Summary
Ikshvaku's bloodline is narrated as custom demands to enquire into the bridegroom's lineage. Vashishta narrates this to Janaka and his brother Kushadhvaja, who is also summoned to participate in the wedding celebrations, and who later has to offer his two daughters to Bharata and Shatrughna. This listing and eulogizing [to speak or write in high praise] ancestors is an adjunctive [added] custom in Indian marriages. Nowadays it is limited to cite only three preceding generations, instead of narrating from the first, since nobody holds his family tree, ready at hand.
Chapter [Sarga] 70 – in Detail
tatah prabhaate janakah krita karmaa maharsibhih |
uvaaca vaakyam vaakyajnah shataanandam purohitam || 1-70-1
Then on the next day morning after getting the ritual liturgies [a rite or worship] performed through sages, he that articulator [put into words] Janaka articulated this to sage Shataananda, the royal priest. [1-70-1]
bhraataa mama mahaatejaa yaviiyaan atidhaarmikah |
kushadhvaja iti khyaatah puriim adhyavasat shubhaam || 1-70-2
vaaryaa phalaka paryantaam piban iksumatiim nadiim |
saankaashyaam punya sa.nkaashaam vimaanam iva puspakam || 1-70-3
My younger brother renowned thus as Kushadhvaja, a highly self-righteous one and a highly brilliant one is ruling from the auspicious and holy city named Saankaasya, which city is surrounded by River Ikshumati as a natural moat [a deep and wide trench around the rampart of a fortified place (as a castle) that is usually filled with water], in which moat bastions [positions] of tridents [3-pronged spears] are staked all around... and my brother presides over that city as if he is sitting in the Pushpaka aircraft of richly-rich God Kubera, and as though supping the sugarcane juice-like waters of River Ikshumati... [1-70-2, 3]
tam aham drastum icchaami yajna goptaa sa me matah |
priitim so api mahaatejaa imaam bhoktaa mayaa saha || 1-70-4
And I wish to see him, as he is the nominated benefactor of this Vedic-ritual of mine, and he too shall become a rejoicer in partaking the joyousness of this marriage... So said Janaka to Shataananda. [1-70-4]
evam ukto tu vacane shataana.ndasya sa.nnidhau |
aagataah kecid avyagraa janakah taan samaadishat || 1-70-5
That way when Janaka asseverated [declare positively] that enunciation [announcement] in the presence of Shataananda, Shataananda in turn ordered and summoned envoys [messengers], and then some alacritous [prompt or honest] envoys have come, whom Janaka ordered to proceed to his brother. [1-70-5]
shaasanaat tu narendrasya prayayuh shiighra vaajibhih |
samaanetum naravyaaghram visnum indra aajnayaa yathaa || 1-70-6
By the order of the king those envoys who have speedy horses have travelled on to city Saankaasya speedily, to lead forth that manly-tiger Kushadhvaja that speedily, which is as good as fetching Vishnu by order of Indra. [1-70-6]
samkaasyaam te samaagamya dadrishuh ca kushdhvajam |
nyavedayan yathaa vrittam janakasya ca cintitam || 1-70-7
On arriving in city Saankaasya those envoys have seen king Kushadhvaja and on submitting what has happened to the king about Rama's breaking of Shiva's bow, and they have also submitted the point of view of Janaka regarding marriages of four daughters. [1-70-7]
tad vrittam nripatih shrutvaa duuta shresthaih mahaa javaih |
aajnayaa tu narendrasya aajagaama kushadhvajah || 1-70-8
On hearing that event from the worthy envoys whose speed is praiseworthy, king Kushadhvaja came right away to Mithila by the order of king Janaka. [1-70-8]
sa dadarsha mahaatmaanam janakam dharma vatsalam |
so abhivaadya shataanandam janakam ca ati dhaarmikam || 1-70-9
raaja arham paramam divyam aasanam ca adhyarohata |
