Rāmāyana | Bala Kaṇḍa | Chapter 70

Sargam [Chapter]: 70
Rāma's Clan Details

[Kusadwaja, who is the younger brother of Janaka, is summoned. Sage Vasiṣṭha tells in detail about the clan of Rāma.]

After that, in the morning, after performing the rituals of the Yagna, Janaka, an expert in speech, told the chief priest Sathananda as follows. 70.1

My younger brother Kusadwaja, a great follower of Dharma, who is famous and brilliant, is ruling the auspicious city of Sankhasya, which is like the Puṣpaka Vimāna and on the banks of river Ikshumathi with the water of the rivers as its boundary. 70.2-70.3

"I would like to see him, who is greatly lustrous, as the protector of this Yagna along with me; I would enjoy it." 70.4

After informing this to Sathananda, he gave orders to some competent attendants who had come there. 70.5

As per the commands, they rushed to bring the tiger among men Kusadwaja, similar to obeying the orders of Indra to bring Lord Vishnu. 70.6

After having reached the city of Sankhasya, they saw Kusadwaja and informed him what had happened in Mithilā and the intention of the King. 70.7

That greatly strong King Kusadwaja, having learnt of the events from those great attendants, set out as per the wishes of King Janaka. 70.8

There he saw great Janaka, who liked Dharma; after saluting Sathananda and the great King Janaka, occupied a divine seat, which was suitable for a King, near the king. 70.9

Those two valorous brothers, possessing great splendour, sent Sudhama, the wisest of the ministers to Daśaratha 70.10

"Oh great minister, speedily go to the invincible Ikshvāku King Daśaratha, who has great lustre, and bring him with his sons and ministers." 70.11

After the minister went to the tent, he saw the great King of the Raghu clan, bowed his head and spoke after saluting him. 70.12

"Oh valorous King of Ayodhyā, Janaka the King of Mithilā desires to see you along with your Guru and priests." 70.13

Then the King, having heard these words, along with his great ministers, great sages and relations, reached the place where Janaka was waiting. 70.14

The king, an expert in speech, who was with his ministers, gurus as well as relations, spoke these words addressed to the great King of Videha, 70.15

"It is well known, oh king, that god like sage Vasiṣṭha, who is like a god to the clan of Ikshvāku, would be our spokesman for all occasions." 70.16

"This Virtuous sage Vasiṣṭha, with the permission of sage Viśvāmitra and all other sages, will tell you the particulars of our race in proper order." 70.17

After having spoken like this amidst great people, that King became silent. Sage Vasiṣṭha, who was an expert in speech and who was god like, along with several other sages, spoke as follows to King Janaka. 70.18-70.19

"From the power, which did not have a clear form, was born the ever living and ever stable Lord Brahma and from him Marīchi was born and from him, Kaśyapa was born." 70.20

"Kaśyapa had a son called Vivasvān [Sun God], Manu, who was called Prajāpati, was the son of Vivasvān and his son was Ikshvāku." 70.21

"Ikshvāku during early times ruled over Ayodhyā and he had a lustrous and famous son called Kukshi." 70.22

"Kukshi's son was Vikukshi and to him was born highly lustrous and valorous Bana." 70,23

"The valorous Ananarnya with great luster and fame was the son of Bana. Prathu was born to him and to him was born Triśanku." 70.24

"The famous Dhundumāra also known as Yuvanaswa was the son of Triśanku and he had a son called Māndhātā." 70.25

"Susandhi was the son of Māndhātā and to him two sons Dhruvasandhi and Presanajith were born." 70.26

"Dhruvasandhi had a famous son called Bhārata and from him was born the greatly lustrous Asita." 70.27

"For Asita, the kings Haihayas, Sasabindhus, Talanghas and their race became enemies." 70.28

"The weak Asita was defeated by them in a war and was exiled out of his kingdom and he along with his ministers travelled towards Himalaya Mountains and lived in a place called Bhruguprasravana." 70.29

"It is heard that he had two queens, who became pregnant at the same time. One queen gave poison mixed with food to the other queen so that the embryo would be destroyed." 70.30

"In that pretty Mountain, a rishi named Bhrigu, who was also called Chyavana, lived." 70.31

"One of those two wives, called Kālindī, who had lotus like eyes, desiring for a son, saluted Chyavana, who was much similar to devas." 70.32

"When that Kālindī approached that sage and saluted that Brahmin desiring for a son, he spoke to her about the birth of a son to her." 70.33

"Oh prosperous one, in your womb a powerful, virtuous, highly lustrous and glorious son is growing. In a short time, that glorious son carrying the poison administered to you would be born to you. Oh lotus eyed one, do not be sad." 70.34-70.35

"That princess, who was eldest queen, chaste and virtuous wife, who was sad due to the loss of her husband, gave birth to a son due to the blessing of sage Chyavana." 70.36

"Since poison was given to his mother, by her co wife, with a view to destroy him, he was born along with the poison and was called Sāgara." 70.37

"Asamanjā was born to Sāgara and from him Amśumān was born; to him was born Dilipa and his son was Bhagīratha." 70.38

"Kakushta was the son of Bhagīratha and his son was Raghu. The powerful Pravrudha was his son. He became Kanmashapada as the water of curse fell on his feet and his son was Samkhana." 70.39

"Sudarśana was born to Sankhana and to him Agnivarna, who had the colour of fire, was born. His son was Sigharaha and his son was Maru. Prasusruka was born to Maru and his son was Ambariṣa. 70.40-70.41

“Ambariṣa's son was King Nahuṣa. Yayāti was the son of Nahuṣa and his son was Nābhāga." 70.42

"Nābhāga's son was Aja and his son is Daśaratha. Daśaratha's sons are Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa." 70.43

"Oh great King, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were born of a pure heritage from the beginning. They are supremely virtuous, votaries of truth and belong to the clan of Ikshvāku Kings. I choose both of your daughters as brides for them as both of your worthy daughters are accomplished and virtuous. It is only proper for you to give them in marriage to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa." 70.44-70.45

This is the end of Seventieth Sarga of Bala Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.