13 -The Family of Vrusnis 

Lomaharşhaņa said: 

1. Krostr had a son of great fame named Vrujinīvān. Svähi the most excellent of sacrificers was the son of Vrujinivān. 

2-3. King Uşadgu the most excellent of cloquent ones was the son of Svähi. Desirous of progeny, a very excellent son, he performed several sacrifices wherein much wealth was gifted to the sacrificing priests. Chitraratha endowed with many holy rites was born as his son. 

4. Heroic Sasabindu was the son of Chitraratha. He per formed sacrifices wherein much wealth was distributed as the sacrificial fee. He followed the holy conduct of life lived by saintly kings. 

5. King Pruthuśravas of extensive fame was the son of Saśa bindu. Those who are conversant with the Purānas praise Antara as the deserving son of Pruthuśravas. 

6.7 Suyajña was the son of Antara. Uşat was the son of Suvniña. He performed all sorts of sacrifices. He had great reve wance for Religion. Sincyu the scorcher of enemies was the son of Usat. King Maruta his son was a saintly king. 

8-9. Marut obtained Kambalabarhis as his eldest son. Although he was against holy rites due to wrath, he performed many such rites desiring to obtain a son for his son Kambala barhis. After a hundred still born children the son Rukmakavaca was born. 

10. After killing a hundred bowmen protected with coats of mail by means of sharp arrows in the battle, Rukmakavaca attained excellent glory. 

11-13. Parajit, the slayer of inimical heroes, was born of Rukmakavaca. Parajit had five valiant sons. viz.-Rukmeşu, Pruthurukma, Jyāmagha, Pålita and Hari. The father gave Pälita and Hari to Videhas. With the support of Pruthurukma, Rukmesu became a king. Externed by both of them, king Jyāmagha stayed in a hermitage. 

14-16. The tranquil king was advised by the brahmins (to conquer new territories). Taking up his bow and waving his flag in his chariot the king went to another land on the banks of Narmada. Single-handed he conquered the cities of Mekhala¹ and Mruttikävati.² After conquering the mountain Rukşhaván³ he stayed in Sūktimati.⁴ Jyāmagha's wife Saiby, was a powerful chaste woman. Hence, though he had no son in her he did not marry another woman. 

1. Mekhala (Mekala). Mekhala was a country which had attained Puranic fame in ancient India. The inhabitants of this place were called Mekhalas. They were Kshatriyas (warriors) formerly. But they becamc persons of low caste when they showed jealousy towards the Brahmins. 

2. Mrultikāvali, a place of habitation in ancient Bhārata. Bhojas, as a Yadava tribc, dwelt in Krishna's kingdom in Su-rāştra and Bhojas inhabited Mruttikāvati, situated somewhere on this north-eastern limits of the modern Gujarat., 

3. Ruksavän-One of the scven principal mountains in India. 

4. Sūktimati—Identification not certain.-Sūktimati range might be the southern portion of the Eastern Ghats and the hills of Mysore. General Cun ninghai's identification of Sūktimat mountains where the town Suktimat was laid out, with thc high range of mountains to the south of Sehoa and Kanker, which gives rise to Mahānadi, Pairi and Seonath Rivers is challenged by F.E. Pargiter (Mar. Pu. p. 285). 

17. He gained victory in another battle and captured a virgin thercat: Slightly afraid the king told his wife-"Here is. your daughter-in-law”. 

18-19. On hearing this she said to him-"O lord, pray tell me whose daughter-in-law she is ? On hearing it, the noble king Jyāmagha said: 

The king said: 

"I have brought this girl as the wife of the son who will be born to you". 

Lomaharşhaņa said: 

20. Due to severe penance of that virgin, that fortunate chaste woman Saibya, in her old age, gave birth to the son Vidarbha. 

21. Vidarbha begot of this daughter-in-law, a princess, two learned heroic sons Kratha and Kaisika who became experts in warfare. 

22. Bhima was Vidarbha's son and Kunti was his son. The valorous son Dhruşta was born to Kunti. He was very bold in battle. 

23. Three heroic sons of very great virtue were born to Dhursta, Viz., Avanta, Daśärha and the powerful Vişahara. 

24. Vyoman was the son of Daśärha. It is said that Jimūta was Vyoman's son. Jimūta's son was Viksti and Bhimaratha was his son. 

25. Navaratha was Bhimaratha's son and his son was Dasa ratha. Sakuni was born to him. 

26-27. From him was born Karambha king. Devarāta was the son of Karambha and his son was Devakşatra. Daivaksatri, was the son of Devakşatra. He looked like a divine child. He earned great fame. King Madhu of sweet speech was also born to him. It was he who perpetuated the line of Madhu. 

