[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.1769 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1769 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1769 - **Language:** English ### [c5.1769](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1769) SUNAH-SEPHAS. The legend of Sunah-sephas, as told in the Aitareya Brāhmana, is as follows:—King Haris-chandra, of the race of Ikshwāku, being childless, made a vow that if he obtained a son he would sacrifice him to Varuna. A son was born who received the name of Rohita, but the father postponed, under various pretexts, the fulfilment of his vow. When at length he resolved to perform the sacrifice, Rohita refused to be the victim, and went out into the forest, where he lived for six years. He then met a poor Brāhman Rishi called Ajigartta, who had three sons, and Rohita purchased from Ajigartta for a hundred cows, the second son, named Sunah-sephas, to be the substitute for himself in the sacrifice. Varuna approved of the substitute, and the sacrifice was about to be performed, the father receiving another hundred cows for binding his son to the sacrificial post, and a third hundred for agreeing to slaughter him. Sunah-sephas saved himself by reciting verses in honour of different deities, and was received into the family of Viswāmitra, who was one of the officiating priests. The Rāmāyana gives a different version of the legend. Ambarīsha, king of Ayodhyā, was performing a sacrifice when Indra carried off the victim. The officiating priest represented that this loss could be atoned for only by the sacrifice of a human victim. The king, after a long search, found a Brāhman Rishi named Richīka, who had two sons, and the younger, Sunah-sephas, was then sold by his own consent for a hundred thousand cows, ten millions of gold pieces, and heaps of jewels. Sunah-sephas met with his maternal uncle, Viswāmitra, who taught him two divine verses which he was to repeat when about to be sacrificed. As he was bound at the stake to be immolated, he celebrated the two gods Indra and Vishnu with the excellent verses, and Indra, being pleased, bestowed upon him long life. He was afterwards called Devarāta, and is said to have become son of Viswāmitra. The Mahābhārata and the Purānas show some few variations. A series of seven hymns in the Rig-veda is attributed to Sunah-sephas. See Muir's Texts, i. 355, 407, 413; Vishnu Purana, iv. 25; Müller's Sanskrit Literature, 408; Wilson's Rig-veda, i. 60. - [Previous: c5.1768](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1768) - [Next: c5.1770](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1770) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Cites (5) - [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya) — Mahidāsa Aitareya, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit - [Viṣṇupurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1769](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.1769) · Pramāṇa