Ikshvaku

And what of these? there is the drying up of other great oceans the falling of mountains the moving of the pole star the cutting of the wind ropes that hold the stars the submergence of the earth and the departure of the gods suras from their place in such a world as this what is the use of the enjoyment of pleasures if he who has fed on them is seen to return to this world again and again designed therefore to take me out in this world i am like a frog in a dry well o saint thou art my way thou art my way End of First Prapathaka Recording by Jyoti Tharavanath Second Prapathaka of Maitrayaniya Upanishad Translated by Max Muller This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

Recording by Jyoti Tharavanath Then the saint Sakayanya, well pleased, said to the king, Great king of Brihadrata, thou banner of the race of Ikshavaku, quickly obtaining a knowledge of self, thou art happy, and art renowned by the name of Marut, the wind.

This indeed is thyself.

which o saint said the king then the saint said to him he who without stopping the out-breathing proceeds upwards from the sthula to the sukshma sartha and who modified by impressions and yet not modified drives away the darkness of error he is the self thus said the saint And Sakayanya said to the king of Brihadrata, he who in perfect rest, rising from his body, both from the sthula and sukshma, and reaching the highest light, comes forth in his own form, he is the self.

Then the focus narrows decisively toward the land in which Rama's central royal story will unfold.

In simple terms, this means, in the lineage of those great Ikshvaku kings arose this great account known as the Ramayana.

Kosala now appears, a great flourishing and joyful realm established along the Sarayu, rich in wealth and grain.

The wide memory of kings is suddenly grounded in a definite landscape.

Planned roads, a watered royal avenue, markets, craftsmen, merchants, music, livestock, warriors, learned residents, sacrifice, generosity, truth, restraint, intelligence and justice all contribute to the life of the city.

Outer magnificence and inner administration mirror one another.

At the center of this stability stands Dasharatha, an Ikshvaku king, beloved by his people, devoted to Dharma, true to his commitments, supported by military strength and surrounded by capable advisors.

This kingdom now stands complete enough for the next royal concern, its continuity, to come into view.

we move away from the process of composition and performance and toward the royal world in which Rama's chronological story will unfold.

The Ikshvaku line comes into view, then Kosala and its capital Ayodhya.

From there, we will enter the world of King Dasharatha.

In the next episode, Ayodhya will be more than a famous name.

Now listen to me.

Since ancient times, it has been the rule of the Ikshwaku dynasty that the eldest son becomes king.

A younger son cannot take the throne while the elder lives.

Do not break this tradition.

"So I gave it to Vivasvan.

Vivasvan gave it to the Ikshwaku kings, and then it came down the generation through the Suryavanshis, and today I am giving it to you." So sun is not just the physical sun, but this entire knowledge, the divine knowledge is with the sun which is conducting the entire creation.

We cannot imagine.

Uh, there was the sixth ice age was only because six days there was no sunlight, blocked purely by the volcanic ash.

Recording by Jyoti Taravanat.

Then the saint Sakayanya, well pleased, said to the king, "Great King Brihadratha, thou banner of the race of Ikshavaku, quickly obtaining a knowledge of self, thou art happy, and art renowned by the name of Marut, the wind.

This indeed is thyself." "Which, O saint?" said the king.

Then the saint said to him, "He who without stopping the out-breathing proceeds upwards from the sthula to the sukshma-sartha, and who, modified by impressions, and yet not modified, drives away the darkness of error, he is the self." Thus said the saint Maitri.

Recording by Jyoti Tharavanat.

Then the saint Sakayanya, well-pleased, said to the king, Great king, Brihadratha, thou banner of the race of Ikshavaku, quickly obtaining a knowledge of self, thou art happy, and art renowned by the name of Marut, the wind.

This indeed is thyself.

Which, O saint, said the king.