[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c5.917 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.917 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c5.917 - **Language:** English ### [c5.917](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.917) DĪNANĀTHA. A King who lived in Dvāpara Age. He was a mighty and famous Vaiṣṇava. But his childless life distressed him very much. Once he consulted Gālava about his plight. Gālava assured him that if he performed a human sacrifice, a son would be born to him. A handsome, scholarly and highly-born man was to be sacrificed into the fire, A cripple, a dark-skinned man or a crude fellow was unsuitable for the purpose. The King’s servants scoured the villages and towns looking for such a perfect man, but in vain. At last they reached a country called Daśapura, inhabited by noble Brāhmaṇas. The women of that place were reputed for their charming eyes. No man could resist their fascination. In that lovely city there lived a Brāhmaṇa named Kṛṣṇadeva with his virtuous wife and three sons. The King’s servants requested Kṛṣṇadeva to give one of his sons to be sacrificed. They offered four lakhs of gold coins as price. The Brāhmaṇa and his wife cried bitterly and Kṛṣṇadeva offered himself instead of his sons. The royal servants seized one of his sons after throwing gold coins in the house and prepared to take him away. At this stage the second son of Kṛṣṇadeva came forward and volunteered himself. They agreed and he accompanied them to the palace. On their way they met the sage Viśvāmitra. He asked them to release the boy but they refused to set him free. The sage followed them to the palace and undertook to perform a sacrifice which would bless the King with progeny without a human sacrifice. The King accepted the offer and thus the boy was saved. (Padma Purāṇa, Chapter 12). - [Previous: c5.916](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.916) - [Next: c5.918](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.918) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5) ## Cites (1) - [Padmapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.padma) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.917](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.917) · Pramāṇa