Viviṃśa

Viviṃśa was the grandson of King Kṣupa and a descendant of the solar lineage through Khanitra, Prajāti, and Bhalandana. He was born to the son of Kṣupa and Pramathā, and his mother was Nandinī, the princess of Vidarbha. Viviṃśa was a powerful king under whose rule the earth flourished with abundant crops, timely rains, and a prosperous and contented populace free from pride and intoxication. His enemies were subdued by the heat of his pratāpa, and his people and friends attained joy through his just governance. He performed many yajñas and ruled the earth well, ultimately attaining death in battle and reaching the world of Indra. His account is narrated by Mārkaṇḍeya.

The Reign of Kṣupa

Kṣupa, the son of Khanitra, obtained the kingdom and, like his father, was ruling the people according to dharma while delighting them. King Kṣupa was a performer of yajñas, of a charitable nature, and possessed an equal disposition toward enemies and friends in the path of behavior. One day, the groups of sūtas said to the King, who was sitting on his throne, that he was equal to the previous Mahārāja Kṣupa. They told him that Kṣupa, the son of Brahmā, had become a King in the past, and that just as his history and acts were, so also were those of the present King.

Kṣupa expressed his desire to hear the history of that mahātmā Mahārāja Kṣupa, saying that if he was also capable of behaving like him, he would do so. The Sūta told him that the mahātmā Kṣupa of old did not take taxes from cattle and Brāhmaṇas, and that having taken the sixth part from the earth, he performed yajña.

The Pratijñā of Kṣupa

Kṣupa replied that one like him could not be capable of following those mahātmā Kings, and that it was impossible. Nevertheless, since their behavior was very excellent, he said it was appropriate to strive to act thus. He then declared his pratijñā. He vowed to imitate the acts of Mahārāja Kṣupa. He declared that when the crops such as grain were harvested and during the times of movement of goods, he would perform three yajñas each. This pratijñā was made on the earth bounded by the four oceans. Whatever taxes the cattle and Brāhmaṇas had previously given to the King, those alone he would give back to the Brāhmaṇas and the cattle.

Having made this vow, that King, who was the best among performers of yajñas, acted according to it and performed three yajñas at the time the crops were harvested. Whatever tax the cattle and Brāhmaṇas had previously given to the King, he gave all that wealth back to the Brāhmaṇas and the cattle.

The Birth of Viviṃśa’s Father and Viviṃśa

A great hero and faultless son was born to Kṣupa from his queen Pramathā. Through his pratāpa and śaurya, the rulers of the earth were brought under his control. The princess of Vidarbha named Nandinī became his wife. That Prabhu begot a son named Viviṃśa from her.

The Reign of Viviṃśa

While the powerful King Viviṃśa was ruling the earth, the earth-surface was covered by men without any gaps. In that time, the clouds rained at the appropriate time. The earth was possessed of crops. All crops were fruitful and the fruits were juicy. The juices were givers of nourishment, yet that nourishment was not a producer of intoxication. The abundant heaps of wealth of men were not causes of pride.

Due to the heat of his pratāpa, the enemies attained fear and could not obtain health. The people and the groups of friends, being well-honored, attained joy.

Death and Attainment of Indraloka

Having performed many yajñas and having ruled the earth well, Viviṃśa attained death in battle and went from the earth to the world of Indra.

Source: Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Chapter 116