प्रवृद्ध
Pravriddha: The Cursed King of the Solar Dynasty
Pravriddha was a king of the Solar dynasty (Suryavansha) and a direct ancestor of Lord Rama. He was the son of King Kakutstha, another illustrious figure in the Solar dynasty. His life, however, took a tragic turn due to a series of curses and unfortunate events that marked his reign.
The Curse of Vasishta
Pravriddha’s troubles began when he inadvertently angered the sage Vasishta, a highly respected figure and his spiritual guide. Vasishta, enraged, cursed the king. Furious and desiring revenge, Pravriddha prepared to curse the sage in return by taking water in his hand—a common ritual for uttering a curse. However, his queen, Madayanti, intervened and restrained him. In the process, the enchanted water fell on his own feet, blemishing them. From that moment onward, he became known as Kalmashapada, meaning “one with blemished feet.”
Possession and Destruction
Later, while traveling through a forest, Pravriddha got into an argument with Shakti, the son of Vasishta, over who had the right of way on a narrow path. This conflict provided an opportunity for the sage Vishwamitra, a long-time rival of Vasishta, to seek vengeance. Vishwamitra seized this moment to cause the spirit of a flesh-eating demon to enter Pravriddha’s body.
Under the demon’s possession, Pravriddha was driven to madness. He consumed Shakti alive and went on to kill all 100 sons of Vasishta, leaving the sage grief-stricken and devastated.
Freedom from the Curse and Lineage Continuation
Eventually, Pravriddha was freed from the possession and the curse. However, his life remained marred by misfortune. Due to a curse uttered by a Brahmana woman, he was unable to father a child. To continue his lineage, the sage Vasishta stepped in and, through his intervention with Queen Madayanti, begat a son named Shankana, thereby preserving the royal line.
Legacy of Pravriddha
Pravriddha’s story is one of tragic downfall—an example of how even great kings could be undone by curses and divine retribution. His transformation into Kalmashapada and his possession by a demon serve as powerful reminders of the consequences of pride, anger, and the manipulation of spiritual forces. Though his life was filled with darkness, the continuation of his lineage through Shankana ensured that his line would persist, ultimately leading to the birth of Lord Rama, one of the greatest figures in Hindu mythology.