Chapter 5 - Review of the Solar Race

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

1-2. Vaivasvata Manu had nine sons, all equal to him in every respect. They were Ikṣvāku, Nabhaga, Dhṛṣṭa, Śaryāti, Nariṣyanta, Prāṃśu, Riṣṭa, Karūṣa and Pṛṣadhra. O excellent sages, these were the nine sons.

3-7. O brahmins, before the birth of these sons, Prajāpati Manu of great intellect had been desirous of begetting sons and so performed the sacrifice with Mitra and Varuṇa as deities. In the course of that sacrifice, O excellent brahmins, Manu poured libation in the part pertaining to Mitra and Varuṇa. It is said in the Vedas that Ilā was born therefrom. She was clad in divine garments and bedecked in divine ornaments. She had a divine physical form. Manu the holder of the sceptre called her Ilā, and said—“O gentle lady, follow me”. Ilā spoke these words in reply to Prajāpati who was desirous of a son and who was righteous.

Ilā said:

8. “O foremost among the eloquent, I am born in the portion pertaining to Mitra and Varuṇa. I shall go to them. Do not violate my Dharma.”

9. After saying this to lord Manu and approaching Mitra and Varuṇa, Ilā the lady of beautiful hips spoke to Mitra and Varuṇa with palms joined in reverence.

10. “O Devas, I am born in the portion pertaining to you. What shall I do unto you. I had been asked by Manu to follow him.”

11. O excellent brahmins, Mitra and Varuṇa spoke thus to the chaste lady Ilā who was devoted to piety and who had spoken the truth.

12-16. “O fair-complexioned lady of beautiful hips, we are delighted by your piety, self-control, humility and truthfulness. O highly blessed lady, you will become famous as our daughter. You alone will turn out to be the son of Manu perpetuating his line. You will become famous in the three worlds well known as Sudyumna, favourite of the universe, practising piety and making the race of Manu flourish”.

After hearing this, she returned. While she was returning from the presence of her father, Budha availed himself of the opportunity and invited her for sexual dalliance. O brahmins, Purūravas was born to her by her union with Budha, son of Soma.

17. After giving birth to Purūravas Ilā became Sudyumna. He got three sons who were extremely virtuous.

18-23. O brahmins, they were Utkala, Gaya and Vinatāśva. O brahmins, the Utkala land was given to Utkala^[1], Vinatāśva had his land in the western quarter, and O leading sages, Gaya had the land Gayā^[2] in the eastern region where Manu suppressed the challenging foes. He divided the Earth into ten provinces to be ruled over by them. Among them the eldest son obtained the Middle Country. In view of his being a daughter as well, Sudyumna did not get this realm, but at the instance of Sage Vasiṣṭha he got a foothold in Pratiṣṭhāna^[3].

Dhṛṣṇu, Ambarīṣa and Daṇḍaka got equal shares. The excellent Daṇḍaka forest was named after Daṇḍaka. Merely on entering this forest a man becomes liberated from his sins. O brahmins, after begetting sons Aila Sudyumna went to heaven.

O excellent brahmins, the kingdom of the righteous king Sudyumna was fairly established. After attaining the kingdom, the king of great fame gave it to Purūravas. O excellent sages, he was a son of Manu with the characteristics of a woman and a man. He ruled over the kingdom as Ilā as well Sudyumna. He was well renowned.

24. The Śakas were the sons of Nariṣyanta. Ambarīṣa the most excellent of kings, was the son of Nabhaga, O brahmins.

25. Dhāṛṣṭakas became very proud of their might to fight in battles. The residents of Kārūṣa^[4] the land of Karūṣa were Kṣatriyas irrepressible in war.

26. The sons of Nabhaga and Dhṛṣṭa were originally Kṣatriyas who later on became Vaiśyas.^[5] Aṃśu had an only son who is known as Prajāpati.

27-31. Nariṣyanta’s son was king Yama who held the staff of chastisement. Śaryāti had twins as children. The son was known as Ānarta. The daughter was known as Sukanyā who became the wife of Cyavana. Raivata was the son of Raiva(?). His eldest son Kakudmī was very righteous. He ruled in the city of Kuśasthalī.^[6] Accompanied by his daughter he approached Brahmā and listened to Gandharva music for the duration of a Muhūrta of the Lord. O brahmins, actually it comprised of many Yugas of the mortals. He returned to his city which was peopled by the Yādavas.

32. It had been converted into a city named Dvāravatī. It looked very beautiful with many gateways. It was protected by the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas whose leader was Vāsudeva.

33-34. O excellent brahmins, Raivata realized the true nature of existence. He gave his daughter Revatī of good holy rites to Balarāma in marriage and himself went to the peak of Mount Meru. He stayed there and performed penance. Balarāma the righteous, sported about in the company of Revatī and was very happy.

The sages said:

35-36. O highly intelligent one, how is it that even after the lapse of many Yugas, old age did not afflict Revatī or Raivata Kakudmin? How was the line of Śaryāti perpetuated on earth after he had gone to Meru. We wish to hear everything precisely.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

37-41. O excellent sages, O sinless ones, neither old age nor hunger nor thirst nor death nor the circle of seasons has any adverse influence in the Brahmaloka at any time. When Raivata Kakudmin departed for the heavenly world, O brahmins, the city of Kuśasthalī was attacked and destroyed by Puṇyajanas^[7] and Rākṣasas. That righteous noble king had a hundred brothers. On being attacked and massacred by the Rākṣasas they fled in all directions. O excellent brahmins, after fleeing in all directions they established their extensively large line in different places. O excellent sages, their Kṣatriya groups are well-reputed as Śaryātas. They were endowed with good qualities and became famous in all quarters. They had entered dense forests all round. They were endowed with great prowess.

42-46. The two sons of Nabhaga and Riṣṭa were originally Vaiśyas who later became brahmins. The Kārūṣas (the Kṣatriya sons of Karūṣa) were irrepressible in battles. O excellent brahmins, Pṛṣadhra inflicted violent injuries on the cow of his preceptor and due to the curse of his preceptor he attained the state of a Śūdra. Thus, O excellent sages, the nine sons of Vaivasvata Manu have been recounted. O brahmins, it was when Manu sneezed that his son Ikṣvāku was born. Ikṣvāku had a hundred sons who distributed monetary gifts in plenty. Vikukṣi was the eldest among them and he was endowed with great valour. He was a great lord exceptionally conversant with religious virtues. He became the lord of Ayodhyā^[8] He had five hundred sons. The eldest among them was Śakuni.

47-50. They were very powerful and the sole protectors of the Northern region. O excellent brahmins, there were other administrations in the Southern region numbering fifty-eight. Śaśāda was the leader of all these. On the Aṣṭaka day Ikṣvāku commanded Vikukṣi—“O powerful one, kill some rabbits and bring their flesh for performing Śrāddha.”^[9] O brahmins, after planning to perform the Śrāddha rite but before executing it he ate part of the meat of the rabbit which was meant for the Śrāddha. Hence, he was called Śaśāda. At the instance of Vasiṣṭha he was exiled by Ikṣvāku.

51. O brahmins, when Ikṣvāku passed away Śaśāda became the king. Śaśāda’s heir and successor was a powerful king named Kakutstha.

52. Kakutstha’s son was Anenas and Pṛthu was his son. Vīrāśva was Pṛthu’s son and Ārdra was born of him.

53. O brahmins, Yuvanāśva was Ārdra’s son and his son was Śrāvasta. Śrāvasta was the king by whom Śrāvastī^[10] was built.

54. Bṛhadaśva was the successor of King Śrāvasta; his son Kuvalāśva was a very righteous monarch.

55-56. It was he who obtained the title Dhundhumāra, the slayer of Dhundhu.

The Sages said:

O highly intelligent one, we wish to hear about the manner whereby Dhundhu was slain. We wish to hear it precisely how Kuvalāśva came to be known as Dhundhumāra.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

57. Kuvalāśva had a hundred sons. All of them were good bowmen, powerful, clever in learning and unassailable.

58. All of them were righteous. All performed sacrifices wherein they distributed plenty of money as gifts. Bṛhadaśva crowned his son Kuvalāśva in the kingdom.

59. After transferring the royal glory to his son he entered the forest. Uttaṅka, the brahminical sage, stopped him as he was about to leave.

