Canto Nine / CHAPTER TWELVE

The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord Rāmacandra

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The son of Rāmacandra was Kuśa, the son of Kuśa was Atithi, the son of Atithi was Nishadha, and the son of Nishadha was Nabha. The son of Nabha was Pundarīka, and from Pundarīka came a son named Kshemadhanvā.

The son of Kshemadhanvā was Devānīka, Devānīka’s son was Anīha, Anīha’s son was Pāriyātra, and Pāriyātra’s son was Balasthala. The son of Balasthala was Vajranābha, who was said to have been born from the effulgence of the sun-god.

The son of Vajranābha was Sagana, and his son was Vidhriti. The son of Vidhriti was Hiranyanābha, who became a disciple of Jaimini and became a great ācārya of mystic yoga. It is from Hiranyanābha that the great saint Yājñavalkya learned the highly elevated system of mystic yoga known as ādhyātma-yoga, which can loosen the knots of material attachment in the heart.

The son of Hiranyanābha was Pushpa, and the son of Pushpa was Dhruvasandhi. The son of Dhruvasandhi was Sudarśana, whose son was Agnivarna. The son of Agnivarna was named Śīghra, and his son was Maru.

Having achieved perfection in the power of mystic yoga, Maru still lives in a place known as Kalāpa-grāma. At the end of Kali-yuga, he will revive the lost Sūrya dynasty by begetting a son.

From Maru was born a son named Prasuśruta, from Prasuśruta came Sandhi, from Sandhi came Amarshana, and from Amarshana a son named Mahasvān. From Mahasvān, Viśvabāhu took his birth.

From Viśvabāhu came a son named Prasenajit, from Prasenajit came Takshaka, and from Takshaka came Brihadbala, who was killed in a fight by your father.

All these kings in the dynasty of Ikshvāku have passed away. Now please listen as I describe the kings who will be born in the future. From Brihadbala will come Brihadrana.

The son of Brihadrana will be Ūrukriya, who will have a son named Vatsavriddha. Vatsavriddha will have a son named Prativyoma, and Prativyoma will have a son named Bhānu, from whom Divāka, a great commander of soldiers, will take birth.

Thereafter, from Divāka will come a son named Sahadeva, and from Sahadeva a great hero named Brihadaśva. From Brihadaśva will come Bhānumān, and from Bhānumān will come Pratīkāśva. The son of Pratīkāśva will be Supratīka.

Thereafter, from Supratīka will come Marudeva; from Marudeva, Sunakshatra; from Sunakshatra, Pushkara; and from Pushkara, Antariksha. The son of Antariksha will be Sutapā, and his son will be Amitrajit.

From Amitrajit will come a son named Brihadrāja, from Brihadrāja will come Barhi, and from Barhi will come Kritañjaya. The son of Kritañjaya will be known as Ranañjaya, and from him will come a son named Sañjaya.

From Sañjaya will come Śākya, from Śākya will come Śuddhoda, and from Śuddhoda will come Lāngala. From Lāngala will come Prasenajit, and from Prasenajit, Kshudraka.

From Kshudraka will come Ranaka, from Ranaka will come Suratha, and from Suratha will come Sumitra, ending the dynasty. This is a description of the dynasty of Brihadbala.

The last king in the dynasty of Ikshvāku will be Sumitra; after Sumitra there will be no more sons in the dynasty of the sun-god, and thus the dynasty will end.