9 - Genealogy of Ancient Kshatriyas 

Lomaharşhaņa said: 

1-2. Āyu had five sons who were mighty heroes born of the daughter of Svarbhānu named Prabhā. They became kings. Nahuşa was the eldest among them. Vruddhasarmă came next. The rest—Rambha, Raji and Anenas became famous in the three worlds. 

3. Raji begot five hundred sons. This group of Kshatriya princes is known as Rajeya. They generated fear even in the mind of Indra. 

4. When a battle between Devas and Asuras, destined to be tremendously terrible, was imminent, both went to Brahma and spoke to him: 

Devas and Asuras said: 

5. O lord of living beings, who will be victorious in the battle between us? We wish to hear precisely. 

Brahmä said: 

6-7. There is no doubt that only those will conquer the three worlds, on whose behalf lord Raji takes up arms and fights in the battle. Where there is Raji there is courage; where there is courage there is glory. Where there is glory and courage there is righteousness and victory. 

8. Thus advised by Lord Brahma Devas and Asuras became delighted. Desirous of victory and hopeful of winning him over they approached Raji the leader of the people. 

9. Indeed, king Raji born of Prabhă, and the grandson of Svarbhānu, was excessively resplendent. He was destined to perpetuate the lunar race. 

10. Delighted in their minds, Devas and Asuras said to Raji-"Plcase take up your excellent bow for our victory". 

11. Thereupon, conversant with the purpose of Devas and Asuras, Raji said thus, with an eye on his own interest and reveal ing his glory. 

Raji said: 

12. "O Indra, I shall fight in the battle if after conquering the asuras through my valour I can duly become Indra. 

13. At the outset O brahmins, Devas who were delighted in their minds assented to the proposal."O king, this desire of your can be realised as you wish”. 

14. On hearing the words of Devas king Raji asked the leaders of Asuras too, in the same manner as he had asked Devas. 

15. The Asuras full of arrogance and realising their own interest, proudly spoke to the monarch thus. 

Asuras said: 

16-21. "Our Indra is Prahrada on whose behalf we fight and conquer. O excellent king, you join us shining with glory in this battle." 

Even as the king was about to say "so be it" he was urged by Devas, "You will certainly become Indra after conquering Asuras". 

The king who was thus urged, killed those Asuras who could not be slain by the thunderbolt-armed Indra. After killing all Asuras lord Raji of great glory and self-control redeemed the lost glory of Devas. Then, in the company of Devas, Indra said to Raji of great valour-"I am Rajiputra (son of Raji), O dear one, you are Indra of all Devas. I, Indra, am your son, I shall attain fame through your activities. 

On hearing these words of Indra Raji was deceived by his Måyå. 

22-25. The delighted king said to Indra-"So be it.” 

When that saintly king passed away Raji's sons seized their legacy, the kingdom of heaven from Indra. The five hundred sons attacked the abode of Indra, the heavenly.world Trivistapa¹. 

When they became excessively deluded, passionately mad, irreligious and batters of the brahmins, their power and valour were destroyed. Then Indra regained his prosperity and the excellent abode after killing the sons of Raji who were slaves of lust and wrath. 

1. Trivistapa-Abode of Indra. 

26. He who listens to this narrative of dethronement and re-establishment of Indra and he who retains it in memory will never fall to wretchedness. 

Lomaharşhaņa said: 

27. Rambha was issueless. I shall mention the line of Anenas. King Pratikşatra of great fame was the son of Anenas. 

28. Pratikșatra's son Srñjaya was very famous. Jaya was Srñjaya's son and Vijaya was his son. 

29. Křti was the son of Vijaya and his son was Haryatvata. Haryatvata's son Sahadeva was a valorous king. 

30. Sahadeva's son the pious Nadina was a famous king. Nadīna's son was Jayatsena and Jayatsena's son was Samkşti. 

31. Samkşti's son was Ksatravsddha. He was righteous souled and he earned great fame. The line of Anenas has been recounted. Now hear Kşatravyddha's lineage. 

32. Kşatravraddha's son was Sunahotra of great fame Sunahotra had three successors who were extremely righteous. 

33-34. They were Käsya, Salla and Grutsamada. Gstsamada's son was Sunaka. Saunakas (sons of Sunaka) were brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sūdras. Arustişena was the son of Salla and his son was Kaśyapa. 

35-37. Kaśyapa's son was Dīrghatapas who ruled over Kāśi. Dhanvan was the son of Dirghatapas and Dhanvantari was his son. At the conclusion of a great penance when the king had become old, lord Dhanvantari was born. He was the great ruler of Kāśi and was an expert physician. He could cure all ailments, 

38. He learnt medical science from sage Bharadvāja He divided therepeutic processes into eight sections and taught them to his disciples. 

39. Dhanvantari's son was Ketumān. The heroic Bhimaratha was the son of Ketumān. 

40. Bhimaratha's son was Divodāsa. Divodása was a righteous monarch who became the ruler of Varanasi. 

41-42. At this time, O brahmins, a Räksasa named Kshemaka attacked Värāṇasī and rendered it desolate. It had been cursed by Nikumbha that it would remain void and desolate for a thousand years. 

43. As soon as it had been cursed king Divodása founded a beautiful city at the extremity of his realm on the banks of Gomati. 

44-48. Formerly, Vārāṇasi belonged to Bhadraśrenya. It was after killing one hundred sons of Bhadraśrenya who were excellent bowmen, that king Divodäsa occupied the territory. By that powerfulking the realm of Bhadraśreņya was seized. Bhadraśrenya had a son Durdama who later became famous. As he was a child, Divodása let him alone out of mercy. Then the king seized the hereditary realm of Haihaya. 

The legacy of his forefathers that had been forcefully taken away by Divodāsa was retaken by Durdama the son of Bhadra śrenya. O blessed ones, thus revenge was taken by that king of good spiritual splendour. 

49. The heroic Pratardana was born of Druşadvati and Divo dåsa. That son even as a boy mightly beat back the enemy. 

50. Pratardana had two sons: Vatsa and Bharga. Vatsa's son was Satrujit and his son was Rutadhvaja. 

51. His son was Alarka. He was favourably disposed to the brahmins and truthful in speech. A verse has been sung by the veterans about Alarka the saintly monarch. 

52. He was a handsome youth. He ruled for sixtysix thousand years. He upheld his family by his mighty prowess. 

53. By the grace of Lopamudrā he attained the maximum longevity. Endowed with youth and beauty he ruled over a very extensive kingdom. 

54. When the period of curse came to an end the mighty king killed the Raksasa Kshemaka and re-occupied the beautiful city of Vārāṇasī. 

55. Sannati's successor was a righteous king Sunitha. Sunitha's successor Kșhema gained good fame and glory. 

56. Kshema's son was Ketuman and Suketu was his son. We know from traditional records that Dharmaketu was the son of Suketu. 

57. Dharmaketu's successor was the mighty warrior Satya ketu. Satyaketu's son was king Vibhu. 

58. Anarta was Vibhu's son and Sukumāra was his son. Sukumāra's son Dhrustaketu was extremely virtuous. 

59. The successor of Dhrustaketu was king Venuhotra. Venuhotra's son was king Bharga. 

60. Vatsabhūmi was the son of Vatsa and Bhargabhūmi the son of Bharga. These were the descendants of Angiras the scions of the family of Bhrugu. 

61. They were brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, thousands in number and endowed with brilliance. These Käśyapas (rulers of Kasi) have been recounted. Understand the descendants of Nahusa.