Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Shishupala 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 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补
King of Cedi.
Previous birth.
Jaya and Vijaya, gate-keepers at 痴补颈办耻峁囜弓丑补 were born thrice in asura womb as a result of the curse by munis like Sanaka. They were first born as 贬颈谤补峁噛腻办峁 and 贬颈谤补峁噛补办补艣颈辫耻, next as 搁腻惫补峁嘺 and 碍耻尘产丑补办补谤峁嘺 and the third time as 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 and Dantavaktra. (See under Jayavijayas).
Birth.
艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 was the son of King 顿补尘补驳丑辞峁 of Cedi by his wife, 艢谤耻迟补艣谤补惫补蝉 (叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补, 9th Skandha). He was born with three eyes and four hands, and at the time of birth he brayed like an ass, so the parents decided to abandon the ugly and awkward child. Immediately a Jin (ghost) appeared and told the father that the child would grow up to become very strong and powerful, and that only one person would be able to kill him and that person had already been born on earth. Further questioned by 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补鈥檚 mother, the Jin said that as soon as the son saw the person born to kill him, he would lose his third eye, and that if he was seated on the lap of the person, two out of his four hands would be lost. After having said this the Jin disappeared.
News about this peculiar child spread far and wide and many kings visited him. 顿补尘补驳丑辞峁 placed the child on the lap of each of them. But, no physical change occurred to him. Then one day 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 and Balabhadra came to see the child, whose mother 艢谤耻迟补艣谤补惫补蝉 (she was also the sister of 碍峁涐梗峁嘺鈥檚 father) placed him on 碍峁涐梗峁嘺鈥檚 lap. immediately two hands and the third eye of the child vanished, and with tears in her eyes the mother prayed 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 never to kill 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补, and 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 promised that he would forgive the crimes of 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 a hundred times. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 43).
Other information.
(i) 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 was present at the wedding of 顿谤补耻辫补诲墨. In his attempt to draw the bow he fell down on his knees. (膧di Parva, Chapter 185, Verse 23).
(ii) He was present at the wedding of the daughter of the King of 碍补濒颈峁単补 also. (艢腻苍迟颈 Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 6).
(iii) He was the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of 闯补谤腻蝉补苍诲丑补. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 14, Verse 10).
(iv) When 叠丑墨尘补 conquered all the kingdoms 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 honoured him. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 29, Verse 11).
(v) He too was present at the 搁腻箩补蝉奴测补 of 驰耻诲丑颈峁ａ弓丑颈谤补. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 234, Verse 14).
(vi) At the 搁腻箩补蝉奴测补, 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 heaped insulting words on Si艣up膩la. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 37).
(vii) 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 objected to the selection of 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 as president of the 搁腻箩补蝉奴测补 and controversy followed it. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 39, Verse 11).
(viii) 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 insulted 叠丑墨峁补 at the 搁腻箩补蝉奴测补. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 41).
(ix) Once in the absence of 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 attacked 顿惫腻谤补办腻. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 45 Verse 7).
(x) He stole the sacrificial horse of Vasudeva. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 9).
(xi) He abducted the wife of Babhru. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 10).
(xii) He abducted the daughter of his uncle, the King of 痴颈艣腻濒腻. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 11).
(xiii) Following the above he was killed in battle by 碍峁涐梗峁嘺. (Chapter 45, Verse 25, 厂补产丑腻 Parva).
(xiv) After death his effulgence got absorbed in 碍峁涐梗峁嘺. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 26).
(xv) 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 once told Arjuna that he killed 艢颈艣耻辫腻濒补 for his (Arjuna's) good. (顿谤辞峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 181, Verse 21).