Bhagwat Puran Ninth Skandh: The Solar Dynasty, Shri Ram Katha and the Lunar Dynasty

The ninth skandh tells of the kings of the Solar and Lunar dynasties. For readers of Ayodhya its dearest part is chapters 10 and 11, which tell the whole story of Shri Ram in brief.

Chapters 1 to 3: the descendants of Manu

Lines descend from the sons of Vaivasvata Manu. There are stories of Sudyumna (Ila), Prishadhra, Kavi and Sharyati. Sharyati's daughter Sukanya unknowingly blinded the sage Chyavana, then in atonement married and served him; the Ashvins restored his youth (the name Chyavanprash comes from this tradition).

Chapters 4 and 5: King Ambarisha

King Ambarisha was a supreme devotee: his mind at the Lord's feet, his speech in His praise, his hands in temple service, his ears in hearing His stories. Once he kept the Ekadashi vow for a year. On Dvadashi, before breaking the fast, the sage Durvasa arrived; the king invited him to eat, and the sage went to bathe but was delayed. As the time for breaking the fast was passing, on the Brahmins' advice the king took only a sip of water.

Durvasa took this as an insult and in anger created a destructive spirit. The Lord's Sudarshana chakra came to protect the king, destroyed the spirit and pursued Durvasa. Durvasa fled to Brahma, Shiva and then Vishnu, who said: "Aham bhakta paradhinah", "I am subject to my devotees. You have wronged Ambarisha; ask his forgiveness." A year later Durvasa returned, and Ambarisha, who had waited the whole year without eating, prayed to the chakra to spare him.

Chapters 6 to 9: the kings of the Solar dynasty

Mandhata, the sage Saubhari, Trishanku, Harishchandra, Sagara and his sixty thousand sons, Anshuman, Dilipa and Bhagiratha. By severe austerity Bhagiratha brought the Ganga to earth; Shiva caught her force in his hair, and she gave liberation to Sagara's sons, and so is called Bhagirathi. Then came Khatvanga, Dirghabahu, Raghu, Aja and Dasharatha.

Chapters 10 and 11: the story of Shri Ram

The Lord himself was born in Ayodhya as Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna in the house of King Dasharatha. Shukadeva tells it briefly:

• Guarding Vishvamitra's sacrifice; Tataka, Subahu and Maricha.
• Breaking Shiva's bow in Mithila and marrying Sita; humbling Parashurama's pride on the way.
• To keep his father's word to Kaikeyi, giving up the kingdom and going to the forest with Sita and Lakshmana. Bharata ruling from Nandigram with Rama's sandals.
• Shurpanakha, Khara and Dushana at Panchavati, Maricha as the golden deer, and Ravana's abduction of Sita. Jatayu's sacrifice.
• Friendship with Sugriva, the slaying of Vali, Hanuman finding Sita and burning Lanka.
• Building the bridge across the sea, Vibhishana's surrender, the slaying of Kumbhakarna, Meghanada and Ravana.
• Returning to Ayodhya with Sita in the Pushpaka, meeting Bharata, and the coronation.

Ram Rajya: in Shri Ram's kingdom there was no disease, grief or famine; all followed dharma, rain came on time, and the trees were laden with fruit and flowers. Shri Ram performed many sacrifices and cared for his people like his children. Later Sita went to Valmiki's hermitage, Lava and Kusha were born, and at the end Shri Ram entered the Saryu with all the people of Ayodhya and returned to his abode. Shukadeva says: whoever hears the story of Shri Ram is freed from the bondage of karma.

Chapters 12 and 13: the line after Rama and the line of Nimi

The Solar line from Kusha to Brihadbala, then the line of Nimi (Janaka, Siradhvaja, Mithila).

Chapters 14 to 16: the Lunar dynasty and Parashurama

The moon, Budha, Pururava and Urvashi, then Gadhi, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni and Lord Parashurama. Kartavirya of a thousand arms seized Jamadagni's Kamadhenu; Parashurama slew him. In revenge his sons killed Jamadagni, and Parashurama destroyed the tyrannical Kshatriyas twenty-one times, then gave the whole earth to Kashyapa and went to do penance on Mount Mahendra.

Chapters 17 to 24: Yayati and after

Nahusha, Yayati, Devayani and Sharmishtha, Puru's youth; Yayati's renunciation ("desire is not quenched by enjoyment"). Then in Puru's line Dushyanta, Bharata, Rantideva (who though starving gave away his food and water to guests), Kuru, Shantanu, Bhishma, the Pandavas and Kauravas. Finally the Yadu line, with Vasudeva and Devaki, in whose home Krishna is to be born, which opens the tenth skandh.

What this skandh teaches

• God is subject to His devotees; insulting a true devotee insults God (Ambarisha).
• What one generation cannot finish, the next completes (Bhagiratha).
• Shri Ram's life is the ideal of right conduct as son, brother, husband, friend and king.
• Feeding others even when hungry, like Rantideva, is the greatest gift.