28-29. Purudvăn the most excellent man was born of Madhu in his wife Vaidarbhi (daughter of the Vidarbha king). Madhu had another wife Aikşvāki (born of the family of Ikşhväku). Satvan endowed with good qualities was born of her. He enhanced the glory of Såtvats: After knowing this creation of Jyamacha of noble soul one attains pleasure and is always blessed with progeny. Lomaharşhaņa said: 

30-38. Kausalya bore many sons to Satvata richly endowed with pious qualities viz.-Bhägin, Bhajamāna, the divine king Devavrudha, Andhaka of mighty arms, Vrusni and Yadunandana (2) The detailed narrative of the four has been glorified here. 

Bhajamāna had two wives viz Bähyaka Sruñjayi and Upabah yaka Sruñjayi. Many sons were born to him in these two wives. Krimi, Kramana, Dhruşta and the heroic Purañjaya, these were born to Bhajamāna in Bāhyaka Srunjayi. 

Ayutajit, Sahasrajit, Satajit and Daśaka-these were born to Bhajamāna in Upabāhyaka Srunjayi. 

King Devavrdha who had performed sacrifices resolved thus "A son endowed with good qualities should be born to me." Accordingly, he performed an elaborate penance. While perform ing penance, it was the water of Parņāsā¹ river that he used always (for drinking and bathing purpose). The river did everything to please him. She was worried with thoughts about him. She could not decide what to do. That excellent river thought thus in view of the auspicious nature of that king-"He has not yet found out a woman in whom he can beget such a son (endowed with all good qualities). Hence, I shall myself go and become his wifc.” 

1. Pamāsā, or (Varņāśā) is the modern Banas, there are two rivers of this name, (1) a tributary of the Chambal rising near Udayapur and (2) stream rising near mount Abu and flowing in the Rann of Kacchh. 

39. She became a young maiden assuming a fine physical form. She wooed the king and the lord too liked her. 

40-41. The liberal king impregnated her with a brilliant foetus. On the tenth month, the most excellent of women gave birth to Babhru Devavşdha who was endowed with good qualities. 

In this context, those who are conversant with the Purānic lore are heard singing thus about this race glorifying the good qualities of the noble Devavrudha. 

42-44. Whether we look at him in front or from far or at close quarters, Babhru is the most excellent among men. Devabrudha was equal to Devas. Seven thousand sixtysix men attained immortality due to Babhru Devavrudha. He performed many sacrifices, he was the lord of donors, most intelligent, favourably disposed towards the brahmins; he held weapons with a steady grasp. His family was very big. The Bhojas of Mruttikävati belonged to his family. 

45-48. The daughter of Kaśya bore four sons to Andhaka Viz. Kukura, Bhajamana, Sasaka and Balabarhis. 

Vrusti was the son of Kukura. Kapotaroman was the son of Vrusti. His son was Tittiri. Punarvasu was born to him. Abhijit was born to Punarvasu. It is said that twin sons were born to Abhijit. They were known as Āhuka and Srāhuka. They were the most excellent of all who earned renown. 

49-54. In this context they cite the following verses about Ahuka. "The cxalted Āhuka resembles a youth, is endowed with eighty coats of mail, goes ahead with attendants in white livery. The following shall not go in front of him-He who has no son, he who has not given one hundred gifts, who is not destined to live for a thousand years, who is not of pure activities and who does not perform sacrifices. To the East ten thousand elephants marched along with ten thousand chariots rumbling like clouds. Their banners scraped the lap of the moon (i.e. they flowed and fluttered at a great height). They were fitted with protective fenders. Twentyone thousand huge boxes filled with silver and gold accompanied them. To the northern quarter as many thousands of these had parched. The Bhojas were the protectors of entire Earth. Their hands are scared with the tinkling bells and bowstrings." 

They say this also—The Andhakas gave their sisters in mar riage to Avantis. 

55. Two sons were born of Kaśya and Āhuka-Devaka and Ugrasena. Both of them were on a par with divine children. 

56. Four sons comparable to Devas were born to Devaka Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devarakṣita. 

57-61. He had seven daughters who were married to Vasu deva-Devaki, Säntidevā, Sudeva, Devarakṣitā, Vrukadevi, Upadevī and Sunämnī. 

Ugrasena had nine sons. Kamsa was the eldest. Others were Nyagrodha, Sunāman, Kanka, Subhūsaņa, Răstrapala, Sutanu, Anāvrsti and Puştiman. 

Five excellent ladies were their sisters-Kamsa, Kamsavati, Sutanu, Răştrapali and Kanka, 

Ugrasena of the family of Kukura has been described along with children. 

A man who retains in memory the race of the Kukuras of unmeasured prowess shall attain an extensive family for himself after being blessed with children.