Linga Purana

दिष्टपुत्रस्तु नाभागस् तस्मादपि भलन्दनः भलन्दनस्य विक्रान्तो राजासीद् अजवाहनः

Nābhāga's son was Diṣṭa, and from him came Bhalandana; Bhalandana's valiant son was the king Ajavāhana.

एते समासतः प्रोक्ता मनुपुत्रा महाभुजाः इक्ष्वाकोः पुत्रपौत्राद्या एलस्याथ वदामि वः

Thus, in summary, have been described the sons of Manu, O mighty-armed ones; now I shall tell you of the descendants of Ikshvaku, beginning with his sons and grandsons, and then of Ela.

ऐलः पुरूरवा नाम रुद्रभक्तः प्रतापवान् चक्रे त्वकण्टकं राज्यं देशे पुण्यतमे द्विजाः

Aila, named Pururavas, devoted to Rudra and possessed of great prowess, established his kingdom at Tvakantaka, O twice-born ones, in the most sacred land.

उत्तरे यमुनातीरे प्रयागे मुनिसेविते प्रतिष्ठानाधिपः श्रीमान् प्रतिष्ठाने प्रतिष्ठितः

On the northern bank of the Yamuna, at Prayaga, revered by sages, the illustrious lord of Pratishthana resided, established in Pratishthana.

तस्य पुत्राः सप्त भवन् सर्वे वितततेजसः गन्धर्वलोकविदिता भवभक्ता महाबलाः

He had seven sons, all endowed with expansive brilliance, renowned in the world of the Gandharvas, devoted to Bhava, and of great strength.

आयुर् मायुर् अमायुश् च विश्वायुश्चैव वीर्यवान् श्रुतायुश् च शतायुश् च दिव्याश्चैवोर्वशीसुताः

They were Ayu, Mayu, Amayu, and the mighty Vishvayu, Shrutayu, Shatayu, and the divine sons of Urvashi.

आयुषस्तनया वीराः पञ्चैवासन्महौजसः स्वर्भानुतनयायां ते प्रभायां जज्ञिरे नृपाः

Ayu had five heroic sons of great energy, born from Prabha, the daughter of Svarbhanu, O kings.

नहुषः प्रथमस्तेषां धर्मज्ञो लोकविश्रुतः नहुषस्य तु दायादाः षडिन्द्रोपमतेजसः

Of them, Nahusha was the first, righteous and renowned in the world; Nahusha had six heirs, possessing splendor equal to Indra.

उत्पन्नाः पितृकन्यायां विरजायां महौजसः यतिर्ययातिः संयातिर् आयातिः पञ्चमो ऽन्धकः

Born of the daughter of the Pitrs, Viraja, were the mighty Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, and the fifth, Andhaka.

विजातिश्चेति षडिमे सर्वे प्रख्यातकीर्तयः यतिर्ज्येष्ठश् च तेषां वै ययातिस्तु ततो ऽवरः

And Vijati—these six, all of famed renown; among them, Yati was the eldest, and Yayati was next after him.

ज्येष्ठस्तु यतिर्मोक्षार्थो ब्रह्मभूतो ऽभवत्प्रभुः तेषां ययातिः पञ्चानां महाबलपराक्रमः

The eldest, Yati, seeking liberation, became one with Brahman, O lord; among the five, Yayati was of great strength and valor.

देवयानीमुशनसः सुतां भार्यामवाप सः शर्मिष्ठामासुरीं चैव तनयां वृषपर्वणः

He obtained Devayani, the daughter of Ushanas, as his wife, and also Sharmishtha, the Asura maiden, daughter of Vrishaparvan.

यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव देवयानी व्यजायत तावुभौ शुभकर्माणौ स्तुतौ विद्याविशारदौ

Devayani bore him Yadu and Turvasu, both of virtuous deeds, praised and skilled in knowledge.

द्रुह्यं चानुं च पूरुं च शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी ययातये रथं तस्मै ददौ शुक्रः प्रतापवान्

Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, bore him Druhyu, Anu, and Puru; to Yayati, Shukra, of great splendor, gave a chariot.

