Sudeva

King Ikshvaku ruled in the kingdom of Ayodhya. Ikshvaku ruled well. He was a righteous king and worshipped the Vedas and the brahmanas.

The king of Kashi (Varanasi) was Vedaraja and Vedaraja had a daughter named Sudeva. Ikshvaku was married to Sudeva. Sudeva was devoted to Ikshvaku.

Sudeva once accompanied Ikshvaku on a hunt. The king killed many lions, pigs, horses and buffaloes.

In the forest there lived a family of wild pigs.

The male pig told the female pig, “King Ikshvaku has come to the forest on a hunt. He has brought many hunters and dogs with him. He is certain to kill me.”

“Why don’t we simply run away?” asked the female pig.

“I do sometimes run away when ordinary hunters come,” said the male pig. “Ordinary hunters are sinners and there is nothing to be gained by dying at their hands. But this time it is different. It is King Ikshvaku himself who has come. I am going to stay and fight with him. If I win, there will be undying glory for me. And if I lose, I shall go straight to heaven dying at Ikshvaku’s hands. I refuse to fly. I have been born as a pig because of the many sins that I must have committed in my earlier life. All those sins will be cleansed if King Ikshvaku kills me. Look after the family in case I do not life.”

“How can you say such a thing?” asked the female pig. “You are the head of our family. It is to you that our sons look for protection. It is form you that they learn the ways of wild pigs. How can I survive if you should die? You are my husband and my place is by your side. Let us run away. I repeat that nothing is to be gained by dying unnecessarily.”

“I cannot run away,” said the male pig. “That would be cowardice and cowards go directly to a hell named kumbhipaka.”

“In that case, I am also going to accompany you,” retorted the female pig. “My place is by your side.” She called the eldest piglet and told him, “Your father and I are going. Take your brothers and sisters and hide in a cave. King Ikshvaku has come on a hunt.”

“How can you say such a thing?” asked the eldest piglet. “We are your children and have to stay by your side. If we forsake you, we will directly go to the hell named maharoudra. We will not leave you.”