Dhanva (father of Dhanvantari)
Dhanva
Dhanva is a learned king of the Kāśī line of the lunar vaṃśa, the son of Dīrghatapas. He performed great tapas, and in his old age Dhanvantari was born to him: the same Dhanvantari who had arisen earlier from a portion of the devas was now born from a human portion.
His line
The Brahma Purāṇa gives the line of Kshatravṛddha, the kings of Kāśī. Kshatravṛddha’s son was Sunahotra, and one of Sunahotra’s sons was Śala. Śala’s son was Ārshṭisena, and his son was Kāśa. Kāśa’s sons were Kāśipa and Dīrghatapas, and Dīrghatapas’s son was Dhanva, a learned king.
The birth of Dhanvantari
Dhanva performed great tapas, and Dhanvantari was born to him in his old age. The Purāṇa says: “The Dhanvantari who arose earlier from a deva-aṃśa is now born from a human aṃśa.” Dhanvantari became the great king of Kāśī. He learned Āyurveda from Bharadvāja, practised medicine and removed every disease, divided that śāstra into eight parts (ashṭāṅga) and taught it to his disciples. Dhanvantari’s son was Ketumanta, and Ketumanta’s son was Bhīmaratha, whose son was Divodāsa, the dhārmika king of Kāśī.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 11
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 11