Uttaṅka said:

60-71. It is your duty to protect your subjects O king. I am unable to perform a carefree penance; very near my hermitage there is a flat sandy waste land of desert. The sea (nearby) is filled with sand. It is known by the name of Uddālaka. There is a great Asura Dhundhu who remains hidden under the ground, beneath the sand. His body is huge. He is very powerful. He is indestructible even by Devas. He is the son of Asura Madhu. He is lying down there performing a severe penance for the destruction of the entire world. At the end of a year when he heaves a deep sigh the whole Earth shakes. A great column of dust is raised by the air he lets out when he sighs. His huge body today conceals the path of the sun. The Earth-quake lasts for a week. The column of dust is accompanied by flames, burning coal and smoke. He is extremely terrible. Hence, O dear one, I am unable even to stay in my hermitage. With a desire to do what is beneficial so the worlds, slay that huge monster. May the worlds heave a sigh of relief after he has been assassinated by you. O lord of the Earth, indeed, you alone are competent to kill him. O king, in the previous Yuga, a boon had been granted unto you by Viṣṇu. Due to this boon granted to you, you will enhance the refulgence and splendour of the person who slays that terrible great Asura of inordinate power. Indeed, this Dhundhu of great splendour cannot be slain, O king, by a person of mean splendour even after a long time, nay, not even in the course of hundreds of Yugas. His virility is immense; inaccessible even to Devas.

On being requested thus, by the noble Uttaṅka, the saintly king gave him his son Kuvalāśva for the work of killing Dhundhu.

Bṛhadaśva said:

72-73. “O saintly lord, I have already laid down my arms. Here is my son, O excellent brahmin, he will undoubtedly slay Dhundhu.”

After directing his son for slaying Dhundhu, the saintly king: went to the mountain and adopted holy rites.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

74. O brahmins, accompanied by his hundred sons and sage Uttaṅka, Kuvalāśva proceeded ahead for slaying Dhundhu.

75. At the behest of Uttaṅka and with a desire for achieving the welfare of the worlds, lord Viṣṇu permeated him with his own splendour.

76. When that invincible king proceeded ahead a loud sound arose in heaven—“This glorious and invincible king will become the slayer of Dhundhu”.

77. They showered him all round with divine scents and garlands. The celestial drums were sounded loudly.

78. Accompanied by his sons, that powerful king, the most excellent among the victorious, went to the sea and dug up the inexhaustible sandy deposit.

79-81. O brahmins, Dhundhu was ferretted out by his sons who dug the entire western portion. Even as he lay concealed by the sands he appeared to whirl up furiously all the worlds by the fire of his mouth. O leading sages, like the ocean at the rise of the moon he let out jets of water coming up in waves and foams. All the hundred sons of the king excepting three were killed by that demon.

82. Then that brilliant king of immense splendour who had resolved to kill Dhundhu approached the powerful Asura.

83-84. The king, a great Yogin, drank up the speedy current of water let out by the monster and quenched the fire with the very same water. After slaying the aquatic Asura of huge body by means of his inordinate strength the king fulfilled his mission and met Uttaṅka sage.

85. Uttaṅka granted boons unto the noble king. He granted him inexhaustible wealth and non occurrence of defeat at the hands of his enemies.

86. He granted him a perpetual interest in righteousness and everlasting stay in the celestial world. To those sons who were slain by the Asura he granted permanent abodes in heaven.

87. The eldest of those who remained is called Dṛḍhāśva and the junior princes were called Candrāśva and Kapilāśva.

88. Haryaśva is known as the son of Dṛḍhāśva, son of Dhundhumāra. Haryaśya’s son was Nikumbha who was ever devoted to Kṣatriya duties.

89. O brahmins, Saṃhatāśva son of Nikumbha was an expert in warfare. Akṛśāśva and Kṛśāśva were the sons of Saṃhatāśva.

90. His daughter Haimavatī became famous as Dṛṣadvatī. Her son Prasenajit was renowned in the three worlds.

91. Prasenajit married the chaste lady Gaurī by name. Cursed by her husband she became the river Bāhudā.^[11]

92. His son Yuvanāśva was a lord of kings. Māndhātā was Yuvanāśva’s son and he conquered the three worlds.

93. His wife Caitrarathī was the daughter of Śaśabindu. She was called Bindumatī also. She was a chaste lady and in the whole world she was unrivalled in beauty.

94. That chaste lady was the eldest sister of ten thousand brothers. O brahmins, Māndhātā procreated in her two sons.

95. They were Purukutsa who was conversant with holy rites and Mucukunda who became the king. Purukutsa’s son Trasadasyu became a monarch.

