The Story of Yayāti (ch 66-67, Linga Mahapurana)

Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

Chapter 66
षट्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः
ṣaṭṣaṣṭitamo’dhyāyaḥ

The Story of Yayāti

SYNOPSIS

This chapter provides a detailed account of the genealogy and notable deeds of several royal lineages in ancient Vedic history, specifically focusing on the Ikṣavāku dynasty and the Aila dynasty. The story is framed within a series of narratives that emphasize the importance of divine favor, righteous actions (dharma), and the succession of kings who shaped the history of the land.

The Ikṣavāku Dynasty

The story begins with Tridhanvan, who, by the grace of the god Taṇḍin, attains the merit equivalent to a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices and becomes the chief of Śiva's gaṇas (followers). He becomes revered by all gods, and his lineage continues with his son, Trayyāruṇa, an intelligent king who has a courageous son named Satyavrata (later known as Triśaṅku).

Triśaṅku's journey is marked by struggles and divine interventions. After killing the king of Vidarbha, he marries his daughter and ascends to prominence. However, his father Trayyāruṇa, dissatisfied with him, abandons him, instructing him to live among the Cāṇḍālas. After this exile, Triśaṅku's life takes a dramatic turn when the sage Viśvāmitra grants him a boon, restoring his kingship and sending him to the heavens, defying the rules set by the sage Vasiṣṭha. Triśaṅku's son, Hariścandra, is born, marking the continuation of the line with his own son, Rohita, and subsequent descendants.

The dynasty grows in power, and several other notable figures emerge, such as Dhundhu, Vijaya, and Rucaka. Sagara, a deeply religious king, plays a key role in the narrative. He has two queens, Prabhā and Bhānumatī, who are blessed by the sage Aurva with children. Prabhā gives birth to sixty thousand sons, who are tragically consumed by fire while digging the earth, a result of a curse linked to Viṣṇu's cosmic forces. Bhānumatī, on the other hand, has only one son, Asamañjasa, whose son, Aṁśumān, continues the legacy, leading to Dilīpa and his famous descendant, Bhagīratha.

The Legend of Bhagīratha

Bhagīratha's devotion and penance to bring the sacred Gaṅgā river to earth become central to this section. His efforts culminate in the river descending to earth, and thus, Gaṅgā becomes known as Bhāgīrathī in honor of his determination. Bhagīratha's son Śruta is mentioned as part of this divine lineage.

Further descendants of Ambarīṣa, a king noted for his devotion to Viṣṇu, include Sindhudvīpa, his son Ayutāya, and Ayutayuṣa, who befriends the renowned gambler-king Nala. This intertwining of noble bloodlines leads to many more powerful and virtuous kings, including Sudāsa, Kalmāṣapāda, Aśmaka, and his successors like Mūlaka and Śataratha.

The Transition to the Raghu Dynasty

From Śataratha, the Ikṣavāku dynasty shifts to Ilābila and his son Vṛddhaśarmā, whose progeny include the illustrious Raghu. Raghu's line gives birth to the valiant Aja, the father of Daśaratha, and subsequently Rāma, whose life and heroism are central to the narrative of the Raghuvamsa. Rāma, known for his righteousness, defeats Rāvaṇa in battle, performs great sacrifices, and rules his kingdom for a thousand years. His sons Kuśa and Lava continue the legacy, with Kuśa being the father of Aithi, and Aithi's son Niśadha.

The lineage continues through successive kings, including Nala of Niṣadha and Puṇḍarīka, who later led to Sahasrāśva and his descendants like Candrāvaloka and Tārāpīḍha. The genealogy stretches through Candrāvaloka, whose son, Bhānucandra, fathers Śrutāya (or Bṛhadbala), who is ultimately slain by Abhimanyu during the Mahābhārata war.

The Aila Dynasty

The narrative then shifts to the Aila dynasty, beginning with Purūravas, the son of Ilā and a devotee of Rudra. Purūravas rules Prayāga and is described as a powerful and revered king. He has six sons with the celestial nymph Urvaśī, who are noted for their divine nature and worship of Śiva. These sons are Āyu, Māyu, Amāyu, Viśvāyu, Śrutāyu, and Śatāyu, each contributing to the royal line in various ways.

The Rise of Nahusa

Among Āyu's sons, Nahusa is particularly notable, being well-versed in Dharma and becoming a king renowned throughout the world. Nahusa's successors, including Yati, Yayāti, Saṅyāti, Āyāti, Andhaka, and Vijāti, further solidified the dynasty's power. Yati, the eldest son, renounces worldly desires and merges with Brahman, while Yayāti, the youngest, marries Devayānī (the daughter of Śukrācārya) and Śarmiṣṭhā (the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā). Yayāti’s story is central to this section, as he conquers the earth and engages in significant divine deeds. He has two sons, Yadu and Turvasu, with Devayānī, and three sons, Puru, Anu, and Druhya, with Śarmiṣṭhā.

Yayāti’s wisdom, his devotion to Śiva, and his role as a monarch make him a pivotal figure in this lineage. After fulfilling his role as king, Yayāti decides to crown his son Puru, the youngest, over his elder sons, breaking with traditional succession practices in favor of deeper spiritual reasoning.

Conclusion

The text concludes by noting how Puru succeeds Yayāti as king, despite the protests from those who believe in traditional succession rules. His story emphasizes the importance of righteous action over birthright and the influence of divine will and dharma in shaping the destiny of kings and their kingdoms. This complex tapestry of royal lineages, divine blessings, and moral decisions showcases the intertwined fates of kings, sages, and gods in ancient Indian mythology.

Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa
सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः 
saptaṣaṣṭitamo’dhyāyaḥ

CHAPTER 67

Story of Yayati of Somavamsa 

SYNOPSIS

The story of King Yayāti is a profound narrative of duty, devotion, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. It begins with Yayāti, a descendant of the illustrious Nahuṣa, making the unconventional decision to crown his youngest son, Puru, as his successor instead of his eldest son, Yadu. This decision surprises the people of his kingdom, including the Brāhmaṇas and members of all castes, who question Yayāti’s motives. They remind him of the traditional dharma, which mandates that the eldest son inherits the throne. However, Yayāti explains his reasoning with clarity and conviction.

Yayāti reveals that Yadu, his eldest son, had disobeyed him when he sought his sons' help to transfer his old age to them, a condition imposed on him by Śukrācārya as a result of a curse. While Yadu and his other sons—Turvasu, Druhya, and Anu—refused to comply, it was Puru, the youngest, who dutifully accepted his father’s request. Yayāti emphasizes that obedience to one’s parents and adherence to their wishes are paramount virtues. He argues that a son who respects and fulfills his parents’ desires is worthy of respect and leadership, regardless of birth order. Moreover, Yayāti recalls that Śukrācārya himself decreed that the son who supported him in this unique trial would inherit the throne. Thus, Puru’s devotion and selflessness earn him the right to rule.

The people of the kingdom, impressed by Yayāti’s reasoning and the divine sanction behind his decision, wholeheartedly accept Puru as the rightful heir. Yayāti then crowns Puru as king and entrusts his other sons with governance over different regions of the kingdom. Turvasu is assigned the southern quarters, Anu the eastern region, and Druhya the western territories. Having distributed his kingdom among his sons, Yayāti relinquishes his royal duties and contemplates the deeper truths of life.

The narrative then shifts focus to Yayāti’s reflections on desire and the human condition. He observes that worldly desires are insatiable, much like flames fed with ghee, which only grow stronger. Wealth, material possessions, and pleasures cannot quench the endless thirst of the human mind. Yayāti warns that even as the body ages, desires remain undiminished, often becoming stronger with time. He teaches that true fulfillment lies not in indulging desires but in mastering and ultimately transcending them. The happiness derived from overcoming worldly cravings far surpasses even the combined pleasures of earthly riches and divine joys in heaven.

Inspired by these realizations, Yayāti retires to the forest with his queens to lead a life of penance and spiritual discipline. On the Bhṛgutuṅga mountain, he performs intense austerities, eventually attaining liberation and ascending to heaven. His life serves as a lesson in the virtues of selflessness, humility, and the pursuit of spiritual wisdom.

The descendants of Yayāti, led by the virtuous Puru, continue his legacy, earning the admiration of sages, gods, and mortals alike. Their glory spreads far and wide, much like the rays of the sun illuminating the earth. The story concludes with a blessing: anyone who reads or listens to the tale of Yayāti’s life gains long life, spiritual merit, and a place of honor in the divine abode of Lord Śiva.

(intro from the previous chapter)

Sūta said:

Nahuṣa's son Yayāti crowned Puru - his son, as the king after himself. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, it was by Puru alone, that he had been helped before. People of all the castes, including the leading Brāhmaṇas, spoke to the king who was desirous of crowning his youngest son- "O Lord, how does the youngest son deserve the kingdom after overlooking the claim of the eldest son Yadu, the son of Devayānī and the grandson of Śukra? We are addressing you to keep alive the traditional dharma."

Chapter 67

सूत उवाच
त्रिधन्वा देवदेवस्य प्रसादात्तण्डिनस्तथा । 
अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्य प्रयत्नतः ॥ १ ॥ 
गाणपत्यं दृढं प्राप्तः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः । 
आसीत्त्रिधन्वनश्चापि विद्वांस्त्रय्यारुणो नृपः ॥ २॥

sūta uvāca
tridhanvā devadevasya prasādāttaṇḍinastathā | 
aśvamedhasahasrasya phalaṃ prāpya prayatnataḥ || 1 || 
gāṇapatyaṃ dṛḍhaṃ prāptaḥ sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ | 
āsīttridhanvanaścāpi vidvāṃstrayyāruṇo nṛpaḥ || 2||

Sūta said-

By the grace of Taṇḍin, the god of gods, Tridhanvan acquired the merit of a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices and also achieved the position of the chief of the gaṇas of Śiva. He became adorable by all the gods. Then, Trayyāruṇa —  the intelligent king, became a descendent of Ātridhanvā.

तस्य सत्यव्रतो नाम कुमारोऽभून्महाबलः । 
तेन भार्या विदर्भस्य हृता हत्वामितौजसम् ॥३॥ 
पाणिग्रहणमंत्रेषु निष्ठामप्रापितेष्विह । 
तेनाधर्मेण संयुक्तं राजा त्रय्यारुणोऽत्यजत् ॥४॥

tasya satyavrato nāma kumāro’bhūnmahābalaḥ | 
tena bhāryā vidarbhasya hṛtā hatvāmitaujasam ||3|| 
pāṇigrahaṇamaṃtreṣu niṣṭhāmaprāpiteṣviha | 
tenādharmeṇa saṃyuktaṃ rājā trayyāruṇo’tyajat ||4||

He had an extremely valorous son named Satyavrata. He, after killing the illustrious king of Vidarbha, married his daughter with the reciting of the Vedic mantras and declared her as his queen. King Trayyāruṇa, getting dissatisfied with his performance, abandoned his son.

पितरं सोब्रवीत्त्यक्तः क्व गच्छामीति वै द्विजाः । 
पिता त्वेनमथोवाच श्वपाकैः सह वर्तय ॥५॥
pitaraṃ sobravīttyaktaḥ kva gacchāmīti vai dvijāḥ | 

pitā tvenamathovāca śvapākaiḥ saha vartaya ||5||

After discarding his son, his son asked the father, “Where shall I go?” The father then replied, "You go to Cāṇḍālas and live with them."

इत्युक्तः स विचक्राम नगराद्वचनात् पितुः । 
स तु सत्यव्रतो धीमाञ्छ्वपाकावसथान्तिके ॥६॥
पित्रा त्यक्तोऽवसद्वीरः पिता चास्य वनं ययौ । 
सर्वलोकेषु विख्यातस्त्रिशंकुरिति वीर्यवान् ॥७॥ 
वसिष्ठकोपात्पुण्यात्मा राजा सत्यव्रतः पुरा । 
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वरं दत्त्वा त्रिशङ्कवे ॥ ८ ॥
 राज्येऽभिषिच्यं तं पित्र्ये याजयामास तं मुनिः । 
मिषतां देवतानां च वसिष्ठस्य च कौशिकः॥९॥ 
सशरीरं तदा तं वै दिवमारोपयद्विभुः । 
तस्य सत्यव्रता नाम भार्या कैकयवंशजा ॥ १० ॥ 
कुमारं जनयामास हरिश्चंद्रमकल्मषम् । 
हरिश्चंद्रस्य च सुतो रोहितो नाम वीर्यवान् ॥ ११॥

ityuktaḥ sa vicakrāma nagarādvacanāt pituḥ | 
sa tu satyavrato dhīmāñchvapākāvasathāntike ||6||
pitrā tyakto’vasadvīraḥ pitā cāsya vanaṃ yayau | 

sarvalokeṣu vikhyātastriśaṃkuriti vīryavān ||7|| 
vasiṣṭhakopātpuṇyātmā rājā satyavrataḥ purā | 
viśvāmitro mahātejā varaṃ dattvā triśaṅkave || 8 ||
 rājye’bhiṣicyaṃ taṃ pitrye yājayāmāsa taṃ muniḥ | 
miṣatāṃ devatānāṃ ca vasiṣṭhasya ca kauśikaḥ||9|| 
saśarīraṃ tadā taṃ vai divamāropayadvibhuḥ | 
tasya satyavratā nāma bhāryā kaikayavaṃśajā || 10 || 
kumāraṃ janayāmāsa hariścaṃdramakalmaṣam | 
hariścaṃdrasya ca suto rohito nāma vīryavān || 11||

At the command of his father, he left the city. The intelligent Satyavrata then went to the village of the Caṇḍālas and started living there. His father then went to the forest. The valorous warrior known as Satyavrata became famous in the three worlds by the name of Triśaṅku once, he was caused by Vasiṣṭha. But the sage Viśvāmitra was pleased with Satyavrata and granted a boon to him, making him the king of his ancestral kingdom. The sage performed a yajña on his behalf. In full view of the gods and the sage Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra bodily sent Triśaṅku to the heaven. One of his queens known by the name of Satyavratā gave birth to a beautiful son known by the name of Hariścandra. His son Rohita was quite valorous.

हरितो रोहितास्याथ धुंधुर्हारित उच्यते । 
विजयश्च सुतेजाश्च धुंधुपुत्रौ बभूवतुः ॥१२॥

harito rohitāsyātha dhuṃdhurhārita ucyate | 
vijayaśca sutejāśca dhuṃdhuputrau babhūvatuḥ ||12||

Harita was the son of Rohita, while Dhundhu was the son of Rohita. Dhundhu had two sons, Vijaya and Sutejā. 

जेता क्षत्रस्य सर्वत्र विजयस्तेन स स्मृतः । 
रुचकस्तस्य तनयो राजा परमधार्मिकः ॥ १३ ॥

jetā kṣatrasya sarvatra vijayastena sa smṛtaḥ | 
rucakastasya tanayo rājā paramadhārmikaḥ || 13 ||

He conquered all the Kṣatriya kings. Because of this, he came to be known as Vijaya. Rucaka - his son, was his religious-minded king.

रुचकस्य वृकः पत्रस्तस्माद्वाहुश्च जज्ञिवान् । 
सगरस्तस्य पुत्रोभूद्राजा परमधार्मिकः ॥१४॥

rucakasya vṛkaḥ patrastasmādvāhuśca jajñivān | 
sagarastasya putrobhūdrājā paramadhārmikaḥ ||14||

Vṛka was the son of Rucaka and Bāhu was the son of Vṛka. Sagara was the extremely religious-minded son of Bāhu. 

सरस्यापि प्रभा भानुमती तथा ।
ताभ्यामाराधितः पूर्वमौर्वोग्निः पुत्रकाम्यया॥१५॥

sarasyāpi prabhā bhānumatī tathā |
tābhyāmārādhitaḥ pūrvamaurvogniḥ putrakāmyayā||15||

Prabhā and Bhānumatī were the two queens of Sagara. Both of them adored the Aurvogni with the desire to get sons. 

और्वस्तुष्टस्तयोः प्रादाद्यथेष्टं वरमुत्तमम् । 
एका षष्टिसहस्राणि सुतमेकं परा तथा ॥ १६ ॥ 
अगृह्णाद्वंशकर्तारं प्रभागृह्णात्सुतान्बहून् । 
एकं भानुमतिः पुत्रमगृह्णदसमञ्जसम्॥१७॥

aurvastuṣṭastayoḥ prādādyatheṣṭaṃ varamuttamam | 
ekā ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi sutamekaṃ parā tathā || 16 || 
agṛhṇādvaṃśakartāraṃ prabhāgṛhṇātsutānbahūn | 
ekaṃ bhānumatiḥ putramagṛhṇadasamañjasam||17||

Aurva getting pleased, granted boons to both of them as per their desire. One of them was to have sixty thousand sons and the other was to have a single son who could expand the dynasty. He was the son of Bhānumatī. Prabhā gave birth to many sons. The only son of Bhānumatī was known as Asamañjasa.

ततः षष्टिसहस्राणि सुषुवे सा तु वै प्रभा । 
खनंतः पृथिवीं दग्धा विष्णुहुङ्कारमार्गणैः॥१८॥

tataḥ ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi suṣuve sā tu vai prabhā | 
khanaṃtaḥ pṛthivīṃ dagdhā viṣṇuhuṅkāramārgaṇaiḥ||18||

Thereafter, Prabhā gave birth to sixty thousand sons. All of them were reduced to ashes while digging the earth with the huṁkāra of lord Viṣņu.

असमञ्जस्य तनयः सोंशुमान्नाम विश्रुतः । 
तस्य पुत्री दिलीपस्तु दिलीपात्तु भगीरथः॥१९॥ 
येन भागीरथी गङ्गा तपः कृत्वाऽवतारिता । 
भगीरथसुतश्चापि श्रुतो नाम बहूब वै ॥ २० ॥

asamañjasya tanayaḥ soṃśumānnāma viśrutaḥ | 
tasya putrī dilīpastu dilīpāttu bhagīrathaḥ||19|| 
yena bhāgīrathī gaṅgā tapaḥ kṛtvā’vatāritā | 
bhagīrathasutaścāpi śruto nāma bahūba vai || 20 ||

The son of Asamañjasa came to be known as Aṁśumān. He had Dilīpa as his son. Bhagīratha was the son of Dilīpa. It was Bhagīratha who brought Gaṅgā on earth after performing of tapas. Because of this, Gaṅgā is also known as Bhāgīrathī. Śruta was the son of Bhagīratha.

नाभागस्तस्य दायादो भवभक्तः प्रतापवान् । 
अंबरीषः सुतस्तस्य सिंधुद्वीपस्ततोभवत् ॥ २१ ॥

nābhāgastasya dāyādo bhavabhaktaḥ pratāpavān | 
aṃbarīṣaḥ sutastasya siṃdhudvīpastatobhavat || 21 ||

Nābhāga discarded him, who was quite glorious and a devotee of Śiva. Ambarīṣa was his son. He had a son named Sindhudvīpa. 

नाभागेनांबरीषेण भुजाभ्यां परिपालिता । 
बभूव वसुधात्यर्थं तापत्रयविवर्जिता ॥ २२ ॥

nābhāgenāṃbarīṣeṇa bhujābhyāṃ paripālitā | 
babhūva vasudhātyarthaṃ tāpatrayavivarjitā || 22 ||

Nābhāga's son Ambarīşa, with the strength of his arms, ruled the earth. During his time, the earth was free from all three types of sins.

अयुतायुः सुतस्तस्य सिन्धुद्वीपस्य वीर्यवान् । 
पुत्रोऽयुतायुषो धीमानृतुपर्णो महायशाः ॥ २३ ॥

ayutāyuḥ sutastasya sindhudvīpasya vīryavān | 
putro’yutāyuṣo dhīmānṛtuparṇo mahāyaśāḥ || 23 ||

Ayutāya was a valorous son of Sindhudvīpa. He got an intelligent and virtuous son Ayutayuṣa.

दिव्याक्षहृदयज्ञो वै राजा नलसखो बली । 
नौ द्वावेव विख्यातौ पुराणेषु दृढव्रतौः ॥ २४ ॥ 
वीरसेनसुतश्चान्यो यश्चेक्ष्वाकुकुलोद्भवः । 
ऋतुपर्णस्य पुत्रोभूत्सार्वभौमः प्रजेश्वरः ॥ २५ ॥

divyākṣahṛdayajño vai rājā nalasakho balī | 
nau dvāveva vikhyātau purāṇeṣu dṛḍhavratauḥ || 24 || 
vīrasenasutaścānyo yaścekṣvākukulodbhavaḥ | 
ṛtuparṇasya putrobhūtsārvabhaumaḥ prajeśvaraḥ || 25 ||

He was the friend of the valorous king named Nala who was an expert in gambling. There are two valorous persons having the name Nala, who were famous in the Purāņas. One of them was the son of Vīrasena born in the Ikṣavāku race. The other one was the Cakravartī king and son of Ṛtuparṇa. 

सुदासस्तस्य तनयो राजा त्विन्द्रसमोभवत् । 
सुदासस्य सुतः प्रोक्तः सौदासो नाम पार्थिवः ॥ २६

sudāsastasya tanayo rājā tvindrasamobhavat | 
sudāsasya sutaḥ proktaḥ saudāso nāma pārthivaḥ || 26

The king Sudāsa was his son and was comparable with Indra. Saudāsa was the name of the son of Sudāsa.

ख्यातः कल्माषपादो वै नाम्ना मित्रसहश्च सः । 
वसिष्ठस्तु महातेजाः क्षेत्रे कल्माषपादके ॥ २७॥ 
अश्मकं जनयामास इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धनम् । 
अश्मकस्योत्तरायां तु मूलकस्तु सुतोभवत् ॥ २८॥

khyātaḥ kalmāṣapādo vai nāmnā mitrasahaśca saḥ | 
vasiṣṭhastu mahātejāḥ kṣetre kalmāṣapādake || 27|| 
aśmakaṃ janayāmāsa ikṣvākukulavardhanam | 
aśmakasyottarāyāṃ tu mūlakastu sutobhavat || 28||

His real name was Mitrasaha, but he was more popular by the name of Kalmāṣapāda. The queen of Kalmāṣapāda gave birth to a son named Aśmaka by the grace of the sage Vasiṣṭha, who could prolong the Ikṣavāku race. The king Aśmaka and his queen Uttarā produced a son named Mūlaka.

स हि रामभयाद्राजा स्त्रीभिः परिवृतो वने । 
बिभर्ति त्राणमिच्छन्वै नारीकवचमुत्तमम्॥२९॥ 
मूलकस्यापि धर्मात्मा राजा शतरथः सुतः । 
तस्माच्छतरथाज्जझे राजा त्विरविलो बली ॥ ३०॥

sa hi rāmabhayādrājā strībhiḥ parivṛto vane | 
bibharti trāṇamicchanvai nārīkavacamuttamam||29|| 
mūlakasyāpi dharmātmā rājā śatarathaḥ sutaḥ | 
tasmācchatarathājjajhe rājā tviravilo balī || 30||

He always remained surrounded by the women because of the fear of Paraśurāma. Desirous of protection, he had recourse to the exultant shield in the form of women. The virtuous king Śataratha was the son of Mūlaka. Then the powerful king Ilābila was born of Śataratha.

