Genealogy - Dushyant to Puru (1)

Janamejaya said - "Hey Brahman, I heard all this about the incarnations, now I wish to hear the history of Kuru Vansh from the beginning." Vaishampaayan Jee said - "This story begins with Dushyant. Raajaa Dushyant was a Chakravartee Raajaa and he ruled even over Mlechchh countries. In his times there were no tillers (because land gave crops without tilling), no mine workers, no sinners, no thieves. He himself was skilled in four kinds of mace (see Gadaa)."

Janamejaya said - "I want to hear about Dushyant and Shakuntalaa in detail, that how did he get Shakuntalaa." Vaishampaayan Jee told him the Story of Dushyant and Shakuntalaa. They had a son named Bharat. Later Bharat was known as "Chakravartee" and "Saarvbhaum". He performed many sacrifices in which Maharshi Kanv (his maternal grandfather) was chief priest. Many great kings were born in his race (family line). I will tell you some of those names. Listen to this genealogy -

Daksh, the Prajaapati -> Manu, the son of Soorya -> Ruru -> Puru - > Ajaamidh. I will also tell you the genealogy of the Yaadav and the Kuru's and of the king of the Bharat line.

Prachetaa had 10 sons who burnt many poisonous trees and in numerable large trees which were creating discomfort for the people. These sons had a son named Daksh (not the previous one) and all the creatures are born from this Daksh, that is why he is called the Grandfather of all. He married Virinee and had 1,000 sons from her - all like himself. Naarad Jee taught thhem the Saankhya philosophy for their salvation. Then Daksh produced 50 daughters to extend his line and declared them as his Putrikaa (means their first sons will be his own sons). He bestowed his 10 daughters on Dharm, 13 daughters on Kashyap, the son of Mareechi, 27 to Chandra (they are all engaged in indicating time).

Kashyap produced Aaditya from his eldest wife Aditi, having Indra and Vivaswat (Soorya) at their head. Vivaswat borne Yam and one more son Manu gifted with great intelligence. In Manu's line all human beings, that is why they are called Maanav. All Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra were born from Manu. Subsequently Braahman got united with Kshatriya; and Braahman studied Ved. Manu had 10 sons - Vane, Dhrishnu, Narishyant, Naabhaag, Ikshwaaku, Karush, Sharyaati, a daughter named Ilaa, Prishadhra, and Naabhaagaarisht. Besides them, he had 5t0 other sons on earth, but we heard they all got killed while quarreling with each other.

Ilaa had the son named Pururavaa. We heard that Ilaa was his both father and mother. Pururavaa ruled over 13 islands of the sea. Pururavaa was very proud of his power so he robbed Braahman of their wealth without caring for their anger. Seeing this Sanat Kumaar counseled him, but he rejected his counsel. He had lost his reason so he was destroyed by Braahman's curse. It was Pururavaa who brought the three types of Agni from the regions of Gandharv for sacrifice. He brought Urvashee Apsaraa too from Swarg. He got six sons from her - Aayu, Dheemat, Amaavasu, Dridhaayu, Vanaayu and Satyaayu. Aayu had four sons - Nahush, Vriddh Sharmaa, Raajingaya, and Anenaa, by the daughter of Swarbhaanu. Among them Nahush was very virtuous and ruled his kingdom very well. He gratified all - Braahman, Pitar, Naag, Gandharv, Raakshas etc. But he made Rishi to carry him on their back. He even conquered Devtaa and ruled over them by the beauty of his person and his powers. Nahush had 6 sons - Yati, Yayaati, Sanyaati, Aayaati and Dhruv (lists the names of only five). Yati became ascetic, and Yayaati became the king.

Yayaati ruled over the whole Prithvi. He had two wives - Devayaanee and Sharmishthaa. Devayaanee had two sons - Yadu and Turvasu; and Sharmishthaa had three sons - Drahyu, Anu and Pooru. After ruling for a long time, he lost his beauty. He asked his all sons to give their youth to him. He asked his eldest son Yadu to give his youth, Yadu asked him why did he want his youth? Yayaati said - "During a great sacrifice, Shukra had cursed me. I will take your youth and whoever will give me his youth, he will enjoy my kingdom." But nobody got ready to give his youth to him. Then his youngest son Pooru gave his youth to his father and took his old age and I will rule your your kingdom at your command."

1,000 years passed. King Yayaati enjoyed his life with his two wives and Vishwaachee Apsaraa in the gardens of Chitrarath, the king of Gandharv. Still his thirst for enjoyment did not satiate, then he remembered Puraan's saying that the desires never end, rather they increase day by day. So he sat his mind at rest by meditation, took back his old age from his son, installed him as king and said - "You are my true heir, you are my true son by whom my race will continue and all of my race will be known by your name. Then he went to the mount of Bhrigu to do Tap, and left his body in due time.

