King Ayus and Queen Indumati had a son named Nahusha. After celebrating his birth jubilantly, when they were asleep at night, an asura named Hunda kidnapped Nahusha and went to his palace. He asked the maid to cook Nahusha. But the cook was too compassionate to do this. So, she asked her husband to take the child to a safe place while she prepared a dish from some other meat. Hunda ate the meat thinking it to be Nahusha. The husband of the maid placed the child in the hermitage of Sage Vasishtha and left. Vasishtha wondered about the child and decided to raise the child. Meanwhile, in the palace of Ayus, there was a huge commotion as Nahusha had disappeared. Sage Narada asked them to stay calm and told Nahusha was in good hands and wait for his return. Nahusha soon grew into a handsome youth. He heard a few celestial singers singing his story. He immediately went to Vasishtha to confirm the story. As soon as Vasishtha confirmed the story, Nahusha got angry and he set out to kill Hunda. On the way, he saw a beautiful maiden who told him her name was Ashoka Sundari and was destined to marry him. She narrated her tale, Goddess Parvati wanted to test the Kalpa Vruksha (wish fulfilling tree) and asked for a child. Immediately the tree granted her wish. That child was Ashoka Sundari. Parvati blessed her that she would marry Nahusha. She waited for his birth. But, the asura Hunda asked her to marry him. She told him she was destined to marry Nahusha. So, Hunda got angry and kidnapped Nahusha as soon as he was born. After listening to this story, Nahusha fought with Hunda and killed him. Then, he married Ashoka Sundari and succeeded King Ayus.
Comments
Post a Comment