Nitikatha-sahitya in the Vedic Period

Rigveda is the primary source of fable literature in Sanskrit. Describing the valourous deeds of the gods like Indra, Visnu, Agni, Rudra etc., the Rgvedic hymns constitute the mantras 1. Q. M. Krishnamachariar, History of Classical Sanskrit Literature, Motilal Banarasidass, Delhi, p. 428, fn. 3. iversity Li ra

3 narrating the stories of the kings, the seers, the gods, etc. Of course, the purpose behind introducing such stories in the Rgveda could be to raise the importance of the particular subject in the respective context. In this line, the Rgueda reads the Sunassepa's legend in its first Mandala. The story of Sunassepa's deliverance is a Vedic fact. According to one seer, Sunassepa was saved from a thousandfold stake by Agni², while another seer praises Varuna for having freed him from his bonds.³ Sunassepa himself is one among the centurian seers (Satarcins: seers of hundred verses). The other Samhitas know him as seized by Varuna and then freed on praising him as explained below: This is a very favourite prayer to Varuna, in almost all the Samhitas, that he might graciously release the worshipper from his three-fold pasa, at the head, in the middle and at the bottom. 4 This mantra in later times inspired a philosophic interpretation that it was an appeal for freedom from worldly ties. 2. sunascicchepam niditam sahasrad yupadamunco asamista hi sah | 3. 4. evasmadagne vi mumugdhi pasan hotascikitva iha tu nisadya | RV. 5.2.7 | tadanniktam tad diva mahyamahrs tadayam keto hrda a vi caste | sunahsepo hyahvad grbhitah so asman raja varuno mumoktu || RV. 1. 24.12 sunahsepo hyahvad grbhutam trisvadityam drupadesu baddhah | avainam raja varunah sasrjyad vidvam adabdho vi mumoktu pasan || RV. 1.24.13 uduttamam varuna pasamasmadavadhamam vi madhyamam srathaya | atha vayamaditya vratetavanagaso aditaye syama || RV. 1. 24.15 (Uduttamam)

4 It is the Aitareya Brahmana (7, 13-18) that spins a complete narrative of this legend. The Sankhyayana Srautasutra repeats it with slight difference only. The central theme of Sunassepa's escape from sacrificial immolation has been liked at the beginning and at the end of two other episodes. Hariscandra and his son Rohita provide the introductory link whose entanglement with god Varuna brings about the main event of sacrificing Sunassepa. In a similar manner, the exploits of individual kings, gods have been illustrated in the context of many more legends. They are more than twenty-five in number which are as below: 1. Sarama 1-6-5. 2. Kaksivat and Svanaya I-125. 3. Dirghatamas I-147. 4. Agastya and Lopamudra I-179 5. Grtsamada II-12. 6. Vasista and Visvamitra III-53, VII-33, etc. 7. The descent of Soma III-43. 8. Vamadeva IV-18. .9. Tyaruna and Vrsajana V-2. 10. Birth of Agni V-11. 11. Syavasva V-52. 12. Saptavadhri V-78. 13. Brou and Bharadvaja VI-45. patak Uni Teity

10 5 14. Rjisvana and Atiyaja VI-53. 15. Sarasvati and Viadhryasva VI-61. 16. Visnu's three strides VI-69. 17. Birth of Brhaspati VI-71. 18. King Sudas 19. Nahusa 20. Asanga VII-18, etc. VII-95. VIII-1-33. 21. Apala VIII-91. X-38 (I-33, 51, 97, etc.) 22. Kutsa 23. King Asmati and the four priests X-57-60. 24. Nabhanedistha X-61, 82. 25. Vrsakapi X-86. 26. Urvasi and Pururavas X-95. 27. Devap and Santanu X-98. 28. Naciketas X-135. So also, some legends are found in the Atharvaveda too.