Marriage of Yayaati

Janamejaya said - "Tell me, how Yayaati, 10th from Prajaapati, took the daughter of Shukra Devayaanee as his wife and about other kings." Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Yayaati was like Indra himself. I tell you about how Shukra and Vrishparvaa bestowed their daughters on him. Read Yayaati's story here. Yayaati had five sons - Yadu, Turvasu, Druhyu, Anu, and Puru. Yadu's children were called Yaadav, Turvasu's children were called Yavan, Druhyu's children were called Bhojaa, and Anu's sons were called Mlechchh. Puru's children were called Paurav. You are born in his family line to rule for 1,000 years with your passion under complete control."

Puru's Vansh (Family)

Praveer had one son Manasyu from his wife Surasenee
Manasyu had 3 sons - Shakt, Sahan, and Vagmi from his wife Sauviri
Rudraashwa had 10 sons from an Apsaraa Mishrakeshee - Richeyu, Kaksreyu, Vrikeyu, Sthandelyu,
      Vaneyu, Jaleyu, Tejeyu, Satyeyu, Dharmeyu and Sannateyu. Among them Richeyu became the
        monarch of the whole earth, and became known as Anadhrishti.
Anadhrishti had a son Matinaar - performed Raajsooya Yagya and Ashwamedh Yagya
Matinaar had 4 sons - Tanshu, Mahaan, Atirath, and Druhyu. Tanshu carried the family line.
Tanshu had a son Ileenaa
Ileenaa had 5 sons from his wife Rathaantaraa - Dushyaant, Shoor, Bheem, Pravasu and Vasu.
Dushyant had a son Bharat from his wife Shakuntalaa.

It is from him that this dynasty spread so wide. Bharat had 9 sons from his thee wives, but none of them was like his father so Bharat was not happy with them. Their mothers being angry with them slew them all. Then Bharat did a great sacrifice with the help of Bharadwaah Muni, and got a son named Bhumanyu.

Bhumanyu had 6 sons from his wife Pushkarinee - Suhotra, Suhotree, Suhaavih, Sujeya, Divirath and
       Kichikaa. Suhotra performed many Raajsooya and Ashwamedh Yagya, and became a Chakravartee
       king.
Suhotra had 3 sons from his wife Aikshakee - Ajameedh, Sumeedh, and Purumidh
Ajameedh had 6 sons - Riksh from Dhoominee; Dushyant and Parameshthee from Nilee; 
       Jahnu, Jal and Rupeenaa from Keshinee. Riksh became the king.
Riksh had the son Sanvaran. Under his rule many lives were lost of because of famine, drought and
       disease Bharat princes were beaten by Paanchaal with his 10 Akshauhine army and they took 
       away the whole earth. Sanvaran took shelter in the forest on the banks of Sindhu near the
       foothills with his family and relations. There they lived for 1,000 years. One day Rishi Vashishth
       Jee came there and Bharat family worshipped him. Then he requested him to be their priest and
       regain their kingdom. It is said that he did regain his kingdom by the effect of his Mantra.
Sanvaran had the son Kuru from his wife Tapatee (the daughter of Soorya). He was very virtuous and
       his kingdom became known as Kuru-Jaangal. He did Tapasyaa there and made it pious as
       Kurukshetra.
Kuru had 5 sons from his wife Vaahinee - Avikshit, Bhavishyant, Chaitrarath, Muni, and Janamejaya.
Avikshit had 8 sons - Pareekshit, Sabalaashwa, Adhiraaj, Viraj, Shaalmali, Uchchaishravaa,
        Bhangaakar, and Jitaree
Pareekshit had 6 sons - Kakshsen, Ugrasen, Chitrasen. Indrasen, Sushen and Bheemsen
Janamejaya had 8 sons - Dhritraashtra, Paandu, Baahleek, Nishadh, Jamboonad, Kundodar, Padaati and
         Vasaati
Dhritraashtra had 8 sons - Kundik, Hastee, Vitarak, Krit, Havishravaa, Indrabh, Bhumanyu (8th name is
         not given)
Dhritraashtra had many grandsons, only three of them were famous - Prateep, Dharmnetra and Sunetra
Prateep had three sons - Devaapi, Shaantanu and Baahleek. Devaapi went for Tap, and Shaantanu and
         Baahleek became kings.

Besides them there were numberless people in Bharat Vansh. Manu's children were also increased in Ailaa dynasty.