70 - Dynasties of Jyamagha and Vrushni

The sages enquired: 

1. Why was the forest of Apava, the noble-souled one, burnt by Karttavirya forcibly? Tell us this in details even as we ask. 

2. We have heard that saintly king was the protector of the subjects. Protector of subjects as he was, how could he destroy the penance-grove?

Suta replied: —

3. Aditya (the Sun-god) approached Karttavirya in the guise of a Brahmana and said, "Give me food till I am satisfied. Because I am undoubtedly the Sun-god." 

The king said: —

4. O lord, tell me, with what will you be satisfied, O Sun god? What type of food should I serve you? I shall do so after hearing from you.

The Sun said: 

5. “Give unto me as food all immovable beings, O most excellent one among donors. I shall be satisfied with it, О king, and not with anything else." 

The king submitted: 

6. “All the immovable beings cannot be burnt by the fiery splendour of a human being, O most excellent one among those who blaze, I make my obeisance unto you." 

The Sun said: 

7-8. "Pleased with you I shall give you inexhaustible quiver of arrows that can face in all directions (i.e., that can be discharged in every direction). On being discharged, they will blaze, charged with my refulgence. Assailed by my brilliance, all immovable beings shall become parched up. O king, I shall reduce everything to ashes in a moment." 

9-11. Then the sun-god gave many arrows to Arjuna. After receiving those arrows from him, the volleys of arrows thus discharged from his bow, O king, burned all the immovables such as hermitages, villages, colonies of cowherds, cities, penance-groves, beautiful forests, parks and gardens etc. The Earth was burned and rendered devoid of trees and grass by the fiery splendour of the Sun. 

12-13. In the meantime, Apava, the great sage of highest splendour, who had already performed holy rites in fire and had undertaken a Vrata (holy vow) of staying under water for ten thousand years, had come out from water after completing his Vrata. The great sage then saw his hermitage burned down by Arjuna. 

14. Out of anger, he cursed the saintly king in the manner already recounted to you by me. 

Now listen to the line of the saintly king Kroshtu, consisting of many excellent persons. 

15. He was the king in whose family was born Vrushni the leading member of the Vrushni dynasty. 

Kroshtu had only one son, Vrujinivan of great fame. 

16. Svahi, the most excellent one among Svahavans (i.e., those who perform Yajnas where the Mantra 'Svaha' is repeat ed) was the son of Vrujinivan. Svahi’s son Rusheku* became a king and the most excellent one among donors.

*Rushadgu in AIHT, p. 144.

17. Desirous of the birth of sons, Rusheku of sanctified soul, performed great sacrifices of different types with plenty of requisite monetary gifts. 

18-19. Chitraratha was born as his son who performed many holy rites. Shashabindu was the son of Chitraratha. He was a great warrior. He performed sacrifices, distributing large sums of money. He practised the highest (most excellent) activities of saintly kings. He had the most exalted character and great prowess. He was an emperor and had many children. 

The following verse has been sung by men of yore regarding his line: 

20-22. "Shashabindu had ten thousand sons. They were glorious with plenty of wealth and brilliance. They were in all respects worthy as his successors”. 

Among them six were the most important. All these were very strong and powerful. They performed many sacrifices. 

They were Pruthushravas, Pruthuyashas, Pruthukarman, Pruthunjaya, Pruthukirti and Pruthudanta. They were kings born of Shashabindu. 

23. Persons conversant with Puranas praise Akshara** as the son of Pruthushravas. Suyajna was the son of Akshara and Ushanas was his son.

** Antara in AIHT, p. 144.

24. Ushanas was virtuous and pious. After getting the Earth (i.e., after coming to the throne), he performed a hundred horse-sacrifices conferring the most excellent monetary gifts (as Dakshina). 

25. Marutta1 was his son. He followed the footsteps of saintly kings. Virakambala-Barhish is remembered as the son of Marutta.

1. Our text dropped Shineyu as the son of Ushanas and named his grandson Marutta as the son of Ushanas vide AIHT, p. 144.

26-27. Rukmakavacha was the learned son of Kambala-barhish. With his sharp arrows, Rukmakavacha, at the very outset, killed many warriors with coats of mail and bows, in battle and attained the most excellent glory. That king of great fame distributed much wealth to Brahmanas in his horse-sacrifice. 

28. Five sons of great strength and prowess were born to Rukmakavacha. They could pierce the enemies and kill inimical warriors. 

29. They were Rukmeshu, Pruthurukma, Jyamagha, Parigha and Hari. The father established Parigha and Hari in the land of Videha. 

30. Rukmeshu became king (as successor to his father,1) and Pruthurukma became his dependant. Thus cheated (and defeated) by them, Jyamagha2 lived in a hermitage though (he was entitled to be) a king.

1. AIHT.p.146 names Paravrut instead of Rukmeshu as the successor to Rukmakavacha. 

2. Jyamagha is noted as a hen-pecked husband in Puranas. vide vv.33-36 below. 

31-32. He was calm (by temperament). In a great forest, he incurred the antagonism of a Brahmana. He took up his bow. Seated in a chariot and flying his own banner, he went to another country. Alone, the king went to the Narmada, then to the land of Mekala (?), the Mirika forest, the mountain Rukshavan and ultimately reached Muktiman. 

33. The wife of Jyamagha named Shaibya, was a very powerful woman. Though he had no son, he did not marry another woman. 

34. In a battle he was victorious and brought a girl as his prize. Afraid of his wife that he was, the king told his wife “This is your daughter-in-law." 

35. On being told thus, she replied “To which son does she belong to be called my daughter-in-law? 

(The king replied)-"She will be the wife of the son who will be born to you”. 

36. By means of her severe and terrible penance, the exalted noble lady Shaibya, in her old age, gave birth to her son Vidarbha.

37-38. The prince Vidarbha begot of that girl two learned sons Kratha and Kaishika. They were heroic experts in battle. Afterwards he begot Lomapada, the third son. Babhru was the son of Lomapada and Akruti was his son. 

39. Chidi was the son of Kaishika. The sons and descendants born of him were kings and are remembered as Chaidyas. Kunti was the son of Kratha who (as had been already mentioned) was Vidarbha's son. 

40. Dhrushta was born as the son of Kunti. He was courageous and valorous in battle. Nivruti was the virtuous son of Dhrushta. He was a slayer of inimical warriors. 

41. His son was Dasharha who had great strength and exploits. Vyoma was the son of Dasharha. Jimuta is mentioned as coming after him. 

42. Vikruti was the son of Jimuta. His son was Bhimaratha. Rathavara, it is said, was the son of Bhimaratha. 

43. He was always engaged in making charitable gifts, acquiring learning and practising good conduct. 

His son was Navaratha and it is remembered that Dasharatha came thereafter. 

44. His son was Ekadasharatha and Shakuni was his son. The archer Karambhaka came thereafter, and Devarata succeeded him. 

45. King Devakshatra of great fame was son of Devarata. Devana, the delighter of all Kshatriyas, was born as the son of Devakshatra. 

46. Madhu was born of Devana. Puruvasu was the extremely brilliant son of Madhu whose intellect was the source of his wealth. 

47-49. Purudvan, the excellent man, was the son of Puruvasu. Purudvaha was the son of Bhadravati and Purudvan. His wife was Aikshvaki and Sattva was his son born of her. Satvata, the increaser of fame and endowed with Sattva quality, was born of him. After perfectly understanding this creation of Jyamagha of noble-soul, one shall attain progeny and identity with the intelligent 'King' Soma.