Story of Vikukṣi

A son of Ikṣvāku. It is said that Ikṣvāku was born from the spittle of Manu. It is stated in Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 7, that after the death of Śaryāti, the Rākṣasas (giants) attacked Ayodhyā and the sons of the King having fled to different directions, Ikṣvāku continued the dynasty of Śaryāti in Ayodhyā. Hundred sons beginning with Vikukṣi, were born to Ikṣvāku. Of these hundred sons fifty were employed to rule over the regions of East and North and fortyeight, to rule over the regions in the south and the west. With the remaining two sons the King stayed in Ayodhyā, and carried on administration.

One day King Ikṣvāku resolved to conduct the great sacrifice of offering to the manes called Mahāpralayaśrāddha, for which preparations were speedily made. The hermits such as Vasiṣṭha and others arrived according to invitation. He sent his son Vikukṣi to the forest to bring the required amount of flesh for the sacrifice. Vikukṣi entered the forest and hunted hare, hog, deer etc. and collected the required quantity of flesh; but on the way home, he became tired of hunger. To appease his hunger he took a small hare from the collection cooked it and ate it. He took the balance to the King who was much pleased with his son and gave the animals to Vasiṣṭha the family priest for prokṣaṇa (sprinkling of holy water on the animals before sacrifice). But Vasiṣṭha got angry and said, "flesh which constitutes remains is not acceptable." The king understood the truth only then. He was filled with anger and distress. He expelled Vikukṣi from his country for this misdeed. Thus because he had eaten a Śaśa (hare) Vikukṣi got another name Śaśāda. Śaśāda not at all caring about the misfortune that befell him, went to the forest and lived on fruits and roots and worshipped Devī, with ardent devotion.

Ikṣvāku died. Śaśāda knew this and returned to Ayodhyā and assumed reign. He performed several sacrifices on the banks of river Sarayū. The famous Kakutstha was the son of this Vikukṣi. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 7).