#44 g. Ripunjayan
After Swaayambu Manu passed away, the monsoon rains failed for sixty thousand years. Draught and famine afflicted the whole world. Cities were deserted and kingdoms disappeared. A good ruler was the need of the hour - to protect the earth from further deterioration and destruction.
Ripunjayan was a good king. He was doing penance on Lord Siva in Kasi for a very long time. Brahma thought that Ripunjayan was the only king qualified to rule the earth well and save it from complete destruction.
He approached Ripunjayan and explained to him thus, " In the absence of a good ruler, the country suffers. To remove the drought and the famine, you must rule over the earth as its emperor. Aadhiseshan will marry his beautiful daughter Ananga Mohini to you. You will become famous as Divodaasan. The earth and all its inhabitants will remain eternally grateful to you!"
Ripunjayan gave a reply which no one could have expected including Brahma. "I agree to your requests but you must agree to my requests. I will rule the world as an emperor only if all the Deva go away from the city of Kasi"
Brahma had no choice and accepted the strange condition. He then went to Kasi to have a darshan of Viswanaatha.
After Swaayambu Manu passed away, the monsoon rains failed for sixty thousand years. Draught and famine afflicted the whole world. Cities were deserted and kingdoms disappeared. A good ruler was the need of the hour - to protect the earth from further deterioration and destruction.
Ripunjayan was a good king. He was doing penance on Lord Siva in Kasi for a very long time. Brahma thought that Ripunjayan was the only king qualified to rule the earth well and save it from complete destruction.
He approached Ripunjayan and explained to him thus, " In the absence of a good ruler, the country suffers. To remove the drought and the famine, you must rule over the earth as its emperor. Aadhiseshan will marry his beautiful daughter Ananga Mohini to you. You will become famous as Divodaasan. The earth and all its inhabitants will remain eternally grateful to you!"
Ripunjayan gave a reply which no one could have expected including Brahma. "I agree to your requests but you must agree to my requests. I will rule the world as an emperor only if all the Deva go away from the city of Kasi"
Brahma had no choice and accepted the strange condition. He then went to Kasi to have a darshan of Viswanaatha.