Story of Jyāmagha

A King born in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku. (Harivaṃśa, Chapter 36).

Five sons, who were equal to gods, named Sahasrada, Payoda, Kroṣṭā, Nīla and Ājika were born to Yadu of the family of Ikṣvāku. Several noble persons were born in the family of Kroṣṭā. A noble and broadminded son named Vṛjinīvān was born to Kroṣṭā. Śvāhi was born to Vṛjinīvān, Ruśeku to Śvāhi, Citraratha to Ruśeku and Śaśabindu to Citraratha. Thousand sons were born to Śaśabindu who was an emperor. Important among those thousand who were blessed with radiance, fame, wealth and beauty, were Pṛthuśravas, Pṛthuyaśas, Pṛthutejas, Pṛthubhava, Pṛthukīrti and Pṛthumati. Uśanas was the son of Pṛthuśravas, Śineyu was the son of Uśanas and Rukmakavaca the son of Śineyu. Rukmakavaca killed all the archers and conquered the countries and performing aśvamedha (horse sacrifice) gave away all the countries he conquered, as gift to Brāhmaṇas. Five sons were born to Rukmakavaca. Jyāmagha was one of them. His brothers were Rukmeṣu, Pṛthurukma, Parigha and Hari. Of them Parigha and Hari were made Kings of foreign countries. Rukmeṣu was given the country ruled by his father. Pṛthurukma served Rukmeṣu. They drove Jyāmagha away from the country.

Jyāmagha went to the forest and erected a hermitage for him. Then according to the advice of a Brahmin, he who was an old man took bow and arrow and got into a chariot flying a flag and went to the bank of the river Narmadā. He had neither wealth nor attendants. He stayed on the mountain Ṛkṣavān eating fruits and roots. His wife Śaibyā also had become old. They had no children. Still Jyāmagha did not marry anybody else. Once Jyāmagha came out victorious in a fight in which he got a girl. Jyāmagha took the girl to his wife and told her, "This girl shall be the wife of your son." She asked him how that could be when she had no son. He said, "She will become the wife of the son who is going to be born to you." As a result of severe penance a son named Vidarbha was born to Śaibyā. The damsel who became the wife of Vidarbha gave birth to two sons named Kratha and Kaiśika. (Padma Purāṇa, Chapter 13).