sweet and majestic, supreme actor among men and consummate urbane hero; peerless at the feet of the great teachers of poets; Lord of Maya and Lord of Love, whose bow strikes terror and who destroyed Khara; refuge of the tender-eyed and shelter of the devoted; joy of his devotees, Rama—the jewel of Kosala, delightful even in name; whose virtues ring like jeweled anklets, the root of bliss whose immeasurable feet are worshiped—victory to that Rama!
Brahma, unmanifest in origin, eternal, everlasting, and undecaying, arose first. From him was born Marichi; Kashyapa was Marichi’s son. From Kashyapa came Vivasvan, and from Vivasvan came Manu; Manu was the first lord of creatures, and Ikshvaku was Manu’s son.
Ikshvaku’s glorious son was known as Kukshi; Kukshi’s glorious son was Vikukshi, radiant and unconquered. Vikukshi’s son was mighty Bana, endowed with great splendor; Bana’s son was the glorious and powerful Anaranya.
From Anaranya came Prithu; Prithu’s son was Trishanku. Trishanku’s mighty son was the greatly renowned Dhundhumara. From Dhundhumara was born the radiant Yuvanashva; Yuvanashva’s son was Mandhata, lord of the earth.
Mandhata’s glorious son was Susandhi. Susandhi had two sons, Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit. Dhruvasandhi’s famous son was Bharata; from the mighty Bharata was born a son named Asita.