Stories of the Brahma Purana Part-IV

In the lineage of Vaivasvata Manu, his sacrifice resulted in the birth of nine sons: Ikshvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrishta, Sharyati, Narishyanta, Pramashu, Rishta, Karusha, and Prishadhra. Additionally, due to an offering to the gods Mitra and Varuna, a daughter named Ila was born.


Budha, the son of Chandra (the moon god), married Ila, and they had a son named Pururva. Later, Ila received a boon from Mitra and Varuna that allowed her to transform into a man named Sudyumna. Sudyumna had three sons: Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva, each of whom ruled in different regions.


Utkala ruled in Orissa, Gaya in the region now known as Gaya, and Vinatashva in the western territories. However, Sudyumna's past as a woman led him to live in the city of Pratishthana rather than ruling. After Sudyumna, Pururava inherited the throne.


When Vaivasvata Manu passed away, his ten sons divided the Earth among themselves. Ikshvaku ruled the central regions and had a hundred sons, with the eldest named Vikukshi, who later came to be known as Shashada.


Shashada was once sent to the forest by his father Ikshvaku to fetch meat for a sacrifice. While in the forest, he ate some of the meat he was supposed to bring back, committing a sacrilege. As a result, the sage Vashishtha advised Ikshvaku to banish Shashada, who later returned to rule Ayodhya, establishing a lineage that included Rama of the Ramayana.


In this line of kings, Kubalashva was a prominent ruler. When Kubalashva decided to retire to the forest, a sage named Utanka warned him about a powerful rakshasa named Dhundhu living beneath the sands near his hermitage. Kubalashva, accompanied by his hundred sons, went to confront Dhundhu. Despite losing most of his sons in the battle, Kubalashva managed to defeat Dhundhu and was henceforth known as Dhundhumara.


Dhundhumara's descendants included kings like Trayaruni, who ruled righteously. However, his son Satyavrata was wicked and defied righteous principles. Sage Vashishtha advised Trayaruni to banish Satyavrata from the kingdom. Satyavrata, also known as Trishanku, lived among outcasts and later took care of Vishvamitra's family during a famine.


In a desperate act, Trishanku stole and killed Vashishtha's cow and even consumed its meat. This enraged Vashishtha, who cursed Trishanku, renaming him due to his three grave sins. Despite the curse, Trishanku eventually pleased Vishvamitra, who granted him the boon to ascend to heaven in his physical body, an extraordinary feat. Trishanku became king in Trayaruni's kingdom, and Vishvamitra acted as his chief priest.

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