Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ugrasena 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, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of Ugrasena
Genealogy.
Descended from վṣṇ thus: -Atri-Candra-Budha-ʳܰū-Āܲ-ṣa-۲پ-Yadu-Sahasrajit-Śٲᾱ-Hehaya-Dharma-Kunti-(ṇi)Bhadrasena-Dhanaka-ṛtīⲹ-ٳٲīܲԲ-Madhu-ṛṣṇi-۳ܻᾱ-ŚԾ-Satyaka-ٲⲹ쾱 (۳ܻܲԲ)-Yaya-ṇi-Anamitra-ṛśn-Citraratha-ܰū Vahni-վdz-dzٲdz-Tumburu-Dundubhi-Daridra-Vasu-ܰ첹-Āܰ첹-Ugrasena-ṃs.
Ugrasena became king.
Ugrasena became king of Ѳٳܰpurī. His Kingship was not a hereditary acquisition. There is a story behind it. In olden days, in the plateau of Իī there was a famous place called Madhuvana. The place was called so because it was the abode of an Asura named Madhu. Madhu had a son, ṇa. ŚٰܲԲ killed him as he was a very troublesome fellow and a thorn on the side of the Devas. ŚٰܲԲ then established a beautiful kingdom there and ruled it. He named it Ѳٳܰ. After the death of ŚٰܲԲ his two sons ruled Ѳٳܰ. Then, when the Solar dynasty came to its end, Ѳٳܰ came under the 岹. A 岹 king called ŚūԲ ruled over the kingdom. Vasudeva, father of Śrī ṛṣṇa was the son of ŚūԲ. After the death of his father Vasudeva took up the profession of herding cows, and therefore Ugrasena, another king of the 岹 dynasty had to become king of Ѳٳܰ. (Devī 岵ٲ, 4th Skandha).
Ugrasena and ṃs.
There is a common belief that ṃs was the son of Ugrasena. But, the 岵ٲ relates the following to the effect that ṃs was born to a Gandharva called Dramila of Ugrasena’s wife.
When once Ugrasena’s wife was in her monthly periods, she walked in the forest with her companions. A Gandharva called Dramila saw her then, felt attracted by her and made her pregnant. Angered at this, she cursed Dramila thus: "Since you have procreated a son in me, while I am in my periods this son will be killed by a boy born in my husband’s family." ṃs was the son born to her in the above manner. ṃs ascended the throne after putting Ugrasena in prison. According to the curse of Ugrasena’s wife, Śrī ṛṣṇa was born in Ugrasena’s family and he killed ṃs. 岹 had informed ṃs of the Dramila interlude. ṃs told this story secretly to ū when the latter was deputed by him to invite ṛṣṇa to the dhanur ⲹñ. (岵ٲ, 10th Skandha).
The name Āܰ첹.
Genealogy states that Ugrasena was the son of Āܰ첹. But, in certain contexts Ugrasena is called Āܰ첹 also. "Afterwards we made Āܰ첹-Ugrasena King..." (Ѳٲ Udyoga Parva, Chapter 128, Verse 39).
Ugrasena imprisoned.
Vasudeva, father of Śrī ṛṣṇa was Ugrasena’s minister. ṃs, when he attained majority imprisoned Ugrasena and became himself king. (Ѳٲ Parva, Chapter 22).
Ugrasena regained kingdom.
Śrī ṛṣṇa killed ṃs with the permission of Ugrasena and made him king again. During the reign of Ugrasena, Ի and Ś attacked Ѳٳܰpurī. (See under ṛṣṇa).
Ugrasena and the iron rod.
While Ugrasena was ruling the Kingdom, the sages վś峾ٰ, 岹 and Kañja once came to ٱ. To insult the sages, the 岹 brought before them, 峾 dressed as a pregnant woman. The 岹 told the sages that she was Babhru’s wife, and wanted to be told whether the child she delivered would be male or female. The sages understood their evil mentality, and prophesied that 峾 would deliver an iron rod fierce enough to annihilate the whole 岹 race. According to the prophecy the next day 峾 delivered an iron rod. The 岹 imparted the news to Ugrasena, who got the iron rod reduced to powder and deposited the powder in the sea. He also enforced prohibition of liquor in the country. (To know how the powder of the rod ruined the 岹 dynasty see under ṛṣṇa). (Ѳٲ Mausala Parva, Chapter 1).
After death.
After his death, Ugrasena joined the Viśvadevatās. ūś, Ś, ū, ṃs-Ugrasena, Vasudeva, Uttara with his brother Śaṅkhathese kings (after death) joined the company of Viśvadevatās. (Ѳٲ Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5, Verses 16, 17).