Viṣṇu Purāṇa | Book 4 - Chapter 8

Chapter VIII

Sons of Āyus. Line of Kṣatravriddha, or kings of Kāśī. Former birth of Dhanwantarī. Various names of Pratarddana. Greatness of Alarka.

ĀYUS, the eldest son of Pururavā, married the daughter of Rāhu (or Ārāhu), by whom he had five sons, Nahuṣa, Kṣatravriddha, Rambha, Raji, and Anenas.

The son of Kṣatravriddha was Suhotra, who had three sons, Kāśa, Leśa, and Ghritsamada.

The son of the last was Śaunaka, who first established the distinctions of the four castes.

The son of Kāśa was Kāśīrāj; his son was Dīrghatamas; his son was Dhanvantarī, whose nature was exempt from human infirmities, and who in every existence had been master of universal knowledge:

In his past life (or when he was produced by the agitation of the milky sea), Nārāyaṇa had conferred upon him the boon, that he should subsequently be born in the family of Kāśīrāj, should compose the eightfold system of medical science, and should be thereafter entitled to a share of offerings made to the gods.

The son of Dhanvantarī was Ketumat; his son was Bhīmaratha; his son was Divodāsa;

his son was Pratardana, so named from destroying the race of Bhadraśreṇya. He had various other appellations, as Śatrūjit, 'the victor over his foes,' from having vanquished all his enemies;

Vatsa, or 'child,' from his father's frequently calling him by that name; Ritadhwaja, 'he whose emblem was truth,' being a great observer of veracity; and Kuvalayāśva, because he had a horse (aśva) called Kuvalaya.

The son of this prince was Alarka, of whom this verse is sung nowadays: "For sixty thousand and sixty hundred years no other youthful monarch except Alarka, reigned over the earth."

The son of Alarka was Santati; his son was Sunītha; his son was Suketu; his son was Dharmaketu; his son was Satyaketu; his son was Vibhu; his son was Suvibhu;

his son was Sukumāra; his son was Dhṛṣṭaketu; his son was Vaiṇahotra; his son was Bharga; his son was Bhargabhūmi; from whom also rules for the four castes were promulgated.

These are the Kāśya princes, or descendants of Kāśa.

We will now enumerate the descendants of Raji.