Kings of Tretā Yuga
In the Kṛtayuga, fifteen warriors were born from a divine gem (cintāmaṇi). The Varāha Mahā Purāṇa says that in the Tretāyuga they were born again as well-known kings. Chapter 36 names them and tells what became of them.
The rebirths
| Gem-warrior or Kṛtayuga king | Tretāyuga name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Suprabhā (Prajāpāla) | Mahāmanu | |
| Dīptateja | Śaṃtu (also spelled Śāntu) | |
| Suraśmi | Śaśakarṇa | |
| Śubhadarśana | Pāñcāla | Became king of the Pāñcāla country |
| Sukānti | Suśānti | Born in the Aṅga dynasty |
| Sundara | Mucukunda | |
| Sudyumna | Tura | |
| Sumaṇu | Somadatta | |
| Śubha | Saṃvaraṇa | |
| Suśīla | Vasudāna | |
| Sukhada | Asupati | |
| Śambhu | Senāpati | The commander |
| Kānta | Daśaratha | Father of Rāma. Bhagavān Vishṇu was born as his son, Rāma, through the Jyeshṭha Dvādaśī vrata (vow). |
| Soma | Janaka Mahārāja | Father of Sītā. The great philosopher-king of Mithilā. |
Notable identifications
Daśaratha
The Tretāyuga king Daśaratha was the gem-warrior Kānta in the Kṛtayuga. His birth as the father of Rāma is traced to this line. The Purāṇa also says that Daśaratha himself kept the Jyeshṭha Dvādaśī vrata on the advice of Vasishṭha. Through this the Rāma avatāra of Bhagavān Vishṇu came to be born as his son.
Janaka Mahārāja
The philosopher-king Janaka is known as the father of Sītā and for his wisdom in the Upanishads. He is named as the gem-warrior Soma born again. As a gem-warrior, Soma had fought the asura Vipracitti in the great battle at Naimiśa. His rebirth as Janaka joins the line of warriors to the tradition of wisdom and dharma.
Their shared end (Chapter 36)
“O King! All these kings, born in the Tretāyuga with great power, after enjoying the pleasures of this earth and performing many yajñas, will all reach svarga.”
The gem-warrior kings, in both the Kṛtayuga and the Tretāyuga, are shown as one royal line (paramparā) that came from the gem given by Bhagavān Vishṇu. All of them in the end reach liberation.
The thread from the gem to the Rāmāyaṇa
The Varāha Purāṇa draws one thread through the account.
- Bhagavān Vishṇu gives the gem to the ṛshi Gauramukha.
- The gem produces fifteen warriors to fight King Durjaya’s asuras.
- Bhagavān Vishṇu declares: “These fifteen will be Kṛtayuga kings.”
- In the Tretāyuga they are born again. Among them are Daśaratha and Janaka.
- Daśaratha’s Dvādaśī vrata causes Rāma, who is Bhagavān Vishṇu, to be born as his son.
- King Prajāpāla, the chief figure of Chapters 17 to 36, learns all of Mahātapa’s teachings. At last he merges into Govinda at Bṛndāvana.
Sources
- Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 36