Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s16.64

v1.c3.s16.64

1. Janam-ejaya (‘man-impelling’) is the name of a king, a Pārikṣita,¹ famous towards the end of the Brāhmaṇa period. He is mentioned in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa² as owning horses which when wearied were refreshed with sweet drinks, and as a performer of the Aśvamedha, or horse sacrifice.³ His capital, according to a Gāthā quoted in the Śatapatha⁴ and the Aitareya Brāhmaṇas,⁵ was Āsandīvant. His brothers Ugrasena, Bhīmasena, and Śrutasena are mentioned as having by the horse sacrifice purified themselves from sin. The priest who performed the sacrifice for him was Indrota Daivāpi Śaunaka.⁶ On the other hand the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa,⁷ which also mentions his Aśvamedha, names Tura Kāvaṣeya as his priest. It also contains an obscure tale stating that at one sacrifice of his he did not employ the Kaśyapas, but the Bhūtavīras, being, however, induced by the Asitamṛgas to have recourse to the Kaśyapas again.⁸ He was a Kuru prince; see Parikṣit. The Gopatha Brāhmaṇa⁹ tells an absurd tale about him, evidently as of an ancient hero.