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 |
Bhishma said: “Hear now the names of the royal sages—King Nṛga, Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Yadu, the mighty Pūru, Dhundhumāra, Dilīpa, the valiant Sagara, Kṛśāśva, Yauvanāśva, Citrāśva, Satyavān, Duṣyanta, the illustrious universal monarch Bharata, Pavana, Janaka, King Dṛṣṭaratha, the best of men Raghu, King Daśaratha, the demon-slayer, foremost hero Śrī Rāma, Śaśabindu, Bhagīratha, Hariścandra, Marutta, King Dṛḍharatha, Mahodarya, Alarka, the Aila (Purūravas), the best of men Karaṇḍhama, King Kadhmora, Dakṣa, Ambarīṣa, Kukura, the renowned Raivata, Kuru, Saṃvaraṇa, the truth-strong Māndhātā, the royal sage Mucukunda, Jahnu served by the Gaṅgā, the primal king Pṛthu son of Vena, Mitrabhānu dear to all, King Trasahasyu, the foremost royal sage Śveta, the famed King Mahābhiṣa, King Nimi, Aṣṭaka, Āyu, the royal sage Kṣupa, King Kakṣeyu, Pratardana, Divodāsa, Sudāsa lord of Kosala, Purūravas, the royal sage Nala, Prajāpati Manu, Havidhra, Pṛṣadhra, Pratīpa, Śāntanu, Aja, Prācīnabarhi, the illustrious Ikṣvāku, King Anaraṇya, Jānujaṅgha, the royal sage Kakṣasena, and others too who are repeatedly celebrated in the Purāṇas. All these kings of holy merit are worthy of remembrance. Whoever, rising each day, purified by bathing and cleanliness, recites these names in the morning and again in the evening, becomes a sharer in the fruits of 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.