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 disse: “Ouve agora os nomes dos reis-sábios: o rei Nṛga, Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Yadu, o poderoso Pūru; Dhundhumāra, Dilīpa; o valente Sagara; Kṛśāśva, Yauvanāśva, Citrāśva, Satyavān; Duṣyanta; Bharata, o ilustre monarca universal; Pavana, Janaka; o rei Dṛṣṭaratha; Raghu, o melhor dos homens; o rei Daśaratha; Śrī Rāma, herói, matador de rākṣasas; Śaśabindu; Bhagīratha; Hariścandra; Marutta; o rei Dṛḍharatha; Mahodarya; Alarka; o Aila (Purūravas); Karaṇḍhama, o melhor dos homens; o rei Kadhmora; Dakṣa; Ambarīṣa; Kukura; o renomado Raivata; Kuru; Saṃvaraṇa; Māndhātā, forte na verdade; o rei-sábio Mucukunda; Jahnu, servido pelo Gaṅgā; Pṛthu, rei primordial, filho de Vena; Mitrabhānu, querido de todos; o rei Trasahasyu; o supremo rei-sábio Śveta; o famoso rei Mahābhiṣa; o rei Nimi; Aṣṭaka; Āyu; o rei-sábio Kṣupa; o rei Kakṣeyu; Pratardana; Divodāsa; Sudāsa, senhor de Kosala; Purūravas; o rei-sábio Nala; Prajāpati Manu; Havidhra; Pṛṣadhra; Pratīpa; Śāntanu; Aja; Prācīnabarhi; o ilustre Ikṣvāku; o rei Anaraṇya; Jānujaṅgha; o rei-sábio Kakṣasena; e outros mais, repetidamente celebrados nos Purāṇas. Todos esses reis de santo mérito são dignos de lembrança. Quem, levantando-se a cada dia, purificado pelo banho e pela limpeza, recitar esses nomes pela manhã e novamente ao entardecer, tornar-se-á partícipe dos frutos do 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.