Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Mayuradhvaja 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 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补
A King of Ratnanagara. After performing seven 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补 y膩gas this King started another 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补 in the 狈补谤尘补诲腻 river valley. The task of protecting the sacrificial horse was undertaken by the King鈥檚 son Sucitra or T膩mradhvaja. He set out for the conquest of the world with the chief minister Bahudhvaja. On his return, he came across 驰耻诲丑颈峁ａ弓丑颈谤补鈥檚 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补 horse at the city of Ma峁噄pur. The heroic Sucitra encountered 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 and Arjuna who were leading the horse. After making them unconscious, he entered the city with the sacrificial horse.
When they recovered their senses, 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 disguised himself as a 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 and Arjuna as a 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 boy and they went to 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补鈥檚 palace. The King welcomed them respectfully. 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺, in his disguise as 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 told the King that he was coming from 顿丑补谤尘补辫耻谤墨 to meet the King鈥檚 priest, 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 who was to officiate at the marriage of his (叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺's) son. He added that unfortunately on his way through a forest a lion caught hold of his son. Although he prayed to Lord 狈补谤补蝉颈峁僪补, the boy could not be rescued. The lion told him that he would release his son, if the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 persuaded 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补 to offer one half of his body as food to the lion.
On hearing the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺鈥檚 story, 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补 agreed to give half of his body to the lion. Just then his queen 碍耻尘耻诲惫补迟墨 appeared before them and said, "I am the left half (V膩mabh膩ga) of the King. You may take me and offer me as food for the lion." But the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 replied that the lion wanted the right half of the King鈥檚 body.
When the King heard this, he readily agreed to give the right half of his own body. Accordingly, they started cutting his body into two halves. Just then, seeing tears coming down from 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补鈥檚 left eye, the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 said:鈥�"I find that you are in great sorrow; I do not wish to accept a gift which is not given wholeheartedly." 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补 explained that his tears were not caused by pain or sorrow. His left side was disappointed in not being able to be of as much service as the right side.
When 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 heard these words of the King, he resumed his own shape and embraced him and blessed him. After that 惭补测奴谤补诲丑惫补箩补 completed his y膩ga and started with 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 and Arjuna, taking 驰耻诲丑颈峁ａ弓丑颈谤补鈥檚 sacrificial horse with them. (Jaimini; 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补: 41-46).