Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord Rāmacandra
This chapter describes the dynasty of Kuśa, the son of Lord Rāmacandra. The members of this dynasty are descendants of Śaśāda, the son of Mahārāja Ikṣvāku.
Following in the genealogical table of Lord Rāmacandra’s dynasty, Kuśa, the Lord’s son, was followed consecutively by Atithi, Niṣadha, Nabha, Puṇḍarīka, Kṣemadhanvā, Devānīka, Anīha, Pāriyātra, Balasthala, Vajranābha, Sagaṇa and Vidhṛti. These personalities ruled the world. From Vidhṛti came Hiraṇyanābha, who later became the disciple of Jaimini and propounded the system of mystic yoga in which Yājñavalkya was initiated. Following in this dynasty were Puṣpa, Dhruvasandhi, Sudarśana, Agnivarṇa, Śīghra and Maru. Maru attained full perfection in the practice of yoga, and he still lives in the village of Kalāpa. At the end of this Age of Kali, he will revive the dynasty of the sun-god. Next in the dynasty were Prasuśruta, Sandhi, Amarṣaṇa, Mahasvān, Viśvabāhu, Prasenajit, Takṣaka and Bṛhadbala, who was later killed by Abhimanyu. Śukadeva Gosvāmī said that these were all kings who had passed away. The future descendants of Bṛhadbala will be Bṛhadraṇa, Ūrukriya, Vatsavṛddha, Prativyoma, Bhānu, Divāka, Sahadeva, Bṛhadaśva, Bhānumān, Pratīkāśva, Supratīka, Marudeva, Sunakṣatra, Puṣkara, Antarikṣa, Sutapā, Amitrajit, Bṛhadrāja, Barhi, Kṛtañjaya, Raṇañjaya, Sañjaya, Śākya, Śuddhoda, Lāṅgala, Prasenajit, Kṣudraka, Raṇaka, Suratha and Sumitra. All of them will become kings one after another. Sumitra, coming in this Age of Kali, will be the last king in the Ikṣvāku dynasty; after him, the dynasty will be extinguished.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
कुशस्य चातिथिस्तस्मान्निषधस्तत्सुतो नभ: ।
पुण्डरीकोऽथ तत्पुत्र: क्षेमधन्वाभवत्तत: ॥ १ ॥
कुशस्य चातिथिस्तस्मान्निषधस्तत्सुतो नभ: ।
पुण्डरीकोऽथ तत्पुत्र: क्षेमधन्वाभवत्तत: ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
kuśasya cātithis tasmān
niṣadhas tat-suto nabhaḥ
puṇḍarīko ’tha tat-putraḥ
kṣemadhanvābhavat tataḥ
kuśasya cātithis tasmān
niṣadhas tat-suto nabhaḥ
puṇḍarīko ’tha tat-putraḥ
kṣemadhanvābhavat tataḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; kuśasya — of Kuśa, the son of Lord Rāmacandra; ca — also; atithiḥ — Atithi; tasmāt — from him; niṣadhaḥ — Niṣadha; tat-sutaḥ — his son; nabhaḥ — Nabha; puṇḍarīkaḥ — Puṇḍarīka; atha — thereafter; tat-putraḥ — his son; kṣemadhanvā — Kṣemadhanvā; abhavat — became; tataḥ — thereafter.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The son of Rāmacandra was Kuśa, the son of Kuśa was Atithi, the son of Atithi was Niṣadha, and the son of Niṣadha was Nabha. The son of Nabha was Puṇḍarīka, and from Puṇḍarīka came a son named Kṣemadhanvā.
Devanagari
देवानीकस्ततोऽनीह: पारियात्रोऽथ तत्सुत: ।
ततो बलस्थलस्तस्माद् वज्रनाभोऽर्कसम्भव: ॥ २ ॥
ततो बलस्थलस्तस्माद् वज्रनाभोऽर्कसम्भव: ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
devānīkas tato ’nīhaḥ
pāriyātro ’tha tat-sutaḥ
tato balasthalas tasmād
vajranābho ’rka-sambhavaḥ
pāriyātro ’tha tat-sutaḥ
tato balasthalas tasmād
vajranābho ’rka-sambhavaḥ
Synonyms
devānīkaḥ — Devānīka; tataḥ — from Kṣemadhanvā; anīhaḥ — from Devānīka came the son named Anīha; pāriyātraḥ — Pāriyātra; atha — thereafter; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Anīha; tataḥ — from Pāriyātra; balasthalaḥ — Balasthala; tasmāt — from Balasthala; vajranābhaḥ — Vajranābha; arka-sambhavaḥ — derived from the sun-god.
