Chapter 17 - The Lunar Dynasty—The Descendants of Āyu, the Son of Purūravas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Introductory:

This chapter gives the genealogy of Purūravas—especially of the minor branches from Āyu, the son of Purūravas. The history of the descendants of the following four sons of Ȧyu viz. Kṣattravṛddha, Rambha, Raji and Anenas is given in this chapter. The history of the main line from Nahuṣa is detailed in the following chapters.

[Purūravas—Ūrvaśī]; [Āyu—others already described]; [Nahuṣa (In the next chapter)] [Kṣattravṛddha, Suhotra] [Raji, 500 sons] [Rambha, Rabhasa, Akriya] [Anenas, Śuddha, Śuci, Trikakud, Śāntaraya] [Kāśya (1)] [Kuśa (2)] [Gṛtsamada (3)]

(1) Kāśya—>Kāśi—>Rāṣṭra—>Dīrghatamas—>Dhanvantari—>Ketumān—>Bhīmaratha—> Divodāsa—> Pratardana—> Alarka—> Santati—> Sunītha—>Suketana—>Dharmaketu—>Satyaketu—>Dhrṣṭaketu—>Sukumāra—> Vītihotra—>Bharga—>Bhārgabhūmi.

(2) Kuśa—>Prati (Kṣatra)—>Sañjaya—>Jaya—> Kṛta—> Haryaśva—>Sahadeva—>Jaya (Jayasena)—> Saṅkṛti—>Jaya—>Kṣātradharmā [Kṣatradharmā?].

(3) Gṛtsamada—>Śunaka—>Śaunaka.

Śrī Śuka said:

1-3. Āyu who was the son of Purūravas, had the following (five) sons—Nahuṣa, Kṣattravṛddha, the valiant Raji, Rambha and Anenas. Now, Oh emperor, listen to the genealogy of Kṣattravṛddha: He had a son Suhotra, who had three sons—Kāśya, Kuśa and Gṛtsamada. From Gṛtsamada was born Śunaka whose son sage Śaunaka was the most prominent authority on the Ṛgveda (among its followers).

4. Kāśya begot Kāśī, whose son Rāṣṭra was the father of Dīrghatamas. Dhanvantari, the founder of the science of Medicine (Āyurveda) was the son of Dīrghatamas.

5. He was a ray (amśa) of Lord Vāsudeva, the receiver of offerings in sacrifices. His son was Ketumān who gave birth to Bhīmaratha.

6. From him (Bhīmaratha) was born Divodāsa whose son Dyuman was also remembered as Pratardana. He is also called Śatrujit, Vatsa and Ṛtadhvaja. He is celebrated as Kuvalayāśva as well. Of him were born Alarka and others.

7. No king other than Alarka enjoyed (the sovereignty over) this earth for sixty-six thousand years and still preserved his youthfulness (throughout this period).

8. To Alarka was born Santati whose son was Sunītha. From Sunītha sprang up Suketana whose son was Dharmaketu; of him was born Satyaketu.

9. Satyaketu’s son was Dhṛṣṭaketu of whom was born Sukumāra, the lord of the earth; his son was Vītihotra whose son was Bharga; his son Bhārgabhūmi became a king.

10. The above-mentioned kings are the descendants of Kāśi in the lineage of Kṣattravṛddha.

(Now the genealogy of Rambha, the fourth son of Āyu). The son of Rambha was Rabhasa whose son was Gambhīra from whom was born Akriya.

11. Through Akriya’s queen started the line of Brāhmaṇas. Now listen to the line of Anenas (the fifth son of Āyu). Aṇenas’ son was Śuddha of whom was born Śuci. His son was Trikakud, also known as Dharmasārathi.

12. Of him was born Śānta-rayas who being selfcontrolled (or knower of the Soul) had almost accomplished his objective (viz. Final beatitude and was not interested in continuing his race). Raji (the third son of Āyu) had five hundred sons, endowed with immense prowess.

13-16. Entreated by gods, Raji slaughtered the demons and restored the celestial kingdom to Indra. But Indra being afraid of Prahlāda and others, again returned the kingdom of heaven to Raji, clasped his feet and placed himself under Raji’s protection (as his son). When the father (Raji) died, his sons, even though solicited (by Indra), refused to return the celestial kingdom to him. (On the contrary) they appropriated to themselves shares oblated in sacrifice (for Indra). Bṛhaspati, then offered oblations to fire (with malevolent purpose against the sons of Raji and made them stray from the path of religion) and Indra slew them one and all as they swerved from the path (of righteousness) and not a single son (of Raji) survived.

From Kuśa. the grandson of Kṣattravṛddha, was born Prati, of whom sprang up Sañjaya whose son was Jaya.

17. Jaya’s son was Kṛta, of whom was born the king Haryavana. His son was Sahadeva, who begot Hīna, whose son was Jayasena.

18. Jayasena’s son was Saṅkṛti whose son Jaya, who, himself a great (chariot-) warrior, followed religiously ordainedpath of Kṣattriyas. The kings belonging to the line of Kṣattravṛddha have been described. Now listen to the genealogy of Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This episode is confirmed in the Vāyu P. 92.76-99; Matsya P. 24. 34-48.