Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Adhiratha included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of Adhiratha
Foster father of 碍补谤峁嘺.
Lineage.
Descended from 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 thus: 叠谤补丑尘腻-Atri-Candra-笔耻谤奴谤补惫补蝉-膧测耻蝉-狈补丑耻峁-驰补测腻迟颈-础苍耻诲谤耻丑测耻-厂补诲腻苍补谤补-碍腻濒补苍补谤补-厂峁浢眏补测补-罢颈迟颈办峁-碍峁浥沘诲谤补迟丑补-Homa-Sutapas-Bali-础峁単补-顿补诲丑颈惫腻丑补苍补-Draviratha-Dharmaratha-Citraratha-Satyaratha-搁辞尘补辫腻诲补-颁补迟耻谤补峁単补-笔峁泃丑耻-颁补尘产补-贬补谤测补峁僩补-Bhadraratha-叠峁沨补诲谤补迟丑补-叠峁沨补苍尘补苍补蝉-Jayadratha-顿丑峁泃补惫峁泃补-厂补迟测补办补谤尘腻-Adhiratha-碍补谤峁嘺 (foster son).
Foster father of 碍补谤峁嘺.
Sage 顿耻谤惫腻蝉补蝉 had taught 碍耻苍迟墨 some mantras to get children, and 碍耻苍迟墨, then unmarried, tested the first mantra with the Sun-god as her object. The Sun-god appeared before 碍耻苍迟墨 and from his power she conceived and duly delivered a child, 碍补谤峁嘺. Fearing obloquy 碍耻苍迟墨 concealed the child in a box and floated it on the river, Ganges. At the time Adhiratha, a great comrade of 顿丑峁泃补谤腻峁ａ弓谤补 came to the river for a bath. His wife was one grieving over not having a child of her own. So, when Adhiratha found a child in the floating box, he took it home, and himself and his wife 搁腻诲丑腻 brought up the child with pleasure. The child was named Vasusena, and the child grew up to become the famous 碍补谤峁嘺 and favourite friend of Duryodhana. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 膧诲颈 Parva, Chapters 67 and 130; Vana Parva, Chapter 309; 顿别惫墨产丑腻驳补惫补迟补, Skandha 2).
Some particulars.
Adhiratha was King of 础峁単补. He was a 厂奴迟补 (charioteer) and 碍补谤峁嘺 grew up as his son. 碍补谤峁嘺 was sent to 贬补蝉迟颈苍腻辫耻谤补 to be trained in the u峁 of weapons, and it was here that Duryodhana and 碍补谤峁嘺 developed their friendship and alliance. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 膧诲颈 Parva, Chapter 147, Verse 3). 艢r墨 Mah膩dev墨bh膩gavata, in Chapter 3 relates the following incident: "Thus lamenting 碍耻苍迟墨 sent the box concealing 碍补谤峁嘺, by the nurse, to be floated in the river, and after bath, food etc. she spent the hours in the normal way within the inner apartment. 搁腻箩腻 Adhiratha bathing in the river saw the box floating in the river". These facts prove that Adhiratha was not only the King of 础峁単补 but a good charioteer as well, and further a very good friend of 顿丑峁泃补谤腻峁ａ弓谤补.
4) We come across Adhiratha on the occasion of the trial of skill in the use of arms between the Kauravas and the 笔腻峁囜笉补惫补蝉. When 碍补谤峁嘺 entered the lists the 笔腻峁囜笉补惫补蝉 questioned his nobility of birth. Seeing 碍补谤峁嘺鈥檚 great humiliation and discomfiture Duryodhana enthroned him immediately as King of 础峁単补. 痴测腻蝉补, who witnessed the scene has given a picturesque description of it.