Story of Virocana

General information.

An asura. He was the son of Prahlāda and the father of Mahābali. Three sons Virocana, Kumbha and Nikumbha were born to Prahlāda by his wife Dhṛti. Virocana, though an asura, performed rites and rituals carefully. He was kind towards Brahmins. His son Bali became famous and got the name Mahābali. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 65, Stanza 19).

Other details.

(i) Once there was a controversy between Virocana and Sudhanvā. (See under Sudhanvā II).

(ii) During the time of emperor Pṛthu, when the asuras milked the earth Virocana stood as the calf. (Mahābhārata Droṇa Parva, Chapter 69, Stanza 20).

(iii) Virocana is included among the ancient Kings of prominence. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 227, Stanza 50).

(iv) There is a story about the quest for knowledge about universal and individual souls, by Indra and Virocana, in Chāndogyopaniṣad, as given below.

Once the Devas and the asuras approached Prajāpati to learn about Brahman, the impersonal God. Prajāpati told them: "Ātman (soul) is the first tattva (Essential being) which is sinless, eternal, desireless and unimaginable in the earth." Having heard this philosophy about the soul, the Devas selected Indra, and the asuras selected Virocana and to know the details, they sent them to Prajāpati as his disciples.

Indra and Virocana stayed with Prajāpati for several years to know more about Ātman. But Prajāpati did not reveal to them the secret about Brahman. At last to test them Prajāpati said "Your reflection that you see in water or mirror is the Ātman (soul)."

Virocana, who mistook what the Prajāpati said as truth immediately took his bath, put on costly dress and ornaments and stood near water and saw his reflection in water. After that, taking the reflection for soul, he spread this doctrine among his people. With this the asuras accepted body as soul. But the Devas did not recognize this philosophy. They accepted the doctrine that Ātman is that essence of Nature which is alien to body and mind and which is pure.

(v) There are two different statements about the death of Virocana in the Purāṇas.

(1) In the battle with Tārakāsura, Virocana was killed by Devendra. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 99. Brahmāṇḍa 1. 20. 35; Matsya: 10: 11; Padma Purāṇa, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa 16).

(2) The Sun God was pleased with Virocana and had given him a crown. The sun told him that death would come only if that crown was removed from the head by some body. Because of this boon Virocana became arrogant. So Mahāviṣṇu took the form of a beautiful woman and enticed Virocana towards him and taking away the crown killed him. (Gaṇeśa Purāṇa 2, 29).

According to Nārada Purāṇa, Mahāviṣṇu took the form of a Brahmin and reached the palace of Virocana. There changing the righteous wife of Virocana into a mad woman he killed Virocana.

(vi) Virocana had two wives called Viśālākṣī and Devī. Two children, Bala and Ya odharā were born by them. The wife of the famous Tvaṣṭā was this Yaśodharā. (Brahmāṇḍa. 3: 1: 86; Nārada Purāṇa 2: 32: Bhāgavata, Skandha 9).

(vii) Virocana had five brothers named Kumbha, Nikumbha, Āyuṣmān, Śibi and Bāṣkali and a sister named Virocanā. (Vāyu Purāṇa. 84, 19).