There was once a king named Dhruvasanti, the son of Pushpa, who ruled the kingdom of Kosala. Dhruvasanti was a descendant of the Surya (Solar) dynasty, an ancient and prestigious lineage tracing its roots to the Sun God. Known for his just and able rule, Dhruvasanti governed from his capital city, Ayodhya, the famed seat of many legendary rulers, including Lord Rama.
Dhruvasanti had two wives, Manorama and Leelavathi. Manorama was his first wife, and Leelavathi was his second. Manorama bore him a son named Sudarsana, and the very next month, Leelavathi gave birth to another son, Shatrujit. Both princes, Sudarsana and Shatrujit, were raised with all the privileges and education befitting their royal status. They were taught the art of war, the nuances of statecraft, and the sacred duties of kingship. But their lives were irrevocably altered when tragedy struck. While hunting in the forest, King Dhruvasanti was killed by a lion, leaving his two young sons and their mothers in a precarious position.
The Struggle for Succession
Following Dhruvasanti’s untimely death, the citizens of Ayodhya and Vasishta, the royal preceptor, agreed to anoint Sudarsana, the elder son of Manorama, as the rightful ruler of Kosala. However, the kingdom soon became embroiled in a fierce struggle for the throne. Yudhajit, Leelavathi’s father and Shatrujit’s maternal grandfather, had ambitions to see his grandson crowned instead. Gathering an army, Yudhajit marched on Kosala to place Shatrujit on the throne. Simultaneously, Veerasena, the King of Kalinga and Manorama’s father, marched to Kosala in support of his grandson, Sudarsana. A violent battle ensued between the two opposing forces, and in the ensuing chaos, Veerasena was slain.
In the face of this adversity, Manorama and her son Sudarsana were forced to flee the kingdom. Acting on the counsel of a trusted advisor named Vidhalla, they sought refuge at the hermitage of the sage Bharadwaja, located on the banks of the sacred river Ganga. Sage Bharadwaja, one of the greatest rishis of the time, welcomed them and granted them sanctuary.
Exile and Devotion to the Goddess
Meanwhile, Yudhajit succeeded in establishing Shatrujit on the throne of Kosala. However, he soon learned that Manorama and Sudarsana had taken refuge at Bharadwaja’s hermitage. Intent on eliminating any rival claim to the throne, Yudhajit took his army to the hermitage with plans to kill Sudarsana. But before he could take any rash action, Yudhajit’s ministers wisely advised him to avoid disturbing the sacred hermitage. Discontented but persuaded, Yudhajit left Manorama and Sudarsana unscathed.
Life at the hermitage was a stark contrast to the luxuries of court. Nevertheless, young Sudarsana grew up in an environment imbued with spiritual energy. One day, when the boy was playing with the son of a sage, a Rishi’s child insulted Vidhalla, calling him a “Kleeba” (coward). Intrigued by the word, Sudarsana began chanting the sacred syllable “Kleem,” a mantra dedicated to Devi, the supreme Goddess. This powerful mantra, awakened in Sudarsana through the grace of his past lives’ accumulated good karma, became his key to divine protection and strength.
At the age of eleven, Sudarsana’s sacred thread ceremony was performed, marking his entry into the formal study of the Vedas and archery. His devotion to the Goddess Shakti, the all-powerful feminine force, deepened. He spent hours in meditation and prayer, invoking the Devi through the “Kleem” mantra. Pleased with his unwavering devotion, the Goddess appeared to Sudarsana and blessed him with divine weapons—a celestial bow, arrows, and impregnable armor.
The Swayamvara of Princess Sashikala
Around the same time, in the kingdom of Kashi, King Subahu was preparing for the Swayamvara of his daughter Sashikala, a beautiful and devout princess. Sashikala had heard of Sudarsana’s devotion and valor through the sages who visited her kingdom. She decided that if she were to marry, it would only be to Sudarsana, despite his current circumstances of exile and destitution.
Sashikala’s mother, upon hearing her daughter’s decision, was aghast. She tried to dissuade her, saying, “Sudarsana is an unlucky prince. He has no kingdom, no wealth, no supporters, and no army. His enemies surround him, and he lives as a pauper in the forest. Choose a prince more worthy of you.” But Sashikala was resolute in her choice, stating that she would marry none but Sudarsana.
Realizing that her daughter’s mind was made up, Sashikala’s mother secretly sent a Brahmana to invite Sudarsana to the Swayamvara. Despite his mother Manorama’s initial fears and objections—particularly the threat posed by Yudhajit, who harbored a murderous grudge against him—Sudarsana remained steadfast in his decision to attend the Swayamvara. “I am guided by the will of the Devi,” Sudarsana told his mother. “No harm can befall me as long as she is by my side.”
The Secret Wedding and Divine Intervention
Arriving in Kashi, Sudarsana and his mother were warmly received by King Subahu, who placed them in comfortable lodgings. On the day of the Swayamvara, the assembly hall was filled with many powerful kings, including Yudhajit and Shatrujit. As the princes gathered, Sudarsana was warned by some well-wishers: “If Sashikala chooses you, many of these kings will attack you. You are outnumbered, and your enemies are many. It would be wise to withdraw before a confrontation occurs.” But Sudarsana replied calmly, “I trust in the Devi’s protection. What is fated will happen, and I shall not retreat.”
Meanwhile, Sashikala informed her father that she had already chosen Sudarsana as her husband and would not appear in the Swayamvara. Caught in a difficult situation, Subahu went to the assembled kings and apologized, saying, “My daughter has refused to choose a husband from among you. Please forgive this insult and return to your kingdoms in peace.” Most of the kings accepted the apology, but Yudhajit, furious, declared, “This is an insult to us all! I will not allow this pauper Sudarsana to wed the princess. I will take her by force and marry her to my grandson Shatrujit!”
Sashikala’s mother, seeing the brewing conflict, advised her daughter to marry Sudarsana secretly. That very night, under the cover of darkness, a Vedic wedding was performed between Sashikala and Sudarsana. Subahu provided his new son-in-law with lavish gifts, including chariots, soldiers, and wealth. However, as they attempted to leave the city the next morning, Yudhajit and his army ambushed them.
In the ensuing battle, the situation looked dire for Sudarsana. But just as the conflict reached its peak, the Goddess Devi herself appeared on the battlefield, riding her fierce lion. Clad in scarlet robes, adorned with a garland of Mandara flowers, and wielding her array of celestial weapons, she struck terror into the hearts of Yudhajit’s forces. The kings who had allied with Yudhajit retreated in fear, recognizing the divine presence.
Yudhajit, blinded by rage, failed to recognize the Goddess and shouted, “How can a woman defeat us? Attack her and her forces! I will personally kill Sudarsana and end this farce!” He and Shatrujit charged at the Devi, but they were no match for her divine power. Within moments, the Goddess felled them with her arrows, and their armies surrendered.
The Reign of Sudarsana
With his enemies vanquished and the divine intervention of the Goddess ensuring his victory, Sudarsana was crowned the rightful King of Kosala. He established Goddess worship as a central practice in his kingdom and instituted a festival in her honor. Under his reign, Kosala flourished, and his devotion to the Devi remained steadfast throughout his life.
Thus, through divine grace, Sudarsana overcame impossible odds, emerging victorious over his enemies and reclaiming his rightful place as king. His unwavering faith in the Goddess Shakti and his adherence to dharma ensured that justice prevailed, and his legacy became enshrined in the annals of Indian mythology