MANDHATA 476 MANDODARl II

they enquired among themselves as to whose breast- (vi) Once Mahavisnu came to Mandhata disguised as feeding it would get when appeared and said Indra and conversed with him on 'Rajadharma' (duties "Mam Dhata", meaning it would drink me. That was and responsibilities of a King.) (Sloka 16, Chapter 64, how the child got the name 'Mandhata'. Indra thrust Santi Parva). the child's big toe into its mouth and the child began to (vii) Utatthya, son of Angiras, once taught Mandhata suck milk through it. Mandhata who grew thus drink- the outlines of Rajadharma. (Chapter 90, Santi ing its own toe became a mighty man of renown. (7th Parva). Skandha, Bhagavata) . (viii) Mandhata conquered the whole world in one 3) Administration of the state and marriage. When day. (Sloka 16, Chapter 124, Sand Parva) . Mandhata became a man of great strength his father (ix) On another occasion Brhaspati conversed with died and he ascended the throne and became an him on the subject of Godana. (The giving away of Emperor of great fame. He conquered many kingdoms. cows as gifts). (Sloka 4, Chapter 76, Anusasana He made his enemies flee from him. Because he inti- Parva) . midated the dasyus he got the name Trasadasyu. He (x) Mandhuta gave away as gifts millions of cows. married the perfect-figured chaste daughter Bindumati (Sloka 5, Chapter 85, Anusasana Parva) . of Sasabinduraja. She got two sons named Purukutsa (xi) Mandhata hated non-vegetarian food. (Sloka 61, and Mucukunda. Chapter 115, Anusasana Parva). The state that Mandhata had another son I. (MANDODARl). (In South India named Ambarisa and fifty daughters who were all the name Mandodarl is current). Wife ofRavana. married to a sage named Saubhari. The Uttara contains a story about the 4 he caused rains in the Mandhata ruled of Mandodarl. ) How country. previous history the country very virtuously without at any time going Maya, an , was born to Kasyapaprajapati of his against truth and justice and his country became wife Danu. Once Maya went to Devaloka to see the prosperous. Once it so happened that there were no dances of the celestial maidens there. Devas came to rains for three successive years in the country and know that Maya was in love with the nymph Hema the greatly worried King went to the forests to know and they married her to Maya. Maya went to the from the great sages there the reason for such a southern valley of Himavan and lived there with Hema calamity. The sages told the King thus : "Oh King, constructing there a city called Hemapura. They got of all yugas Krtayuga is the best. This yuga is a two sons Mayavl and Dundubhi. But they grieved over brahmin-predominant one and Dharma stands on the lack of a daughter and she went to a side of bless- four legs. Penance is for brahmins only and no man Himavan and started penance there to get the of any other caste can do penance in this yuga. But ings of Siva. in your country a Sudra is performing penance and Once a celestial damsel named Madhura after observing that is why the clouds refuse to shower rains. Kill him Somavaravrata went to Kailasa to pay obeisance to and then the evil will go". Hearing this Mandhata Siva. was absent from the place then, having replied; "I will never kill an innocent ascetic. Teach gone to attend the birthday celebrations of one of her me my duty at this time of peril". The sages were sons. So Madhura met Siva sitting lonely and this led to pleased at the reply of the King and advised him thus : a clandestine sexual union between them. When Parvati the "Oh King, start observing Vrata on the ekadasi day. returned she saw traces of the ashes from body of

in a . on the naked breast of Madhura and Parvati in ( Eleventh day each half of month) The ekadasi Siva which falls in the bright half of Bhadrapada is called her anger cursed Madhura to live in a well for twelve 'Padmanabha', and if you observe it by its cogency you years as a frog. Siva was stupefied at the curse and he will get not only rains but prosperity and happiness free went to the well and consoled her by saying that she from misery of any kind. You must persuade your would after the twelve years of life as a frog become subjects also to observe this". a very beautiful maiden and would be married by a The King on returning to his palace started observing man of great fame and valour. It was near this well 'ekadasi' along with his subjects of all the four castes that Maya and his wife were performing penance and then it started to rain. Rains came in plenty and to get a daughter. all the crops were rich. The subjects became happy. After twelve years the frog changed itself into a beauti- the well. (Chapter 59, Padma Purana) . ful maiden and cried loudly from Hearing 5) Other details. the cry Maya and Hema, who were nearby peeped into the well and seeing the took her home and (i) Mandhata had to fight once against Lavanasura young girl her her the name Mandodarl. but had to accept defeat before the god-given spear brought up giving which Lavanasura returning after his victory march by that way visited possessed. (Uttara Ramayana). 1 Maya and seeing the girl fell in love with her and (ii) Asvinidevas once helped Mandhata in his work as married her according to Vedic rites and took her to an owner of land. (Sukta 112, Anuvaka 16, Mandala 1, . Ravana got three sons of her, Meghanada, Rgveda) . _ and Aksakumara. Mandhata became and attained (iii) pure by yajna Mandodarl was a very beautiful woman. Svarga. (Sloka 5, Chapter 257, Vana Parva) . when he entered the bed-room of Ravana in search of (iv) Once Narada spoke toSaftjaya about the great- Slta was dumb-founded at the beauty of Mandodarl

ness of Mandhata. Drona . (Chapter 62, Parva) and mistook her for a second for Slta. ( Valmlki -

(v) At another time Sri Krsna spoke in glowing terms yana ) . about the yajna of Mandhata. (Sloka 81, Chapter 29, MANDODARl II. A virtuous princess of the kingdom Santi Parva). of Simhala. She determined to live an unmarried life