Raudrashva

THE LIVING ARCHIVE

About Raudrashva

He follows Ahamyati, the son of Samyati, in the Vishnu Purana’s royal succession. His household marks a branching point: the text names ten sons rather than presenting Riteyu as an only child. The later succession follows Riteyu because that branch leads toward Rantinara and Tansu.

AT A GLANCE

Identity & Context

Identity: King
Form: Paurava Royal House
Tradition: Puranic Royal Genealogy

Family & Relationships

ParentAhamyati
Ahamyati is the parent of Raudrashva.
ChildRiteyu
Raudrashva is the parent of Riteyu.

IN THE TRADITION

Recorded Context

Ten Sons and a Continuing Line

The named sons include Riteyu, Kaksheyu, Sthandileyu, Ghriteyu, Jaleyu, Sthaleyu, Santateyu, Dhaneyu, Vaneyu and Vrateyu in this account. Riteyu becomes the father of Rantinara, whose own sons divide the family further. The genealogy therefore records both a broad household and one particular route through it.

The later branch reaches Dushyanta and Shakuntala’s son Bharata. Bharata’s succession becomes a separate turning point when the royal line continues through Vitatha, identified with Bharadvaja in this account. The genealogy then divides among several families, including the ancestors of Hastinapura and Panchala. These are later descendants, not events personally performed by the earlier ancestor.

ROLE & ESSENCE

Attributes & Significance

Raudrashva’s family helps explain why a lineage can contain many related branches while the familiar story follows only a few descendants. The father of ten sons and the ancestor of Dushyanta are the same royal figure here.

Role

Raudrashva is a Paurava king remembered as the father of ten sons. The line through his son Riteyu eventually reaches Dushyanta and Bharata.

TRADITION & MEANING

Traditions & Interpretations

The Bhagavata identifies Ghritachi as the mother of Raudrashva’s ten sons and gives some of their names differently. Its account and the Vishnu Purana preserve related versions of the family, with variations in the children’s names.