Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2411

c7.2411

Keśidhvaja who tried the path of knowledge to attain Absolution performed several sacrifices for that purpose and cut himself asunder from the bonds of action. Once, while he was performing a sacrifice, a tiger came to the place of sacrifice and killed the sacrificial cow. Then Keśidhvaja asked the priests who were conducting the sacrifice, what the atonement was for the death of the sacrificial cow. The priests sent the King to the hermit Bhṛgu. The hermit Bhṛgu in his turn sent the King to the hermit Śunaka. But the matter did not end there. The hermit Śunaka could not dictate the atonement for the death of the sacrificial cow. So he sent the King to Khāṇḍikya who was living in the forest. The moment Khāṇḍikya saw Keśidhvaja he stood ready to kill him. But Keśidhvaja revealed everything to Khāṇḍikya, When he understood the situation Khāṇḍikya told him with sincerity the rites given in the Śāstras (Vedāṅgas) to atone the death of the sacrificial cow.