21 - Description of the race of Ikshvaku

This chapter records mainly the story of Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. The introductory verses (1-15) mention some important kings preceding Rama like Bhagiratha and their exploits. Cf. Bh.P. IX.6.1-9-31, VE 2.110.1-36. The remaining verses deal with the exploits of Rama. It is interesting to compare this portion with the Rama episode as given in the M. Bh. and in the NP. 1.79-1-26, 2.75.1-79, VP. 4.4.87-104, Bh. P. IX. 10.1-11 (to mention a few). Not only the facts of his life (but some of the verses also have textual similarity.

Suta said: 

1. The son of the king viz.-Tridhanvan protected the country righteously. His son was a scholar well known as Trayyaruņa. 

2. A very powerful son named Satyavrata was born to him. His wife Satyadhana gave birth to Harishchandra. 

3. Harishchandra had a valorous son known as Rohita. Rohita's son was Vruka from whom was born Bahu. 

4. Harita was Rohita's son. Dhundhu was his son. Vijaya and Sudeva were the two sons of Dhundhu.

*5. Vijaya's son was a powerful king named Käruka. Sagara, his son, was an extremely virtuous king. Sagara had two wives named Prabha and Bhanumati.

* The Venk. Press edition has wrongly numbered 4 and 5 as 4. mistake in numbering is corrected.

6-7. Vahini (the fire-god) propitiated by both of them granted them (one) excellent boon (to each). Bhanumati accepted (the gift of) one son and that was Asamanjasa. The auspicious Prabhā accepted sixty thousand sons. Asamañjasa's son was the king named Amshuman. 

8-9a. His son was Dilipa. From Dilipa was born Bhagiratha by whom Ganga was brought down after performing penance (and Ganga, thereafter came to be called Bhagirathi). It was due to the favour of the intelligent Mahadeva, the lord of Devas. 

9b-10. Lord Shiva was so pleased in his mind due to the penance of king Bhagiratha that the moon-bedecked god bore Ganga on his head near the moon (crest) [or in accompaniment of Uma i.e., goddess Parvati]. It is reported that Bhagiratha had a son called king Shruta. 

11-12. His successor was Nabhaga. Thereafter was born Sindhudvipa. Ayutayu was his son and his son was Rutuparna of great strength. Rutuparna’s son was the virtuous king named Sudasa. His son Sudasa became well-known by the name Kalmashapada. 

13. Vasishtha of great splendour begot of the wife of Kalmashapada the son, Ashmaka who became a noble scion of the Ikshvaku dynasty. 

14-15. Ashmaka begot of Utkala a son named king Nakula. Afraid of Parashurama, the king went to a forest in great distress being protected on all sides like an armour by women. * From him was born Shataratha. From him was born the glorious son Bilibili. Vruddhasharma was his son. From him was born Vishvasaha. From him was born the well-known son Khatvanga. Dirghabahu was his son. Raghu was born of him.

*vide Bh.P. IX. 9.40 for a similar explanation of Nari-kavacha.

16. From Raghu was born Aja and king Dasharatha was born of him. The heroic Rama, the world-famous knower of Dharma, was the son of Dasharatha. 

17. Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna of great strength also were his sons. All of them were equal to Indra on the battle-field. They were endowed with Vishnu’s Shakti. 

18. Vishnu, the enjoyer of the whole universe, was born with a part of his personality for the destruction of Ravana. The blessed wife of Rama was the beautiful daughter of Janaka. 

19-20a. Sita was well known in the three worlds; she was endowed with liberal-mindedness, good conduct, and other attributes. Goddess Parvati (the daughter of the lord of mountains) was propitiated by Janaka through penance and she gave Janaka the daughter Sita who had the support of Rama as her husband. 

20b-21a. Being pleased with him (Janaka), Lord Shiva (the Ruler of the world), the trident-bearing Lord of Bluish-red complexion, gave to Janaka a wonderful bow to destroy his enemies.

21b-22a. O leading Brahmanas, the intelligent king Janaka, the destroyer of enemies, desirous of giving away daughter proclaimed thus in this world: "He who is able to wield this bow-whoever he may be in the three worlds whether a Deva or a Danava-deserves to get Sita." 

22b-25a. The powerful Lord Rama came to know this. He went to Janaka's abode. Playfully he lifted the bow and broke it. Rama, the highly virtuous soul, married that girl like god Shankara marrying Parvati and the six headed god Karttikeya marrying Senā.¹

1. This contradicts the belief prevailing in Maharashtra and adjacent parts about the celibacy of Skanda.

25b-26a. After the lapse of many days, king Dasharatha began to make arrangements for crowning the heroic eldest son Rama as the king. 

26b-27. His beautiful wife Kaikeyi, the lady of sweet smiles, prevented him. Agitated in her mind she said to her husband. -"It behoves you to make my heroic son Bharata the king. 

28a. You had already given me two boons long back." 

28b-31a. On hearing her words, the king who was dejected in his mind uttered these words—"So be it." Accordingly, the un-wavering Rama, the knower of Dharma, bowed down at the feet of his father, and went to the forest along with his wife and Lakshmana. The self-possessed powerful one made the vow of staying for fourteen years in the forest and the mighty Lord stayed in the forest for fourteen years along with Lakshmana. 

31b-33a. While he was staying in the forest, the Rakshasa named Ravana, abducted Sita in the guise of an ascetic and went away to his city. Not being able to see Sitå, Lakshmana and Rama became extremely distressed. 

33b-34a. Both the suppressors of enemies became over whelmed with anguish and sorrow. Then in course of time, there came about an alliance between Rama of indefatigable energy and action and the monkeys through the monkey (chief) Sugriva. 

34b-35a. Sugriva’s follower, a valorous monkey called Hanuman, the son of the wind-god, who was endowed with great splendour, ever became very dear to Rama.

35b-36. With firm resolve he promised to Rama, "I will bring Sitå." After saying this, he wandered over the earth girt by the ocean, intent as he was on finding out Sitå. 

37-38a. He went to Lanka, the city of Ravana situated in the ocean. There in a secluded spot, at the foot of a tree, he saw the pure lady Sita of sweet smiles, surrounded by the Rakshasis (demonesses). 

38b-39a. Her eyes were full of tears; she was charming and uncensurable (praiseworthy). She was brooding in her heart on Rama of dark blue complexion like a (blue) lotus and the self-possessed Lakshmana. 

39b-41a. The Lordly monkey revealed himself to Sita in secret. To remove her suspicion, he gave her the ring of Rama. On seeing the excellent ring of her husband, Sita thought that Rama had as if come to her personally. Out of love her eyes began to throb. 

41b. He consoled Sita saying—"I shall take you to Rama" 

42a. After telling her thus, he returned to the mighty-armed Rama. 

42b-43a. The self-possessed Hanuman reported to Rama the fact of his seeing Sita. He then stood by, after being honour ed by Rama and Lakshmana. 

43b-44a. Then the mighty Rama decided to fight with the Rakshasa, with the support of Hanuman and Lakshmana. 

44b-46a. The highly virtuous religious-minded Rama caused a bridge to be built with the help of hundreds of monkeys, over the ocean, constructing a bridge to Lanka. The lord, the suppressor of enemies, then killed Ravana along with his brothers, sons and wives(?). With the son of Vayu as his assistant, he brought back Sita. 

46b-48a. In the middle of the Bridge, Rama, the descendant of Raghu, installed the Linga of Mahadeva, Ishana the elephant-hide-robed-god and worshipped him. Lord Maha deva, Shankara, directly appeared before him along with Parvati and bestowed on him an excellent boon. 

48b-49a. “O twice-born ones, if people were to see this Linga installed by you, their sins will be destroyed even if they are the committers of great sins.

49b-50a. There is no doubt in this that other sins of those who take their holy ablution in this great ocean, will be destroyed by the mere vision of this Linga. 

50b-51. I will be staying invisibly here as long as the mountains stand, as long as this Earth stays and as long as this bridge holds good. Holy dip, charitable gift, penance and Shraddha. everything that is performed here shall be of everlasting benefit. 

52-53. By the mere recollection of the Linga, the daily sin is dispelled." After saying this, Lord Shambhu embraced Rama. Along with Nandin and all his attendants he vanished then and there.¹ Rama ruled over the kingdom with due devotion to piety.

1. VV. 48b-53a quoted in Dalapatiraja's Nrusimha-prasada Tirtha-sara (Varanasi 1936) p. 6.

54. After being crowned by Bharata, the powerful and highly splendoured Rama duly honoured the Brahmanas and worshipped Ishvara. 

55. He worshipped god Shankara the destroyer of Daksha’s Yajna, by performing a horse-sacrifice. Rama begot a son who was well-known by the name Kusha. 

56. Lava also, the highly fortunate and intelligent one knowing all principles and topics, was his son. Atithi was born of Kusha and Nishadha was his son. 

57. Nala was the son of Nishadha. Nabhas was born of him. Pundarikaksha was born of Nabhas and Kshemadhanvan was his son. 

58. His son was the heroic Devanika of great valour. Ahinagu was his son and had Mahasvan as his son. 

59. From him was born Chandråvaloka. Tärädhisha was his son. Chandragiri was born of Tärädhisha. Then was born Bhānuvitta. 

60. Shrutäyu was born of him. These are the descendants born in the race of Ikshvaku. O excellent Brahmanas the important ones have been narrated in brief. 

61. He who listens to this excellent race of Ikshvaku everyday shall be freed from all sins. He is honoured in the heavenly region.