Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 9 Chapter 20:1-18

Book 9: Chapter 20

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 20: Verses 1-18
The posterity of Puru and the stories of Dusvanta and Bharata

Sri Suka resumed : I shall (now) give a detailed account of the line of Puru, in which you were born, 0 scion of Bharata, and in which (many) royal sages and Brahmanas, each propagating his line, appeared. Now, Janmejaya was born of Puru and Janmejaya's son was Pracinvan, from whose loins appeared Pravira. From him indeed followed Namasyu (and) to him was born Carupada. From his loins appeared a son named Sudyu, of whom was born Bahugava, and from him followed Samyati. His son was Ahamyati, whose son was called Raudraswa. Rteyu, Kukseyu, Sthandileyu, Krteyu, Jaleyu and Santateyu, Dharmeyu, Satyeyu, Vrateyu and the youngest known as Vaneyu-these ten were the sons of Raudraswa, born of the celestial nymph Ghrtaci, (even) as the ten Indriyas (the five senses of perception and the five organs of action) are evolved from Prana, the chief of the five vital airs (viz., Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana), the life of the microcosm. Rteyu's son was Rantibhara, who had three sons-Sumati, Dhruva and Apratiratha, 0 protector of men 1 Apratiratha's son was Kanva. His son was Medhatithi, from whom originated the Brahmanas, Praskanva and others. Sumati's son was Raibhya; (and) Dusyanta is held to be his son. hermitage with her effulgence. The king instantly fell in love with her and spoke to her. Greatly rejoiced at her sight and sore stricken with love, he questioned her in soft words (as follows), gracefully smiling, his fatigue having completely disappeared. "Who are you with eyes resembling the petals of a lotus ? Whose daughter are you, O charming one ? And what is the purpose of your staying in this lovely forest? I clearly perceive you to be the daughter of a Ksatriya, 0 pretty one! For, nowhere does the mind of the scions of Puru find delight in (leans towards) unrighteousness." Sakuntala replied : Certainly I am the daughter of Viswamitra, forsaken by Menaka in the forest. The worshipful sage Kanva knows this (life-history of mine). What may we do for you, O hero? Have your seat, O lotus-eyed one, and indeed let our hospitality be accepted (by you). There is (enough of) wild rice, which may (kindly) be partaken of; (and) stay (here) if it pleases you. Dusyanta replied : What you say is (quite) becoming of you, born (as you are) in the line of Kusika, O beautiful one! For, princesses choose a suitable partner by themselves. The king, who knew what was enjoined at a particular time and place, married, consistently with the ethical code, Sakuntala-who had (tacitly) expressed her consent-according to the Gandharva system (which is based on mutual consent alone). The royal sage-, who was possessed of unfailing procreative energy, deposited his seed (at night) in the womb of his wedded wife (Sakuntala). The next morning he went (back) to his capital. (And) in course of time she gave birth to a son. The sage Kanva performed the appropriate (purificatory) rites relating to the (new-born) prince (commencing from Jatakarma, the rite performed at the time of the birth of a child), in the forest. While (yet) an infant, he used to play with lions, binding them with his superior strength.

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