King of Mithila after Janaka

Question

Who became king of Mithila after Raja Janaka (Sita's father) passed away? Did Sri Rama inherit that being Janaka's son in law?

Answer 1

Vishnu Purana gives the descendants lists.

• Actually there were two Janaka in the dynasty of Mithila.

• One was the first King, made by the Sages, then was the one whom we popularly call as Janaka, the father of goddess Sītā, actual name being Sīradhwaja

Chapter V, Book 4, Vishnu Purana

As Nimi left no successor, the Munis, apprehensive of the consequences of the earth being without a ruler, agitated the body of the prince, and produced from it a prince who was called Janaka, from being born without a progenitor. In consequence of his father being without a body (videha), he was termed also Vaideha, ‘the son of the bodiless;’ and the further received the name of Mithi, from having been produced by agitation (mathana). The son of Janaka was Udāvasu; his son was Nandivarddhana; his son was Suketu; his son was Devarāta; his son was Vrihaduktha; his son was Mahāvīrya; his son was Satyadhriti; his son was Dhṛṣṭaketu; his son was Haryyaśva; his son was Maru; his son was Pratibandhaka; his son was Kritaratha; his son was Krita; his son was Vibudha; his son was Mahādhriti; his son was Kritirāta; his son was Mahāroman; his son was Suvarṇaroman; his son was Hraswaroman; his son was Sīradhwaja (the Second Janaka).

Sīradhwaja ploughing the ground, to prepare it for a sacrifice which he instituted in order to obtain progeny, there sprang up in the furrow a damsel, who became his daughter Sītā.

The brother of Sīradhwaja was Kuśadhwaja, who was king of Kāśī; he had a son also, named Bhānumat. The son of Bhānumat was Satadyumna; his son was Śuci; his son was Ūrjjavāha; his son was Śatyadhwaja; his son was Kuni; his son was Añjana; his son was Ritujit; his son was Aṛṣṭanemi; his son was Śrutāyus; his son was Supārśva; his son was Sañjaya; his son was Kṣemāri; his son was Anenas; his son was Mīnaratha; his son was Satyaratha; his son was Sātyarathi; his son was Upagu; his son was Śruta; his son was Sāswata; his son was Sudhanwan; his son was Subhāsa; his son was Suśruta; his son was Jaya; his son was Vijaya; his son was Rita; his son was Sunaya; his son was Vītahavya; his son was Dhriti; his son was Bahulāśva; his son was Kriti, with whom terminated the family of Janaka. These are the kings of Mithilā, who for the most part will be proficient in spiritual knowledge.

English Translation by H.H. Wilson

^{Access the (Sanskrit + Hindi) Translation of the same by Gita Press Gorakhpur from here}

To conclude:

• There were several descendants after the first king of Mithila who was also called Janaka, first being his son Udāvasu, then his grandson Suketu.

• After the second Janaka (father of goddess Sītā), his nephew - Bhānumat, the son of King of Kashi (Janaka's brother - Kuśadhwaja) succeeded the kingdom of Mithila, which ultimately terminated in king Kriti, the son of Bahulāśva.