Brahma-datta of Kāmpilya
Brahma-datta was the king of Kāmpilya, the main city of the Pāñcāla kingdom. The Āpaddharma Parva of the Mahābhārata’s Śānti Parva tells of him. In his palace lived the sparrow Pūjanī, who brought fruits from trees of the Himālaya. Whoever ate them gained jāti-smṛti (memory of past lives).
Bhīshma tells the dialogue between Brahma-datta and Pūjanī. It follows the killing of her chick by the prince and her blinding of the prince in return. Through it Bhīshma teaches about fair retaliation, the five kinds of enmity, and how atithi-dharma (the duty to a guest) and enmity can exist together.
Who he was
Brahma-datta ruled Kāmpilya. This was the chief city of the Pāñcāla kingdom, in the Madhyadeśa (the central part of Āryāvarta). The name Brahma-datta means “given by Brahmā.” Several kings named Brahma-datta appear in the Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas. The king of this account is known by his link with Pūjanī and the events of Śānti Parva, Chapter 139.
The palace and Pūjanī
The sparrow Pūjanī had made her nest in Brahma-datta’s palace. She had lived there for a long time. She was no ordinary bird. She had great understanding and spiritual wisdom.
She brought fruits from Himālayan trees. Eating them gave jāti-smṛti, and the king valued this gift. Pūjanī had shelter, freedom and the protection of the palace. The household had the fruits she brought.
The break
A prince of the household killed Pūjanī’s chick. Pūjanī paid him back by blinding the prince. The palace was filled with anger, and Brahma-datta was deeply troubled.
Brahma-datta did not simply punish Pūjanī. He talked with her about whether one wrong cancels another, about the five kinds of enmity, and about how far the household could expect her to hold back. In this way he showed himself a thoughtful ruler. He wished to understand what dharma required instead of just using his power.
Pūjanī answered that even the bond of shelter does not ask a mother to accept the killing of her children in silence. Then Pūjanī left.
Brahmadatta of Pāñcāla in the Anuśāsana Parva
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 137, Bhīshma lists kings who were examples of giving (dāna). He says that Brahmadatta, the first among kings who kept dharma and the ruler of the Pāñcāla country, gave the treasure named Śaṅkha (the Śaṅkha-nidhi) as dāna. He reached the paramagati (highest goal).
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Āpaddharma Parva, Chapter 139
- Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 137