭho me yathākramam | tūṣṇīṃbhūte daśarathe vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ ||

—this righteous Vashishtha shall now recount my lineage in due order." When Dasharatha thus fell silent, the holy sage Vashishtha—

Shloka 19 (bala.70.19)

उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो वैदेहं सपुरोधसाम् । अव्यक्तप्रभवो ब्रह्मा शाश्वतो नित्य अव्ययः ॥ 70.19 ॥

uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajño vaidehaṃ sapurodhasām | avyaktaprabhavo brahmā śāśvato nitya avyayaḥ ||

—being himself skilled in speech, spoke thus to the king of Videha and his priests: "There is Brahma, sprung from the Unmanifest, eternal, everlasting, and imperishable—"

Shloka 20 (bala.70.20)

तस्मान्मरीचिः संजज्ञे मरीचेः कश्यपः सुतः । विवस्वान् कश्यपाज्जज्ञे मनुर्वैवस्वतः स्मृतः ॥ 70.20 ॥

tasmān marīciḥ saṃjajñe marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ sutaḥ | vivasvān kaśyapāj jajñe manur vaivasvataḥ smṛtaḥ ||

—from him was born Marichi, and Kashyapa was the son of Marichi; from Kashyapa was born Vivasvan, the Sun, and his son is known as Manu Vaivasvata.

Shloka 21 (bala.70.21)

मनुः प्रजापतिः पूर्वमिक्ष्वाकुश्च मनोः सुतः । तमिक्ष्वाकुमयोध्यायां राजानं विद्धि पूर्वकम् ॥ 70.21 ॥

manuḥ prajāpatiḥ pūrvam ikṣvākuś ca manoḥ sutaḥ | tam ikṣvākum ayodhyāyāṃ rājānaṃ viddhi pūrvakam ||

Manu was the first lord of creatures, and Ikshvaku was Manu's son; know that Ikshvaku to be the first king of Ayodhya.

Shloka 22 (bala.70.22)

इक्ष्वाकोस्तु सुतः श्रीमान् कुक्षिरित्येव विश्रुतः । कुक्षेरथात्मजः श्रीमान् विकुक्षिरुपपद्यत ॥ 70.22 ॥

ikṣvākos tu sutaḥ śrīmān kukṣir iti eva viśrutaḥ | kukṣer atha ātmajaḥ śrīmān vikukṣir upapadyata ||

The illustrious son of Ikshvaku was renowned by the name Kukshi; and from Kukshi the illustrious Vikukshi was born.

Shloka 23 (bala.70.23)

विकुक्षेस्तु महातेजा बाणः पुत्रः प्रतापवान् । बाणस्य तु महातेजा अनरण्यः प्रतापवान् ॥ 70.23 ॥

vikukṣes tu mahātejā bāṇaḥ putraḥ pratāpavān | bāṇasya tu mahātejā anaraṇyaḥ pratāpavān ||

From Vikukshi came the greatly resplendent and mighty son Bana; and from Bana came the greatly resplendent and mighty Anaranya.

Shloka 24 (bala.70.24)

अनरण्यात्पृथुर्जज्ञे त्रिशंकुस्तु पृथोः सुतः । त्रिशंकोरभवत्पुत्रो धुन्धुमारो महायशाः ॥ 70.24 ॥

anaraṇyāt pṛthur jajñe triśaṅkus tu pṛthoḥ sutaḥ | triśaṅkor abhavat putro dhundhumāro mahāyaśāḥ ||

From Anaranya was born Prithu, and Trishanku was Prithu's son; from Trishanku came the greatly renowned son Dhundhumara.

Shloka 25 (bala.70.25)

धुन्धुमारान्महातेजा युवनाश्वो महारथः । युवनाश्वसुतस्त्वासीन्मान्धाता पृथिवीपतिः ॥ 70.25 ॥

dhundhumārān mahātejā yuvanāśvo mahārathaḥ | yuvanāśvasutas tv āsīn māndhātā pṛthivīpatiḥ ||

From Dhundhumara came the greatly resplendent charioteer Yuvanashva; and the lord of the earth, Mandhata, was Yuvanashva's son.

Shloka 26 (bala.70.26)

मान्धातुस्तु सुतः श्रीमान् सुसन्धिरुदपद्यत । सुसंधेरपि पुत्रौ द्वौ ध्रुवसंधिः प्रसेनजित् ॥ 70.26 ॥

māndhātus tu sutaḥ śrīmān susandhir udapadyata | susandher api putrau dvau dhruvasandhiḥ prasenajit ||

The illustrious son of Mandhata was Susandhi; and Susandhi in turn had two sons, Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.

Shloka 27 (bala.70.27)

यशस्वी ध्रुवसंधेस्तु भरतो नाम नामतः । भरतात्तु महातेजा असितो नाम जायत ॥ 70.27 ॥

yaśasvī dhruvasandhes tu bharato nāma nāmataḥ | bharatāt tu mahātejā asito nāma jāyata ||

From Dhruvasandhi was born the illustrious son named Bharata; and from Bharata was born the greatly resplendent son named Asita.

Shloka 28 (bala.70.28)

यस्यैते प्रतिराजान उदपद्यन्त शात्रवः । हैहयास्तालजंघाश्च शूराश्च शशबिंदवः ॥ 70.28 ॥

yasya ete pratirājāna udapadyanta śātravaḥ | haihayās tālajaṅghāś ca śūrāś ca śaśabindavaḥ ||

Against this Asita there rose up, as adversary kings, the Haihayas, the Talajanghas, and the valiant Shashabindus.

Shloka 29 (bala.70.29)

तांस्तु स प्रतियुद्ध्यन् वै युद्धे राजा प्रवासितः । हिमवन्तमुपागम्य भार्याभ्यां सहितस्तदा ॥ 70.29 ॥

tāṃs tu sa pratiyudhyan vai yuddhe rājā pravāsitaḥ | himavantam upāgamya bhāryābhyāṃ sahitas tadā ||

While fighting against them, King Asita was defeated in that war and driven into exile, and he then went to the Himalayas together with his two wives.

Shloka 30 (bala.70.30)

असितोऽल्पबलो राजा कालधर्ममुपेयिवान् । द्वे चास्य भार्ये गर्भिण्यौ बभूवतुरिति श्रुतम् ॥ 70.30 ॥

asito alpabalo rājā kāladharmam upeyivān | dve ca asya bhārye garbhiṇyau babhūvatur iti śrutam ||

King Asita, now bereft of strength, met his end there; and it is heard that his two wives were, at that time, both with child.

Shloka 31 (bala.70.31)

एका गर्भविनाशार्थं सपत्न्यै सगरं ददौ । ततः शैलवरे रम्ये बभूवाभिरतो मुनिः ॥ 70.31 ॥

ekā garbhavināśārthaṃ sapatnyai sagaraṃ dadau | tataḥ śailavare ramye babhūva abhirato muniḥ ||

One of the two wives, wishing to destroy the other's unborn child, gave her poison. Now there dwelt at that time, upon a beautiful and excellent mountain that he delighted in, a certain sage—

Shloka 32 (bala.70.32)

भार्गवश्च्यवनो नाम हिमवंतमुपाश्रितः । तत्र चैका महाभागा भार्गवं देववर्चसम् ॥ 70.32 ॥

bhārgavaś cyavano nāma himavantam upāśritaḥ | tatra ca ekā mahābhāgā bhārgavaṃ devavarcasam ||

—that sage of Bhrigu's line, named Chyavana, who had taken shelter upon the Himalayas. There, one of the two queens, a most fortunate lady—

Shloka 33 (bala.70.33)

ववन्दे पद्मपत्राक्षी कांक्षन्ती सुतमुत्तमम् । तमृषिं साभ्युपागम्य कालिन्दी चाभ्यवादयत् ॥ 70.33 ॥

vavande padmapatrākṣī kāṅkṣantī sutam uttamam | tam ṛṣiṃ sā abhyupāgamya kālindī ca abhyavādayat ||

—the lotus-eyed queen, desiring an excellent son, reverenced him. And Kalindi too, drawing near to that sage, paid him homage.

Shloka 34 (bala.70.34)

स तामभ्यवदद्विप्रः पुत्रेप्सुं पुत्रजन्मनि । तव कुक्षौ महाभागे सुपुत्रः सुमहाबलः ॥ 70.34 ॥

sa tām abhyavadad vipraḥ putrepsuṃ putrajanmani | tava kukṣau mahābhāge suputraḥ sumahābalaḥ ||

That brahmin sage then spoke, of the birth of a son, to her who longed for one: "O most fortunate lady, in your womb there is an excellent and mighty son—"

Shloka 35 (bala.70.35)

महावीर्यो महातेजा अचिरात् संजनिष्यति । गरेण सहितः श्रीमान् मा शुचः कमलेक्षणे ॥ 70.35 ॥

mahāvīryo mahātejā acirāt saṃjaniṣyati | gareṇa sahitaḥ śrīmān mā śucaḥ kamalekṣaṇe ||

—of great valour and great splendour, who will soon be born; that illustrious one will be born together with the poison itself, yet do not grieve, O lotus-eyed one."

Shloka 36 (bala.70.36)

च्यवनं च नमस्कृत्य राजपुत्री पतिव्रता । पत्या विरहिता तस्मात् पुत्रं देवी व्यजायत ॥ 70.36 ॥

cyavanaṃ ca namaskṛtya rājaputrī pativratā | patyā virahitā tasmāt putraṃ devī vyajāyata ||

Having paid homage to Chyavana, that devoted princess, though bereft of her husband, gave birth, by his blessing, to a son.

Shloka 37 (bala.70.37)

सपत्न्या तु गरस्तस्यै दत्तो गर्भजिघांसया । सह तेन गरेणैव संजातः सगरोऽभवत् ॥ 70.37 ॥

sapatnyā tu garas tasyai datto garbhajighāṃsayā | saha tena gareṇa eva saṃjātaḥ sagaro abhavat ||

Because he was born together with that very poison which her co-wife had given her, wishing to destroy the child in her womb, he came to be called Sagara.

Shloka 38 (bala.70.38)

सगरस्यासमंजस्तु असमंजादथांशुमान् । दिलीपोंऽशुमतः पुत्रो दिलीपस्य भगीरथः ॥ 70.38 ॥

sagarasya asamañjas tu asamañjād atha aṃśumān | dilīpo aṃśumataḥ putro dilīpasya bhagīrathaḥ ||

From Sagara was born Asamanja, and from Asamanja, Amshuman; Dilipa was Amshuman's son, and Bhagiratha was Dilipa's son.

Shloka 39 (bala.70.39)

भगीरथात्ककुत्स्थश्च ककुत्स्थस्य रघुस्तथा । रघोस्तु पुत्रस्तेजस्वी प्रवृद्धः पुरुषादकः ॥ 70.39 ॥

bhagīrathāt kakutsthaś ca kakutsthasya raghus tathā | raghos tu putras tejasvī pravṛddhaḥ puruṣādakaḥ ||

From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, and from Kakutstha, Raghu; and Raghu's son was the resplendent Pravriddha, who became an eater of human flesh.

Shloka 40 (bala.70.40)

कल्माषपादो ह्यभवत्तस्माज्जातस्तु शङ्खणः । सुदर्शनः शंखणस्य अग्निवर्णः सुदर्शनात् ॥ 70.40 ॥

kalmāṣapādo hy abhavat tasmāj jātas tu śaṅkhaṇaḥ | sudarśanaḥ śaṅkhaṇasya agnivarṇaḥ sudarśanāt ||

He indeed became known as Kalmashapada, and from him was born Shankhana; Sudarshana was Shankhana's son, and from Sudarshana came Agnivarna.

Shloka 41 (bala.70.41)

शीघ्रगस्त्वग्निवर्णस्य शीघ्रगस्य मरुः सुतः । मरोः प्रशुश्रुकस्त्वासीदंबरीषः प्रशुश्रुकात् ॥ 70.41 ॥

śīghragas tv agnivarṇasya śīghragasya maruḥ sutaḥ | maroḥ praśuśrukas tv āsīd ambarīṣaḥ praśuśrukāt ||

Agnivarna's son was Shighraga, and Shighraga's son was Maru; from Maru came Prashushruka, and from Prashushruka, Ambarisha.

Shloka 42 (bala.70.42)

अंबरीषस्य पुत्रोऽभून्नहुषश्च महीपतिः । नहुषस्य ययातिस्तु नाभागस्तु ययातिजः ॥ 70.42 ॥

ambarīṣasya putro abhūn nahuṣaś ca mahīpatiḥ | nahuṣasya yayātis tu nābhāgas tu yayātijaḥ ||

Ambarisha's son was the lord of the earth, Nahusha; Nahusha's son was Yayati, and from Yayati was born Nabhaga.

Shloka 43 (bala.70.43)

नाभागस्य बभूवाजः अजाद्दशरथोऽभवत् । अस्माद्दशरथाज्जातौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 70.43 ॥

nābhāgasya babhūva ajaḥ ajād daśaratho abhavat | asmād daśarathāj jātau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau ||

Nabhaga's son was Aja, and from Aja came Dasharatha; and from this very Dasharatha were born the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana.

Shloka 44 (bala.70.44)

आदिवंशविशुद्धानां राज्ञां परमधर्मिणाम् । इक्ष्वाकुकुलजातानां वीराणां सत्यवादिनाम् ॥ 70.44 ॥

ādivaṃśaviśuddhānāṃ rājñāṃ paramadharmiṇām | ikṣvākukulajātānāṃ vīrāṇāṃ satyavādinām ||

"Of these kings, of a lineage pure from its very origin, most righteous, born in the family of Ikshvaku, heroic and truthful—"

Shloka 45 (bala.70.45)

रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे त्वत्सुते वरये नृप । सदृशाभ्यां नरश्रेष्ठ सदृशे दातुमर्हसि ॥ 70.45 ॥

rāmalakṣmaṇayor arthe tvat sute varaye nṛpa | sadṛśābhyāṃ naraśreṣṭha sadṛśe dātum arhasi ||

—for the sake of Rama and Lakshmana, O king, I ask for your two daughters; O foremost of men, it is fitting that you give your daughters, equal in worth, to this equally worthy pair."