Raghu: The King Who Gave the Dynasty Its Name

The story

Raghu, son of Dilipa, was the greatest conqueror of the line. Kalidasa's Raghuvamsha describes his digvijaya, a campaign that carried Ayodhya's banner to every quarter. What made him remembered, though, is what he did afterwards: he performed the Vishvajit yajna, in which the sacrificer gives away everything he possesses. When it was over the emperor had only earthen pots left.

At that moment a young scholar named Kautsa arrived. His guru, Varatantu, had at first asked no fee for his teaching; pressed again and again by the student, he lost patience and named an impossible one: fourteen crore gold coins, one crore for each branch of learning taught. Kautsa came to the famous giver and saw the clay vessels. He turned to leave without asking.

Raghu stopped him. No one who came to him with a need, he said, would go to another door. He asked for a few days and prepared to march on Kubera, lord of wealth. Before dawn the treasury was found full: Kubera had rained gold in the night. Raghu offered all of it. Kautsa took exactly fourteen crore and not one coin more. Each insisted the rest belonged to the other.

Why he matters

So admired was Raghu that the dynasty took his name. Ram is Raghava, Raghunandan, Raghupati, Raghunath, "lord of the Raghus". The famous couplet about a promise being kept at the cost of life names this king's house: Raghukul reeti.

What we learn

Earn greatly, and give greatly. Raghu's conquest is forgotten; his empty treasury is not. The story also honours the other man: Kautsa, who would not take more than he needed. A giver who gives everything and a receiver who takes only what is required are the two halves of an honest economy.

Next in the line: Aja. See the dynasty overview at Raghukul.