Kushadhvaja addressed himself to the insightful one and a compassionate person in the duty of an elder brother, namely Janaka, and on reverencing sage Shataananda firstly, next he has reverenced his fondly affectionate brother Janaka, and then he sat upon a majestic seat, that which is befitting to kings. [1-70-9, 10a]
upavistau ubhau tau tu bhraatarau amita ojasau || 1-70-10
presayaamaasatuh viirau mantri shrestham sudaamanam |
Both the brothers of unlimited self-refulgence [brilliance] having assumed their high seats, they who are distinguished for their righteous acts have started to send Sudaamana, the distinguished minister. [1-70-10b, 11a]
gaccha mantri pate shiighram iksvaakam amita prabham || 1-70-11
aatmajaih saha durdharsam aanayasva sa mantrinam |
Oh, minister plenipotentiary [invested with full power], Sudaamana, you please proceed immediately to king Dasharatha, the legatee of Ikshvaku-s with illimitable resplendence [splendor], and let that invincible king Dasharatha be led hither [to this place] along with his sons and along with his Vedic-celebrants... Thus Janaka ordered Sudaamana, the minister. [1-70-11b, 12a]
aupakaaryaam sa gatvaa tu raghuunaam kula vardhanam || 1-70-12
dadarsha shirasaa ca enam abhivaadya idam abraviit |
Accordingly Sudaamana has gone to the visitatorial-palace [relating to visitation] of the promoter of Raghu's heritage, namely Dasharatha, and he said this on appearing before that king duly bowing down and hailing the king. [1-70-12b, 13a]
ayodhyaa adhipate viira vaideho mithilaa adhipah || 1-70-13
sa tvaam drastum vyavasitah sa upaadhyaaya purohitam |
Oh, valiant king, oh, sovereign of Ayodhya, his highness the sovereign of Mithila from the heritage of Videha kings is poised for seeking an audience [interview] with your highness, along with your highness' royal-priest Vashishta and other mentors... The minister Sudaamana said so to Dasharatha. [1-70-13b, 14a]
mantri shrestha vacah shrutvaa raajaa sa risi ganah tadaa || 1-70-14
sa bandhuh agamat tatra janako yatra varhtate |
On hearing that best minister's words, then king Dasharatha came to the place where Janaka is available, along with his kinsmen and the assemblages of sages. [1-70-14b, 15a]
raajaa ca mantri sahitah sa upaadhyaayah sa baa.ndhavah || 1-70-15
vaakyam vaakya vidaam shrestho vaideham idam abraviit |
That sententious king Dasharatha said this to the king from the lineage of Videha kings, Janaka, who is with his mentors, kinsfolk, and ministers. [1-70-15b, 16a]
viditam te mahaaraaja iksvaaku kula daivatam || 1-70-16
vaktaa sarvesu krityesu vasistho bhagavaan risih |
Oh, exalted king Janaka, you already appreciate that this Godly sage Vashishta is Godlike to the bloodline of Ikshvaku-s, and in all affairs he is our internuncio [a messenger between two parties]... [1-70-16b, 17a]
vishvaamitra abhyanujnaatah saha sarvaih maharhsibhih || 1-70-17
esa vaksyati dharmaatmaa vasistho me yathaa kramam |
tuusniim bhuute dasharathe vasistho bhagavaan risih || 1-70-18
uvaaca vaakyam vaakyajno vaideham sa purodhasaam |
Should an assent be given by Sage Vishvamitra, along with all the great sages present here, this equanimous [in full control of your faculties] Vashishta will narrate about my bloodline, lineally... And, to the nod of Vishvamitra, Dasharatha become reticent [reserved], and then the Godly and sententious [moralistic in expression] sage Vashishta who is along with his men of the cloth [office] said these sentences to the king of Videha, namely Janaka. [1-70-17b, 18, 19a]
avyakta prabhavo brahmaa shaashvato nitya avyayah || 1-70-19
tasmaat mariicih sa.njajne mariiceh kashyapah sutah |
vivasvaan kashyapaat jajne manur vaivasvatah smritah || 1-70-20
