Dantavakra
TextsMahabharata, Puranas
RegionKarusha

Dantavakra (Sanskrit: दन्तवक्र, lit. 'crooked-teeth') is the king of Karusha in Hinduism. Dantavakra is the third and last birth of Vishnu's gatekeeper, Vijaya, while his brother Jaya is Shishupala.[1][2]

Legend

Puranas

According to the Padma Purana (VI.274.16-7), he is of Chaidya lineage.[3]

According to the Vishnu Purana (IV.XIV.40), and some editions of Bhagavata Purana (X.78.5-6) he is a son of Vriddhasharman and Shrutadeva (or Shrutadevi), who is Kunti's and Vasudeva's sister. He is named "Dantavakra" as his teeth were crooked after his birth. Viduratha is his brother.[4] [5][6] He is an ally of Jarasandha, Kamsa, Shishupala, and Paundraka, and an enemy of Vasudeva Krishna.[7]

The Harivamsha Purana depicts Dantavakra in a more sympathetic light. After learning of Krishna's intention of eloping with Princess Rukmini during her svayamvara, he confers with his allies in the city of Kundina, and expresses the desire to contract a friendship with the deity, realising that he is God himself.[8]

Mahabharata

In the epic Mahabharata 2:30, he is mentioned as the king of the Adhirajas. After the Pandava general Sahadeva defeats him, making him pay tribute, he is reinstalled on his throne. He attacks Krishna, who is on his way to Dvaraka, after the Rajasuya sacrifice (which Dantavakra had not attended, to protest the killing of Jarasandha) to avenge Shishupala, and his friend Shalva. After announcing his intentions, he strikes his cousin on the head with his mace. Unfazed, Krishna strikes his chest with the Kaumodaki, causing him to spit out blood and perish in the mace-duel.[9] His brother, Viduratha also dies in the same battle.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ Kulkarni, Shripad Dattatraya (1992). The Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Shri Bhagavan Vedavyasa Itihasa Samsodhana Mandira (Bhishma). p. 238. ISBN 978-81-900113-6-5.
  2. ↑ Gupta, Ravi; Valpey, Kenneth (2013-03-26). The Bhagavata Purana: Sacred Text and Living Tradition. Columbia University Press. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-231-14999-0.
  3. ↑ Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp.118-9.
  4. ↑ "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam10. - Chapter 78. The Killing of Dantavakra, Vidūratha , Romaharṣaṇa and Jabalkana - The Sattvic Spirit Veda Pages". Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  5. ↑ "The Hare Krsnas - Krsna's Later Pastimes with Demons - Dantavakra and Viduratha".
  6. ↑ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, pp.87-9
  7. ↑ "The Hare Krsnas - Krsna's Later Pastimes with Demons - King Salva".
  8. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (2020-11-14). "Dantavakras Speech [Chapter 50]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  9. ↑ Krishna: The Beautiful Legend of God: Srimad Bhagavata Purana. Penguin UK. 2003-12-04. p. 606. ISBN 978-0-14-191337-7.
  10. ↑ Pellerin, Gaetan. "The Killing of Dantavakra, Viduratha Romaharsana and Jabalkana Kansa's son". Archived from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  11. ↑ Vanamali (2018-03-20). In the Lost City of Sri Krishna: The Story of Ancient Dwaraka. Simon and Schuster. p. 296. ISBN 978-1-62055-682-5.
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