Vyushitashva () is a king featured in

Hindu literature Hindu texts are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. A few of these texts are shared across these traditions and they are broadly considered Hindu scriptures. These ...

. He is the son of King Shankhana, of the

Chandravamsha The Lunar dynasty (IAST: Candravaṃśa) is a legendary principal house of the Kshatriyas varna, or warrior–ruling caste mentioned in the ancient Indian texts. This legendary dynasty was said to be descended from moon-related deities (''Som ...

(Lunar dynasty). His legend is described in the

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...

. Vyushitashva marries

Bhadra ''Bhadra''Feminine: sa, भद्रा, Bhadrā is a Sanskrit word meaning 'good', 'fortune' or 'auspicious'. It is also the name of many men, women and objects in Hindu mythology. Male Figures King of Chedi Bhadra was a king of Chedi Kingdom ...

, the daughter of King Kakshivat, who is renowned for her beauty.

Legend

Vyushitashva is described to have been a righteous king in the Mahabharata, stated to have performed a great sacrifice, in which all the celestial deities came, led by

Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...

. After this sacrifice, Vyushitashva attained great power and through the horse-sacrifice ceremony (

ashvamedha The Ashvamedha ( sa, अश्वमेध, aśvamedha, translit-std=IAST) was a horse sacrifice ritual followed by the Śrauta tradition of Vedic religion. It was used by ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty: a horse accomp ...

), he conquered the kingdoms of all cardinal directions. He is said to have donated much of his riches to the

Brahmanas The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: , ''Brāhmaṇam'') are Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas. They are a secondary layer or classification of Sanskrit texts embedded within ea ...

. He was married to Bhadra, whom he loved very much, but had no progeny. He died due to his habit of consumption. Bhadra became afflicted with grief, and intended to die along with her husband. But then an incorporeal voice indicated her to lie down with the king's body on the eighth and fourteenth day of the fortnight. She followed the guidance of the voice and from that intercourse, she gave birth to seven sons - three Shalvas and four Madras.

References

External links

* The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose'', Bharata Press, Calcutta (1883–1896) {{DEFAULTSORT:Vyushitashva Mahabharata Lunar dynasty