The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

Śukadeva said: The son of Bharata named Sumati followed the path of Ṛṣabha. Some inferior, sinful heretics will imagine him by their own minds to be Buddha, who is not approved by the Vedas.

From Sumati, a son named Devatājit was born by the womb of his wife named Vṛddhasenā.

Thereafter, in the womb of Āsurī, the wife of Devatājit, a son named Devadyumna was begotten. Devadyumna begot in the womb of his wife, Dhenumatī, a son named Parameṣṭhī. Parameṣṭhī begot a son named Pratīha in the womb of his wife, Suvarcalā.

King Pratīha taught the principles of self-realization and, becoming purified, realized the Supreme Lord.

In the womb of his wife Suvarcalā, Pratīha begot three sons, named Pratihartā, Prastotā and Udgātā, expert in performing sacrifice. Pratihartā begot two sons, named Aja and Bhūmā, in the womb of his wife, named Stutī.

In the womb of his wife Ṛṣikulyā, King Bhūmā begot a son named Udgītha. From Udgītha's wife, Devakulyā, a son named Prastāva was born, and Prastāva begot a son named Vibhu through his wife, Niyutsā. In the womb of his wife, Ratī, Vibhu begot a son named Pṛthuṣeṇa. Pṛthuṣeṇa begot a son named Nakta in the womb of his wife, named Ākūti. Nakta's wife was Druti, and from her womb the great King Gaya was born. Gaya, the best saintly king of great fame, was a portion of Viṣṇu, situated in viśuddha-sattva, who appeared for protecting the universe. He was a great personality with symptoms such as knowledge of the Lord.

King Gaya, without ego, realizing Brahman in himself and devoid of false conception, ruled the world. His pure mind was constantly filled with love for the Lord through bhakti-yoga achieved by service to the devotees, which was endowed with the spiritual quality of offering everything to the Supreme Lord, Bhagavān, Brahman, the source if high and low creatures, through performing sacrifices and executing dharma in the form of protecting, nourishing, satisfying, caressing, and chastising the citizens.

O King Parīkṣit! Scholars of the Purāṇas glorify King Gaya with the following verses.

What king can imitate King Gaya by his activities? Who except a portion of the Lord is so expert in sacrifice, respected by all, learned of all scriptures, a protector of dharma, wealthy, the leader of the assembly of devotees, and a servant of the devotees?

The chaste daughters of Dakṣa, whose blessings must come true, bathed King Gaya, who had no desires, with great satisfaction, using water. The earth, whose udders flowed on seeing the Gaya’s good qualities which were like a calf, gave all desires to the citizens.

The Vedas yielded all desires to King Gaya, who had no desires. All kings, satisfied with his fighting during war, offered tribute to King Gaya. The brāhmaṇas, respected by charity, offered him one sixth of their piety for the next life.

When Indra became drunk at the sacrifice of King Gaya from drinking too much soma, the Supreme Lord, the soul of sacrifice, accepted the results of worship offered with faith and pure, steady devotion.

When the Lord is pleased, immediately all devatās, humans, plants, grass, and all beings up to Brahmā become satisfied. The Lord, the life of the universe, the very form of satisfaction, became satisfied at the sacrifice of King Gaya.

In the womb of Gayantī, Mahārāja Gaya begot three sons, named Citraratha, Sugati and Avarodhana. In the womb of his wife Ūrṇā, Citraratha begot a son named Samrāṭ. The wife of Samrāṭ was Utkalā, and in her womb Samrāṭ begot a son named Marīci. In the womb of his wife Bindumatī, Marīci begot a son named Bindu. In the womb of his wife Saraghā, Bindu begot a son named Madhu. In the womb of his wife named Sumanā, Madhu begot a son named Vīravrata. In the womb of his wife Bhojā, Vīravrata begot two sons named Manthu and Pramanthu. In the womb of his wife Satyā, Manthu begot a son named Bhauvana, and in the womb of his wife Dūṣaṇā, Bhauvana begot a son named Tvaṣṭā. In the womb of his wife Virocanā, Tvaṣṭā begot a son named Viraja. The wife of Viraja was Viṣūcī, and in her womb Viraja begot one hundred sons and one daughter. Of all these sons, the son named Śatajit was predominant.

There is a famous verse about King Viraja: Because of his wide fame, King Viraja, who produced a hundred sons, decorated the dynasty of King Priyavrata just as Lord Viṣṇu decorates the devatās.