Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c29.135

c29.135

The principal brahmans who dwelt in the lower region of the Narbadā were the Bhārgavas. They were ill-treated by the successors of the Haihaya king Kṛtavīrya and fled into Madhyadeśa. About that time or a little earlier was born the famous rishi Ṛcīka Aurva, who was chief among them.⁷ Kṛtavīrya’s son Arjuna⁸ then propitiated Datta the Ātreya and was favoured by him (p. 229). He was a great monarch and conqueror (p. 41), and continuing the successes mentioned above, raised the Haihaya power to pre-eminence during a long reign. He captured Māhiṣmatī from the Karkoṭaka Nāgas¹ and made it his fortress-capital. He extended his conquests from the mouth of the Narbadā² as far as the Himalayas (p. 206). He defeated a Rāvaṇa, who is called king of Laṅka (in Ceylon) and had apparently come northward on conquest, and imprisoned him in Māhiṣmatī but released him afterwards.³ The Bhārgavas were incensed against the Haihayas and sought to strengthen their position by alliances with kṣatriyas and the use of arms.⁴ Thus Ṛcīka Aurva married Satyavatī, daughter of Gādhi, king of Kānyakubja. Their son was Jamadagni, and Gādhi's son Viśvaratha became the brahman Viśvāmitra, and was succeeded by his son Aṣṭaka.⁵ Jamadagni married a princess of Ayodhyā.