IKSHVÂKU

1. IKSHVÂKU.

SKANDHA IX. CHAPS. 6-13.

Ikshvâku was born out of the nostrils of Manu when sneezing. He had one hundred sons. Vikukshi, Nimi, and Dandaka were the eldest born. Twenty five of them ruled on the east of Âryâvarta, twenty five on the west and twenty five in the middle. The others ruled else where. For the performance of Ashtakâ Srâddha, Ikshvâku once ordered Vikukshi to get some good flesh. Vikukshi had a bagful of good game. But he was hungry and ate one rabbit out of his store.

Vasishtha found fault with this and Ikshvâku had to reject the whole of the game. The King became angry at this and he expelled his son from the kingdom. When Ikshvâku died, Vikukshi returned. He succeeded his father as king and was known as Saśâda or Rabbiteater. Puranjaya was the son of Saśâda. He was also called Indravâha and Kakutstha. The Devas had a fight with the Asuras and Indra asked for the help of Puranjaya. Puranjaya wanted Indra to be his carrier, and the King of the Devas became a bull. Puranjaya ascended the bull on its hump. He is therefore called Indravaha or Indra-vehicled and Kakutstha or the mounter on the hump. He defeated the Asuras.

                             Ikshvâku
                                 |
    --+--------------------+-----+-----------------------+---
      |                    |                             |
   Vikukshi              Nimi                       98 other sons
   (Saśâda)
      |
  Puranjaya
 (Indra vâhu
 Kakutstha)
      |
    Anenâ
      |
   Prithu
      |
 Visvagandhi
      |
   Chandra
      |
  Yuvanaśva
      |
  Srâvasta
(He built the town Srâvasti)
      |
  Brihadasva
      |
 Kuvalayasva
 (Dhundhumâra.)

With his 21 thousand sons, Kuvalayâsva killed an Asura called Dhundhu, for the good of Rishi Utanka. But the Asura killed all his sons, except three, with fire from his mouth. Those three were Dridhâsva, Kapilâsva and Bhadrâsva.

                Kuvalayâsva or Dhundhumâra.
                         |
 ---+--------------------+-+-----------------------+----
    |                      |                       |
Dridhâsva.             Kapilâsva.              Bhadrâsva.
    |
 Haryasva
    |
 Nikumbha
    |
Bahulâsva
    |
Krisâsva
    |
 Senajit
    |
Yuvanâsva.

Yuvanâsva had no son. So the Rishis performed a sacrifice directed to Indra. One night Yuvanâsva became very thirsty and entered the Yajna house. He found all the Rishis sleeping at the time. He thought it improper to rouse the Rishis and drank whatever water he found near at hand. By chance that happened to be the consecrated water with the power of producing a son. When the Rishis rose up they did not find the water. On enquiry, when they knew what had happened, every one wondered what the outcome would be. In time the king brought forth a son from his right side. The little thing cried out for milk. Indra said "Do not weep, child, you shall drink wine ('Mân Dhâtâ')" So saying he offered the child his fore finger. From this, the child was called Mândhâtâ. Yuvanâsva, by the blessing of the Rishis, did not meet with death at delivery. Mândhâtâ was a very powerful king. The thieves dreaded him much. He performed many sacrifices and made many gifts. He married Indumatî, daughter of Sasabindu. He had three sons Purukutsa, Ambarisha, and the Yōgin Muchukunda. He had also fifty daughters.