The Un-provable emanated [said or published] the timeless, changeless and perish-less Brahma, and from that Being, namely Brahma, Mariichi is begotten, and Kashyapa is the son of Mariichi, and the Sun is begotten from Kashyapa, and Manu is said to be the son of the Sun... [1-70-19b, 20]
manuh prajaapatih puurvam iksvaakuh ca manoh sutah |
tam iksvaakum ayodhyaayaam raajaanam viddhi puurvakam || 1-70-21
Manu is the earliest Prajapati and Ikshvaku is the son of Manu, and that Ikshvaku is the first king of Ayodhya... know thus... [1-70-21]
iksvaakoh tu sutah shriimaan kuksih iti eva vishrutah |
kukseh atha aatmajah shriimaan vikukshih upapadyata || 1-70-22
The son of Ikshvaku is the legendary Kukshi, thus he is renowned, and the famous Vikukshi is the son of Kukshi... [1-70-22]
vikuksheh tu mahaatejaa baanah putrah prataapavaan |
baanasya tu mahaatejaa anaranyah prataapavaan || 1-70-23
From that most brilliant and courageous Vikukshi, Baana emerged as son, and the highly refulgent and valiant Anaranya is the son of Baana... [1-70-23]
anaranyaat prithuh jajne trishankuh tu prithoh sutah |
trishankoh abhavat putro dhundhumaarah mahaayashaah || 1-70-24
Pruthu is the son of Anaranya, and Trishanku is Pruthu's son, and the highly renowned Dhundumaara happened to be the son of Trishanku... [1-70-24]
dhundhumaaraat mahaatejaa yuvanaashvo mahaarathah |
yuvanaashva sutah asiit maandhaataa prithivii patih || 1-70-25
Dhundumaara begot a highly glorious and a speediest charioteer Yuvanaashva as son, and Mandhaata emerged as the son of Yuvanaashva... [1-70-25]
Some read the name Yuvanaashva or Yavanaashva as a title of Dhundumaara.
maandhaatuh tu sutah shriimaan susandhih udapadyata |
susandheh api putrau dvau dhruvasa.ndhih prasenajit || 1-70-26
Mandhaata engendered the highly noble Susandhi as son, and even Susandhi engendered [originate or bear] two sons, namely Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit... [1-70-26]
yashasvii dhruvasa.ndheh tu bharato naama naamatah |
bharataat tu mahaatejaa asito naama jaayata || 1-70-27
From Dhruvasandhi, an illustrious one named as Bharata is begotten, and Bharata begot a highly effulgent son named as Asita... [1-70-27]
yasya ete prati raajana udapatyanta shaatravah |
haihaya taalaja.nghaah ca shuuraah ca shashabi.ndvah || 1-70-28
To which Asita, kings like Haihaya-s, Taalajanghaa-s, and the valiant Shashabindu-s have become adversaries [enemies] and kings in hostility, he had to wage war with them... [1-70-28]
taan ca sa prati yuddhyan vai yuddhe raajaa pravaasitah |
himavantam upaagamya bhaaryaabhyaam sahitah tadaa || 1-70-29
While counterattacking those kings, Asita is dethroned in war and then he reached Himalayas along with his two wives... [1-70-29]
asito alpa balo raajaa kaala dharmam upeyivaan |
dve ca asya bhaarye garbhinyai babhuuvatuh iti shruti || 1-70-30
ekaa garbha vinaasha artham sapatnai sagaram dadau |
Asita was with his meager forces when he was in Himalayas, and there he drew nigh [near] of his Time. At the time of his demise two of his wives were pregnant, and one of two wives gave toxic food to the co-wife for abortion... thus we heard... [1-70-30-31a]
tatah shailavare ramye babhuuva abhirato munih || 1-70-31
bhaargava cyavano naama himava.ntam upaashritah |
There was a saint named Cyavana, the heir of Sage Bhrigu, who in fascination with best and beautiful mountains then taking shelter on Himalayas. [1-70-31b, 32a]
tatra ca ekaa mahaabhaagaa bhaargavam deva varcasam || 1-70-32
vavande padma patraakshii kaa.nkshantii sutam uttamam |
One of the two wives of Asita, the lotus-petal eyed and highly fortunate one queen came there desirous of a best son, and reverenced the sage who is Godly in his glow... [1-70-32b-33a]
