Kshuva
Kshuva was a king born in a kshatriya family. He had a famous quarrel with the ṛshi Dadhīci about whether brāhmaṇas or kshatriyas are greater. The quarrel grew into a fight. The Śiva Purāṇa tells that even Bhagavān Vishṇu, who came to help Kshuva, was defeated by the power of Dadhīci’s Śivabhakti (devotion to Bhagavān Śiva). Kshuva then gave up the fight. Dadhīci’s śāpa (curse) on Vishṇu and the devas followed from it. The Śiva Purāṇa uses the name Kshuva for this king. The Liṅga Purāṇa tells of a king who quarrelled with Dadhīci about brāhmaṇa supremacy and calls him Kshupa.
The debate with Dadhīci
Kshuva and Dadhīci had once been closely linked. A debate began between them on the question of varṇa (social order): who is greater, the brāhmaṇas or the kshatriyas? The debate grew heated. In the argument Dadhīci struck Kshuva with his left fist. In brāhmaṇa custom this is a grave insult, because the left hand is held to be the impure hand. Kshuva was deeply shamed. He struck back with his vajra (the weapon given to him) and split Dadhīci’s body in two. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 38)
Dadhīci is revived and receives three varas
The great Śukrācārya, who knows the Mṛtasañjīvanī vidyā (the knowledge that brings the dead back to life), came and revived the badly wounded Dadhīci. As a high gift, Śukrācārya taught Dadhīci the whole Mahāmṛtyuñjaya mantra, with its dhyāna-śloka (verse of meditation) and a commentary on each word. The mantra begins:
Tryambakaṃ yajāmahe…
Dadhīci then did hard tapas (austerity) for Bhagavān Śiva. Bhagavān Śiva appeared and gave him three varas (boons):
- Vajra-bones. His bones became as hard as the vajra, filled with the power of Brahmavidyā (the knowledge of Brahman).
- Avadhyatva. He could not be killed. No weapon could harm him.
- Adainya. He was without fear. He would never show submission or fear before any being.
With these three varas, Dadhīci went back and found Kshuva. He struck Kshuva on the head with his left foot (padāghāta). It was a return of the insult, in its most shameful form. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 38)
Kshuva appeals to Vishṇu
Kshuva could not overcome Dadhīci, who now had the power of his Śivabhakti. So he went to Bhagavān Vishṇu and asked for help. Vishṇu knew well that a true devotee of Bhagavān Śiva cannot be beaten. He tried to turn Kshuva away. He said: “Dadhīci is a great Śivabhakta. I cannot truly harm him, and I know how this will end.” Even so, Vishṇu was moved by Kshuva’s plea, and as protector he agreed to help. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapters 38–39)
Vishṇu is defeated by Dadhīci
First Vishṇu came to Dadhīci disguised as an old brāhmaṇa. He asked Dadhīci to say just once, “I am afraid”, to save Kshuva’s honour. Dadhīci knew Vishṇu by the trikāla-jñāna (knowledge of past, present and future) given to him by Bhagavān Śiva. He refused politely but firmly. He said: “I fear only my own adharma. I know no fear before any being.”
Vishṇu showed his true form and used the Sudarśana cakra. This cakra was a gift to Vishṇu from Maheśvara, and it was blunted completely and came back. Dadhīci said to Vishṇu: “O Vishṇu, Maheśvara himself gave you this cakra. It will not harm me.” Vishṇu then used all his weapons one after another, and all of them failed. The devas who had gathered came to help him. Dadhīci called on Bhagavān Śiva and threw a single blade of darbha grass. It turned into a blazing triśūla (trident) of the fire of pralaya (the end of the world). All the divine weapons bowed before it. The devas fled in fear.
Vishṇu then showed his Viśvarūpa (universal form). Dadhīci bathed this form with water as a sign of respect, but he did not step back. He showed Vishṇu his own form, which held all the brahmāṇḍas (universes) within it. Brahmā arrived. At last Kshuva gave in. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 39)
Dadhīci’s śāpa
Dadhīci forgave Kshuva and declared that brāhmaṇas are supreme. Then he spoke to the gathered devas and to Vishṇu and gave a śāpa (curse): “You came here to support adharma against a Śivabhakta. You will all be burned by the Rudra-kopāgni (the fire of Rudra’s anger) at Daksha’s yajña.”
The Satī Khaṇḍa gives this śāpa as the reason Vishṇu was present at Daksha’s yajña. Bhagavān Śiva had been left out of that yajña. Vishṇu was there because of Dadhīci’s śāpa, and there Vīrabhadra defeated him, as the śāpa said. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 39)
Sthāneśvara tīrtha
The place of this conflict is where Dadhīci did his tapas and where the great battle between Dadhīci and Vishṇu took place. It was made holy as a tīrtha (sacred place) called Sthāneśvara. Other Purāṇas also speak of this tīrtha. It became one of the well-known holy places of the northern region. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 39)
The names Kshuva and Kshupa
The Śiva Purāṇa always uses the name Kshuva for this king. The Liṅga Purāṇa tells of a king who debated brāhmaṇa supremacy with Dadhīci and uses the name Kshupa.
Sources
- Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Satī Khaṇḍa, Chapters 38–39
- Liṅga Purāṇa (the version with the name Kshupa)