Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India

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Tryaruna

TRYARUNA. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] A king, son of Trivrishan, of the race of Ikshwaku. He was riding in a chariot which Vrisa, his purohita or family priest, was driving. The vehicle passed over and killed a Brahman boy, and a question arose as to who was responsible for the death. The question was referred to an assembly of the Ikshwakus, and they decided it against Vrisa. The purohit by his prayers then restored the boy to life, and being very angry with them for what he deemed partiality, "fire henceforth ceased to perform its functions in their dwellings, and the cooking of their food and other offices ceased." The Ikshwakus appeased him, and upon his prayers the use of fire was restored to them. This story is told by Sayana in elucidation of a Vedic allusion, and he quotes the Satyayana Brahmana as the authority.


Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D. The textual material made available at this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. You must give the original author credit. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. No claims are made regarding the status of images used at this website; if you own the copyright privileges to any of these images and believe your copyright privileges have been violated, please contact the webmaster. Page last updated: October 16, 2007 12:22 PM