Translation
The son of Kṣemadhanvā was Devānīka, Devānīka’s son was Anīha, Anīha’s son was Pāriyātra, and Pāriyātra’s son was Balasthala. The son of Balasthala was Vajranābha, who was said to have been born from the effulgence of the sun-god.
Devanagari
सगणस्तत्सुतस्तस्माद् विधृतिश्चाभवत् सुत: ।
ततो हिरण्यनाभोऽभूद् योगाचार्यस्तु जैमिने: ॥ ३ ॥
शिष्य: कौशल्य आध्यात्मं याज्ञवल्क्योऽध्यगाद् यत: ।
योगं महोदयम् ऋषिर्हृदयग्रन्थिभेदकम् ॥ ४ ॥
ततो हिरण्यनाभोऽभूद् योगाचार्यस्तु जैमिने: ॥ ३ ॥
शिष्य: कौशल्य आध्यात्मं याज्ञवल्क्योऽध्यगाद् यत: ।
योगं महोदयम् ऋषिर्हृदयग्रन्थिभेदकम् ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
sagaṇas tat-sutas tasmād
vidhṛtiś cābhavat sutaḥ
tato hiraṇyanābho ’bhūd
yogācāryas tu jaimineḥ
vidhṛtiś cābhavat sutaḥ
tato hiraṇyanābho ’bhūd
yogācāryas tu jaimineḥ
śiṣyaḥ kauśalya ādhyātmaṁ
yājñavalkyo ’dhyagād yataḥ
yogaṁ mahodayam ṛṣir
hṛdaya-granthi-bhedakam
yājñavalkyo ’dhyagād yataḥ
yogaṁ mahodayam ṛṣir
hṛdaya-granthi-bhedakam
Synonyms
sagaṇaḥ — Sagaṇa; tat — this (Vajranābha’s); sutaḥ — son; tasmāt — from him; vidhṛtiḥ — Vidhṛti; ca — also; abhavat — was born; sutaḥ — his son; tataḥ — from him; hiraṇyanābhaḥ — Hiraṇyanābha; abhūt — became; yoga-ācāryaḥ — the propounder of the philosophy of yoga; tu — but; jaimineḥ — because of accepting Jaimini as his spiritual master; śiṣyaḥ — disciple; kauśalyaḥ — Kauśalya; ādhyātmam — spiritual; yājñavalkyaḥ — Yājñavalkya; adhyagāt — studied; yataḥ — from him (Hiraṇyanābha); yogam — the mystic performances; mahā-udayam — highly elevated; ṛṣiḥ — Yājñavalkya Ṛṣi; hṛdaya-granthi-bhedakam — mystic yoga, which can loosen the knots of material attachment in the heart.
Translation
The son of Vajranābha was Sagaṇa, and his son was Vidhṛti. The son of Vidhṛti was Hiraṇyanābha, who became a disciple of Jaimini and became a great ācārya of mystic yoga. It is from Hiraṇyanābha that the great saint Yājñavalkya learned the highly elevated system of mystic yoga known as ādhyātma-yoga, which can loosen the knots of material attachment in the heart.
Devanagari
पुष्पो हिरण्यनाभस्य ध्रुवसन्धिस्ततोऽभवत् ।
सुदर्शनोऽथाग्निवर्ण: शीघ्रस्तस्य मरु: सुत: ॥ ५ ॥
सुदर्शनोऽथाग्निवर्ण: शीघ्रस्तस्य मरु: सुत: ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
puṣpo hiraṇyanābhasya
dhruvasandhis tato ’bhavat
sudarśano ’thāgnivarṇaḥ
śīghras tasya maruḥ sutaḥ
dhruvasandhis tato ’bhavat
sudarśano ’thāgnivarṇaḥ
śīghras tasya maruḥ sutaḥ
Synonyms
puṣpaḥ — Puṣpa; hiraṇyanābhasya — the son of Hiraṇyanābha; dhruvasandhiḥ — Dhruvasandhi; tataḥ — from him; abhavat — was born; sudarśanaḥ — from Dhruvasandhi, Sudarśana was born; atha — thereafter; agnivarṇaḥ — Agnivarṇa, the son of Sudarśana; śīghraḥ — Śīghra; tasya — his (Agnivarṇa’s); maruḥ — Maru; sutaḥ — son.
Translation
The son of Hiraṇyanābha was Puṣpa, and the son of Puṣpa was Dhruvasandhi. The son of Dhruvasandhi was Sudarśana, whose son was Agnivarṇa. The son of Agnivarṇa was named Śīghra, and his son was Maru.
