[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) › c7.2504 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2504 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c7.2504 - **Language:** English ### [c7.2504](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.2504) KOLIKA (KOKILA). This is the name of a rat. Kokila is a character in the story known as Biḍālopākhyāna, told by Nārada to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Once a cat began to perform penance holding up both of its hands, on the bank of the Gaṅgā. After a long time birds and rats began to come very close to it believing that it would not hurt them. They made the cat their leader. The wicked cat daily ate a rat secretly. Thus the body of the cat grew stronger day by day and there appeared a steady decrease in the number of the rats. Among them there was a wise rat called Kokila. He understood the deceit played by the cat. So proclaiming independence he and his fellows ran away and saved themselves. (M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 160). - [Previous: c7.2503](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.2503) - [Next: c7.2505](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.2505) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7) ## Cites (1) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.2504](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.2504) · Pramāṇa