Sudhanvan (son of Vairāja)

Sudhanvan · su-dhanvan, “he of the good bow”

Sudhanvan, also written Sudhanvā, is the son of Vairāja Prajāpati. When the lords of every class of beings and of the four quarters were appointed, he was anointed lord of the eastern quarter. He is a different king from Sudhanvan the son of Ahīnagu.

Lomaharshaṇa the Sūta tells the munis that after Brahmā anointed Pṛthu, son of Vena, as cakravartin, he gave each class of beings its own ruler: Soma over the dvijas, the grains, the nakshatras, the grahas, the yajñas and the tapas; Varuṇa over the waters; Kubera over the kings; Vishṇu over the Ādityas; Agni over the Vasus; and so on, down to Garuḍa over the birds. The four quarters too were each given a lord by abhisheka: the east to Sudhanvā, son of Vairāja Prajāpati; the south to Śaṅkhapada, son of Kardama Prajāpati; the west to Ketumān, son of Rajas; and the north to Hiraṇyaroma, son of Parjanya Prajāpati. This earth, with its seven dvīpas and its towns, is ruled with dharma by each of them even now.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 4

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 4