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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 69: Vivāha: Kuśadhvaja’s arrival and the Ikṣvāku lineage
Summary. Kuśadhvaja joins the assembly, Vasiṣṭha recounts the Ikṣvāku lineage and asks for Janaka’s two daughters for Rāma & Lakṣmaṇa
Sequence
- At daybreak Janaka tells Śatānanda that he wants his younger brother Kuśadhvaja, ruler of Sāṃkāśyā beside the Ikṣumatī, to share the celebration (1.69.1–4)
- swift messengers fetch him → Kuśadhvaja salutes Janaka and Śatānanda and takes his seat (1.69.5–8)
- the brothers send their minister Sudāman to invite Daśaratha with his sons, advisers, and priests → Daśaratha joins the assembly and identifies Vasiṣṭha as his family’s spokesman in all undertakings → with Viśvāmitra’s leave and the other ṛṣis present, Vasiṣṭha addresses Janaka and his priest to declare Daśaratha’s lineage. (1.69.9–16)
- Vasiṣṭha traces the ancestry from Brahmā through Marīci, Kaśyapa, Vivasvat, Manu, and Ikṣvāku, the first King of Ayodhyā (1.69.17–19)
- the succession continues through Vikukṣi, Bāṇa, Anaraṇya, Pṛthu, Triśaṅku, Dhundhumāra, Yuvanāśva, Māndhātṛ, and Susaṃdhi → Susaṃdhi has two sons, Dhruvasaṃdhi and Prasenajit, and the line continues through Dhruvasaṃdhi's son Bharata and Bharata's son Asita (1.69.19–24)
- the account next names Sagara, describing him as born with poison, and continues through Asamañja, Aṃśumat, Dilīpa, Bhagīratha, Kakutstha, and Raghu (1.69.25–26)
- Raghu's son Pravṛddha becomes the man-eater Kalmāṣapāda → the succession continues through Śaṅkhaṇa, Sudarśana, Agnivarṇa, Śīghraga, Maru, Praśuśruka, Ambarīṣa, Nahuṣa, Yayāti, Nābhāga, Aja, and Daśaratha (1.69.27–30)
- Vasiṣṭha describes their royal ancestry as pure from its beginnings, righteous, heroic, and truthful → he asks for Janaka’s two daughters for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, saying the daughters and princes are fitting equals. (1.69.30–32)
Verses 1.69.1–32
1.69.1
tataḥ prabhāte janakaḥ kṛtakarmā maharṣibhiḥ
uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajñaḥ śatānandaṃ purohitam
Then at daybreak Janaka, having performed his rites with the great sages, and skilled in speech, spoke these words to Śatānanda his priest:
Words: tataḥ — then; prabhāte — at daybreak; janakaḥ — Janaka; kṛtakarmā — having performed his rites; maharṣibhiḥ — with the great sages; uvāca — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; vākyajñaḥ — skilled in speech; śatānandaṃ — Śatānanda; purohitam — the priest
1.69.2
bhrātā mama mahātejā yavīyān atidhārmikaḥ
kuśadhvaja iti khyātaḥ purīm adhyavasac chubhām
My brother of great splendour, younger than me and exceedingly righteous, known as Kuśadhvaja, dwells in a lovely city.
Words: bhrātā — brother; mama — my; mahātejā — of great splendour; yavīyān — younger; atidhārmikaḥ — exceedingly righteous; kuśadhvaja — Kuśadhvaja; iti — thus, so named; khyātaḥ — known, renowned; purīm — a city; adhyavasac — dwells in; chubhām — lovely
1.69.3
vāryāphalakaparyantāṃ pibann ikṣumatīṃ nadīm
sāṃkāśyāṃ puṇyasaṃkāśāṃ vimānam iva puṣpakam
(That city) Sāṃkāśyā, ringed round with rows of defensive planks and drinking from (skirting) the river Ikṣumatī, holy to behold like the Puṣpaka aerial car.
Words: vāryāphalakaparyantāṃ — bordered all around by defensive planks (palisades); pibann — drinking; ikṣumatīṃ — the Ikṣumatī; nadīm — river; sāṃkāśyāṃ — Sāṃkāśyā (the city); puṇyasaṃkāśāṃ — of holy appearance; vimānam — the aerial car, flying palace; iva — like; puṣpakam — Puṣpaka
1.69.4
tam ahaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi yajñagoptā sa me mataḥ
prītiṃ so 'pi mahātejā iṃmāṃ bhoktā mayā saha
I wish to see him; he is regarded by me as the protector of my sacrifice; and he too, of great splendour, will share this joy together with me.
Words: tam — him; ahaṃ — I; draṣṭum — to see; icchāmi — wish; yajñagoptā — the protector of the sacrifice; sa — he; me — by me; mataḥ — regarded, deemed; prītiṃ — joy, delight; so 'pi — he too; mahātejā — of great splendour; iṃmāṃ — this; bhoktā — will enjoy, will share; mayā saha — together with me
1.69.5
śāsanāt tu narendrasya prayayuḥ śīghravājibhiḥ
samānetuṃ naravyāghraṃ viṣṇum indrājñayā yathā
At the king's command (the messengers) set out with swift horses to fetch the tiger among men, as at Indra's command (the gods go to fetch) Viṣṇu.
Words: śāsanāt — by the command; tu — and; narendrasya — of the king; prayayuḥ — they set out; śīghravājibhiḥ — with swift horses; samānetuṃ — to bring, fetch; naravyāghraṃ — the tiger among men; viṣṇum — Viṣṇu; indrājñayā — by Indra's command; yathā — as, just as
1.69.6
ājñayā tu narendrasya ājagāma kuśadhvajaḥ
ājagāma kuśadhvajaḥ
And at the king's command Kuśadhvaja came.
Words: ājñayā — by the command; tu — and; narendrasya — of the king; ājagāma — came; kuśadhvajaḥ — Kuśadhvaja
1.69.7
sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ janakaṃ dharmavatsalam
so 'bhivādya śatānandaṃ rājānaṃ cāpi dhārmikam
He saw the great-souled Janaka, devoted to dharma; and having saluted Śatānanda and also the righteous king,
Words: sa — he; dadarśa — saw; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; janakaṃ — Janaka; dharmavatsalam — devoted to dharma; so 'bhivādya — and he, having saluted; śatānandaṃ — Śatānanda; rājānaṃ — the king; cāpi — and also; dhārmikam — the righteous
1.69.8
rājārhaṃ paramaṃ divyam āsanaṃ cādhyarohata
upaviṣṭāv ubhau tau tu bhrātarāv amitaujasau
...he mounted a supreme, divine seat fit for a king; and the two brothers of immeasurable might were seated.
Words: rājārhaṃ — fit for a king; paramaṃ — supreme; divyam — divine; āsanaṃ — seat; cādhyarohata — and mounted; upaviṣṭāv — seated (dual); ubhau — both; tau — those two; tu — and; bhrātarāv — the two brothers; amitaujasau — of immeasurable might (dual)
1.69.9
preṣayām āsatur vīrau mantriśreṣṭhaṃ sudāmanam
gaccha mantripate śīghram aikṣvākam amitaprabham
ātmajaiḥ saha durdharṣam ānayasva samantriṇam
The two heroes sent the best of counsellors, Sudāman: “Go quickly, chief of counsellors, and bring the unassailable descendant of Ikṣvāku of boundless splendour, together with his sons and his counsellors.”
Words: preṣayām āsatur — the two sent; vīrau — the two heroes; mantriśreṣṭhaṃ — the best of counsellors; sudāmanam — Sudāman; gaccha — go; mantripate — O chief of counsellors; śīghram — quickly; aikṣvākam — the descendant of Ikṣvāku (Daśaratha); amitaprabham — of boundless splendour; ātmajaiḥ saha — together with his sons; durdharṣam — the unassailable; ānayasva — bring; samantriṇam — together with his counsellors
1.69.10
aupakāryāṃ sa gatvā tu raghūṇāṃ kulavardhanam
dadarśa śirasā cainam abhivādyedam abravīt
Going to the guest-lodging, he saw the augmenter of the Raghus' line, and bowing to him with his head, he said this:
Words: aupakāryāṃ — to the guest-lodging (royal pavilion); sa — he; gatvā — having gone; tu — and; raghūṇāṃ — of the Raghus; kulavardhanam — the augmenter of the line; dadarśa — saw; śirasā — with his head; cainam — and him; abhivādyedam — having saluted, this; abravīt — said
1.69.11
ayodhyādhipate vīra vaideho mithilādhipaḥ
sa tvāṃ draṣṭuṃ vyavasitaḥ sopādhyāyapurohitam
“O hero, lord of Ayodhyā, the Videha king, lord of Mithilā, has resolved to see you together with your teachers and priests.”
Words: ayodhyādhipate — O lord of Ayodhyā; vīra — O hero; vaideho — the Videha king; mithilādhipaḥ — lord of Mithilā; sa — he; tvāṃ — you; draṣṭuṃ — to see; vyavasitaḥ — has resolved, determined; sopādhyāyapurohitam — together with your teachers and priests
1.69.12
mantriśreṣṭhavacaḥ śrutvā rājā sarṣigaṇas tadā
sabandhur agamat tatra janako yatra vartate
Hearing the words of the chief counsellor, the king, together with the host of sages and his kinsmen, then went to where Janaka was.
Words: mantriśreṣṭhavacaḥ — the words of the best of counsellors; śrutvā — having heard; rājā — the king; sarṣigaṇas — with the host of sages; tadā — then; sabandhur — with his kinsmen; agamat — went; tatra — there; janako — Janaka; yatra — where; vartate — was, dwelt
1.69.13
sa rājā mantrisahitaḥ sopādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ
vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭho vaideham idam abravīt
That king, accompanied by his counsellors, his teachers, and his kinsmen, best of those skilled in speech, spoke these words to the Videha king:
Words: sa rājā — that king; mantrisahitaḥ — accompanied by counsellors; sopādhyāyaḥ — with his teachers; sabāndhavaḥ — with his kinsmen; vākyaṃ — words; vākyavidāṃ — of those skilled in speech; śreṣṭho — the best; vaideham — to the Videha king; idam — this; abravīt — said
1.69.14
viditaṃ te mahārāja ikṣvākukuladaivatam
vaktā sarveṣu kṛtyeṣu vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
It is known to you, great king, that the venerable seer Vasiṣṭha, the tutelary deity of the Ikṣvāku line, is our spokesman in all undertakings.
Words: viditaṃ — known; te — to you; mahārāja — O great king; ikṣvākukuladaivatam — the tutelary deity of the Ikṣvāku line; vaktā — the speaker, spokesman; sarveṣu — in all; kṛtyeṣu — undertakings, matters; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; bhagavān — the venerable; ṛṣiḥ — seer
1.69.15
viśvāmitrābhyanujñātaḥ saha sarvair maharṣibhiḥ
eṣa vakṣyati dharmātmā vasiṣṭho me yathākramam
With Viśvāmitra's leave and together with all the great sages, this righteous Vasiṣṭha will relate my (lineage) in due order.
Words: viśvāmitrābhyanujñātaḥ — permitted by Viśvāmitra; saha — together with; sarvair — all; maharṣibhiḥ — the great sages; eṣa — this one; vakṣyati — will speak, relate; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; me — my, for me; yathākramam — in due order
1.69.16
tūṣṇīṃbhūte daśarathe vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajño vaidehaṃ sapurohitam
When Daśaratha had fallen silent, the venerable seer Vasiṣṭha, skilled in speech, spoke to the Videha king together with his priest:
Words: tūṣṇīṃbhūte — having become silent (loc. abs.); daśarathe — Daśaratha (loc. abs.); vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; bhagavān — the venerable; ṛṣiḥ — seer; uvāca — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; vākyajño — skilled in speech; vaidehaṃ — to the Videha king; sapurohitam — together with his priest
1.69.17
avyaktaprabhavo brahmā śāśvato nitya avyayaḥ
tasmān marīciḥ saṃjajñe marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ sutaḥ
From the Unmanifest arose Brahmā, eternal, everlasting, imperishable; from him was born Marīci; Marīci's son was Kaśyapa.
Words: avyaktaprabhavo — arising from the Unmanifest; brahmā — Brahmā; śāśvato — eternal; nitya — everlasting; avyayaḥ — imperishable; tasmān — from him; marīciḥ — Marīci; saṃjajñe — was born; marīceḥ — of Marīci; kaśyapaḥ — Kaśyapa; sutaḥ — son
1.69.18
vivasvān kaśyapāj jajñe manur vaivaivataḥ smṛtaḥ
manuḥ prajāpatiḥ pūrvam ikṣvākus tu manoḥ sutaḥ
From Kaśyapa was born Vivasvān; Manu is remembered as the son of Vivasvat (Vaivasvata); Manu was formerly a Prajāpati (lord of creatures), and Ikṣvāku was Manu's son.
Words: vivasvān — Vivasvān (the Sun); kaśyapāj — from Kaśyapa; jajñe — was born; manur — Manu; vaivaivataḥ — the son of Vivasvat (Vaivasvata); smṛtaḥ — is remembered, known as; manuḥ — Manu; prajāpatiḥ — a Prajāpati, lord of creatures; pūrvam — formerly, of old; ikṣvākus — Ikṣvāku; tu — and; manoḥ — of Manu; sutaḥ — son
1.69.19
tam ikṣvākum ayodhyāyāṃ rājānaṃ viddhi pūrvakam
ikṣvākos tu sutaḥ śrīmān vikukṣir udapadyata
Know that Ikṣvāku to have been the first king in Ayodhyā; and Ikṣvāku's illustrious son Vikukṣi was born.
Words: tam — that; ikṣvākum — Ikṣvāku; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; rājānaṃ — king; viddhi — know; pūrvakam — the first, original; ikṣvākos — of Ikṣvāku; tu — and; sutaḥ — son; śrīmān — illustrious; vikukṣir — Vikukṣi; udapadyata — was born, arose
1.69.20
vikukṣes tu mahātejā bāṇaḥ putraḥ pratāpavān
bāṇasya tu mahātejā anaraṇyaḥ pratāpavān
Vikukṣi's son was the majestic, valorous Bāṇa; and Bāṇa's (son) was the majestic, valorous Anaraṇya.
Words: vikukṣes — of Vikukṣi; tu — and; mahātejā — of great splendour; bāṇaḥ — Bāṇa; putraḥ — son; pratāpavān — valorous, mighty; bāṇasya — of Bāṇa; tu — and; mahātejā — of great splendour; anaraṇyaḥ — Anaraṇya; pratāpavān — valorous, mighty
1.69.21
anaraṇyāt pṛthur jajñe triśaṅkus tu pṛthoḥ sutaḥ
triśaṅkor abhavat putro dhundhumāro mahāyaśāḥ
From Anaraṇya was born Pṛthu; Triśaṅku was Pṛthu's son; and Triśaṅku's son was the greatly renowned Dhundhumāra.
Words: anaraṇyāt — from Anaraṇya; pṛthur — Pṛthu; jajñe — was born; triśaṅkus — Triśaṅku; tu — and; pṛthoḥ — of Pṛthu; sutaḥ — son; triśaṅkor — of Triśaṅku; abhavat — was, became; putro — son; dhundhumāro — Dhundhumāra; mahāyaśāḥ — greatly renowned
1.69.22
dhundhumārān mahātejā yuvanāśvo mahārathaḥ
yuvanāśvasutaḥ śrīmān māndhātā pṛthivīpatiḥ
From Dhundhumāra (came) the majestic, great chariot-warrior Yuvanāśva; Yuvanāśva's illustrious son was Māndhātṛ, lord of the earth.
Words: dhundhumārān — from Dhundhumāra; mahātejā — of great splendour; yuvanāśvo — Yuvanāśva; mahārathaḥ — great chariot-warrior; yuvanāśvasutaḥ — Yuvanāśva's son; śrīmān — illustrious; māndhātā — Māndhātṛ; pṛthivīpatiḥ — lord of the earth
1.69.23
māndhātus tu sutaḥ śrīmān susaṃdhir udapadyata
susaṃdher api putrau dvau dhruvasaṃdhiḥ prasenajit
Māndhātṛ's illustrious son Susaṃdhi was born; and Susaṃdhi had two sons, Dhruvasaṃdhi and Prasenajit.
Words: māndhātus — of Māndhātṛ; tu — and; sutaḥ — son; śrīmān — illustrious; susaṃdhir — Susaṃdhi; udapadyata — was born; susaṃdher — of Susaṃdhi; api — also; putrau — two sons; dvau — two; dhruvasaṃdhiḥ — Dhruvasaṃdhi; prasenajit — Prasenajit
1.69.24
yaśasvī dhruvasaṃdhes tu bharato nāma nāmataḥ
bharatāt tu mahātejā asito nāma jāyata
Dhruvasaṃdhi's (son) was the illustrious one named Bharata; and from Bharata was born the majestic one named Asita.
Words: yaśasvī — illustrious, glorious; dhruvasaṃdhes — of Dhruvasaṃdhi; tu — and; bharato — Bharata; nāma — by name; nāmataḥ — by name; bharatāt — from Bharata; tu — and; mahātejā — of great splendour; asito — Asita; nāma — by name; jāyata — was born
1.69.25
saha tena gareṇaiva jātaḥ sa sagaro 'bhavat
sagarasyāsamañjas tu asamañjād athāṃśumān
Born together with that very poison, he became (known as) Sagara; Sagara's (son) was Asamañja, and from Asamañja (came) Aṃśumān.
Words: saha — together with; tena — that; gareṇaiva — with the poison indeed; jātaḥ — born; sa — he; sagaro — Sagara; 'bhavat — became; sagarasyāsamañjas — Sagara's (son) Asamañja; tu — and; asamañjād — from Asamañja; athāṃśumān — then Aṃśumān
1.69.26
dilīpo 'ṃśumataḥ putro dilīpasya bhagīrathaḥ
bhagīrathāt kakutsthaś ca kakutsthasya raghus tathā
Dilīpa was the son of Aṃśumat; Dilīpa's (son) was Bhagīratha; from Bhagīratha (came) Kakutstha; and Kakutstha's (son) was Raghu.
Words: dilīpo — Dilīpa; 'ṃśumataḥ — of Aṃśumat; putro — son; dilīpasya — of Dilīpa; bhagīrathaḥ — Bhagīratha; bhagīrathāt — from Bhagīratha; kakutsthaś — Kakutstha; ca — and; kakutsthasya — of Kakutstha; raghus — Raghu; tathā — likewise
1.69.27
raghos tu putras tejasvī pravṛddhaḥ puruṣādakaḥ
kalmāṣapādo hy abhavat tasmāj jātas tu śaṅkhaṇaḥ
Raghu's energetic son Pravṛddha became a man-eater — indeed he was (the one called) Kalmāṣapāda; and from him was born Śaṅkhaṇa.
Words: raghos — of Raghu; tu — and; putras — son; tejasvī — energetic, splendid; pravṛddhaḥ — Pravṛddha (‘the full-grown’); puruṣādakaḥ — a man-eater; kalmāṣapādo — Kalmāṣapāda; hy — indeed; abhavat — became; tasmāj — from him; jātas — born; tu — and; śaṅkhaṇaḥ — Śaṅkhaṇa
1.69.28
sudarśanaḥ śaṅkhaṇasya agnivarṇaḥ sudarśanāt
śīghragas tv agnivarṇasya śīghragasya maruḥ sutaḥ
Śaṅkhaṇa's (son) was Sudarśana; from Sudarśana (came) Agnivarṇa; Agnivarṇa's (son) was Śīghraga; and Śīghraga's son was Maru.
Words: sudarśanaḥ — Sudarśana; śaṅkhaṇasya — of Śaṅkhaṇa; agnivarṇaḥ — Agnivarṇa; sudarśanāt — from Sudarśana; śīghragas — Śīghraga; tv — and; agnivarṇasya — of Agnivarṇa; śīghragasya — of Śīghraga; maruḥ — Maru; sutaḥ — son
1.69.29
maroḥ praśuśrukas tv āsīd ambarīṣaḥ praśuśrukāt
ambarīṣasya putro 'bhūn nahuṣaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ
Maru's (son) was Praśuśruka; from Praśuśruka (came) Ambarīṣa; Ambarīṣa's son was Nahuṣa, lord of the earth.
Words: maroḥ — of Maru; praśuśrukas — Praśuśruka; tv — and; āsīd — was; ambarīṣaḥ — Ambarīṣa; praśuśrukāt — from Praśuśruka; ambarīṣasya — of Ambarīṣa; putro — son; 'bhūn — became; nahuṣaḥ — Nahuṣa; pṛthivīpatiḥ — lord of the earth
1.69.30
nahuṣasya yayātis tu nābhāgas tu yayātijaḥ
nābhāgasya bhabhūvāja ajād daśaratho 'bhavat
tasmād daśarathāj jātau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau
Nahuṣa's (son) was Yayāti; Nābhāga was Yayāti's son; from Nābhāga came Aja; from Aja was born Daśaratha; and from that Daśaratha were born the two brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: nahuṣasya — of Nahuṣa; yayātis — Yayāti; tu — and; nābhāgas — Nābhāga; tu — and; yayātijaḥ — born of Yayāti; nābhāgasya — of Nābhāga; bhabhūvāja — there came to be Aja; ajād — from Aja; daśaratho — Daśaratha; 'bhavat — became; tasmād — from him; daśarathāj — from Daśaratha; jātau — the two born; bhrātarau — two brothers; rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
1.69.31
ādivaṃśaviśuddhānāṃ rājñāṃ paramadharmiṇām
ikṣvākukulajātānāṃ vīrāṇāṃ satyavādinām
(Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are descended) from kings pure in their ancient lineage, supremely righteous, born in the Ikṣvāku line, heroic and truthful.
Words: ādivaṃśaviśuddhānāṃ — pure in their ancient lineage; rājñāṃ — of kings; paramadharmiṇām — of the supremely righteous; ikṣvākukulajātānāṃ — born in the Ikṣvāku line; vīrāṇāṃ — of heroes; satyavādinām — of the truthful
1.69.32
rāmalakṣmaṇayor arthe tvatsute varaye nṛpa
sadṛśābhyāṃ naraśreṣṭha sadṛśe dātum arhasi
For the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa I ask for your two daughters, O king; O best of men, you ought to give the two (girls), their equals, to the two (princes) who are worthy of them.
Words: rāmalakṣmaṇayor — of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; arthe — for the sake; tvatsute — your two daughters; varaye — I ask for, choose; nṛpa — O king; sadṛśābhyāṃ — for the two matching (princes); naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; sadṛśe — the two matching (daughters); dātum — to give; arhasi — you ought
← 1.68 Vivāha: Daśaratha arrives in Mithilā · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.70 Vivāha: The Videha lineage and the wedding date →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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