Shloka 48
नृगो ययातिर्नहुषो यदुः पूरुश्च॒ वीर्यवान्
bhīṣma uvāca | nṛgo yayātir nahuṣo yaduḥ pūruś ca vīryavān | atha rājaṛṣīṇāṃ nāmāni śṛṇu—rājā nṛgaḥ, yayātiḥ, nahuṣaḥ, yaduḥ, vīryavān pūruḥ, dhundhumāraḥ, dilīpaḥ, pratāpī sagaraḥ, kṛśāśvaḥ, yauvanāśvaḥ, citrāśvaḥ, satyavān, duṣyantaḥ, mahāyaśas cakravartī rājā bharataḥ, pavanaḥ, janakaḥ, rājā dṛṣṭarathaḥ, naraśreṣṭhaḥ raghuḥ, rājā daśarathaḥ, rākṣasahantā vīravaraḥ śrīrāmaḥ, śaśabinduḥ, bhagīrathaḥ, hariścandraḥ, maruttaḥ, rājā dṛḍharathaḥ, mahodaryaḥ, alarkaḥ, narādhipa ailāḥ (purūravāḥ), naraśreṣṭhaḥ karandhamaḥ, rājā kadhmoraḥ, dakṣaḥ, ambarīṣaḥ, kukuraḥ, mahāyaśā raivataḥ, kuruḥ, saṃvaraṇaḥ, satyaparākramaḥ māndhātā, rājaṛṣiḥ mucukundaḥ, gaṅgā-sevitaḥ rājā jahnuḥ, ādirājaḥ venanandanaḥ pṛthuḥ, sarvapriyakaras mitrabhānuḥ, rājā trasahasyuḥ, rājaṛṣiśreṣṭhaḥ śvetaḥ, prasiddhaḥ rājā mahābhiṣaḥ, rājā nimiḥ, aṣṭakaḥ, āyuḥ, rājaṛṣiḥ kṣupaḥ, rājā kakṣeyuḥ, pratardanaḥ, divodāsaḥ, kosalanareśaḥ sudāsaḥ, purūravāḥ, rājaṛṣiḥ nalaḥ, prajāpatiḥ manuḥ, havidhraḥ, pṛṣadhraḥ, pratīpaḥ, śāntanuḥ, ajaḥ, prācīnabarhiḥ, mahāyaśā ikṣvākuḥ, rājā anaraṇyaḥ, jānujaṅghaḥ, rājaṛṣiḥ kakṣasenaḥ, tathā ca anye ye purāṇeṣu bahuśo varṇitāḥ | ete sarve puṇyātmānaḥ rājānaḥ smaraṇīyāḥ | yaḥ kaścid manuṣyaḥ pratidinaṃ prātaḥ utthāya snātvā śuciḥ prātaḥkāle sāyaṃkāle ca etān nāmāni paṭhati, sa dharmaphalasya bhāgī bhavati |
Bhīṣma sprach: „Höre nun die Namen der königlichen ṛṣi: König Nṛga, Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Yadu, der mächtige Pūru; Dhundhumāra, Dilīpa; der tapfere Sagara; Kṛśāśva, Yauvanāśva, Citrāśva, Satyavān; Duṣyanta; Bharata, der ruhmreiche Weltenherrscher (cakravartin); Pavana, Janaka; König Dṛṣṭaratha; Raghu, der Beste der Menschen; König Daśaratha; Śrī Rāma, der heldenhafte Bezwinger der rākṣasas; Śaśabindu; Bhagīratha; Hariścandra; Marutta; König Dṛḍharatha; Mahodarya; Alarka; der Aila (Purūravas); Karaṇḍhama, der Beste der Menschen; König Kadhmora; Dakṣa; Ambarīṣa; Kukura; der berühmte Raivata; Kuru; Saṃvaraṇa; Māndhātā, stark in der Wahrheit; der königliche ṛṣi Mucukunda; Jahnu, dem die Gaṅgā dient; Pṛthu, der Urkönig, Sohn des Vena; Mitrabhānu, allen lieb; König Trasahasyu; der höchste königliche ṛṣi Śveta; der berühmte König Mahābhiṣa; König Nimi; Aṣṭaka; Āyu; der königliche ṛṣi Kṣupa; König Kakṣeyu; Pratardana; Divodāsa; Sudāsa, Herr von Kosala; Purūravas; der königliche ṛṣi Nala; Prajāpati Manu; Havidhra; Pṛṣadhra; Pratīpa; Śāntanu; Aja; Prācīnabarhi; der ruhmreiche Ikṣvāku; König Anaraṇya; Jānujaṅgha; der königliche ṛṣi Kakṣasena; und weitere, die in den Purāṇas immer wieder gepriesen werden. All diese Könige von heiligem Verdienst sind des Gedenkens würdig. Wer täglich aufsteht, durch Bad und Reinheit geläutert, und diese Namen morgens und abends rezitiert, wird teilhaftig der Früchte des dharma.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Remembering and reciting the names of exemplary kings—figures associated with righteous rule and merit—functions as a dharmic practice. When done with daily purity (after bathing) at morning and evening, it is said to make one a participant in the fruits of dharma, emphasizing moral memory, reverence for righteous exemplars, and disciplined routine.
Bhishma, instructing on dharma in the Anushasana Parva, enumerates a long roll of celebrated royal sages and renowned kings known from Itihasa and Purana traditions. He concludes with a phalaśruti-style statement: regular recitation of these names by a purified person yields religious merit.