Devanagari
सोऽसावास्ते योगसिद्ध: कलापग्राममास्थित: ।
कलेरन्ते सूर्यवंशं नष्टं भावयिता पुन: ॥ ६ ॥
कलेरन्ते सूर्यवंशं नष्टं भावयिता पुन: ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
so ’sāv āste yoga-siddhaḥ
kalāpa-grāmam āsthitaḥ
kaler ante sūrya-vaṁśaṁ
naṣṭaṁ bhāvayitā punaḥ
kalāpa-grāmam āsthitaḥ
kaler ante sūrya-vaṁśaṁ
naṣṭaṁ bhāvayitā punaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — he; asau — the personality known as Maru; āste — still existing; yoga-siddhaḥ — perfection in the power of mystic yoga; kalāpa-grāmam — the place named Kalāpa-grāma; āsthitaḥ — he is still living there; kaleḥ — of this Kali-yuga; ante — at the end; sūrya-vaṁśam — the descendants of the sun-god; naṣṭam — after being lost; bhāvayitā — Maru will begin by begetting a son; punaḥ — again.
Translation
Having achieved perfection in the power of mystic yoga, Maru still lives in a place known as Kalāpa-grāma. At the end of Kali-yuga, he will revive the lost Sūrya dynasty by begetting a son.
Purport
At least five thousand years ago, Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī ascertained the existence of Maru in Kalāpa-grāma and said that Maru, having achieved a yoga-siddha body, would continue to exist until the end of Kali-yuga, which is calculated to continue for 432,000 years. Such is the perfection of mystic power. By controlling the breath, the perfect yogī can continue his life for as long as he likes. Sometimes we hear from the Vedic literature that some personalities from the Vedic age, such as Vyāsadeva and Aśvatthāmā, are still living. Here we understand that Maru is also still living. We are sometimes surprised that a mortal body can live for such a long time. The explanation of this longevity is given here by the word yoga-siddha. If one becomes perfect in the practice of yoga, he can live as long as he likes. The demonstration of some trifling yoga-siddha does not constitute perfection. Here is a factual example of perfection: a yoga-siddha can live as long as he likes.
Devanagari
तस्मात् प्रसुश्रुतस्तस्य सन्धिस्तस्याप्यमर्षण: ।
महस्वांस्तत्सुतस्तस्माद् विश्वबाहुरजायत ॥ ७ ॥
महस्वांस्तत्सुतस्तस्माद् विश्वबाहुरजायत ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
tasmāt prasuśrutas tasya
sandhis tasyāpy amarṣaṇaḥ
mahasvāṁs tat-sutas tasmād
viśvabāhur ajāyata
sandhis tasyāpy amarṣaṇaḥ
mahasvāṁs tat-sutas tasmād
viśvabāhur ajāyata
Synonyms
tasmāt — from Maru; prasuśrutaḥ — Prasuśruta, his son; tasya — of Prasuśruta; sandhiḥ — a son named Sandhi; tasya — his (Sandhi’s); api — also; amarṣaṇaḥ — a son named Amarṣaṇa; mahasvān — the son of Amarṣaṇa; tat — his; sutaḥ — son; tasmāt — from him (Mahasvān); viśvabāhuḥ — Viśvabāhu; ajāyata — took birth.
Translation
From Maru was born a son named Prasuśruta, from Prasuśruta came Sandhi, from Sandhi came Amarṣaṇa, and from Amarṣaṇa a son named Mahasvān. From Mahasvān, Viśvabāhu took his birth.
Devanagari
तत: प्रसेनजित् तस्मात् तक्षको भविता पुन: ।
ततो बृहद्बलो यस्तु पित्रा ते समरे हत: ॥ ८ ॥
ततो बृहद्बलो यस्तु पित्रा ते समरे हत: ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
tataḥ prasenajit tasmāt
takṣako bhavitā punaḥ
tato bṛhadbalo yas tu
pitrā te samare hataḥ
takṣako bhavitā punaḥ
tato bṛhadbalo yas tu
pitrā te samare hataḥ
Synonyms
Translation
From Viśvabāhu came a son named Prasenajit, from Prasenajit came Takṣaka, and from Takṣaka came Bṛhadbala, who was killed in a fight by your father.
