Part 5: Birth of Nandana and Datta

Now in this southern half of Bharata in Jambūdvīpa there is a city Vārāṇasī sought by the Gaṅgā like a friend. Its king was Agnisiṃha of the Ikṣvāku family, like a fire in brilliance, like a lion in strength. The haṃsa of his glory did not cease flying around in the world constantly with constancy and energy like wings. After seeing the bow bent by him with ease on the battle-field, hostile kings bowed as if bearing his command.^[1] Tied to the very strong pillar of his arm, like a cow-elephant, by his firm virtues, Śrī became motionless.

He had two wives, Jayantī and Śeṣavatī, surpassing all the women of the world in beauty. The god, King Vasundhara, fell from the fifth heaven and descended into the womb of the chief-queen Jayantī. At the proper time a son, whose incarnation as a Rāma had been indicated by four dreams, named Nandana, a joy to the world, was borne by her.

Lalita fell from Saudharma and became the son of Śeṣavatī, whose incarnation as a Kṛṣṇa had been indicated by seven dreams, named Datta. The two of them, twenty-six bows tall, fair and dark like Kṣīroda and Kāloda,^[2] grew to manhood. Wearing dark blue and yellow garments, with palm tree- and garuḍa-banners, they acted as if they were the same age, though they were elder, and younger.