Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c13.s1.22

c13.s1.22

The Purana lists all agree fairly down to Māndhātṛ, though with much variation in some names; and here the Mahābhārata list also agrees. With Māndhātṛ there is some variation. He had three well-known sons, Purukutsa, Ambarīṣa and Mucukunda.² From Ambarīṣa came the Hārita brahmans (chapter XXIII). Mucukunda was a famous king,³ and of him the fable is told that he went to sleep in a cave and slept on till awakened by Kālayavana, who had pursued Kṛṣṇa into it; then he killed Kāla, and marvelled at the degeneracy of mankind.⁴ Purukutsa’s son was Trasadasyu⁵ who continued the main line. All then fairly agree, subject to some omissions, down to Saudāsa Kalmāṣapāda, but between him and Dilīpa II Khaṭvāṅga⁶ two different versions occur, where the names are all different: thus the Brahma, Harivaṃśa, Matsya, Padma, Śiva and Agni generally insert five kings, Sarvakarman, Anaraṇya, Nighna, Anamitra with a Raghu, and Duliduha; but the seven other Puranas name six, Aśmaka, Mūlaka, Śataratha, Iḍaviḍa (with variations), Vṛddhaśarman and Viśvasaha. It is not material which version we adopt, because their number is practically the same and none were important, but the latter group is supported by the better texts and is preferable.¹ From Dilīpa II Khaṭvāṅga to Daśaratha there is general agreement subject to some divergences; and here the better texts make Dīrghabāhu ‘father of Raghu’ instead of an epithet of Raghu, though the Raghuvaṃśa omits him. From Daśaratha to Ahīnagu there is general agreement.