Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.3020

c7.3020

KUMUDVATĪ I. Wife of King Vimarśana of Kirātadeśa. Kumudvatī requested him one day, to put a stop to his cruelties against the people. His reply was as follows :—“Oh ! dear wife, don’t feel sorry. In my past life I was a dog and, starved almost to death, I went to the gates of the Śiva temple at Pampāpura. It was Caturdaśī day, and thousands of people had gathered there, and I stood there looking at the Śivaliṅga. Then someone cried out, ‘Beat the dog to death’, and though, in mortal terror, I ran thrice about the temple, people beat me to death. Since, although only by accident, I had run thrice around the temple, I was born as a King in the present life. I cherish the greatest devotion for Lord Śiva; but, as inherent tendencies do not die out so easily I possess certain characteristics of the dog and that is why I commit the present cruelties.”