96-97. Sambhūta, his son, was born of queen Narmadā. Sambhūta’s successor was Sudhanvan, Sudhanvan’s son was Tridhanvan, suppressor of enemies. The scholarly Trayyāruṇa was the son of king Tridhanvan. His son Satyavrata was a mighty prince.

98-99. He was wicked. He put in obstacles when the Mantras were chanted in the course of a marriage. He abducted the wedded wives of other persons. Whether it was due to his childishness or lust, or delusion, or fool-hardiness or fickle-mindedness, he abducted lustfully the daughters of many citizens.

100. Calling out furiously “O disgraceful one” many times, Trayyāruṇa banished him on account of his sinful deeds.

101-102. Thus exiled he said to his father. “Where shall I go?” He asked him many times.

The father replied—“Go and stay among the Cāṇḍālas. O defiler of my family, I do not seek such a son as you.” Thus commanded he went out of the city at the instance of his father.

103-109. Vasiṣṭha the holy sage did not restrain him. O brahmins, the heroic Satyavrata, banished by his father stayed near the slums of the Cāṇḍālas. His father went away to the forest. O brahmins, on account of that sin, Indra did not rain in that land for twelve years.

Sage Viśvāmitra of great penance kept his wife in that land and performed an elaborate penance beyond the sea. His wife tied her middle son round her neck and went about offering him for sale in exchange of a hundred cows for maintaining the other sons. O brahmins, seeing the son of the great sage tied round the neck for sale, the righteous son of the king released him. Satyavrata the mighty prince sustained him for pleasing Viśvāmitra and to get his sympathy. Since he was tied round the neck he was called Gālava. The intelligent sage of severe penance was thus relieved by that heroic monarch.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Utkala (Oḍra)—modem Orissa.

[2]:

Gayā—A renowned place of pilgrimage sacred to the Pitṛs.

[3]:

Pratiṣṭhāna—A sacred place in Prayāga now called Jhusi. Once this place was ruled over by king Yayāti.

[4]:

Kārūṣa was a hilly country south of Kāśī and Vatsa between Cedi and Magadha. It comprised the hilly country of which Rewa is the centre from about the river Ken on the west as far as the confines of Behar on the east.

[5]:

This shows shat the system of caste was not rigid in those days.

[6]:

Kuśasthalī—Dvāravatī—Mod. Dvārakā.

[7]:

Puṇyajanas—According to Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Raivata, King of Kuśasthalī, born of the race of Śaryāti, went to see Brahmā. Taking advantage of his absence from the place, Puṇyajana took control over Kuśasthalī. Afraid of the demon the hundred brothers of Raivata left the country. After that Śaryāti dynasty merged with that of Haihaya.

[8]:

Ayadhyā—A city in North India which enjoyed great importance and reputation for many yean at the capital of kings of solar race. Till the time of Śrī Rāma this city maintained pomp and glory, and after that gradually it fell in decay.

[9]:

Śrāddha—The offering given to Pitṛs. According to the Purāṇas, Śrāddha is a very important ceremony. MW offers the following remarks about Śrāddha. “Śrāddha is a ceremony in honour and for the benefit of dead relations observed with great strictness at various fixed periods and on occasions of rejoicing as well as mourning by the surviving relatives. These ceremonies are performed by the daily offering of water and on stated occasions by offering Piṇḍas or balls of rice and meals to three paternal and three maternal forefathers, i.e. to father, grandfather and great grandfather”.

[10]:

Śrāvasti—Name of a city situated north of the Ganges and founded by king Śrāvasta of Ikṣvāku dynasty. It was the ancient capital of Kosal where the rich merchant Anāthapiṇḍika built for Buddha a residence in the Jetavana monastery which became his favourite retreat during the rainy season. Other authorities derive the name from Sage Sāvatta whoresided there; it has been identified by General Cunningham with the modern city Sahet Mahet, 58 miles north of Ayodhyā.

[11]:

Bāhudā: From the numerous references to this river, in the Purāṇas, it appears to have been a considerable river between the Gomatī and Gaṅgā in of near the territory of Ayodhyā, having its sources well up in the Himālayas. The only river which satisfies these conditions is the modern Rāmagaṅgā which joins the Ganges on the left, near Kanauj.