Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2061

c9.2061

ŠIVAŚARMAN. A brahmin well-versed in all śāstras (sciences). Śivaśarman, who lived in Dvārakā had, by his wife Guṇavatī five sons called Yajñaśarman, Vedaśarman, Dharmaśarman, Viṣṇuśarman and Somaśarman, all of them deeply devoted to their father. The father decided to test the devotion of each of the sons, Śivaśarman had, due to Śiva's blessing, achieved all kinds of siddhis (spiritual gifts). By the power of illusion he showed the sons their mother lying dead and all the sons wept uncontrollably. Then he asked his eldest son Yajñaśarman, to cut the dead body of his mother into pieces and throw them off. After having done so he came and saluted his father.