तोषितस्तेन विप्रेन्द्रः प्रीतः परमभास्वरम् सुसंगं काञ्चनं दिव्यम् अक्षये च महेषुधी

Pleased by him, the foremost of Brahmins, delighted, gave a most radiant, well-made, golden, divine, inexhaustible great chariot.

युक्तं मनोजवैर् अश्वैर् येन कन्यां समुद्वहन् स तेन रथमुख्येन षण्मासेनाजयन्महीम्

It was yoked with horses swift as the mind, by which, carrying the maiden, he, with that foremost chariot, conquered the earth in six months.

ययातिर्युधि दुर्धर्षो देवदानवमानुषैः भवभक्तस्तु पुण्यात्मा धर्मनिष्ठः समञ्जसः

Yayati was invincible in battle by gods, demons, and men; devoted to Bhava, he was pure-souled, steadfast in righteousness, and upright.

यज्ञयाजी जितक्रोधः सर्वभूतानुकम्पनः कौरवाणां च सर्वेषां स भवद्रथ उत्तमः

He performed sacrifices, subdued anger, and was compassionate to all beings; among all the Kauravas, Bhavadratha was the foremost.

यावन्नरेन्द्रप्रवरः कौरवो जनमेजयः पूरोर्वंशस्य राज्ञस्तु राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य तु

Until the eminent king, the Kaurava Janamejaya, there were kings of the line of Puru, and of King Parikshit.

जगाम स रथो नाशं शापाद्गर्गस्य धीमतः गर्गस्य हि सुतं बालं स राजा जनमेजयः

That chariot was destroyed by the curse of the wise Garga; for King Janamejaya killed Garga’s young son.

अक्रूरं हिंसयामास ब्रह्महत्यामवाप सः स लोहगन्धी राजर्षिः परिधावन्नितस्ततः

He harmed Akrura and incurred the sin of killing a Brahmin; that royal sage, bearing the scent of iron, wandered here and there.

पौरजानपदैस्त्यक्तो न लेभे शर्म कर्हिचित् ततः स दुःखसंतप्तो न लेभे संविदं क्वचित्

Abandoned by the citizens and country folk, he never found peace; afflicted by sorrow, he found no solace anywhere.

जगाम शौनकमृषिं शरण्यं व्यथितस्तदा इन्द्रेतिर् नाम विख्यातो यो ऽसौ मुनिरुदारधीः

Then, distressed, he approached the sage Shaunaka for refuge; Indreti, renowned and noble-minded, was that sage.

याजयामास चेन्द्रेतिस् तं नृपं जनमेजयम् अश्वमेधेन राजानं पावनार्थं द्विजोत्तमाः

Indreti caused King Janamejaya to perform an ashvamedha sacrifice for purification, with the foremost Brahmins.

स लोहगन्धान्निर्मुक्त एनसा च महायशाः यज्ञस्यावभृथे मध्ये यातो दिव्यो रथः शुभः

Freed from the scent of iron and from sin, that illustrious king, in the midst of the sacrificial bath, ascended a divine and splendid chariot.

तस्माद्वंशात्परिभ्रष्टो वसोश्चेदिपतेः पुनः दत्तः शक्रेण तुष्टेन लेभे तस्माद् बृहद्रथः

From that lineage, Vasu, king of the Cedis, was cast out; but, given again by Indra who was pleased, Brihadratha obtained it.

ततो हत्वा जरासंधं भीमस्तं रथमुत्तमम् प्रददौ वासुदेवाय प्रीत्या कौरवनन्दनः

Then Bhima, having slain Jarasandha, gave that excellent chariot to Vasudeva out of affection, O joy of the Kurus.

अभ्यषिञ्चत्पुरुं पुत्रं ययातिर्नाहुषः प्रभुः कृतोपकारस्तेनैव पुरुणा द्विजसत्तमाः

Yayati, the mighty descendant of Nahusha, anointed his son Puru as king; thus, the best of Brahmins, he was repaid by Puru.

अभिषेक्तुकामं च नृपं पुरुं पुत्रं कनीयसम् ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णा इदं वचनमब्रुवन्

Desiring to anoint the youngest son Puru as king, the Brahmins, led by their chief, spoke these words.