Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 9: “Liberation”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter Twelve

The Dynasty of Kusa, the Son of Lord Ramacandra

SB9.12Summary

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.

SB9.12.1

TEXT 1

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.

SB9.12.2

TEXT 2

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.

SB9.12.3-4

TEXTS 3–4

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.

SB9.12.5

TEXT 5

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.

SB9.12.6

TEXT 6

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.

SB9.12.7

TEXT 7

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.

SB9.12.8

TEXT 8

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.

SB9.12.9

TEXT 9

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.

SB9.12.10

TEXT 10

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.

SB9.12.11

TEXT 11

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.

SB9.12.12

TEXT 12

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.

SB9.12.13

TEXT 13

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.

SB9.12.14

TEXT 14

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.

SB9.12.15

TEXT 15

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.

SB9.12.16

TEXT 16

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.”

Next chapter (SB 9.13)