Devanagari
एते हीक्ष्वाकुभूपाला अतीता: शृण्वनागतान् ।
बृहद्बलस्य भविता पुत्रो नाम्ना बृहद्रण: ॥ ९ ॥
बृहद्बलस्य भविता पुत्रो नाम्ना बृहद्रण: ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
ete hīkṣvāku-bhūpālā
atītāḥ śṛṇv anāgatān
bṛhadbalasya bhavitā
putro nāmnā bṛhadraṇaḥ
atītāḥ śṛṇv anāgatān
bṛhadbalasya bhavitā
putro nāmnā bṛhadraṇaḥ
Synonyms
ete — all of them; hi — indeed; ikṣvāku-bhūpālāḥ — kings in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku; atītāḥ — all of them are dead and gone; śṛṇu — just hear; anāgatān — those who will come in the future; bṛhadbalasya — of Bṛhadbala; bhavitā — there will be; putraḥ — a son; nāmnā — by the name; bṛhadraṇaḥ — Bṛhadraṇa.
Translation
All these kings in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku have passed away. Now please listen as I describe the kings who will be born in the future. From Bṛhadbala will come Bṛhadraṇa.
Devanagari
ऊरुक्रिय: सुतस्तस्य वत्सवृद्धो भविष्यति ।
प्रतिव्योमस्ततो भानुर्दिवाको वाहिनीपति: ॥ १० ॥
प्रतिव्योमस्ततो भानुर्दिवाको वाहिनीपति: ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
ūrukriyaḥ sutas tasya
vatsavṛddho bhaviṣyati
prativyomas tato bhānur
divāko vāhinī-patiḥ
vatsavṛddho bhaviṣyati
prativyomas tato bhānur
divāko vāhinī-patiḥ
Synonyms
ūrukriyaḥ — Ūrukriya; sutaḥ — son; tasya — of Ūrukriya; vatsavṛddhaḥ — Vatsavṛddha; bhaviṣyati — will take birth; prativyomaḥ — Prativyoma; tataḥ — from Vatsavṛddha; bhānuḥ — (from Prativyoma) a son named Bhānu; divākaḥ — from Bhānu a son named Divāka; vāhinī-patiḥ — a great commander of soldiers.
Translation
The son of Bṛhadraṇa will be Ūrukriya, who will have a son named Vatsavṛddha. Vatsavṛddha will have a son named Prativyoma, and Prativyoma will have a son named Bhānu, from whom Divāka, a great commander of soldiers, will take birth.
Devanagari
सहदेवस्ततो वीरो बृहदश्वोऽथ भानुमान् ।
प्रतीकाश्वो भानुमत: सुप्रतीकोऽथ तत्सुत: ॥ ११ ॥
प्रतीकाश्वो भानुमत: सुप्रतीकोऽथ तत्सुत: ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
sahadevas tato vīro
bṛhadaśvo ’tha bhānumān
pratīkāśvo bhānumataḥ
supratīko ’tha tat-sutaḥ
bṛhadaśvo ’tha bhānumān
pratīkāśvo bhānumataḥ
supratīko ’tha tat-sutaḥ
Synonyms
sahadevaḥ — Sahadeva; tataḥ — from Divāka; vīraḥ — a great hero; bṛhadaśvaḥ — Bṛhadaśva; atha — from him; bhānumān — Bhānumān; pratīkāśvaḥ — Pratīkāśva; bhānumataḥ — from Bhānumān; supratīkaḥ — Supratīka; atha — thereafter; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Pratīkāśva.
Translation
Thereafter, from Divāka will come a son named Sahadeva, and from Sahadeva a great hero named Bṛhadaśva. From Bṛhadaśva will come Bhānumān, and from Bhānumān will come Pratīkāśva. The son of Pratīkāśva will be Supratīka.
Devanagari
भविता मरुदेवोऽथ सुनक्षत्रोऽथ पुष्कर: ।
तस्यान्तरिक्षस्तत्पुत्र: सुतपास्तदमित्रजित् ॥ १२ ॥
तस्यान्तरिक्षस्तत्पुत्र: सुतपास्तदमित्रजित् ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
bhavitā marudevo ’tha
sunakṣatro ’tha puṣkaraḥ
tasyāntarikṣas tat-putraḥ
sutapās tad amitrajit
sunakṣatro ’tha puṣkaraḥ
tasyāntarikṣas tat-putraḥ
sutapās tad amitrajit
Synonyms
Translation
Thereafter, from Supratīka will come Marudeva; from Marudeva, Sunakṣatra; from Sunakṣatra, Puṣkara; and from Puṣkara, Antarikṣa. The son of Antarikṣa will be Sutapā, and his son will be Amitrajit.