आसीत्त्वैलविलिः श्रीमान्वृद्धशर्मा प्रतापवान् । 
पुत्रो विश्वसहस्तस्य पितृकन्या व्यजीजनत् ॥ ३१ ॥

āsīttvailaviliḥ śrīmānvṛddhaśarmā pratāpavān | 
putro viśvasahastasya pitṛkanyā vyajījanat || 31 ||

The valorous Vṛddhaśarmā was the son of Ilābila. The daughter of the Pitṛs bore him a son known as Viśvasaha.

दिलीपस्तस्य पुत्रो भूत्खट्वाङ्ग इतिविश्रुतः । 
येन स्वर्गादिहागत्य मुहूर्तं प्राप्य जीवितम् ॥३२॥ 
योऽग्नयस्त्रयो लोका बुद्धया सत्येन वै जिताः । 
दीर्घबाहुः सुतस्तस्य रघुस्तस्मादजायत॥ ३३ ॥

dilīpastasya putro bhūtkhaṭvāṅga itiviśrutaḥ | 
yena svargādihāgatya muhūrtaṃ prāpya jīvitam ||32|| 
yo’gnayastrayo lokā buddhayā satyena vai jitāḥ | 
dīrghabāhuḥ sutastasya raghustasmādajāyata|| 33 ||

Dilīpa was his son. He was famous by the name of Khaṭvāṅga. He had the life of a muhūrta. He came on earth from heaven for this purpose and conquered the three fires and three worlds by means of his intellect and truthfulness. Dīrghabāhu was his son and Raghu was born to him.

अजः पुत्रो रघोश्चापि तस्माज्जज्ञे च वीर्यवान्। 
राजा दशरथस्तस्माच्छ्रीमानिक्ष्वाकुवंशकृत् ॥ ३४ ॥

ajaḥ putro raghoścāpi tasmājjajñe ca vīryavān| 
rājā daśarathastasmācchrīmānikṣvākuvaṃśakṛt || 34 ||

The powerful and valiant Aja was born of Raghu. From him, the glorious Daśaratha, the sustainer of the family of Ikṣavāku was born. 

रामो दशरथाद्वीरो धर्मज्ञो लोकविश्रुतः । 
भरतो लक्ष्मणश्चैव शत्रुघ्नश्च महाबलः ॥३५॥

rāmo daśarathādvīro dharmajño lokaviśrutaḥ | 
bharato lakṣmaṇaścaiva śatrughnaśca mahābalaḥ ||35||

The heroic Rāma, who was well-versed with Dharma and was well-known in the three worlds, was born of Daśaratha. The same was the case with Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna.

तेषां श्रेष्ठो महातेजा रामः परमवीर्यवान् । 
रावणं समरे हत्वा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा च धर्मवित् ॥३६॥ 
दशवर्षसहस्राणि रामो राज्यं चकार सः । 
रामस्य तनयो जज्ञे कुश इत्यभिविश्रुतः ॥ ३७॥ 
लवश्च सुमहाभागः सत्यवानभवत्सुधीः । 
अतिथिस्तु कुशाज्जज्ञे निषधस्तस्य चात्मजः ॥ ३८ ॥

teṣāṃ śreṣṭho mahātejā rāmaḥ paramavīryavān | 
rāvaṇaṃ samare hatvā yajñairiṣṭvā ca dharmavit ||36|| 
daśavarṣasahasrāṇi rāmo rājyaṃ cakāra saḥ | 
rāmasya tanayo jajñe kuśa ityabhiviśrutaḥ || 37|| 
lavaśca sumahābhāgaḥ satyavānabhavatsudhīḥ | 
atithistu kuśājjajñe niṣadhastasya cātmajaḥ || 38 ||

Rāma was the best of them all. He had great splendour and was an excellent valorous king. After killing Rāvaṇ a in the battle and performing sacrifices, Rāma who was well-versed in Dharma, ruled over the kingdom for ten thousand years. A son, well known as Kuśa, was born to Rāma. His other son Lava was highly blessed, truthful and intelligent. Aithi was born to Kuśa and his son was Niśadha.

लस्तु निषधाज्जातो नभस्तस्मादजायत ।
नभसः पुण्डरीकाख्यः क्षेमधन्वा ततः स्मृतः ॥ ३९॥
lastu niṣadhājjāto nabhastasmādajāyata |
nabhasaḥ puṇḍarīkākhyaḥ kṣemadhanvā tataḥ smṛtaḥ || 39||

Nala was born to Niṣadha and Nabhasa was his son. A son named Puṇḍarīka was born to Nabhasa and Kṣemadhanvan was his son.

तस्य पुत्रोभवद्वीरो देवानीकः प्रतापवान् । 
अहीनरः सुतस्तस्य सहस्राश्वस्ततः परः ॥ ४०॥ 
शुभश्चंद्रावलोकश्च तारापीडस्ततो भवत् । 
तस्यात्मजश्चन्द्रगिरिर्भानुचन्द्रस्ततोभवत्॥४१॥

tasya putrobhavadvīro devānīkaḥ pratāpavān | 
ahīnaraḥ sutastasya sahasrāśvastataḥ paraḥ || 40|| 
śubhaścaṃdrāvalokaśca tārāpīḍastato bhavat | 
tasyātmajaścandragirirbhānucandrastatobhavat||41||

His son was the valorous Devānīka. Ahīnara was his son and thereafter was Sahasrāśva. From him were born Candrāvaloka and Tārāpīḍha. Candragiri was his son. His son was Bhānucandra.

श्रुतायुरभवत्तस्मद्बृहद्बलः इति स्मृतः ।
भारते यो महातेजाः सौभद्रेण निपातितः ॥ ४२॥

śrutāyurabhavattasmadbṛhadbalaḥ iti smṛtaḥ |
bhārate yo mahātejāḥ saubhadreṇa nipātitaḥ || 42||

His son was Śrutāya who was also known as Bṛhadbala. This powerful king was killed by Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā, in the battle of Mahābhārata.

एते इक्ष्वाकुदायादा राजानः प्रायशः स्मृताः । 
वंशे प्रधान एतस्मिन्प्राधान्येन प्रकीर्तिताः ॥ ४३ ॥

ete ikṣvākudāyādā rājānaḥ prāyaśaḥ smṛtāḥ | 
vaṃśe pradhāna etasminprādhānyena prakīrtitāḥ || 43 ||

These are the successor kings of Ikṣavāku. In general, only the most important ones of them are mentioned here because of their importance.

सर्वे पाशुपते ज्ञानमधीत्य परमेश्वरम् ।
समभ्यर्च्य यथाज्ञानमिष्ट्वा यज्ञैर्यथाविधि ॥ ४४॥
 दिवं गता महात्मानः केचिन्मुक्तात्मयोगिनः । 
नृगो ब्राह्मणशापेन कृकलासत्वमागतः॥४५॥

sarve pāśupate jñānamadhītya parameśvaram |
samabhyarcya yathājñānamiṣṭvā yajñairyathāvidhi || 44||
 divaṃ gatā mahātmānaḥ kecinmuktātmayoginaḥ | 
nṛgo brāhmaṇaśāpena kṛkalāsatvamāgataḥ||45||

All of them had realized lord Śiva. In accordance with their knowledge, they worshipped the lord and performed sacrifices according to the rules. The noble souls had attained heaven. Some of them were the liberated souls and the yogins. As a result of the curse of a Brāhmaṇa, Nṛga was turned into a chameleon.

धृष्टश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च यमबालश्च वीर्यवान्
रणधृष्टश्च ते पुत्रास्त्रयः परमधार्मिकः॥४६॥

dhṛṣṭaśca dhṛṣṭaketuśca yamabālaśca vīryavān
raṇadhṛṣṭaśca te putrāstrayaḥ paramadhārmikaḥ||46||

Dhṛṣṭa had three virtuous sons viz., Dhṛṣṭaketu, Yamabāla and Raṇadhṛṣṭa. 

