Vaidarbhī

Vaidarbhī was a princess of Vidarbha and a queen of King Sagara of the Ikshvāku line. When the ṛshi Aurva gave Sagara the vara (a boon) of children, she chose the portion that gave her one son. That son was Asamañja. The line of kings went on through Asamañja’s son Aṃśumān.

The choice of sons

The Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata names Vaidarbhī as one of Sagara’s two queens. The ṛshi Aurva was born of fire and belonged to the Bhṛgu line. Sagara had done tapas (austerity) with his queens to gain children, and Aurva gave the king a vara of children.

The vara came as a choice. From one wife would come one son who would carry on the family line. From the other wife would come sixty thousand sons who would all die together. Each queen could choose. Vaidarbhī chose the single son (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 106).

Her son Asamañja

Her son was Asamañja. He had every gift of royal birth, but he turned out to be deeply troubled. For amusement he threw the children of the city into the river Sarayū. Sagara was sorrowful, but he held firmly to his dharma as a king responsible for his people, and he sent Asamañja into exile.

The line did not break. Asamañja’s own son Aṃśumān was virtuous and became the worthy heir. He carried the Ikshvāku line forward toward Bhagīratha.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 106