Śatrujit

King Śatrujit was a legendary monarch belonging to the solar dynasty whose life is primarily detailed in the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa. He is celebrated as a righteous ruler and the father of the heroic prince Ṛtadhvaja. His reign is characterized by a strict adherence to Dharma and a commitment to the welfare of his subjects and the protection of the spiritual order.

Character and Governance

Śatrujit was known as a mahāvīrya, a ruler of immense prowess and valor. He was a deeply religious king who performed numerous Yajñas that were so perfect in execution that they provided great satisfaction to Indra, also known as Puraṃdhara. This relationship with the king of the gods established him as a monarch whose authority was recognized across the earthly and celestial realms. He was described as being possessed of all auspicious traits and as a destroyer of his enemies. Under his rule, the kingdom flourished, and the social order of the Varṇas was maintained with justice and piety.

Interaction with Sage Gālava

A significant event in the life of Śatrujit occurred when the sage Gālava visited his court seeking assistance. Gālava reported that a demon named Pātālaketu was causing severe disturbances at his hermitage by adopting various forms, such as those of lions or elephants, to disrupt sacred rituals and penance. The sage, though capable of cursing the demon, did not wish to deplete his hard-earned spiritual power through anger and thus sought the protection of the king.

The Divine Horse and the Commissioning of Ṛtadhvaja

Gālava brought with him a divine horse named Kuvalaya, which had descended from the sky in response to the sage’s distress. A celestial voice, or Akāśavāṇī, had informed Gālava that this horse possessed the ability to travel across the earth, sky, and subterranean realms with the speed of the sun. Furthermore, the voice specifically predicted that Ṛtadhvaja, the son of King Śatrujit, would be the one to ride this horse and defeat the demon. Recognizing his duty as a protector of the Brāhmaṇas and the Yajña, Śatrujit accepted the horse and summoned his son. He commanded Ṛtadhvaja to accompany Gālava to the hermitage and eliminate the demonic threat to ensure that the performance of Dharma was not hindered. The king performed the necessary auspicious rites for his son’s departure, demonstrating his role as both a responsible father and a devout sovereign.

Legacy and Succession

The later years of Śatrujit were marked by the success of his son Ṛtadhvaja, who became widely known as Kuvalayāśva due to the exploits performed with the divine horse. After Ṛtadhvaja completed his initial missions and rescued Madālasā, he returned to the capital and bowed at the feet of his father, continuing to serve the kingdom under Śatrujit’s guidance. Eventually, Śatrujit passed the responsibilities of the throne to Ṛtadhvaja, allowing his son to continue the legacy of a righteous and powerful rule while the elder king moved toward the final stages of his life. His tenure as king is remembered as a foundational period that established the prosperity and spiritual integrity of the dynasty.