Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4384

c9.4384

One day King Ikṣvāku resolved to conduct the great sacrifice of offering to the manes called Mahāpralaya-śrāddha, for which preparations were speedily made. The hermits such as Vasiṣṭha and others arrived according to invitation. He sent his son Vikukṣi to the forest to bring the required amount of flesh for the sacrifice. Vikukṣi entered the forest and hunted hare, hog, deer etc. and collected the required quantity of flesh; but on the way home, he became tired of hunger. To appease his hunger he took a small hare from the collection cooked it and ate it. He took the balance to the King who was much pleased with his son and gave the animals to Vasiṣṭha the family priest for prokṣaṇa (sprinkling of holy water on the animals before sacrifice). But Vasiṣṭha got angry and said, "flesh which constitutes remains is not acceptable." The King understood the truth only then. He was filled with anger and distress. He expelled Vikukṣi from his country for this misdeed. Thus because he had eaten a Śaśa (hare) Vikukṣi got another name Śaśāda. Śaśāda not at all caring about the misfortune that befell him, went to the forest and lived on fruits and roots and worshipped Devī, with ardent devotion. Ikṣvāku died. Śaśāda knew this and returned to Ayodhyā and assumed reign. He performed several sacrifices on the banks of river Sarayū. The famous Kakutstha was the son of this Vikukṣi. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 7).