Takṣa, Son of Bharata

Takṣa 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 Śailūṣa and built the city of Takṣaśilā there. It is named after Takṣa and later became one of the greatest centres of Vedic learning in Bhāratavarṣa. Takṣa grew up in Ayodhyā with his elder brother Puṣkara and six cousins. He had his upanayana (sacred thread rite), finished his Vedic study and went on the great tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) through Bhāratavarṣa.

Birth and childhood

Takṣa 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. Vasiṣṭha performed the jātakarma (birth rite) and the nāmakaraṇa (naming rite).

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

Upanayana and Vedic study

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

Takṣaśilā

Bharata founded the city of Takṣaśilā in the northwestern lands after his victory over the gandharva Śailūṣa, and it is named for Takṣa. The Viṣṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa records that Bharata founded Takṣaśilā for his son Takṣa. It later became one of the best-known centres of learning in Bhāratavarṣa.

Marriages

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

Twelve gandharva and nāga daughters were freed from the captivity of Jaladevi at the Pañcappa lake. Vasiṣṭha Maharṣi then gave two of these brides to Takṣa:

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

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

Sources

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