Story of Devāpi

A king born in the lunar dynasty.

Genealogy.

Descended from Viṣṇu thus:—Atri—Candra—Budha—Purūravas—Āyus—Nahuṣa—Yayāti—Pūru—Janame jaya—Prācinvān—Pravīra—Namasyu—Vītabhaya—Śuṇḍu—Bahuvidha—Saṃyāti—Rahovādi—Raudrāśva—Matināra—Santurodha—Duṣyanta—Bharata—Suhotra—Suhotā—Gala—Garda—Suketu—Bṛhatkṣetra—Hasti—Ajamīḍha—Ṛkṣa—Saṃvaraṇa—Kuru—Jahnu—Suratha—Viḍūratha—Śārvabhauma—Jayatsena—Avyaya—Bhāvuka—Cakroddhata—Devātithi—Ṛkṣa—Bhīma—Pratīca—Pratīpa—Devāpi. Pratīpa had three sons named Devāpi, Śantanu and Bālhīka. Śantanu succeeded Pratīpa as king as his elder brother had taken to sannyāsa as a boy. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 94, Verse 61).

Devāpi resorted to the forest.

Devāpi was the best loved by his father and was the apple of the eyes of his subjects. But he was suffering from skin disease. So, when Pratīpa wanted to crown him king the people objected. Their argument was that God would not be pleased if a man with skin disease became king. The king yielded to their wishes and crowned Śantanu as his successor. The youngest brother Bālhīka went and stayed in his mother’s house. Devāpi who was disappoint ed that he was denied the crown, left for the forest and spent the rest of his life in penance. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 149).

His end.

Devāpi did tapas at the Pṛthūdaka tīrtha in the interior of Kurukṣetra and ultimately attained salvation. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 39, Verse 37).