The Vishnu Purana: Book IV: Chapter VIII | Internet Sacred Text Archive

CHAP. VIII.

Sons of Áyus. Line of Kshatravriddha, or kings of Káśí. Former birth of Dhanwantarí. Various names of Pratarddana. Greatness of Alarka.

ÁYUS, the eldest son of Purúravas, married the daughter of Ráhu (or Áráhu), by whom he had five sons, Nahusha, Kshatravriddha 1, Rambha 2, Raji, and Anenas 3.

The son of Kshatravriddha was Suhotra 4, who had three sons, Káśa 5, Leśa 6, and Ghritsamada. The son of the last was Śaunaka 7, who first established the distinctions of the four castes 8. The son of Káśa was Kaśirájá 9; his son was Dírghatamas 10; his son was Dhanwantari, 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), Náráyańa had conferred upon him the boon, that he should subsequently be born in the

family of Kásirájá, should compose the eightfold system of medical science 11, and should be thereafter entitled to a share of offerings made to the gods. The son of Dhanwantari was Ketumat; his son was Bhímaratha; his son was Divodása 12; his son was Pratarddana, so

named from destroying the race of Bhadraśreńya. He had various other appellations, as Śatrujit, '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 Kuvalayáśwa, because he had a horse (aśwa) called Kuvalaya 13. The son of this prince was Alarka, of whom this verse is sung in the present day; "For sixty thousand and sixty hundred years no other youthful monarch except Alarka, reigned over the earth 14." The son of Alarka was

[paragraph continues] Santati 15; his son was Sunítha; his son was Suketu; his son was Dharmaketu; his son was Satyaketu; his son was Vibhu; his son was Suvibhu; his son was Sukumára; his son was Dhrisht́aketu; his son was Vaińahotra; his son was Bharga; his son was Bhargabhúmi; from whom also rules for the four castes were promulgated 16. These are the Káśya

princes, or descendants of Káśa 17. We will now enumerate the descendants of Raji.

Footnotes

406:1 Dharmavriddha: Váyu. Vriddhaśarman: Matsya. Yajnaśarman: Padma.

406:2 Darbha: Agni. Dambha: Padma.

406:3 Vipápman: Agni and Matsya. Vidáman: Padma. The two last authorities proceed no farther with this line.

406:4 Sunahotra: Váyu, Bráhma.

406:5 Káśya: Bhágavata.

406:6 Sála: Váyu, Bráhma, Hari V.: whose son was Ársht́isena, father of Charanta; Váyu: of Kaśyapa; Bráhma and Hari V.

406:7 Here is probably an error, for the Váyu, Bhágavata, and Bráhma agree in making Śunaka the son of Ghritsamada, and father of Śaunaka.