Subāhu, son of Śatrughna

Subāhu was the firstborn son of Śatrughna and Śrutakīrti. He was one of the eight royal princes of Ayodhyā who were born during the years of Rāma-rājya, the rule of Bhagavān Rāma. He was born as a twin with his younger brother Yūpaketu. After Śatrughna was installed at Mathurā (Madhurā), following the slaying of the asura Lavaṇa, Subāhu was installed there as Śatrughna’s successor.

He grew up in Ayodhyā with his seven royal cousins. He received the upanayana (the sacred thread ceremony), finished his Vedic study and went on the great tīrtha-yātrā, the journey to holy places.

He should not be confused with the rākṣasa Subāhu, who with Mārīca disturbed Viśvāmitra’s yajña at Siddhāśrama. Bhagavān Rāma slew that Subāhu with the Āgneyāstra in the Bāla Kāṇḍa.

Birth and childhood

Subāhu was born to Śatrughna and Śrutakīrti, together with his twin Yūpaketu. The Janma Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa says that Śrutakīrti gave birth to twin sons. Their births were marked with divine music and showers of flowers. Bhagavān Rāma arranged festivals in Ayodhyā. Vasiṣṭha performed the jātakarma (the birth rite) and named the children in front of the royal family. Subāhu was named as the firstborn and Yūpaketu as the second.

Subāhu grew up in the palace with the seven other royal princes:

  • Kuśa and Lava, sons of Bhagavān Rāma and Sītā
  • Aṅgada and Citraketu, sons of Lakṣmaṇa
  • Puṣkara and Takṣa, sons of Bharata
  • Yūpaketu, his twin

Upanayana and Vedic study

Vasiṣṭha performed Subāhu’s upanayana in due course. Subāhu studied the Vedas at Vasiṣṭha’s feet, together with all eight royal princes. After that he joined the great tīrtha-yātrā to all the sacred places of Bhāratavarṣa.

Succession at Mathurā

The Uttara Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa says that Śatrughna ruled at Mathurā for twelve years. After that, Subāhu was installed there as his successor.

Marriages

At the svayaṃvara (the ceremony where a princess chooses her husband) of Sumatī at Vaṭapura, Subāhu was among those presented to her. She passed him over and chose Lava.

Later, twelve gandharva and nāga daughters were freed from the captivity of Jaladevī at the Pañcappa lake. Vasiṣṭha Maharṣi then gave two brides to Subāhu:

  • Kamalā, a nāgakanyā (a nāga princess). They married at Ayodhyā at a muhūrta (auspicious time) in the dark half (kṛṣṇa pakṣa) of Mārgaśīrṣa.
  • Acalā, a gandharva princess. They married at Ayodhyā at a muhūrta in Phālguṇa.

The genealogical account says that each wife bore Subāhu eight sons and one daughter.

Sources

  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 9
  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Vivāha Khaṇḍa, Chapters 3, 6–7, 9
  • Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa
  • Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa