Karandhama

Karandhama, originally named Balāśva, was the son of King Khanīnetra, born by the grace of Indra after his father performed fierce tapas on the bank of the Gomatī. He was known as the best among all wearers of weapons, a knower and performer of dharma, and a king whose prosperity was unobstructed. After succeeding his father, Balāśva brought all the kings on the earth into subjection. When arrogant kings and kinsmen rebelled, besieging him in his city and reducing him to extreme distress, an extraordinary event occurred. From the openings of his two shaking hands, struck by the breath of his mouth, hundreds of warriors, chariots, elephants, and horses came forth, filling his entire city with an army of extreme strength. With this army he defeated all his enemies and restored his dominion. Because the army that slew enemies was produced from between his two shaking hands, he came to be called Karandhama. He was famous in the three worlds as a dharmātmā, a mahātmā, and one who possessed the feeling of friendship toward all beings. His account is narrated by Mārkaṇḍeya.

The Tapas of Khanīnetra and the Boon of Indra

Khanīnetra went to the bank of the Gomatī, which is the destroyer of sins, and possessing restraint of the senses, began to praise the Deva Indra. The ruler of the earth, having restrained his speech, body, and mind, performed fierce tapas and praised Indra desiring a son. The lord of suras, Indra, was pleased with his tapas, bhakti, and the utterance of stotra, and spoke to the King, telling him to choose a boon.

Khanīnetra said that he was childless and prayed that a son be born who was the best among all wearers of weapons, whose prosperity was unobstructed, who was a knower of dharma, a performer of dharma, and a knower of dharma. Hearing the King’s prayer, Indra gave the boon saying let it be so. The King then returned to his own city to protect the people.

The Birth of Balāśva

While Khanīnetra was performing yajña-anuṣṭhāna and protecting the people well, a son was born by the grace of Indra. The father, the protector of the earth, gave the name Balāśva to that son. He made him learn the entire group of astras.

Balāśva Becomes King

After his father deceased, Balāśva became the King of the empire. He brought all the kings on the earth into subjection. He accepted taxes preceded by the acceptance of the essential and protected the people well.

The Rebellion of the Kings

Then all those kings and the arrogant groups of kinsmen desisted from paying taxes and did not perform the honor of rising. Being devoid of the honor of rising, they were not thereafter satisfied merely with ruling their own kingdoms. Finally, they even seized the lands which were under the control of the King. Having secured his own kingdom by strength, the lord of the earth remained there while opposition was made by many kings. Those lords of the earth, who were very great heroes and possessed of resources and wealth, assembled and besieged the ruler of the earth in his city. The ruler of the earth became enraged by that siege, yet possessing a small treasury and a small army, he attained extreme distress.

The Army Born from His Hands

Not seeing any other refuge even with his army, and with a heart distressed by sighs, Balāśva placed both his hands in front of his face. Then, from the openings of his hands, struck by the breath of his mouth, hundreds of warriors, chariots, elephants, and horses came forth. In a moment, the entire city of that ruler of the earth was covered by army groups who were of extreme strength.

The Victory and the Name Karandhama

Surrounded by that very great army, having emerged from the city, the lord of men conquered the rebellious kings. He defeated them, brought them under his subjection, and again made them givers of tax as before, thus becoming fortunate.

Because an army that slew enemies was produced from between his two shaking hands, Balāśva came to be called Karandhama. Karandhama was famous in the three worlds, a dharmātmā, a mahātmā, and one who possessed the feeling of friendship toward all beings. To him who had attained extreme distress, dharma gave the destruction of enemies, and that strength, having been drawn by dharma, approached the King himself.

Source: Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Chapter 118