आनर्तो नाम शर्यातेः सुकन्या नाम दारिका । 
आनर्तस्या भवत् पुत्रो रोचमानः प्रतापवान् ॥ ४७॥ 

ānarto nāma śaryāteḥ sukanyā nāma dārikā | 
ānartasyā bhavat putro rocamānaḥ pratāpavān || 47||

Śaryāti had a son named Ānarta and a daughter known as Sukanyā. Rocamāna was the son of Ānarta.

रोचमानस्य रेवोभूद्रेवादैवत एव च ।
ककुद्मी चापरो ज्येष्ठपुत्रः पुत्रशतस्य तु॥४८॥ 
रेवती यस्य सा कन्या पत्नी रामस्य विश्रुता । 
नरिष्यन्तस्य पुत्रो भूज्जितात्मा तु महाबली ॥ ४९ ॥

rocamānasya revobhūdrevādaivata eva ca |
kakudmī cāparo jyeṣṭhaputraḥ putraśatasya tu||48|| 
revatī yasya sā kanyā patnī rāmasya viśrutā | 
nariṣyantasya putro bhūjjitātmā tu mahābalī || 49 ||

Reva was the son of Rocamāna. From Reva were born two sons named Raivata and Kukudmin. Reva was the eldest of a hundred sons, Revatī, his daughter, was the wife of Balarāma. Nariṣyanta had a son named Jitātman.

नाभागादंबरीषस्तु विष्णुभक्तः प्रतापवान् ।
ऋतस्यस्य सुतः श्रीमान्सर्वधर्मविदांवरः ॥ ५०॥ 
कृतस्तस्य सुधर्माभूत्पृषितो नाम विश्रुतः । 
करूषस्य तु कारूषाः सर्वे प्रख्यातकीर्तयः ॥५१॥

nābhāgādaṃbarīṣastu viṣṇubhaktaḥ pratāpavān |
ṛtasyasya sutaḥ śrīmānsarvadharmavidāṃvaraḥ || 50|| 
kṛtastasya sudharmābhūtpṛṣito nāma viśrutaḥ | 
karūṣasya tu kārūṣāḥ sarve prakhyātakīrtayaḥ ||51||

From Nābhāga was born Ambarīṣa, who was a devotee of Viṣṇu. Ṛta was his glorious son. He was the best among those who were conversant with Dharma. Kṛta was his virtuous son also known Pṛṣṭa. The sons of Karūṣa were known as the Kārūṣas.

पृषितो हिंसयित्वा गां गुरोः प्रापसुकल्मषम् । 
शापाच्छूद्रत्वमापन्नश्च्यवनस्येति विश्रुतः ॥ ५२ ॥

pṛṣito hiṃsayitvā gāṃ guroḥ prāpasukalmaṣam | 
śāpācchūdratvamāpannaścyavanasyeti viśrutaḥ || 52 ||

Pṛṣṭa incurred a grave sin by killing the cow of the preceptor. It is well known that he was degraded as a Śūdra due to the curse of his preceptor.

दिष्टपुत्रस्तु नाभागस्तस्मादपि भलंदनः ।
भलंदनस्य विक्रांतो राजासीदजवाहनः ॥५३॥

diṣṭaputrastu nābhāgastasmādapi bhalaṃdanaḥ |
bhalaṃdanasya vikrāṃto rājāsīdajavāhanaḥ ||53||

Diṣṭa's son was Nābhāga and from him was born Bhalandana. His son was a king of great exploits.

एते समासतः प्रोक्ता मनुपुत्रा महाभुजाः । 
इक्ष्वाकोः पुत्रपौत्राद्या ऐलस्याथ वदामि वः ॥५४॥

ete samāsataḥ proktā manuputrā mahābhujāḥ | 
ikṣvākoḥ putrapautrādyā ailasyātha vadāmi vaḥ ||54||

Thus, the successors of the mighty sons of Manu are told briefly and the dynasty of Ikṣavāku in some detail. Now, I shall recount to you the dynasty of Aila.

सूत उवात
ऐलः पुरूरवा नाम रुद्रभक्तः प्रतापवान् । 
चक्रे त्वकण्टकं राज्यं देशे पुण्यतमे द्विजाः ॥५५ ॥ 
'उत्तरे यमुनातीरे प्रयागे मुनिसेविते । 
प्रतिष्ठानाधिपः श्रीमान्प्रतिष्ठाने प्रतिष्ठितः ॥५६॥

sūta uvāta
ailaḥ purūravā nāma rudrabhaktaḥ pratāpavān | 
cakre tvakaṇṭakaṃ rājyaṃ deśe puṇyatame dvijāḥ ||55 || 
'uttare yamunātīre prayāge munisevite | 
pratiṣṭhānādhipaḥ śrīmānpratiṣṭhāne pratiṣṭhitaḥ ||56||

Sūta said-

O Brāhmaṇa, Purūravas, a valorous son of Ilā and a devotee of Rudra, held an unhindered sway in the holy land of Prayāga, situated on the northern bank of the river Yamunā, frequented by the sages. He was the glorious lord of Pratiṣṭhāna (Prayāga) which is situated on the northern bank of the Yamunā River.

तस्य पुत्राः संप्त भवन्सर्वे वितततेजसः । 
गंधर्वलोकविदिता भवभक्ता महाबलाः ॥५७॥ 
आयुर्मायुरमायुश्च विश्वायुश्चैव वीर्यवान् । 
श्रुतायुश्च शतायुश्च दिव्याश्चैवोर्वशीसुताः ॥५८॥

tasya putrāḥ saṃpta bhavansarve vitatatejasaḥ | 
gaṃdharvalokaviditā bhavabhaktā mahābalāḥ ||57|| 
āyurmāyuramāyuśca viśvāyuścaiva vīryavān | 
śrutāyuśca śatāyuśca divyāścaivorvaśīsutāḥ ||58||

He had six powerful glorious sons, well-known in the region of the Gandharvas and the devotees to Śiva. All of them were divine, being the sons of Urvaśī. They were known as— Āyu, Māyu, Amāyu, Viśvāyu, Śrutāyu and Śatāyu.

आयुषस्तनया वीराः पञ्चैवासन्महौजसः ।
स्वर्भानुतनयायां ते प्रभायां जज्ञिरे नृपाः ॥ ५९॥

āyuṣastanayā vīrāḥ pañcaivāsanmahaujasaḥ |
svarbhānutanayāyāṃ te prabhāyāṃ jajñire nṛpāḥ || 59||

Āyu had five sons of great power. They were the kings born of Prabhā - the daughter of Svarabhānu.

नहुषः प्रथमस्तेषां धर्मज्ञो लोकविश्रुतः । 
नहुषस्य तु दायादाः षडिन्द्रोपमतेजसः ॥६०॥

nahuṣaḥ prathamasteṣāṃ dharmajño lokaviśrutaḥ | 
nahuṣasya tu dāyādāḥ ṣaḍindropamatejasaḥ ||60||

Nahusa was the first among them. He was well-known in the world and was conversant with Dharma. Nahuṣa's successors were six and were comparable with Indra in splendor.

उत्पन्नाः पितृकन्यायां विरजायां महौजसः । 
यतिर्ययातिः संयातिरायातिः पञ्चमोऽन्धकः॥६१॥ 
विजातिश्चेति षडिमे सर्वे प्रख्यातकीर्तयः । 
यतिर्ज्येष्ठश्च तेषां वै ययातिस्तु ततोऽवरः ॥ ६२॥

utpannāḥ pitṛkanyāyāṃ virajāyāṃ mahaujasaḥ | 
yatiryayātiḥ saṃyātirāyātiḥ pañcamo’ndhakaḥ||61|| 
vijātiśceti ṣaḍime sarve prakhyātakīrtayaḥ | 
yatirjyeṣṭhaśca teṣāṃ vai yayātistu tato’varaḥ || 62||

The immensely valorous kings were born out of Virajā - the daughter of Pitṛs and were known by the names of Yati, Yayāti, Saṅyāti, Āyāti, Andhaka and Vijāti. All of them were quite famous. Yati was the eldest of all of them, while Yayāti was younger to him. 