Devanagari
बृहद्राजस्तु तस्यापि बर्हिस्तस्मात् कृतञ्जय: ।
रणञ्जयस्तस्य सुत: सञ्जयो भविता तत: ॥ १३ ॥
रणञ्जयस्तस्य सुत: सञ्जयो भविता तत: ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
bṛhadrājas tu tasyāpi
barhis tasmāt kṛtañjayaḥ
raṇañjayas tasya sutaḥ
sañjayo bhavitā tataḥ
barhis tasmāt kṛtañjayaḥ
raṇañjayas tasya sutaḥ
sañjayo bhavitā tataḥ
Synonyms
bṛhadrājaḥ — Bṛhadrāja; tu — but; tasya api — of Amitrajit; barhiḥ — Barhi; tasmāt — from Barhi; kṛtañjayaḥ — Kṛtañjaya; raṇañjayaḥ — Raṇañjaya; tasya — of Kṛtañjaya; sutaḥ — son; sañjayaḥ — Sañjaya; bhavitā — will take birth; tataḥ — from Raṇañjaya.
Translation
From Amitrajit will come a son named Bṛhadrāja, from Bṛhadrāja will come Barhi, and from Barhi will come Kṛtañjaya. The son of Kṛtañjaya will be known as Raṇañjaya, and from him will come a son named Sañjaya.
Devanagari
तस्माच्छाक्योऽथ शुद्धोदो लाङ्गलस्तत्सुत: स्मृत: ।
तत: प्रसेनजित् तस्मात् क्षुद्रको भविता तत: ॥ १४ ॥
तत: प्रसेनजित् तस्मात् क्षुद्रको भविता तत: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
tasmāc chākyo ’tha śuddhodo
lāṅgalas tat-sutaḥ smṛtaḥ
tataḥ prasenajit tasmāt
kṣudrako bhavitā tataḥ
lāṅgalas tat-sutaḥ smṛtaḥ
tataḥ prasenajit tasmāt
kṣudrako bhavitā tataḥ
Synonyms
Translation
From Sañjaya will come Śākya, from Śākya will come Śuddhoda, and from Śuddhoda will come Lāṅgala. From Lāṅgala will come Prasenajit, and from Prasenajit, Kṣudraka.
Devanagari
रणको भविता तस्मात् सुरथस्तनयस्तत: ।
सुमित्रो नाम निष्ठान्त एते बार्हद्बलान्वया: ॥ १५ ॥
सुमित्रो नाम निष्ठान्त एते बार्हद्बलान्वया: ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
raṇako bhavitā tasmāt
surathas tanayas tataḥ
sumitro nāma niṣṭhānta
ete bārhadbalānvayāḥ
surathas tanayas tataḥ
sumitro nāma niṣṭhānta
ete bārhadbalānvayāḥ
Synonyms
raṇakaḥ — Raṇaka; bhavitā — will take birth; tasmāt — from Kṣudraka; surathaḥ — Suratha; tanayaḥ — the son; tataḥ — thereafter; sumitraḥ — Sumitra, the son of Suratha; nāma — by the name; niṣṭhā-antaḥ — the end of the dynasty; ete — all the above-mentioned kings; bārhadbala-anvayāḥ — in the dynasty of King Bṛhadbala.
Translation
From Kṣudraka will come Raṇaka, from Raṇaka will come Suratha, and from Suratha will come Sumitra, ending the dynasty. This is a description of the dynasty of Bṛhadbala.
Devanagari
इक्ष्वाकूणामयं वंश: सुमित्रान्तो भविष्यति ।
यतस्तं प्राप्य राजानं संस्थां प्राप्स्यति वै कलौ ॥ १६ ॥
यतस्तं प्राप्य राजानं संस्थां प्राप्स्यति वै कलौ ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
ikṣvākūṇām ayaṁ vaṁśaḥ
sumitrānto bhaviṣyati
yatas taṁ prāpya rājānaṁ
saṁsthāṁ prāpsyati vai kalau
sumitrānto bhaviṣyati
yatas taṁ prāpya rājānaṁ
saṁsthāṁ prāpsyati vai kalau
Synonyms
ikṣvākūṇām — of the dynasty of King Ikṣvāku; ayam — this (what has been described); vaṁśaḥ — descendants; sumitra-antaḥ — Sumitra being the last king of this dynasty; bhaviṣyati — will appear in the future, while the Kali-yuga still continues; yataḥ — because; tam — him, Mahārāja Sumitra; prāpya — getting; rājānam — as a king in that dynasty; saṁsthām — culmination; prāpsyati — gets; vai — indeed; kalau — at the end of Kali-yuga.
Translation
The last king in the dynasty of Ikṣvāku will be Sumitra; after Sumitra there will be no more sons in the dynasty of the sun-god, and thus the dynasty will end.
Purport
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Dynasty of Kuśa, the Son of Lord Rāmacandra.”