Dynasties of Iksvaku

Chapter 12, 13

Sukadeva Goswami then described the dynasty of Kusa, Lord Rama’s son. He also elaborated on the dynasty of Nimi, who was another of Iksvaku’s sons.

When Nimi wanted to perform a sacrifice, he requested the presence of his spiritual master, Vasistha. Since Vasistha was engaged elsewhere, he instructed Nimi to wait for him to return. Nimi, however, considered that life was very short so he went ahead anyway. When Vasistha discovered this he cursed his disciple to die. Nimi then counter-cursed his spiritual master to suffer the same fate! Vasistha took birth again, but when the priests tried to revive Nimi he refused, not wanting to be materially encaged again. Instead, the sages churned Nimi’s body, and as a result, Janaka, father of Udavasu, was born.

Sukadeva Goswami then described the rest of the dynasty.