tam risim saa abhyupagamya kaalindii ca abhyavaadata || 1-70-33
sa taam abhyavadat viprah putra iipsum putra janmani |
Another queen Kaalindi who administer food poison to her co-wife has also come to the sage, and she too reverenced him. That sage spoke to her who received poison from her co-wife regarding the birth of her son. [1-70-34]
tava kukshau mahaabhaage su putrah su mahaabalah || 1-70-34
mahaaviiryo mahaatejaa aciraat samjanisyati |
garena sahitah shriimaan maa shucah kamalekshane || 1-70-35
Oh, highly fortunate lady, a very good son and a very mighty son is there in your womb. Soon you will give birth to a highly vigorous, highly refulgent son and that illustrious one will take birth with toxicity, but there is no need to worry...' So said Sage Cyavana to the queen of Asita who received the poison. [1-70-35]
cyavanam ca namaskritya raajaputrii pativrataa |
patyaa virahitaa tasmaat putram devii vyajaayata || 1-70-36
On reverencing Sage Cyavana that husband devout princess whose husband is no more that lady gave birth to a son... [1-70-36]
sapatnyaa tu garah tasyaih datto garbha jighaamsayaa |
saha tena garena eva sa.mjaatah sagaroi abhavat || 1-70-37
Because he took birth along with the poison administered to his mother by her co-wife, he became Sagara, the emperor... [1-70-37]
sagarasya asya asama.njah tu asamanjaat atha a.mshumaan |
diliipo a.mshumatah putro diliipasya bhagiirathah || 1-70-38
From Sagara it is Asamanja and from Asamanja it is Anshuman, and from Anshuman it is Dileepa, and the son of Dileepa is Bhageeratha... [1-70-38]
bhagiirathaat kakutsthah ca kakutsthasya raghuh tathaa |
raghoh tu putrah tejasvii pravriddhah purusaadakah || 1-70-39
kalmaasapaado hi abhavat tasmaat jaatah tu shankhanah |
From Bhageeratha it is Kakutstha, from Kakutstha it is Raghu, and Raghu's son is the great resplendent Pravriddha, who is reduced to a human flesh eater, and he is also known as Kalmashapaada... and from him that Pravriddha, Shankana is born... [1-70-39, 40a]
sudarshanah sha.nkhanasya agnivarnah sudarshanaat || 1-70-40
shiighragah tu agnivarnasya shiighragasya maruh sutah |
maroh prashushrukah tu aasiit a.mbariisah prashushrukaat || 1-70-41
Shankana's son is Sudarshana, and from Sudarshana it is Agnivarsna... And Shiigraga is the son of Agnivarsna, and Shiighraga's son is Maru and from Maru it is Prashushruka, and Ambariisha is the son of Prashushruka... [1-70-41]
ambariisasya putro abhuut nahusah ca mahiipatih |
nahusasya yayaatih tu naabhaagah tu yayaati jah || 1-70-42
Ambariisha's son was Nahusha, the emperor and Yayaati is the son of Nahusha, but Naabhaaga is born to Yayaati... [1-70-42]
naabhaagasya bhabhuuva aja ajaat dasharatho abhavat |
asmaat dasharathaat jaatau bhraatarau raama laksmanau || 1-70-43
Aja was Naabhaaga's son and from Aja, this Dasharatha is manifest, and from him, from this Dasharatha, these brothers, Rama and Lakshmana are born... [1-70-43]
aadi vamsha vishuddhaanaam raajnaam parama dharminaam |
iksvaaku kula jaataanaam viiraanaam satya vaadinaam || 1-70-44
raama laksmanayoh arthe tvat sute varaye nripa |
sadrishaabhyaam narashrestha sadrishe daatum ar.hhasi || 1-70-45
Oh, best one among men, Janaka, from the beginning this bloodline of Ikshvaku-s is spotlessly immaculate, immensely impeccable, indomitable, and irreproachable, and in respect of these kings born in this line of blood, oh, king Janaka, I espouse that it will be meetly of you to offer your seemly daughters to this seemly pair of Rama and Lakshmana... So said Vashishta to king Janaka. [1-70-44, 45]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande saptatitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 70th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate