Chapter Twelve
The Dynasty of Kusa, the Son of Lord Ramacandra
This chapter describes the dynasty of Kusa, the son of Lord Ramacandra. The members of this dynasty are descendants of Sasada, the son of Maharaja Iksvaku.
Following in the genealogical table of Lord Ramacandra's dynasty, Kusa, the Lord's son, was followed consecutively by Atithi, Nisadha, Nabha, Pundarika, Ksemadhanva, Devanika, Aniha, Pariyatra, Balasthala, Vajranabha, Sagana and Vidhrti. These personalities ruled the world. From Vidhrti came Hiranyanabha, who later became the disciple of Jaimini and propounded the system of mystic yoga in which Yajnavalkya was initiated. Following in this dynasty were Puspa, Dhruvasandhi, Sudarsana, Agnivarna, Sighra and Maru. Maru attained full perfection in the practice of yoga, and he still lives in the village of Kalapa. At the end of this age of Kali, he will revive the dynasty of the sun-god. Next in the dynasty were Prasusruta, Sandhi, Amarsana, Mahasvan, Visvabahu, Prasenajit, Taksaka and Brhadbala, who was later killed by Abhimanyu. Sukadeva Gosvami said that these were all kings who had passed away. The future descendants of Brhadbala will be Brhadrana, Urukriya, Vatsavrddha, Prativyoma, Bhanu, Divaka, Sahadeva, Brhadasva, Bhanuman, Pratikasva, Supratika, Marudeva, Sunaksatra, Puskara, Antariksa, Sutapa, Amitrajit, Brhadraja, Barhi, Krtanjaya, Rananjaya, Sanjaya, Sakya, Suddhoda, Langala, Prasenajit, Ksudraka, Ranaka, Suratha and Sumitra. All of them will become kings one after another. Sumitra, coming in this age of Kali, will be the last king in the Iksvaku dynasty; after him, the dynasty will be extinguished.
TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
kusasya catithis tasman
nisadhas tat-suto nabhah
pundariko 'tha tat-putrah
ksemadhanvabhavat tatah
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; kusasya--of Kusa, the son of Lord Ramacandra; ca--also; atithih--Atithi; tasmat--from him; nisadhah--Nisadha; tat-sutah--his son; nabhah--Nabha; pundarikah--Pundarika; atha--thereafter; tat-putrah--his son; ksemadhanva--Ksemadhanva; abhavat--became; tatah--thereafter.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: The son of Ramacandra was Kusa, the son of Kusa was Atithi, the son of Atithi was Nisadha, and the son of Nisadha was Nabha. The son of Nabha was Pundarika, and from Pundarika came a son named Ksemadhanva.
TEXT 2
TEXT
devanikas tato 'nihah
pariyatro 'tha tat-sutah
tato balasthalas tasmad
vajranabho 'rka-sambhavah
SYNONYMS
devanikah--Devanika; tatah--from Ksemadhanva; anihah--from Devanika came the son named Aniha; pariyatrah--Pariyatra; atha--thereafter; tat-sutah--the son of Aniha; tatah--from Pariyatra; balasthalah--Balasthala; tasmat--from Balasthala; vajranabhah--Vajranabha; arka-sambhavah--derived from the sun-god.
TRANSLATION
The son of Ksemadhanva was Devanika, Devanika's son was Aniha, Aniha's son was Pariyatra, and Pariyatra's son was Balasthala. The son of Balasthala was Vajranabha, who was said to have been born from the effulgence of the sun-god.
TEXTS 3-4
TEXT
saganas tat-sutas tasmad
vidhrtis cabhavat sutah
tato hiranyanabho 'bhud
yogacaryas tu jaimineh
sisyah kausalya adhyatmam
yajnavalkyo 'dhyagad yatah
yogam mahodayam rsir
hrdaya-granthi-bhedakam
SYNONYMS
saganah--Sagana; tat--this (Vajranabha's); sutah--son; tasmat--from him; vidhrtih--Vidhrti; ca--also; abhavat--was born; sutah--his son; tatah--from him; hiranyanabhah--Hiranyanabha; abhut--became; yoga-acaryah--the propounder of the philosophy of yoga; tu--but; jaimineh--because of accepting Jaimini as his spiritual master; sisyah--disciple; kausalyah--Kausalya; adhyatmam--spiritual; yajnavalkyah--Yajnavalkya; adhyagat--studied; yatah--from him (Hiranyanabha); yogam--the mystic performances; maha-udayam--highly elevated; rsih--Yajnavalkya Rsi; hrdaya-granthi-bhedakam--mystic yoga, which can loosen the knots of material attachment in the heart.
TRANSLATION
The son of Vajranabha was Sagana, and his son was Vidhrti. The son of Vidhrti was Hiranyanabha, who became a disciple of Jaimini and became a great acarya of mystic yoga. It is from Hiranyanabha that the great saint Yajnavalkya learned the highly elevated system of mystic yoga known as adhyatma-yoga, which can loosen the knots of material attachment in the heart.
TEXT 5
TEXT
puspo hiranyanabhasya
dhruvasandhis tato 'bhavat
sudarsano 'thagnivarnah
sighras tasya maruh sutah
SYNONYMS
puspah--Puspa; hiranyanabhasya--the son of Hiranyanabha; dhruvasandhih--Dhruvasandhi; tatah--from him; abhavat--was born; sudarsanah--from Dhruvasandhi, Sudarsana was born; atha--thereafter; agnivarnah--Agnivarna, the son of Sudarsana; sighrah--Sighra; tasya--his (Agnivarna's); maruh--Maru; sutah--son.
TRANSLATION
The son of Hiranyanabha was Puspa, and the son of Puspa was Dhruvasandhi. The son of Dhruvasandhi was Sudarsana, whose son was Agnivarna. The son of Agnivarna was named Sighra, and his son was Maru.
TEXT 6
TEXT
so 'sav aste yoga-siddhah
kalapa-gramam asthitah
kaler ante surya-vamsam
nastam bhavayita punah
SYNONYMS
sah--he; asau--the personality known as Maru; aste--still existing; yoga-siddhah--perfection in the power of mystic yoga; kalapa-gramam--the place named Kalapa-grama; asthitah--he is still living there; kaleh--of this Kali-yuga; ante--at the end; surya-vamsam--the descendants of the sun-god; nastam--after being lost; bhavayita--Maru will begin by begetting a son; punah--again.
TRANSLATION
Having achieved perfection in the power of mystic yoga, Maru still lives in a place known as Kalapa-grama. At the end of Kali-yuga, he will revive the lost Surya dynasty by begetting a son.
PURPORT
At least five thousand years ago, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami ascertained the existence of Maru in Kalapa-grama and said that Maru, having achieved a yoga-siddha body, would continue to exist until the end of Kali-yuga, which is calculated to continue for 432,000 years. Such is the perfection of mystic power. By controlling the breath, the perfect yogi can continue his life for as long as he likes. Sometimes we hear from the Vedic literature that some personalities from the Vedic age, such as Vyasadeva and Asvatthama, are still living. Here we understand that Maru is also still living. We are sometimes surprised that a mortal body can live for such a long time. The explanation of this longevity is given here by the word yoga-siddha. If one becomes perfect in the practice of yoga, he can live as long as he likes. The demonstration of some trifling yoga-siddha does not constitute perfection. Here is a factual example of perfection: a yoga-siddha can live as long as he likes.
TEXT 7
TEXT
tasmat prasusrutas tasya
sandhis tasyapy amarsanah
mahasvams tat-sutas tasmad
visvabahur ajayata
SYNONYMS
tasmat--from Maru; prasusrutah--Prasusruta, his son; tasya--of Prasusruta; sandhih--a son named Sandhi; tasya--his (Sandhi's); api--also; amarsanah--a son named Amarsana; mahasvan--the son of Amarsana; tat--his; sutah--son; tasmat--from him (Mahasvan); visvabahuh--Visvabahu; ajayata--took birth.
TRANSLATION
From Maru was born a son named Prasusruta, from Prasusruta came Sandhi, from Sandhi came Amarsana, and from Amarsana a son named Mahasvan. From Mahasvan, Visvabahu took his birth.
TEXT 8
TEXT
tatah prasenajit tasmat
taksako bhavita punah
tato brhadbalo yas tu
pitra te samare hatah
SYNONYMS
tatah--from Visvabahu; prasenajit--a son named Prasenajit was born; tasmat--from him; taksakah--Taksaka; bhavita--would take birth; punah--again; tatah--from him; brhadbalah--a son named Brhadbala; yah--he who; tu--but; pitra--by father; te--your; samare--in the fight; hatah--killed.
TRANSLATION
From Visvabahu came a son named Prasenajit, from Prasenajit came Taksaka, and from Taksaka came Brhadbala, who was killed in a fight by your father.
TEXT 9
TEXT
ete hiksvaku-bhupala
atitah srnv anagatan
brhadbalasya bhavita
putro namna brhadranah
SYNONYMS
ete--all of them; hi--indeed; iksvaku-bhupalah--kings in the dynasty of Iksvaku; atitah--all of them are dead and gone; srnu--just hear; anagatan--those who will come in the future; brhadbalasya--of Brhadbala; bhavita--there will be; putrah--a son; namna--by the name; brhadranah--Brhadrana.
TRANSLATION
All these kings in the dynasty of Iksvaku have passed away. Now please listen as I describe the kings who will be born in the future. From Brhadbala will come Brhadrana.
TEXT 10
TEXT
urukriyah sutas tasya
vatsavrddho bhavisyati
prativyomas tato bhanur
divako vahini-patih
SYNONYMS
urukriyah--Urukriya; sutah--son; tasya--of Urukriya; vatsavrddhah--Vatsavrddha; bhavisyati--will take birth; prativyomah--Prativyoma; tatah--from Vatsavrddha; bhanuh--(from Prativyoma) a son named Bhanu; divakah--from Bhanu a son named Divaka; vahini-patih--a great commander of soldiers.
TRANSLATION
The son of Brhadrana will be Urukriya, who will have a son named Vatsavrddha. Vatsavrddha will have a son named Prativyoma, and Prativyoma will have a son named Bhanu, from whom Divaka, a great commander of soldiers, will take birth.
TEXT 11
TEXT
sahadevas tato viro
brhadasvo 'tha bhanuman
pratikasvo bhanumatah
supratiko 'tha tat-sutah
SYNONYMS
sahadevah--Sahadeva; tatah--from Divaka; virah--a great hero; brhadasvah--Brhadasva; atha--from him; bhanuman--Bhanuman; pratikasvah--Pratikasva; bhanumatah--from Bhanuman; supratikah--Supratika; atha--thereafter; tat-sutah--the son of Pratikasva.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, from Divaka will come a son named Sahadeva, and from Sahadeva a great hero named Brhadasva. From Brhadasva will come Bhanuman, and from Bhanuman will come Pratikasva. The son of Pratikasva will be Supratika.
TEXT 12
TEXT
bhavita marudevo 'tha
sunaksatro 'tha puskarah
tasyantariksas tat-putrah
sutapas tad amitrajit
SYNONYMS
bhavita--will be born; marudevah--Marudeva; atha--thereafter; sunaksatrah--Sunaksatra; atha--thereafter; puskarah--Puskara, a son of Sunaksatra; tasya--of Puskara; antariksah--Antariksa; tat-putrah--his son; sutapah--Sutapa; tat--from him; amitrajit--a son named Amitrajit.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, from Supratika will come Marudeva; from Marudeva, Sunaksatra; from Sunaksatra, Puskara; and from Puskara, Antariksa. The son of Antariksa will be Sutapa, and his son will be Amitrajit.
TEXT 13
TEXT
brhadrajas tu tasyapi
barhis tasmat krtanjayah
rananjayas tasya sutah
sanjayo bhavita tatah
SYNONYMS
brhadrajah--Brhadraja; tu--but; tasya api--of Amitrajit; barhih--Barhi; tasmat--from Barhi; krtanjayah--Krtanjaya; rananjayah--Rananjaya; tasya--of Krtanjaya; sutah--son; sanjayah--Sanjaya; bhavita--will take birth; tatah--from Rananjaya.
TRANSLATION
From Amitrajit will come a son named Brhadraja, from Brhadraja will come Barhi, and from Barhi will come Krtanjaya. The son of Krtanjaya will be known as Rananjaya, and from him will come a son named Sanjaya.
TEXT 14
TEXT
tasmac chakyo 'tha suddhodo
langalas tat-sutah smrtah
tatah prasenajit tasmat
ksudrako bhavita tatah
SYNONYMS
tasmat--from Sanjaya; sakyah--Sakya; atha--thereafter; suddhodah--Suddhoda; langalah--Langala; tat-sutah--the son of Suddhoda; smrtah--is well known; tatah--from him; prasenajit--Prasenajit; tasmat--from Prasenajit; ksudrakah--Ksudraka; bhavita--will take birth; tatah--thereafter.
TRANSLATION
From Sanjaya will come Sakya, from Sakya will come Suddhoda, and from Suddhoda will come Langala. From Langala will come Prasenajit, and from Prasenajit, Ksudraka.
TEXT 15
TEXT
ranako bhavita tasmat
surathas tanayas tatah
sumitro nama nisthanta
ete barhadbalanvayah
SYNONYMS
ranakah--Ranaka; bhavita--will take birth; tasmat--from Ksudraka; surathah--Suratha; tanayah--the son; tatah--thereafter; sumitrah--Sumitra, the son of Suratha; nama--by the name; nistha-antah--the end of the dynasty; ete--all the above-mentioned kings; barhadbala-anvayah--in the dynasty of King Brhadbala.
TRANSLATION
From Ksudraka will come Ranaka, from Ranaka will come Suratha, and from Suratha will come Sumitra, ending the dynasty. This is a description of the dynasty of Brhadbala.
TEXT 16
TEXT
iksvakunam ayam vamsah
sumitranto bhavisyati
yatas tam prapya rajanam
samstham prapsyati vai kalau
SYNONYMS
iksvakunam--of the dynasty of King Iksvaku; ayam--this (what has been described); vamsah--descendants; sumitra-antah--Sumitra being the last king of this dynasty; bhavisyati--will appear in the future, while the Kali-yuga still continues; yatah--because; tam--him, Maharaja Sumitra; prapya--getting; rajanam--as a king in that dynasty; samstham--culmination; prapsyati--gets; vai--indeed; kalau--at the end of Kali-yuga.
TRANSLATION
The last king in the dynasty of Iksvaku will be Sumitra; after Sumitra there will be no more sons in the dynasty of the sun-god, and thus the dynasty will end.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Dynasty of Kusa, the Son of Lord Ramacandra."