ज्येष्ठस्तु यतिर्मोक्षार्थी ब्रह्मभूतोऽभवत्प्रभुः ।
तेषां ययातिः पञ्चानां महाबलपराक्रमः ॥६३॥

jyeṣṭhastu yatirmokṣārthī brahmabhūto’bhavatprabhuḥ |
teṣāṃ yayātiḥ pañcānāṃ mahābalaparākramaḥ ||63||

Yati, the eldest son, was desirous of salvation and he merged into Brahman. Of the remaining five, Yayāti was the youngest of all but was quite valorous at the same time.

देवयानी मुशनसः सुतां भार्यामवाप सः । 
शर्मिष्ठामासुरीं चैव तनया वृषपर्वणः ॥ ६४॥

devayānī muśanasaḥ sutāṃ bhāryāmavāpa saḥ | 
śarmiṣṭhāmāsurīṃ caiva tanayā vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ || 64||

He married Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya. On the other hand, Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā was turned as Āsuri.

यदुं स तुर्वसुं चैव देवयानी व्यजायत । 
तावुभौ शुभकर्माण स्तुतौ विद्याविशारदौ ॥६५॥ 

yaduṃ sa turvasuṃ caiva devayānī vyajāyata | 
tāvubhau śubhakarmāṇa stutau vidyāviśāradau ||65||

Devayānī had two sons named Yadu and Turvasu. Both of them were the performers of noble deeds and were well-versed in divine knowledge.

दुह्यं चानुं च पुरुं च शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी । 
ययातये रथं तस्मै ददौ शुक्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ ६६॥ 
तोषितस्तेन विप्रेन्द्रः प्रीतः परमभास्वरम् । 
सुसङ्गं काञ्चनं दिव्यमक्षये च महेषुधी ॥ ६७ ॥

duhyaṃ cānuṃ ca puruṃ ca śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī | 
yayātaye rathaṃ tasmai dadau śukraḥ pratāpavān || 66|| 
toṣitastena viprendraḥ prītaḥ paramabhāsvaram | 
susaṅgaṃ kāñcanaṃ divyamakṣaye ca maheṣudhī || 67 ||

Śarmiṣṭhā - the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā produced three children known as Puru, Anu, and Druhya. At the request of Yayāti, the glorious Śukra gave him a chariot, which was made of gold and was quite glittering, besides two undecaying bows. 

युक्तं मनोजवैरश्वैर्येन कन्यां समुद्वहन् ।
स तेन रथमुख्येन षण्मासेनाजयन्महीम्॥६८॥

yuktaṃ manojavairaśvairyena kanyāṃ samudvahan |
sa tena rathamukhyena ṣaṇmāsenājayanmahīm||68||

The steed was yoked in it and it could move with the speed of the mind. He had brought his bride to his home by that chariot. He conquered the entire earth using the chariot within six months.

ययातिर्युधि दुर्धर्षो देवदानवमानुषैः ।
भवभक्तस्तु पुण्यात्मा धर्मनिष्ठः समञ्जसः ॥६९॥
यज्ञयाजी जितक्रोधः सर्वभूतानुकंपनः ।
कौरवाणां च सर्वेषां स भवद्रथ उत्तमः ॥७०॥ 
यावन्नरेन्द्रप्रवरः कौरवो जनमेजयः ।
पूर्वंशस्य राज्ञस्तु राज्ञः पारीक्षितस्य तु ॥ ७१ ॥

yayātiryudhi durdharṣo devadānavamānuṣaiḥ |
bhavabhaktastu puṇyātmā dharmaniṣṭhaḥ samañjasaḥ ||69||
yajñayājī jitakrodhaḥ sarvabhūtānukaṃpanaḥ |
kauravāṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ sa bhavadratha uttamaḥ ||70|| 
yāvannarendrapravaraḥ kauravo janamejayaḥ |
pūrvaṃśasya rājñastu rājñaḥ pārīkṣitasya tu || 71 ||

Yayāti had been a terror while fighting with the gods, demons, and humans. He was devoted to Śiva, the auspicious soul, and was devoted to Dharma. He performed yajñas, overpowered anger, and was compassionate on all the living beings. The chariot was the best of the Kauravas but was destroyed by Parīkṣita, who was born in the Kuru race.

जगाम स रथो नाशं शापाद्रर्गस्य धीमतः । 
गर्गस्य हि सुतं बालं स राजा जनमेजयः ॥ ७२ ॥ 
अक्रूरं हिंसयामास ब्रह्महत्यामवाप सः । 
लोहगंधी राजर्षिः परिधावन्नितस्ततः ॥ ७३ ॥
पौरजानपदैस्त्यक्तो न लेभे शर्म कर्हिचित् ।
ततः स दुःखसंतप्तो न लेभे संविदं क्वचित् ॥७४॥ 
जगाम शौनकमृषिं शरण्यं व्यथितस्तदा । 
इन्द्रेतिर्नाम विख्यातो योऽसौ मुनिरुदारधीः ॥ ७५ ॥ 
याजयामास चेंद्रितिस्तं नृपं जनमेजयम् । 
अश्वमेधेन राजानं पावनार्थं द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ ७६ ॥

jagāma sa ratho nāśaṃ śāpādrargasya dhīmataḥ | 
gargasya hi sutaṃ bālaṃ sa rājā janamejayaḥ || 72 || 
akrūraṃ hiṃsayāmāsa brahmahatyāmavāpa saḥ | 
lohagaṃdhī rājarṣiḥ paridhāvannitastataḥ || 73 ||
paurajānapadaistyakto na lebhe śarma karhicit |
tataḥ sa duḥkhasaṃtapto na lebhe saṃvidaṃ kvacit ||74|| 
jagāma śaunakamṛṣiṃ śaraṇyaṃ vyathitastadā | 
indretirnāma vikhyāto yo’sau munirudāradhīḥ || 75 || 
yājayāmāsa ceṃdritistaṃ nṛpaṃ janamejayam | 
aśvamedhena rājānaṃ pāvanārthaṃ dvijottamāḥ || 76 ||

Janamejaya troubled Akrūra, the son of Garga, and then killed him, earning the sin of Brahmahatyā. The royal priest, with an iron-like fragrance, started wandering here and there with him. After he was discarded by the people of the country and the citizens, he could not regain pleasure. He always felt pain. He went to take refuge with Śaunaka. The Ṛṣi was quite a large-hearted one, and was known by the name of Indreti. It was he who performed the yajña on behalf of Janamejaya. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, in order to purify the king Janamejaya, he performed an Aśvamedha sacrifice.

स लोहगंधान्निर्मुक्त एनसा च महायशाः । 
यज्ञस्यावभृथे मध्ये यातो दिव्यो रथः शुभः ॥ ७७ ॥ 
तस्मद्वंशात्परिभ्रष्टो वसोश्चेदिपतेः पुनः ।
दत्तः शक्रेण तुष्टेन लेभे तस्माद्वृहद्रथः ॥ ७८ ॥ 
ततो हत्वा जरासंधं भीमस्तं रथमुत्तमम् ।
प्रददौ वासुदेवाय प्रीत्या कौरवनंदनः ॥७९॥

sa lohagaṃdhānnirmukta enasā ca mahāyaśāḥ | 
yajñasyāvabhṛthe madhye yāto divyo rathaḥ śubhaḥ || 77 || 
tasmadvaṃśātparibhraṣṭo vasoścedipateḥ punaḥ |
dattaḥ śakreṇa tuṣṭena lebhe tasmādvṛhadrathaḥ || 78 || 
tato hatvā jarāsaṃdhaṃ bhīmastaṃ rathamuttamam |
pradadau vāsudevāya prītyā kauravanaṃdanaḥ ||79||

Lohagandha, the immensely valorous king, was relieved of the bad smell of iron as well as his sin. In the middle of the Avabhṛtha ablution, the divine and the splendid chariot vanished. Lost from the family, it was given over to Vasu king of Cedi by the delightful Indra. The same chariot was acquired by Bṛhadratha from him. Thereafter, killing Jarāsandha, a successor of Bṛhadratha, Bhīma, a scion of the family of Kurus, gave away the excellent chariot to Śrī Kṛṣṇa out of love.

सूत उवाच
अभ्यषिचत्पुरुं पुत्रं ययातिर्नाहुषः प्रभुः । 
कृतोपकारस्तेनैव पुरुणा द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ ८० ॥ 
अभिषेक्तुकामं च नृपं पुरुं कनीयसम् । 
ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णा इदं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥ ८१ ॥ 
कथं शुक्रस्य नप्तारं देवयान्याः सुतं प्रभो । 
ज्येष्ठं यदुमतिक्रम्य कनीयान्राज्यमर्हति ॥८२॥ 
एते संबोधयामस्त्वां धर्मं च अनुपालय ॥ ८३ ॥

sūta uvāca
abhyaṣicatpuruṃ putraṃ yayātirnāhuṣaḥ prabhuḥ | 
kṛtopakārastenaiva puruṇā dvijasattamāḥ || 80 || 
abhiṣektukāmaṃ ca nṛpaṃ puruṃ kanīyasam | 
brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇā idaṃ vacanamabruvan || 81 || 
kathaṃ śukrasya naptāraṃ devayānyāḥ sutaṃ prabho | 
jyeṣṭhaṃ yadumatikramya kanīyānrājyamarhati ||82|| 
ete saṃbodhayāmastvāṃ dharmaṃ ca anupālaya || 83 ||

Sūta said-

Nahuṣa's son Yayāti crowned Puru - his son, as the king after himself. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, it was by Puru alone, that he had been helped before. People of all the castes, including the leading Brāhmaṇas, spoke to the king who was desirous of crowning his youngest son- "O Lord, how does the youngest son deserve the kingdom after overlooking the claim of the eldest son Yadu, the son of Devayānī and the grandson of Śukra? We are addressing you to keep alive the traditional dharma."

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे ययातिकथा नाम षट्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ६६॥

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge yayātikathā nāma ṣaṭṣaṣṭitamo’dhyāyaḥ || 66||

Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः 
saptaṣaṣṭitamo’dhyāyaḥ
Chapter 67

Story of Yayati of Somavamsa 

ययातिरुवाच 

ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णाः सर्वे शृण्वन्तु मे वचः ।

ज्येष्ठं प्रति यथा राज्यं न देयं मे कथञ्चन ॥ १ ॥

yayātiruvāca

brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇāḥ sarve śṛṇvantu me vacaḥ | 

jyeṣṭhaṃ prati yathā rājyaṃ na deyaṃ me kathañcana || 1 ||

Yayāti said- 

All the people should listen to my words including the Brāhmaṇas and the people of all the varṇas or stages of life, as to why did I decide not to give the kingdom to Yadu, my eldest son.

मम ज्येष्ठेन यदुना नियोगो नानुपालितः । 

प्रतिकूलमतिश्चैव न स पुत्रः सतां मतः॥२॥

mama jyeṣṭhena yadunā niyogo nānupālitaḥ | 

pratikūlamatiścaiva na sa putraḥ satāṃ mataḥ||2||

It is Yadu - my eldest son, who disobeyed me. In case a son, using his own wisdom, acts against the desire of his father, then that situation is not acceptable to the noble people.

मातापित्रोर्वचनकृत्सद्भिः पुत्रः प्रशस्यते । 

स पुत्रः पुत्रवद्यस्तु वर्तते मातृपितृषु ॥ ३ ॥

mātāpitrorvacanakṛtsadbhiḥ putraḥ praśasyate | 

sa putraḥ putravadyastu vartate mātṛpitṛṣu || 3 ||

A son who obeys the words of his parents is praised by the noble people as a worthy son. A son who performed as per the desire of his parents is praised by the people and is taken to be a worthy son.

यदुनाहमवज्ञातस्तथा तुर्वसुनापि च ।

दुह्येन चानुना चैव मय्यवज्ञा कृता भृशम् ॥४॥

yadunāhamavajñātastathā turvasunāpi ca |

duhyena cānunā caiva mayyavajñā kṛtā bhṛśam ||4||

My sons Yadu, Turvasu, Druhya, and Anu had humiliated me immensely.

पुरुणा च कृतं वाक्यं मानितश्च विशेषतः । 

कनीयान्मम दायादो जरा येन धृता मम ॥५॥

puruṇā ca kṛtaṃ vākyaṃ mānitaśca viśeṣataḥ | 

kanīyānmama dāyādo jarā yena dhṛtā mama ||5||

But Puru accepted my desire particularly well and obeyed me. It is my youngest Puru who redeemed me of my old age.

शुक्रेण मे समादिष्टा देवयान्याः कृते जरा । 

प्रार्थितेन पुनस्तेन जरा सञ्चारिणी कृता॥६॥

śukreṇa me samādiṣṭā devayānyāḥ kṛte jarā | 

prārthitena punastena jarā sañcāriṇī kṛtā||6||

Because of Devayānī, Śukra had ordained, that I would be attacked by old age. At my request, my old age was made transferable by him.

शुक्रेण च वरो दत्तः काव्येनोशनसा स्वयम् । 

पुत्रो यस्त्वानुवर्तेत स ते राज्यधरस्त्विति॥७॥ 

भवतोऽप्यनुजानंतु पूरू राज्येऽभिषिच्यते ।

śukreṇa ca varo dattaḥ kāvyenośanasā svayam | 

putro yastvānuvarteta sa te rājyadharastviti||7|| 

bhavato’pyanujānaṃtu pūrū rājye’bhiṣicyate |

This boon was given by the sage Śukrācārya himself, that the son who favors you shall be your heir to the kingdom. Therefore, all of you should approve the same. Only then Puru shall be crowned as the king.

प्रकृतय ऊचुः

यः पुत्रो गुणसंपन्नो मातापित्रोर्हितः सदा ॥ ८ ॥ 

सर्वमर्हति कल्याणं कनीयानपि स प्रभुः । 

अर्हः पूरुरिदं राज्यं यः सुतो वाक्यकृत्तव॥९॥ 

वरदानेन शुक्रस्य न शक्यं कर्तुमन्यथा । 

prakṛtaya ūcuḥ

yaḥ putro guṇasaṃpanno mātāpitrorhitaḥ sadā || 8 || 

sarvamarhati kalyāṇaṃ kanīyānapi sa prabhuḥ | 

arhaḥ pūruridaṃ rājyaṃ yaḥ suto vākyakṛttava||9|| 

varadānena śukrasya na śakyaṃ kartumanyathā |

The people said-

The son possessing the good qualities and the well-wisher of his parents, in spite of his being the younger one, should be patronized. Therefore, Puru deserves to be the king since he is the son who obeyed the command of his father. Because of the boon granted by Śukra, things cannot be otherwise.

सूत उवाच

एवं जानपदैस्तुष्टैरित्युक्तो नाहुषस्तदा ॥१०॥ 

भिषिच्य ततो राज्ये पुरुं स सुतमात्मनः । 

दिशि दक्षिणपूर्वस्यां तुर्वसुं पुत्रमादिशत् ॥ ११॥ 

sūta uvāca

evaṃ jānapadaistuṣṭairityukto nāhuṣastadā ||10|| 

bhiṣicya tato rājye puruṃ sa sutamātmanaḥ | 

diśi dakṣiṇapūrvasyāṃ turvasuṃ putramādiśat || 11||

Sūta said-

The son of Nahuṣa was thus told by the delighted people of the land. After crowning his son Puru in his own kingdom, he directed Turvasu, his son, to be the chief of the southern quarters.

