8 - Kings of the Lunar Race

Lomaharşhaņa said: 

1. O excellent sages, Budha's son Purūravas was learned and brilliant. He was liberal and he performed sacrifices distributing gifts extensively. 

2. The king was an expounder of Brahman. When attacked by the enemy in battle he was irrepressible. He performed Agnihotra and other sacrifices. 

3. He was truthful in speech and pious in mind. He indulged in sexual intercourse very secretly. He was perpetually unrivalled in renown. 

4. The entire Vedic lore was present in him due to his penance. The famous celestial damsel Urvashi set aside prestige and wooed him. 

5-6. O brahmins, the king spent periods of ten, five, five, six, seven and eight years staying with Urvaśī in the charming garden Chaitraratha, on the banks of Gangā, in Alaka¹, in Viśālā and in the excellent park Nandana. 

1. Alaka: the capital of Kubera, situated on a peak of the Himalayas inhabited also by Siva. 

7. He stayed in the Northern Kurus which abounded in charming fruit trees, in the foothills of Gandhamädana² and in the top of the Meru. 

2. Gandhamadana: S. M. Ali (the Geography of the Puranas, pp. 58, 59) remarks: The Gandhamādana is the range the location of which is highly controversial. There is a confusion in the Purāņas about the ranges which immediately surround or flank Meru, The Vişhņu Purāņa states Meru is confined between the mountains Nila and Nişadha (on the North and South). The Gandhamādana is also mentioned in some Purāņas. It is also spoken of as one of the Southern Buttresses of Meru (Matsya), as one of the filament mountains on the west, as a range of boundary mountain on thc south, and a Varşa mountain of Ketumāla (Väyu). The Bhāgavata gives different names to different parts of Gandhamādana. For instance, the buttress is called Merumandara, the filament mountain thc Hamsa, Gandhamādana is restricted to the eastern range. But according to S. M. Ali, Gandhamadana means the northern ridge of the Hindukush arch with its northern extension the Khwaja Mohammad range, the Hindukush consists of two parallel ranges which come closer to each other at the apex of the arch, south of the Pamirs (Meru). These ridges are well-defined in Afghanistan, less so in Kashmir and reappear again on the cast. The Purānas called the northern ridge Gandhamádana. The contradictory statements in the Purāņas that Gandhamádana is in the south, cast or west arc rcconcilcd if we keep in mind the correct alignment of the nor thern range of Hindukush. This range touches the Pamirs in the south and falls away from it towards southwest and southeast. 

8. In these excellent and important sylvan regions usually frequented by Devas, the king dallied in the company of Urvashi¹ with great joy. 

1. Urvashi: A heavenly nymph. For details P.E. 

9. He sported about in extremely holy lands praised by sages. He administered his kingdom from Prayaga². 

2. Prayāga—a holy city in Uttara Pradeśa, situated at the meeting point of Ganga and Yamunā. 

10. The royal son of Ilā, the most excellent among men, wielded power. He earned fame at Pratișthāna on the northern bank of Ganga. 

11-12. The seven sons of Aila Purūravas were on a par with the sons of Devas. Those noble princes born in celestial ragions were Āyu, Amăvasu, Viśvāyu, Srutāyu, Drịhayu, Vanāyu, Bahväyu. These were the sons of Urvashi. 

13. Amăvasu's successor was Bhīma, an imperial king. The glorious Kancanaprabha was the king who succeeded Bhima. 

14. Kancana's successor was the mighty and learned Suhotra. Jahnu was the son of Suhotra. He was born of the womb of Kesini. 

15-21. He performed a great sacrifice of long duration. Greedily seeking a husband Gangā wooed him as her husband. Since he dissented, Ganga flooded his sacrificial hall. O excellent brahmins, on seeing his sacrificial hall thus flooded the infuriated son of Suhotra, king Jahnu³ cursed her. He proclaimed—“See, I shall drink up your waters and make your effort futile. O Gangā, ere long reap the fruit of your arrogance." Thereafter, on seeing Ganga drunk up by the saintly king the sages brought her back. Thereafter, she came to be known Jāhnavī the daughter of Jahnu. Jahnu married Kāverī the daughter of Yuvanāśva. Due to the curse of Yuvanāśva Ganga flowed into two halves flanking Kāverī the most excellent of rivers, the uncensured wife of Jahnu. Jahnu begot his beloved and righteous son Sunandă, of Kāverī. Ajaka was his son. 

3. Jahnu-A sage. There is a legend that once Gangā which flowed through the earth submerged the hermitage of Jahnu who became angry at her haughtiness and drank up the river. But at the entreaty of Bhagiratha he pushed Ganga through his car. Since that event Gangă got the name Jāhnavi. 

22. Ajaka's successor, king Baläkäśva was a habitual hunter. Kuśa was his son. 

23-27. Kusa had four sons of divine brilliance: Kusika, Kuśanabha, Kuśāmba and Mürtimãn. This king Kuśika was ousted from power by the Pahlavas and he roamed in the forest. Resolving "I shall obtain a lordly son equal to Indra" he performed a penance. Indra in his fear approached him and understood his purpose. When full thousand years had passed, Indra met him. On realising that he was competent to procreate a son, after seeing the sage of severe penance the thousand-eyed Indra agreed to become his son. 

Most excellent of Devas Lord Indra resolved to become his son. King Gadhi was Maghavan himself born as the son of Kusika. 

28. Paurukutsāni (Daughter of Purukutsa) was his wife and Gadhi was born of her. Gadhi's daughter was the blessed splendid lady Satyavati. 

29. Lord Gadhi gave her in marriage to Ruchīka the son of Kavya. Her husband the descendant of Bhrugu, the delighter of the members of the family of Bhrugu, was pleased with her. 

