Vamadeva and King Sala
King Pariksit and his
wife Susobhana had three sons: Sala, Dala, and Bala. When Pariksit grew old, he
made his eldest son, Sala, the king and went to the forest for penance.
One day, King Sala went
hunting in the forest. While chasing a deer, he asked his charioteer for faster
horses. The charioteer told him that such horses could be found at the
hermitage of the sage Vamadeva. Sala went there and borrowed the horses on the
condition that he would return them later.
After hunting, Sala
returned to his kingdom. He was so impressed by the strength and beauty of the
horses that he decided to keep them. Vamadeva sent his disciple to take the
horses back, but the king refused. This angered Vamadeva, and he went to the
court himself to demand his horses. Sala argued that sages did not need such
horses.
While they were arguing, fierce giants suddenly appeared and attacked Sala with a trident, killing him. (Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 192).
Other Information
Vamadeva was a friend of Sage Vasistha and served as a
priest for King Dasaratha. (Valmiki Ramayana, Balakanda, Sarga 7, Stanza 3).
He composed Mandala 4 of the Rigveda.
He praised the twin gods Ashvins while still in his
mother’s womb. (Rigveda, Mandala 1, Sukta 119).
He once tried to eat dog meat to save Brahmins from
starvation. (Manusmriti, Chapter 10, Stanza 106).
He was a respected member of Indra’s assembly.
(Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 7, Stanza 17).
He gave advice on righteousness to King Vasumanas.
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