Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Somadatta 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 Somadatta
A King of the Kuru dynasty.
General information.
This King was the son of B膩lh墨ka and the grandson of King 笔谤补诲墨辫补. Three sons named 叠丑奴谤颈, 叠丑奴谤颈艣ravas and 艢补濒补 were born to Somadatta.
Other details.
(i) Somadatta and his sons were present at the 厂惫补测补峁僾补谤补 marriage of 顿谤补耻辫补诲墨. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 膧诲颈 Parva, Chapter 185, Verse 14).
(ii) Somadatta had participated in the royal consecration sacrifice of 驰耻诲丑颈峁ａ弓丑颈谤补. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Chapter 34, Verse 8).
(iii) This Somadatta was present at the 厂惫补测补峁僾补谤补 of 顿别惫补办墨. At that time there occurred a hand to hand fight between 艢颈苍颈 and Somadatta. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 顿谤辞峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 114, Verse 14).
(iv) The defeat from 艢颈苍颈 being unbearable, Somadatta did penance to get power to vanquish him and 艢颈惫补 appeared before him. Somadatta made the following request:鈥� "God! May I be granted a son who would be powerful enough to kick down the son of 艢颈苍颈 in his palace." 艢颈惫补 granted his wish. 叠丑奴谤颈艣ravas was the son born in conformity with this boon. He grew up and defeated the son of 艢颈苍颈 and kicked him in the palace of the King. This story occurs in 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, 顿谤辞峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 144.
(v) Somadatta fought against 厂腻迟测补办颈 and 叠丑墨尘补蝉别苍补 in the battle of 叠丑腻谤补迟补 and fell down unconscious. (顿谤辞峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 157, Verse 10).
(vi) In the battle which followed this, 厂腻迟测补办颈 killed Somadatta. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 顿谤辞峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 162, Verse 33).
(vii) It is mentioned in 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, 膧艣ramav膩sika Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 17, that 顿丑峁泃补谤腻峁ａ弓谤补 performed the sacrifice of giving offerings to the spirit of Somadatta.
(viii) Somadatta was one of the spirits which appeared on the surface of the Ganges when invoked by 痴测腻蝉补. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 膧艣ramav膩sika Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 12).