दक्षिणायामथो राजा यदुं ज्येष्ठं न्ययोजयेत् । 

प्रतीच्यामुत्तरस्यां तु दुह्यं चानुं च तावुभौ ॥१२॥

dakṣiṇāyāmatho rājā yaduṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ nyayojayet | 

pratīcyāmuttarasyāṃ tu duhyaṃ cānuṃ ca tāvubhau ||12||

Similarly, the king entrusted the kingship of the western region, while Anu was deputed in the eastern region.

सप्तद्वीपां ययातिस्तु जित्वा पृथ्वीं ससागराम् । 

व्यभजच्च त्रिधा राज्यं पुत्रेभ्यो नाहुषस्तदा ॥ १३ ॥

saptadvīpāṃ yayātistu jitvā pṛthvīṃ sasāgarām | 

vyabhajacca tridhā rājyaṃ putrebhyo nāhuṣastadā || 13 ||

After conquering the earth with seven continents and an equal number of oceans, the king distributed his kingdom in three parts.

पत्रसंक्रामितश्रीस्तु हर्षनिर्भरमानसः । 

प्रीतिमानभवद्राजा भारमावेश्य बंधुषु ॥ १४ ॥

patrasaṃkrāmitaśrīstu harṣanirbharamānasaḥ | 

prītimānabhavadrājā bhāramāveśya baṃdhuṣu || 14 ||

Thus distributing his kingdom in three parts and entrusting the burden on his kins, the king was pleased.

अत्र गाथा महाराज्ञा पुरा गीता ययातिना । 

याभिः प्रत्याहरेत्कामान्सर्वतोंगानि कूर्मवत् ॥ १५ ॥ 

ताभिरेव नरः श्रीमान्नान्यथा कर्मकोटिकृत् । 

न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति ॥१६॥ 

हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते ।

यत्पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः ॥ १७ ॥

नालमेकस्य तत्सर्वमिति मत्वा शमं व्रजेत् । 

यदा न कुरुते भावं सर्वभूतेषु पापकम् ॥१८॥ 

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा । 

यदा परान्न बिभेति परे चास्मान्न बिभ्यति ॥ १९ ॥ 

यदा न निन्देन्न द्वेष्टि ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा ।

या दुस्त्यजा दुर्मतिभिर्या न जीर्यति जीर्यतः ॥ २० ॥ 

सौ प्राणान्तिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां त्यजतः सुखम् । 

जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः केशा दन्ता जीर्यंति जीर्यतः ॥ २१ ॥ 

चक्षु श्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णैका निरुपद्रवा । 

जीर्यंति देहिनः सर्वे स्वभावादेव नान्यथा ॥ २२ ॥ 

जीविताशा धनाशा च जीयतोपि न जीर्यते । 

यच्च कामसुखं लोके यच्च दिव्यं महत्सुखम् ॥ २३ ॥ 

तृष्णाक्षयसुखस्यैतत्कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् । 

एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिः सदारः प्राविशद्वनम् ॥ २४ ॥

atra gāthā mahārājñā purā gītā yayātinā | 

yābhiḥ pratyāharetkāmānsarvatoṃgāni kūrmavat || 15 || 

tābhireva naraḥ śrīmānnānyathā karmakoṭikṛt | 

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānāmupabhogena śāmyati ||16|| 

haviṣā kṛṣṇavartmeva bhūya evābhivardhate |

yatpṛthivyāṃ vrīhiyavaṃ hiraṇyaṃ paśavaḥ striyaḥ || 17 ||

nālamekasya tatsarvamiti matvā śamaṃ vrajet | 

yadā na kurute bhāvaṃ sarvabhūteṣu pāpakam ||18|| 

karmaṇā manasā vācā brahma saṃpadyate tadā | 

yadā parānna bibheti pare cāsmānna bibhyati || 19 || 

yadā na nindenna dveṣṭi brahma saṃpadyate tadā |

yā dustyajā durmatibhiryā na jīryati jīryataḥ || 20 || 

sau prāṇāntiko rogastāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ tyajataḥ sukham | 

jīryanti jīryataḥ keśā dantā jīryaṃti jīryataḥ || 21 || 

cakṣu śrotre ca jīryete tṛṣṇaikā nirupadravā | 

jīryaṃti dehinaḥ sarve svabhāvādeva nānyathā || 22 || 

jīvitāśā dhanāśā ca jīyatopi na jīryate | 

yacca kāmasukhaṃ loke yacca divyaṃ mahatsukham || 23 || 

tṛṣṇākṣayasukhasyaitatkalāṃ nārhati ṣoḍaśīm | 

evamuktvā sa rājarṣiḥ sadāraḥ prāviśadvanam || 24 ||

This is the story initially told by the king Yayāti. As a tortoise squeezes all its limbs in its own body, a person who squeezes all his desires within himself, such a person achieves all the fortunes and none else. In spite of his doing crores of noble works, the passions never die out after enjoying them in the same way as the flames rise by pouring ghee into the fire. Whatever is produced as cereals or barley, the entire produce, besides the gold, animals, and the women, cannot satisfy the innumerable desires of a single person. Keeping the facts in view, a person should free himself of all desires. When a person does not develop evil thoughts in his mind, speech, and body, he surely achieves Brahman. When a person is not afraid of anyone, when a person does not denounce others and does not become jealous of others, then he surely achieves Brahman. The desire that cannot be discarded in spite of the best efforts, which is never worn out even after a person's becomes old, such a desire resembles the ailment which ends with the life alone. One who discards the same feels comfortable thereafter. When a person reaches old age, his teeth, strength, eyes, and ears grow old, but the desire or the lust never gets old rather it becomes more and more strong. Everything in a person gets old by nature, but the desire to remain alive after reaching old age and the desire to get more riches never decays. The happiness arising out of the fulfillment of the desires in the world and the great divine happiness of the heaven do not merit even a sixteenth part of that happiness which one achieves when the thirst for objects is dispelled. Thus speaking, the Rājarṣi accompanied by his queen retired to the forest.

भृगुतुङ्गे तपस्तेपे तत्रैव च महायशाः ।

साधयित्वा त्वनशनं सदारः स्वर्गमाप्तवान् ॥ २५ ॥

तस्य वंशास्तु पञ्चैते पुण्या देवर्षिसत्कृताः । 

यैर्व्याप्ता पृथिवी कृत्स्ना सूर्यस्येव मरीचिभिः ॥ २६ ॥

धनी प्रजावानायुष्मान्कीर्तिमांश्च भवेन्नरः । 

ययातिचरितं पुण्यं पठञ्छृण्वंश्च बृद्धिमान् ॥ २७॥ 

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते ॥२८॥

bhṛgutuṅge tapastepe tatraiva ca mahāyaśāḥ | 

sādhayitvā tvanaśanaṃ sadāraḥ svargamāptavān || 25 || 

tasya vaṃśāstu pañcaite puṇyā devarṣisatkṛtāḥ | 

yairvyāptā pṛthivī kṛtsnā sūryasyeva marīcibhiḥ || 26

dhanī prajāvānāyuṣmānkīrtimāṃśca bhavennaraḥ | 

yayāticaritaṃ puṇyaṃ paṭhañchṛṇvaṃśca bṛddhimān || 27|| 

sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivaloke mahīyate ||28||

Then he performed tapas over the peak of Bhṛgutuṅga mountain. The immensely glorious king, then, while fasting, achieved heaven with his queens. The race of descendants comprising the five auspicious kings were honored by the divine Ṛṣis and the gods. The glory of those kings is spread over the earth in the same way as the sun's rays are spread over the earth. An intelligent person who reads the story of Yayāti or listens to it, he achieves long life and glory. He getting relieved of all the sins is honored in the abode of Śiva.

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे सोमवंशे ययातिचरितं नाम सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः॥६७॥

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge somavaṃśe yayāticaritaṃ nāma saptaṣaṣṭitamo’dhyāyaḥ||67||