Ugrasena of Mathurā in the Padma Purāṇa

Ugrasena was the rightful king of Mathurā and a hero of the Yadu line. The Bhūmi Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa (Chapters 47 to 51) tells of Ugrasena and his queen Padmāvatī. In this account Kaṃsa is born from a daitya’s deception, and he is not Ugrasena’s own son. The Mahābhārata also records a conversation between Ugrasena and Vāsudeva (Kṛshṇa) about Bhagavān Nārada.

Character and reign

The Bhūmi Khaṇḍa calls Ugrasena yadu-vaṃśa-vīra (a hero of the Yadu line) and madhurā-rājya-pālaka (protector of the kingdom of Mathurā). It describes him with these words:

  • sarvadharma-artha-tattva-jñāna: one who knows the truth of all dharma and artha
  • vedavit: a knower of the Vedas
  • śāstravit: learned in the śāstras
  • balavān: powerful
  • dāta: generous
  • bhoktā: one who enjoys what is rightly his
  • guṇa-grāhin: one who sees good qualities clearly
  • medhāvī: wise

He ruled his prajā (people) according to dharma.

He loved Padmāvatī completely. He could not eat without her. He did not seek any enjoyment without her. Her qualities held his whole heart. The Bhūmi Khaṇḍa shows this love before the sorrow that came when she was away from him. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Bhūmi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 48)

Padmāvatī’s visit to her parents

King Satyaketu of Vidarbha was Padmāvatī’s father. He sent a messenger to ask Ugrasena to let Padmāvatī visit her parents’ home for a while. Ugrasena loved his father-in-law and trusted that she would be safe in her parents’ home. He agreed and sent her to Vidarbha. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Bhūmi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 47 and 48)

This kind act became the moment of the daitya Gobhila’s attack. A brāhmaṇī in the narrative teaches a lesson about it. A daughter or daughter-in-law who is kept in her parents’ home beyond the proper age is open to dangers. This is a dharmopadeśa (a teaching on dharma) about how long a married daughter should stay in her parents’ house.

The deception and its fruit

While Padmāvatī was in Vidarbha, the daitya Gobhila saw her. He served Kubera and was flying in an aerial vehicle. Kāma (desire) overcame him. He took Ugrasena’s exact form, with his looks, walk, voice, dress and every other mark, and went to Padmāvatī. She believed her husband had come to Vidarbha, and she received him.

The deception was perfect. She had no reason to doubt until it was over. Then she saw that an identifying mark on his body was missing. She questioned the daitya. He told her he was Gobhila. He explained the daitya-dharma (the way of the daityas) of taking other people’s wealth and women by force.

The Padma Mahā Purāṇa says that Kaṃsa was born from the pregnancy that followed. In this account Kaṃsa is the son of a daitya and not Ugrasena’s own son. (Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Bhūmi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 49 to 51)

Later history

The Agni Purāṇa, the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa and the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa tell how Kaṃsa removed Ugrasena from the throne. They also tell how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa put Ugrasena back on the throne after Kaṃsa was killed.

Conversation with Vāsudeva (Mokshadharma Parva, Chapter 230)

The Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Mokshadharma Parva, Chapter 230, records Ugrasena speaking with Vāsudeva (Kṛshṇa). Ugrasena comes to Vāsudeva and asks about the qualities of Nārada. He wants to know why Nārada is accepted and loved by devas, ṛshis and men alike.

This question gives Vāsudeva the chance to describe Nārada’s qualities as those of the ideal jñānin (one who knows). This portrait is the closing teaching of the Mokshadharma Parva. Ugrasena is the sincere questioner whose question brings out this teaching.

Sources

  • Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Bhūmi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 47–51
  • Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Mokshadharma Parva, Chapter 230
  • Agni Purāṇa (named for the later history, no chapter given)
  • Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa (named for the later history, no chapter given)
  • Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa (named for the later history, no chapter given)