Kshupa

Kshupa is named in the Daṇḍotpatti Kathā of the Mahābhārata (Śānti Parva, Chapter 122) as the first holder of daṇḍa (the force of rule and punishment) in the created world. He was born from the sneeze of Brahmā. A Kshupa also appears in the Khaḍgotpatti Kathanam (Śānti Parva, Chapter 166), in the line through which the divine sword Asi passed.

Birth from Brahmā’s sneeze

Kshupa was born from the sneeze of Brahmā.

First holder of daṇḍa

Brahmā gave daṇḍa to Kshupa. In this way Kshupa was the first one charged with keeping order through daṇḍa. The Daṇḍotpatti Kathā does not say much about what he did as holder of daṇḍa. He is the first link in the chain through which daṇḍa passes into the human world.

The line through which daṇḍa passed

The Daṇḍotpatti Kathā gives the line of daṇḍa from Kshupa onward. It runs: Mahādeva → Vishṇu → Aṅgiras → Indra / Marīci → Bhṛgu → the great ṛshis → the Lokapālas (guardians of the directions) → Kshupa → Manu Vaivasvata → human kings.

In this line Kshupa stands between the Lokapālas and Manu Vaivasvata, the forefather of the present human line. Manu Vaivasvata received daṇḍa from Kshupa and became the first human king in whom the force of rule was properly set up.

In the Khaḍgotpatti Kathanam

The Khaḍgotpatti Kathanam (Śānti Parva, Chapter 166) tells of the origin and passing down of the divine sword Asi. In this line Kshupa comes after Manu and before Ikshvāku. The line runs: Brahmā → Rudra → Vishṇu → Marīci → Indra → Manu → Kshupa → Ikshvāku → Purūravas → Āyu → Nahusha → Yayāti → Pūru → … → the Pāṇḍavas.

In the Daṇḍotpatti Kathā, Kshupa stands before Manu in the line of daṇḍa. In the Khaḍgotpatti line, he stands after Manu.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Rājadharmānuśāsana Parva, Chapter 122 (Daṇḍotpatti Kathā)
• Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Chapter 166 (Khaḍgotpatti Kathanam)