Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2440

c9.2440

SUDEVA IV. A famous King. Nābhāga married Suprabhā the daughter of this King Sudeva. The following is a story taken from Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa stating how this Sudeva who was a Kṣatriya by birth, became a Vaiśya by the curse of hermit Pramati. Once Nala, the friend of Sudeva, and the relative of Dhūmrākṣa, after having drunk too much liquor, tried to rape the wife of the hermit Pramati. All this happened while King Sudeva was standing silently near Nala. Pramati requested King Sudeva repeatedly to save his wife. Sudeva replied : ‘The Kṣatriya who could help the needy, could save your wife also. But I am a Vaiśya.” This arrogance of the King made the hermit angry. “May you become a Vaiśya.” The hermit cursed the King. Sudeva repented and requested for liberation from the curse. “When a Kṣatriya steals away your daughter you will recover the lost feelings of Kṣatriya.” The hermit gave this liberation from the curse.