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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Ḍiṃḍika (डिंडिक).—A rat who played a part in Biḍālopākhyāna. The story runs as follows:

Once a cat performed tapas, holding his hands up, on the banks of the Ganges, when the found no way to get food. Seeing the devotion of that cat all living beings birds and animals began to worship him. Once the cat called all rats and told them: "One cannot do spiritual and physical deeds at the same time. So I will look after your spiritual affairs. You should attend to my physical needs. That is, bring me food, bathe me in the Ganges, all these are your duties."

The rats agreed to do so. They took him to the Ganges, bathed him and gave him food. But, the cat, whenever he got a chance caught a rat and ate it up The cat’s health improved day-by-day and the number of rat’s began to decrease. Among them, there was a clever rat named Ḍimḍika. He called all the other rats and organized a secret conference. The subject of discussion was the cruel deeds done by the cat to the rats.

The next day Ḍiṃḍika went secretly to examine the ways of living of the cat. The cat ate Ḍiṃḍika. After 40 days the rats came to know that Ḍiṃḍika was missing. They assembled secretly. They elected a rat named Kokila as their leader. Under his leadership the rats declared independence and left the place. The cat also went his own way finding no means to get food. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 160).

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text: Bidalopakhyana.

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