Kings of Surya Vamsha

Shounaka said

How were brave, very strong sons born to Sagara? By what destiny did those sixty thousand sons become valiant? Please tell us.

Suta said

Sagara had two wives who destroyed their sins by austerities. When the supreme sage Ourva was satisfied with them he granted a boon. One chose sixty thousand spirited sons, the other a single son to carry on the line. When the time came, the one who asked for many brave sons bore a gourd full of seeds. These were separated and kept in pots of ghee, each tended by its own nurse. In time they became princes and brought delight. When those great-souled ones were burned by Kapila's fire, the single son, Panchajana, became king. Panchajana's son was valiant Amshuman, whose son was Dilipa, whose son was Bhagiratha, the lord who brought the Ganga, best of rivers, down and sent her toward the ocean, which is why she is thought of as his daughter. Bhagiratha's son was famed King Shrutasena. His son was Nabhaga, very devoted to dharma, whose son Ambarisha fathered Sindhudvipa. Sindhudvipa's son was valiant Ayutajit, whose son was the very illustrious Rituparna, who knew the divine art of dice and was King Nala's friend. Rituparna's son was the very radiant Anuparna, whose son was Mitrasaha, also named Kalmashapada, whose son was the famous Sarvakarma, whose son was Anaranya, whose son was the learned king Mundidruha. His sons were Nishadha, Rati and Khatvanga. Faultless one, he went to heaven when only one muhurta of life was left to him, and by his intelligence and truth gained the three worlds. His son was Dirghabahu, whose son was Raghu, whose son was Aja, whose son was Dasharatha, whose son was Rama, very illustrious, with dharma in his self, born as a portion of Vishnu, a great devotee of Shiva, who killed Ravana. His deeds are told in many Puranas and famous in the Ramayana and are not told in detail here. Rama had a famous son Kusha, whose son was Atithi, whose son was Nishadha, whose son was Nala, whose son was Nabha, whose son was Pundarika, whose son was Kshemadhanva, whose son was powerful Devanika, whose son was the lord Ahinagu, whose son was valiant Sahasvat, whose son was Virasena, born in the Ikshvaku line. Virasena's son was Pariyatra, whose son was Bala, whose son was Sthala, who had a powerful son Yaksha, born as a portion of Surya. His son was Aguna, whose son was Vidhriti, whose son was Hiranyanabha, who became an acharya of yoga, a disciple of the sage Jaimini and expert in knowledge of the self. From this supreme king Koushilya Yajnavalkya learned what is called adhyatma yoga, which cuts the heart's bonds. His son was Pushpa, whose son was Dhruva, whose son was Agnivarna, whose son was Shighra, whose son was Marut, who gained siddhi through yoga. Even now the lord lives in the place called Kalapagrama, and when kali yuga is over he will revive the sages and especially the destroyed solar line. His son was Prithushruta, whose son was Sandhi, whose son was Amarshana, whose son was Marutvat, whose son was Vishvasahva, whose son was Prasenjit, whose son was Takshaka, whose son was Brihadbala.

So Suta told the former kings of the Ikshvaku line, and now the future ones, all knowing dharma. Brihadbala's son will be Brihadrana, whose son will be Urukriya, whose son will be Vatsavriddha, whose son will be Prativyoma, whose son will be Bhanu, whose son will be Divaka, an army leader, whose son will be the very brave Sahadeva, whose son will be Brihadashva, whose son will be powerful Bhanumat, whose son will be valiant Pratikashva, whose son will be the excellent king Supratika. Under an auspicious star Marudeva will be born as his son. His son will be Pushkara, whose son will be Antariksha, whose son will be Sutapa, whose son will be brave Mitrachitta, whose son will be Brihadbhaja, whose son will be named Barhi, whose son will be Kritanjaya, whose son will be Sanjaya, whose son will be Maya, whose son will be Shakya, whose son will be Shuddhoda, whose son will be Langala, whose son will be Prasenjit, whose son will be Shudraka, whose son will be Runaka, whose son will be Suratha, whose son will be Sumitra, with whom the line will end. The Ikshvaku line will end with Sumitra. It has wonderful, valiant kings devoted to dharma and good deeds. When kali yuga begins, on reaching Sumitra, the auspicious line will merge with outsiders and revive again in the krita yuga. In Vaivasvata's line there were kings lavish in gifts, but those of the Ikshvaku line were foremost and are described. This supreme, sacred line was created by Aditya Vivasvat, the divinity Shraddhadeva, who nourishes subjects. Men who hear of this creation of Aditya's have offspring and, after enjoying great happiness in this world, gain union with him.