Part 28: Killing of Triśikhara

One day Madanavegā, who had satisfied him, asked Śauri for a boon and the chief of strong men granted her a boon. One day Dadhimukha bowed to Śauri and said:

“Triśikhara is king in the city Divastilaka. On behalf of his son, Sūrpaka, he asked my father for this maiden in marriage but my father, Vidyudvega, did not give her. A flying-sage, questioned by my father about a husband for his best of daughters, said: ‘Vasudeva of the Hari-line, will be your daughter’s husband. He will fall at night on Caṇḍavega’s shoulder as he is subduing magic arts in the Gaṅgā and the magic arts will submit immediately.’

After hearing this, my father did not give him his daughter, more than ever; and he was taken away by King Triśikhara, who had captured him with an army. Remembering the boon given by yourself to your wife Madanavegā, release your father-in-law now and show honor to me, your brother-in-law. Nami was the first bulb of our line. He had a son, Pulastya. In his line there was Meghanāda, lord of Ariṭjayapura. His son-in-law, Cakrin Subhūma, gave him the sovereignty of the two rows (of Vidyādharas) and divine missiles—Brahma’s missile, missile of fire, et cetera.^[1] In his line there was a king, Rāvaṇa, and also Bibhīṣaṇa. Among Bibhīṣaṇa’s descendants was my father Vidyudvega. Take these weapons which have come by inheritance. They will be fruitful for you who have good fortune, but useless for persons without good fortune.”

Vṛṣṇi’s descendant took the missiles offered with this explanation and obtained control over them by the proper practice. What is not accomplished by merit?

When he heard that Madanavegā had been given to a mortal, Triśikhara came himself to fight, inflamed with anger. Śauri fought, mounted in a magic chariot with a golden beak which had been given him by the Khecaras, surrounded by Dadhimukha and others. Vārṣṇeya cut off Triśikhara’s head with Indra’s weapon,^[2] released his father-in-law, and went to Divastilaka. A son, Anādhṛṣṭi, was borne by his wife Madanavegā to Śauri, amusing himself, after he had come to his father-in-law’s city.

One day he made a pilgrimage to the temples of eternal Arhats with the Khecaras and was gazed at by enamored Khecarīs again and again. Śauri returned from the pilgrimage and called Madanavegā, “Come, Vegavatī,” and she went to the couch angrily.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These weapons are not mentioned in the Subhūmacaritra, Triṣaṣṭi⁰ 6.4.

[2]:

A thunderbolt.