Shloka 23
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
धुन्धुमार इति ख्यातस्तत्सुतास्ते च जज्वलु: । धुन्धोर्मुखाग्निना सर्वे त्रय एवावशेषिता: ॥ २३ ॥ दृढाश्व: कपिलाश्वश्च भद्राश्व इति भारत । दृढाश्वपुत्रो हर्यश्वो निकुम्भस्तत्सुत: स्मृत: ॥ २४ ॥
dhundhumāra iti khyātas tat-sutās te ca jajvaluḥ dhundhor mukhāgninā sarve traya evāvaśeṣitāḥ
ಓ ಭಾರತ, ಮಹಾರಾಜ ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿತನೇ! ಈ ಕಾರಣದಿಂದ ಕುವಲಯಾಶ್ವನು ‘ಧುಂಧುಮಾರ’ ಎಂದು ಖ್ಯಾತನಾದನು. ಆದರೆ ಧುಂಧುವಿನ ಬಾಯಿಂದ ಹೊರಬಂದ ಅಗ್ನಿಯಿಂದ ಅವನ ಪುತ್ರರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂವರನ್ನು ಹೊರತುಪಡಿಸಿ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಭಸ್ಮರಾದರು. ಉಳಿದ ಮೂವರು—ದೃಢಾಶ್ವ, ಕಪಿಲಾಶ್ವ, ಭದ್ರಾಶ್ವ. ದೃಢಾಶ್ವನ ಪುತ್ರ ಹర్యಶ್ವ; ಹర్యಶ್ವನ ಪುತ್ರ ನಿಕುಂಭನು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧನು.
FAQs
In this verse, Dhundhumāra is the celebrated name of the king, noted in the dynasty narration; his sons fought the demon Dhundhu, and only three survived the demon’s mouth-fire.
This verse specifically highlights Dhundhu’s destructive power: fire coming from his mouth that burned and killed the king’s sons, leaving only three alive.
Even great strength and heroism can be checked by unforeseen dangers; the Bhagavatam encourages humility, dependence on divine protection, and steady dharmic resolve.