Here the word Prajapati refers to Manu. Brahma gave this earth to him. Manu felt that he must take care of this earth by protecting the varnas and the ashramas. Manu imparted instructions (to the king) to look after the kingdom in a righteous manner in accordance with the Smriti intended to establish the order of scriptural injunctions in religious matters. He also passed on the secrets of karmayoga to Ikshvaku whom he adopted as a son as is stated in the Bhagavat Gita, “I explained this (Karma) yoga to Vivasvat. Vivasvat in course narrated the same to Manu and Manu later passed it on to Ikshvaku”. The word yoga here refers to karmayoga as expounded by the lord in the Gita in the following verses. ‘O Arjuna, he who, after restraining his organs of sense with his mental power, practises karmayoga with his organs of action, not getting involved in the actions so performed, is indeed a distinguished person. Therefore, always pursue the course of action without getting involved in them. Only by performing karma with a detached frame of mind does man reach his final goal (of emancipation). While both renunciation and such performance of Vedic rituals with this discipline of Karmayoga are means to the goal, between them karmayoga is superior’.
The conduct of people to a very great extent being against the dictates of dharma in other countries even dwelling there is prohibited. Bodhayana says, ‘People who reside in Avanti, Anga, Magadha, Saurashtra, Dakshinapatha, Upavrit, Sindhu, Sauvira are of a mixed origin. After visiting Aratta, Karaskara, Paundra, Sauvira, Vanga, Kalinga and Pranuna one should perform a Stoma or Sarvaprishtha. It is said: “He, who visits Kalinga, commits a sin with his feet. Oblation to Vaisvanara is its atonement according to the sages”. To the east of Adarshana, west of Kalavana, south of the Himalayas and north of Pariyatra is Aryavarta situated. The customs and practices followed there by people set the standard of ideal conduct’.
The Ikshvaku kings took care of Ayodhya righteously and handing over the responsibility of the kingdom to their respective sons in due time went to reside in forests during vanaprastha, the third stage of life. Kalidasa has it in the Raghuvamsam: “Detached from objects of enjoyment, he later passed on ceremoniously, the responsibility of the kingdom along with the white canopy, to his son and took resort to the tree shades accompanied by his queen, in the forests of the sages. This indeed is the family tradition of the Ikshvakus in their old age”. There were “those who led the life of an ascetic in old age and abandoned their bodies in the end by yogic power”.
In this family Sri Rama was born to Dasaratha of pure lineage from Kausalya, the one counted among the best of wives in matters of fidelity. Pure lineage for the great is rare. To quote the Mahabharata, “One should not try to trace the origin of rivers, sages or of saints and great men. Nor again should one try to trace the infidelity of women”. The sage born of pitcher, Vainya is an illustration in point.The point here is that this great lord Sri Rama was born to parents of high lineage.
Sarga-5
Manu, Dharma and Ayodhya 1.5.1-6
Here the word Prajapati refers to Manu. Brahma gave this earth to him. Manu felt that he must take care of this earth by protecting the varnas and the ashramas. Manu imparted instructions (to the king) to look after the kingdom in a righteous manner in accordance with the Smriti intended to establish the order of scriptural injunctions in religious matters. He also passed on the secrets of karmayoga to Ikshvaku whom he adopted as a son as is stated in the Bhagavat Gita, “I explained this (Karma) yoga to Vivasvat. Vivasvat in course narrated the same to Manu and Manu later passed it on to Ikshvaku”. The word yoga here refers to karmayoga as expounded by the lord in the Gita in the following verses. ‘O Arjuna, he who, after restraining his organs of sense with his mental power, practises karmayoga with his organs of action, not getting involved in the actions so performed, is indeed a distinguished person. Therefore, always pursue the course of action without getting involved in them. Only by performing karma with a detached frame of mind does man reach his final goal (of emancipation). While both renunciation and such performance of Vedic rituals with this discipline of Karmayoga are means to the goal, between them karmayoga is superior’.
The conduct of people to a very great extent being against the dictates of dharma in other countries even dwelling there is prohibited. Bodhayana says, ‘People who reside in Avanti, Anga, Magadha, Saurashtra, Dakshinapatha, Upavrit, Sindhu, Sauvira are of a mixed origin. After visiting Aratta, Karaskara, Paundra, Sauvira, Vanga, Kalinga and Pranuna one should perform a Stoma or Sarvaprishtha. It is said: “He, who visits Kalinga, commits a sin with his feet. Oblation to Vaisvanara is its atonement according to the sages”. To the east of Adarshana, west of Kalavana, south of the Himalayas and north of Pariyatra is Aryavarta situated. The customs and practices followed there by people set the standard of ideal conduct’.
The Ikshvaku kings took care of Ayodhya righteously and handing over the responsibility of the kingdom to their respective sons in due time went to reside in forests during vanaprastha, the third stage of life. Kalidasa has it in the Raghuvamsam: “Detached from objects of enjoyment, he later passed on ceremoniously, the responsibility of the kingdom along with the white canopy, to his son and took resort to the tree shades accompanied by his queen, in the forests of the sages. This indeed is the family tradition of the Ikshvakus in their old age”. There were “those who led the life of an ascetic in old age and abandoned their bodies in the end by yogic power”.
In this family Sri Rama was born to Dasaratha of pure lineage from Kausalya, the one counted among the best of wives in matters of fidelity. Pure lineage for the great is rare. To quote the Mahabharata, “One should not try to trace the origin of rivers, sages or of saints and great men. Nor again should one try to trace the infidelity of women”. The sage born of pitcher, Vainya is an illustration in point.The point here is that this great lord Sri Rama was born to parents of high lineage.