Chapter 9 - Genealogy of Ancient Kṣatriyas

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

1-2. Āyu had five sons who were mighty heroes born of the daughter of Svarbhānu named Prabhā. They became kings. Nahuṣa was the eldest among them. Vṛddhaśarmā came next. The rest—Rambha, Raji and Anenas became famous in the three worlds.

3. Raji begot five hundred sons. This group of Kṣatriya princes is known as Rājeya.They generated fear even in the mind of Indra.

4. When a battle between Devas and Asuras, destined to be tremendously terrible, was imminent, both went to Brahmā and spoke to him:

Devas and Asuras said:

5. O lord of living beings, who will be victorious in the battle between us? We wish to hear precisely.

Brahmā said:

6-7. There is no doubt that only those will conquer the three worlds, on whose behalf lord Raji takes up arms and fights in the battle. Where there is Raji there is courage; where there is courage there is glory. Where there is glory and courage there is righteousness and victory.

8. Thus advised by Lord Brahmā Devas and Asuras became delighted. Desirous of victory and hopeful of winning him over they approached Raji the leader of the people.

9. Indeed, king Raji born of Prabhā, and the grandson of Svarbhānu, was excessively resplendent. He was destined to perpetuate the lunar race.

10. Delighted in their minds, Devas and Asuras said to Raji—“Please take up your excellent bow for our victory”.

11. Thereupon, conversant with the purpose of Devas and Asuras, Raji said thus, with an eye on his own interest and revealing his glory.

Raji said:

12. “O Indra, I shall fight in the battle if after conquering the asuras through my valour I can duly become Indra.

13. At the outset O brahmins, Devas who were delighted in their minds assented to the proposal. “O king, this desire of your can be realised as you wish”.

14. On hearing the words of Devas king Raji asked the leaders of Asuras too, in the same manner as he had asked Devas.

15. The Asuras full of arrogance and realising their own interest, proudly spoke to the monarch thus.

Asuras said:

16-21. “Our īndra is Prahrāda on whose behalf we fight and conquer. O excellent king, you join us shining with glory in this battle.”

Even as the king was about to say “so be it” he was urged by Devas, “You will certainly become Indra after conquering Asuras”. The king who was thus urged, killed those Asuras who could not be slain by the thunderbolt-armed Indra. After killing all Asuras lord Raji of great glory and self-control redeemed the lost glory of Devas. Then, in the company of Devas, Indra said to Raji of great valour—“I am Rajiputra(son of Raji), O dear one, you are Indra of all Devas. I, Indra, am your son, I shall attain fame through your activities.

On hearing these words of Indra Raji was deceived by his Māyā.

22-25. The delighted king said to Indra—“So be it.”

When that saintly king passed away Raji’s sons seized their legacy, the kingdom of heaven from Indra. The five hundred sons attacked the abode of Indra, the heavenly world Triviṣṭapa.^[1]

When they became excessively deluded, passionately mad, irreligious and batters of the brahmins, their power and valour were destroyed. Then Indra regained his prosperity and the •excellent abode after killing the sons of Raji who were slaves of lust and wrath.

26. He who listens to this narrative of dethronement and re-establishment of Indra and he who retains it in memory will never fall to wretchedness.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

27. Rambha was issueless. I shall mention the line of Anenas. King Pratikṣatra of great fame was the son of Anenas.

28. Pratikṣatra’s son Sṛñjaya was very famous. Jaya was Sṛñjaya’s son and Vijaya was his son.

29. Kṛti was the son of Vijaya and his son was Haryatvata. Haryatvata’s son Sahadeva was a valorous king.

30. Sahadeva’s son the pious Nadīna was a famous king. Nadīna’s son was Jayatsena and Jayatsena’s son was Saṃkṛti.

31. Saṃkṛti’s son was Kṣatravṛddha. He was righteous-souled and he earned great fame. The line of Anenas has been recounted. Now hear Kṣatravṛddha’s lineage.

32. Kṣatravṛaddha’s son was Śunahotra of great fame Śunahotra had three successors who were extremely righteous.

33-34. They were Kāśya, Śalla and Gṛtsamada. Gṛtsa-mada’s son was Śunaka. Śaunakas (sons of Śunaka) were brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras. Ārṣṭiṣeṇa was the son of Śalla and his son was Kaśyapa.

35-37. Kaśyapa’s son was Dīrghatapas who ruled over Kāśi. Dhanvan was the son of Dīrghatapas and Dhanvantari was his son. At the conclusion of a great penance when the king had become old, lord Dhanvantari was born. He was the great ruler of Kāśi and was an expert physician. He could cure all ailments.

38. He learnt medical science from sage Bharadvāja He divided therepeutic processes into eight sections and taught them to his disciples.

39. Dhanvantari’s son was Ketumān. The heroic Bhīmaratha was the son of Ketumān.

40. Bhīmaratha’s son was Divodāsa. Divodāsa was a righteous monarch who became the ruler of Vārāṇasī.

41-42. At this time, O brahmins, a Rākṣasa named Kṣemaka attacked Vārāṇasī and rendered it desolate. It had been cursed by Nikumbha that it would remain void and desolate for a thousand years.

43. As soon as it had been cursed king Divodāsa founded a beautiful city at the extremity of his realm on the banks of Gomatī.

44-48. Formerly, Vārāṇasī belonged to Bhadraśreṇya. It was after killing one hundred sons of Bhadraśreṇya who were excellent bowmen, that king Divodāsa occupied the territory. By that powerful king the realm of Bhadraśreṇya was seized. Bhadraśreṇya had a son Durdama who later became famous. As he was a child, Divodāsa let him alone out of mercy. Then the king seized the hereditary realm of Haihaya.

The legacy of his forefathers that had been forcefully taken away by Divodāsa was retaken by Durdama the son of Bhadraśreṇya. O blessed ones, thus revenge was taken by that king of good spiritual splendour.

49. The heroic Pratardana was born of Dṛṣadvatī and Divodāsa. That son even as a boy mightly beat back the enemy.

50. Pratardana had two sons: Vatsa and Bharga. Vatsa’s son was Śatrujit and his son was Ṛtadhvaja.

51. His son was Alarka. He was favourably disposed to the brahmins and truthful in speech. A verse has been sung by the veterans about Alarka the saintly monarch.

52. He was a handsome youth. He ruled for sixty-six thousand years. He upheld his family by his mighty prowess.

53. By the grace of Lopāmudrā he attained the maximum longevity. Endowed with youth and beauty he ruled over a very extensive kingdom.

54. When the period of curse came to an end the mighty king killed the Rākṣasā Kṣemaka and re-occupied the beautiful city of Vārāṇasī.

55. Sannati’s successor was a righteous king Sunītha. Sunītha’s successor Kṣema gained good fame and glory.

56. Kṣema’s son was Ketumān and Suketu was his son. We know from traditional records that Dharmaketu was the son of Suketu.

57. Dharmaketu’s successor was the mighty warrior Satyaketu. Satyaketu’s son was king Vibhu.

58. Ānarta was Vibhu’s son and Sukumāra was his son. Sukumāra’s son Dhṛṣṭaketu was extremely virtuous.

59. The successor of Dhṛṣṭaketu was king Veṇuhotra. Veṇuhotra’s son was king Bharga.

60. Vatsabhūmi was the son of Vatsa and Bhargabhūmi the son of Bharga. These were the descendants of Aṅgiras the scions of the family of Bhṛgu.

61. They were brahmins, Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas, thousands in number and endowed with brilliance. These Kāśyapas (rulers of Kāśi) have been recounted. Understand the descendants of Nahuṣa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Triviṣṭapa—Abode of Indra.