30. He prepared two Carus for securing sons for her and Gadhi too. Ruchīka the descendant of Bhrugu called her and said: 

31-32. One part of Caru should be used by you, and the other part should be used by your mother. A brilliant son, the leader of Kshatriyas will be born to her. He will not be conquered by the Kshatriyas in the world. He will slay the leading Kshatriyas. O auspicious lady, this Caru will secure for you a calm and cou rageous son who will be the most excellent brahmin with austerity as his asset." 

33-36. After saying this to his wife, Ruchīka the scion of the family of Bhrugu, perpetually devoted to penance, entered the forest. At that time in the context of his pilgrimage to holy places the king Gadhi came to the hermitage of Ruchīka accompanied by his wife in order to see his daughter. Carefully handling the Carus, Satyavati approached her mother and told her about their efficacy. As they looked alike, the mother in her ignorance gave to her daughter her own Caru and swallowed the daughter's Caru instead of her own. 

37-40. Then Satyavati conceived a foetus that was destined to destroy the Kshatriyas. Her body became bright and resplendent. She assumed a fearful look. Ruchīka saw her and understood the fact by his Yogic power. The most excellent brahmin said to his fair-complexioned wife-"By changing the Carus, O gentle lady, you have been deceived by your mother. An extremely fearful son of ruthless activities will be born to you. You will have a brother, an ascetic who will realise the Brahman. 

41-47. The entire Vedic lore had been instilled into the Caru) by me with my penance." 

Thus warned by her husband, the highly blessed Satyavati propitiated her husband—"Let not a base brahmin like this be born as a son unto me begotten by you." 

When requested thus, the sage said—“O gentle lady, this is not my desire. I did not imagine that it should be thus. But the son is destined to be ruthless in activities on account of his father and mother." 

Thus addressed, Satyavati said: "O sage, if you wish you can create even worlds. What then about a mere son ? It behoves you to grant me a straightforward son of subdued nature. O my lord, well may such a grandson be born to us if this cannot be altered otherwise, O excellent brahmin." 

Then, he blessed her through the power of his penance. He said "O gentle lady of fair complexion, whether it be the son or grandson I don't feel any difference. Everything shall take place in accordance with what you desire." 

48. Thereafter, Satyavrata gave birth to a son named Jamad agni. He was tranquil and devoted to penance. (As a descendant of Bhrugu) he was also known as Bhargava. 

49-54. It was due to the change of Caru pertaining to Indra and Vişhnu given by Bhrugu. Jamadagni was born due to the sacri fice performed in the half pertaining to Vişhnu. The holy-natured Satyavati devoted to truthful virtue flowed as a great river named Kausiki^l. 

There was a king in the family of Ikşhváku named Reņu. His blessed daughter was Kāmali known also as Reņukā. The son of Ruchīka endowed with penance and learning begot the terrible Jāmadagnya Rama of Kamali, daughter of Reņu. He was an excellent master of the science of archery as well as all lores. He shone like the blazing fire. Thus Jamadagni the most excellent among the knowers of Brahman was born as the extremely famous son of Satyavati due to the potency of penance of Ruchīka son of Aurva. (The middle son was Sunaḥsepha and the youngest was Sunahpuccha. 

1. Kausikī—the hermitage of sage Viśvāmitra stood on its bank, It has been identified with Gomati (P.E.) The modern name of this river is Kosi which flows through Bihar. 

55-60. Gadhi, the son of Kusika begot Visvämitra.as his son and successor. He was subdued in mind due to his penance and learning. Viśvamitra the righteous soul attained equality with the brahminical sage (Vasiştha) and later became a brahminical sage. He is remembered by the name Viśvaratha too. Due to the grace of Bhřugu he was born of Kausika and perpetuated the race of Kausika. Devarata and others are known as the sons of Viśvāmitra. They are famous in the three worlds. Their names are Devarāta, Kati, Hiranyäksha, Reņu, Renukā, Samkşti, Galava, Mudgala, Madhucchandas, Jaya, Devala, Aștaka, Kacchapa, and Hariya, The Katyayanas are the descendants of Kati. Hiranyākṣa, Reņu and Renuka were born of Salavati. 

61-63. The spiritual lines of the noble Kausikas are famous. They are: Präņins, Babhrus, Dhyānajapyas, Parthivas, Devarātas, Salankāyanas, Başkalas, Lohitas, Yamadūtas, Kärūşakas, Sauśravas, Kausikas, Saindhaväynas, Devalas, Renus, Marşaņas from Yájñavalkya, Audumbaras, Ambubhişņāvas, Tărakāyaṇas, Cunculas, Sālavatyas, Hiraṇyākşas, Samkrtyas, Gālavas, Nārāyaṇis. The Kausikas are numerous and their lines are merged with many other sages. O excellent sages, in this race there is that admixture of brahmins and Kshatriyas¹ as evidenced by that of the descendants of Puru and the brahminical sage Kausika.

1. This shows that the caste was not rigid during this period. 

64. Sunaḥsepha is known as the eldest of the sons of Viśva mitra. That excellent sage changes his spiritual line from that of Bhargava to that of Kausika. 

65-68. Sunaḥsepha, the son of Viśvāmitra was employed as the sacrificial animal in the sacrifice of Hariscandra. Sunaḥsepha was handed over to Viśvāmitra by Devas. Since he was handed over by Devas he came to be known as Devarāta. Seven sons beginning with Devarāta were born to Viśvamitra. Astaka, the son of Viśvāmitra, was born of Druşadvati. Aştaka's son was Lauhi. Thus the group of descendants of Jahnu has been mentioned by me. Henceforth, I shall mention the family of Ayu the noble soul.