Chapter XXI
Chapter XXI
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Chapter XXI

CHAP. XXI.

Future kings. Descendants of Paríkshit, ending with Kshemaka.

I WILL now enumerate the kings who, will reign in future periods 1. The present monarch, Paríkshit 2, will have four sons, Janamejaya, Śrutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhímasena 3. The son of Janamejaya will be Śatáníka 4, who will study the Vedas under Yájnyawalkya, and military science with Kripa; but becoming dissatisfied with sensual enjoyments, he will acquire spiritual knowledge from the instructions of Śaunaka, and ultimately obtain salvation. His son will be Aswamedhadatta (a son given by the gods in reward for the sacrifice of a horse 5); his son will be Asíma-krishńa 6; his son will be Nichakra 7, who will remove the capital to Kauśámbí, in consequence of Hastinápura being washed away by the Ganges; his son will be Ushńa 8; his son will be Chitraratha; his son

p. 462

will be Vrishńimat 9; his son will be Susheńa; his son will be Sunítha 10; his son will be Richa 11; his son will be Nrichakshu 12; his son will be Sukhíhala 13; his son will be Pariplava; his son will be Sunaya 14; his son will be Medhávin; his son will be Nripanjaya 15; his son will be Mridu 16; his son will be Tigma 17; his son will be Vrihadratha; his son will be Vasudána 18; and his son will be another Śatáníka; his son will be Udayana 19; his son will be Ahínara 20; his son will be Khańd́apáni 21; his son will be Niramitra 22; his son will be Kshemaka 23: of him this verse is recited; "The race which gave origin to Brahmans and Kshatriyas, and which was purified by regal sages, terminated with Kshemaka; in the Kali age 24."

Footnotes
  1. 461:1

    The style now adopted is that of prophecy, as Vyása could not consistently have recorded the events which were posterior to his time.

  2. 461:2

    Also read Paríkshita, Paríksha, and Paríkshi.

  3. 461:3

    See p. 457. The Váyu and Matsya relate, rather obscurely, a dispute between Janamejaya and Vaiśampáyana, in consequence of the former's patronage of the Brahmans of the Vájasaneyi branch of the Yajur-veda, in opposition to the latter, who was the author of the black or original Yajush (see p. 279). Janamejaya twice performed the Aśwamedha according to the Vájasaneyi ritual, and established the Trisarví, or use of certain texts by Aśmaka and others, by the Brahmans of Anga, and by those of the middle country. He perished however in consequence, being cursed by Vaiśampáyana. Before their disagreement, Vaiśampáyana related the Mahábhárata to Janamejaya. Mahábh., Adi Parvan.

  4. 461:4

    The reading of the text is rather, 'his (Paríkshit's) other son will be Śatáníka;' but the commentator refers 'his' to Janamejaya. The Váyu, Matsya, and Bhágavata also make Śatáníka the son of Janamejaya. The Bráhma P. has a totally different series, or Paríkshit, Súryápid́a, Chandrápid́a, Janamejaya, Satyakarńa, Śwetakarńa, Sukumára, and Ajaśyáma.

  5. 461:5

    The Bhágavata interposes Sahasráníka. The Vrihatkathá has the same descent, but calls the son of Sahasráníka, Udayana or Vatsa. The Bhágavata has Aśwamedhaja.

  6. 461:6

    Adhisáma k.: Váyu. Adhisoma k.: Matsya. The former states that the Váyu P. was narrated in this king's reign, in the second year of a three years' sacrifice at Kurukshetra.

  7. 461:7

    Nemichakra: Bhágav. Vichakshus: Matsya. They agree with the text as to the removal of the capital, and the cause.

  8. 461:8

    Ukta: Bhág. Bhúrijyesht́ha: Matsya.

  9. 462:9

    Suchidratna, Váyu; Suchidrava, Mats.; Kaviratha, Bhág.; is interposed between Chitraratha and Vrishnímat.

  10. 462:10

    Sutírtha: Váyu.

  11. 462:11

    Ruchi: Váyu. Omitted: Mats. and Bhág.

  12. 462:12

    Chitráksha: Váyu.

  13. 462:13

    Sukhínala: Bhág.

  14. 462:14

    Sutapas: Mats.

  15. 462:15

    Puranjaya: Mats.

  16. 462:16

    Úrva: Mats. Dúrva: Bhág.

  17. 462:17

    Tigmátman: Mats. Timi: Bhágavata.

  18. 462:18

    Sudása: Bhág. Vasudáman: Mats.

  19. 462:19

    The Matsya concurs with the text (see above, note 5); the Bhágavata has Durdamana.

  20. 462:20

    Vahínara: Bhág.

  21. 462:21

    Dańd́apáni: Bhág., Váyu, Mats.

  22. 462:22

    Nimi: Bhág.

  23. 462:23

    Kshepaka: Váyu.

  24. 462:24

    The same memorial verse is quoted in the Matsya and Váyu P., preceded by one which states the number of princes twenty-five. The specification however, commencing with Śatáníka, is twenty-six or twenty-seven. The passage is, ###.

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