Taksha, Son of Bharata

Taksha is the second son of Bharata, the son of Daśaratha, and of Māṇḍavī. He was one of eight royal princes of Ayodhyā born in the time of Rāma-rājya, the reign of Bhagavān Rāma. Bharata won the northwestern lands from the gandharva king Śailūsha and built the city of Takshaśilā there. It is named after Taksha and later became one of the greatest centres of Vedic learning in Bhāratavarsha. Taksha grew up in Ayodhyā with his elder brother Pushkara and six cousins. He had his upanayana (sacred thread rite), finished his Vedic study and went on the great tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) through Bhāratavarsha.

Birth and childhood

Taksha was born the second son of Bharata and Māṇḍavī during the years of Rāma-rājya. His birth was celebrated as grandly as the other royal births, with divine music and showers of flowers. Bhagavān Rāma arranged festivals along the royal roads of Ayodhyā. Vasishṭha performed the jātakarma (birth rite) and the nāmakaraṇa (naming rite).

Taksha grew up in the palace with the seven other princes: his elder brother Pushkara; Kuśa and Lava, sons of Rāma and Sītā; Aṅgada and Citraketu, sons of Lakshmaṇa; and Subāhu and Yūpaketu, sons of Śatrughna.

Upanayana and Vedic study

Vasishṭha performed Taksha’s upanayana in due time with royal celebration. Taksha studied the Veda at Vasishṭha’s feet with all eight princes. After that he took part in the great tīrtha-yātrā to all the sacred places of Bhāratavarsha.

Takshaśilā

Bharata founded the city of Takshaśilā in the northwestern lands after his victory over the gandharva Śailūsha, and it is named for Taksha. The Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa records that Bharata founded Takshaśilā for his son Taksha. It later became one of the best-known centres of learning in Bhāratavarsha.

Marriages

At the svayaṃvara (the choosing of a husband by the bride) of Sumatī at Vaṭapura, Taksha was among those presented. Sumatī chose Lava instead.

Twelve gandharva and nāga daughters were freed from the captivity of Jaladevi at the Pañcappa lake. Vasishṭha Maharshi then gave two of these brides to Taksha:

  • Kālikā, a nāgakanyā (a daughter of the nāgas), married at Ayodhyā at a muhūrta (auspicious time) in the bright half (śukla paksha) of Mārgaśīrsha
  • Capalā, a gandharva princess, married at Ayodhyā at a muhūrta in Phālguṇa

In the account of his descendants, each of the two wives bore Taksha eight sons and one daughter.

Sources

  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Janma Kāṇḍa, Chapter 9
  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 3, 6–7, 9
  • Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa