Story of Mandhata

 Srimad Bhagavatham - Story of Mandhata 

King Yuvanaswa was born in Ikswaku lineage. Being issueless, he retired to the forest along with his 100 wives. The sages of that hermitage took pity on him and conducted a sacrifice intended to propitiate Indra. 

The king Yuvanaswa felt thirsty at midnight and entered the sacrificial hut. Not knowing it as divine water consecrated with the mantra, he drank and went back.

The next morning, seeing the sacrificial pitcher empty, the priest enquired and found the king consumed the divine water that had a capacity to produce a male child. 

The priest remained hapless and left it to the play of destiny. The king at last gave birth to a male child splitting open his right pelvis.

When the baby cried out of hunger, the brahmanas were perplexed as to who would give milk to the baby.

Indra put his index finger dripped with nectar into the baby's mouth saying “ suck me (Mam Dhata). Do not cry”. Hence, he was named Mandhata.

King Yuvanaswa survived by the grace of Brahmanas and attained perfection through asceticism.

The powerful Emperor Mandhata ruled the entire globe. The whole extent of land from the point where the sun rises to the point where it sets is called the territory of Mandhata. 

The Emperor had three sons, viz., Purukutsa, Ambarisa and Muchukunda, and 50 daughters. All the fifty daughters choose Sage Saubhari as their husband.  

Ambarisa was adopted by his grandfather, Yuvanaswa, and a son, Yauvanaswa, was born to Ambarisha.  

Purukutsa was married to Narmada and was taken to Rasatala to protect against Gandarvas, who were enemies of Nagas. Satyavrata (famously called Trishanku) is a descendent of Purukutsa.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Please note Ambarisha, son of Naabhaga and a great devotee of Srihari, is different from Ambarisha, son of Mandata. 

Story of Ikswaku

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Ikswaku and Puranjaya (Kakustha)

       

Who is Ikswaku, and why did he exile his son Vikuksi? Why was Puranjaya named kakutstha?

Ikswaku is the son of Vaivaswata Manu. Ikswaku had 100 sons, and Vikuksi was the eldest. He retained central Aryavatha (land lying between the Vindhya range and the Himalayas) and distributed remaining land among his sons.

Once, Ikswaku asked his son Vikuksi to bring flesh for the ceremony (Shraddha). Vikuksi agreed and went to the forest. Having killed some animals fit for the ceremony, he thoughtlessly roasted and ate some flesh of hare as he was fatigued and hungry.

Bringing back the remaining flesh, he handed over to his father. Sage Vasistha rejected the offering as it had been contaminated by eating beforehand. Ikswaku was very angry with his son's behavior and exiled him from his kingdom.  

The king Ikswaku chose the path of Jnanayoga (with the help of his preceptor Sage Vasishta) and cast off his body.

On the death of King Ikswaku, Vikuksi was called by Sage Vasishta to become the king. However, the people did not accept him for having violated the prescribed norms. He was known as Sasada (devourer of a hare).

Puranjaya is the son of Vikuksi. Puranjaya was requested by the gods to join them in the fight against demons. Protected by celestial bow and armour, Puranjaya was eager to fight. At the instance of Srihari, Indra assumed the firm of a gigantic bull and Puranjaya rode on the hump of the bull.   

Puranjaya fought ferociously and dispatched the demons to Yama's abode. The remaining demons fled to Patala. He earned the title Kakutstha (one who rode on the hump of a bull) and Indravaha.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Ambharisa

Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Ambarisha

Who is Ambharisa? Why did Lord Srihari give His discus (Sudarshana Charka) as protection to King Ambharisa. How could Ambharisa earn such powerful protection?

King Ambarisha is the son of Naabhaaga and the grandson of Nabhaga. Naabhaaga was very learned and led a truthful life. Being in that lineage Ambharisa too led a pious life and was greatly devoted to Lord Srihari.

Ambharisa was the Emperor of Seven Dweepas and had enormous wealth. Even with such huge wealth and power, he never got attached to it. 

He always felt that these wealth were illusionary (as seen in the dream state) and would vanish any day or death would snatch away everything from him. He adopted Viragya (non-attached). 

To remain in that state, he controlled his sense organs. He used his speech only to praise Srihari, his hand to serve Him, ear to hear stories of Achutha, leg to visit shrines, mouth to drink Tulsi leaves juice, smell lotus flower fragrance etc. Hence, he was able to control his senses and divert his mind towards Srihari alone. 

The king gradually gave up all attachments with regard to his houses, wife, children, army, treasury, ornaments, etc. 

Pleased with his exclusive devotion, Srihari delivered His own discus ( Sudarshana Chakra) - a powerful weapon to protect Ambharisa. 

During Dwadashi Parana Vrath, Sage Durvasa visited King Ambarisha and accepted his hospitality. Sage Durvasa went to the river to complete his morning ablutions and returned after a considerable time. 

The Dwadashi Parana fasting has to be completed within the prescribed time. The King couldn't wait till the arrival of the Sage. Symbolically, he took a sip of water to break the fast. 

Sage Durvasa grew angry and threatened to kill him. He pulled a few strains of hair and, using his yogic power, created a genie. King Ambharisa was calm, but Sudarshana Chakra destroyed the genie and started chasing the Sage Durvasa for a long period. 

Sage Durvasa couldn't get protection from Lord Brahma or Lord Shiva. Srihari expressed his inability but advised him to seek pardon from his devotee, King Ambarisha.  

Accordingly, the Sage sought pardon from the King and got relief from the burning sensation of Sudarshana Chakra. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana