Viśvaṇtara

Also known as: Bodisat Viśvaṇtara / Prince Viśvaṇtara / Viśvatyāga · Role: prince and later king · First appears: Chapter XVI

After eight or nine months, King Viśvāmitra’s wife gave birth to Viśvaṇtara. One day he gave his splendid chariot to Brahmans who asked for it; another time, while riding Rājyavardhana, he gave the elephant to Brahmans, provoking his father’s anger. When the gift became known, King Viśvāmitra ordered him to leave the country.

Madrī resolved to accompany Viśvaṇtara into the penance-forest. He departed the city with her and their children, Prince Kṛishṇa and Princess Jālinī. At the forest, he gave the children to a Brahman, then told Madrī, “A Brahman came to me full of hope. To him have I given the two children.” He later gave Madrī to a Brahman who requested her, but Śakra returned her to him and instructed him not to give her away again.

After King Viśvāmitra’s death, Viśvaṇtara was invited back and installed as king.

Relationship record

Life events

• King Viśvāmitra’s wife gave birth to Viśvaṇtara.(Chapter XVI)
  • With: King Viśvāmitra’s unnamed wife (Chapter 016) King Viśvāmitra
  • “It came to pass that his wife conceived, and, after a space of eight or nine months, gave birth to a fine, well-formed, handsome boy”
• Viśvaṇtara gave his splendid chariot to Brahmans who requested it.(Chapter XVI)
  • “while with joyful heart he gave the chariot to the Brahmans”
• Viśvaṇtara gave the elephant Rājyavardhana to Brahmans, provoking his father's anger.(Chapter XVI)
  • With: Rājyavardhana King Viśvāmitra
  • “the Bodisat swiftly alighted from the splendid elephant, and having presented that most splendid elephant to them with the utmost good humour”
• King Viśvāmitra ordered Viśvaṇtara to leave the country for giving away the elephant.(Chapter XVI)
  • With: King Viśvāmitra
  • “he sent for Prince Viśvaṇtara, and ordered him to quit the country.”
• Madrī resolved to accompany Viśvaṇtara into the penance-forest.(Chapter XVI)
  • With: Madrī
  • “As soon as she had heard his words she joined the palms of her hands, and, with heart fearful of being parted from the loved one, she said to the Bodisat, “O lord, if this be so, I too will go into the penance-forest.”
• Viśvaṇtara departed the city with his wife and children for the forest.(Chapter XVI · 📍 the forest)
  • With: Madrī Prince Kṛishṇa Princess Jālinī
  • “After saying these words he went away, mounted a chariot along with his son, daughter, and wife, and went forth from the good city”
• Viśvaṇtara gave his two children to a Brahman who asked for them.(Chapter XVI · 📍 the penance-forest)
  • With: Prince Kṛishṇa Princess Jālinī The Brahman who received Viśvaṇtara’s children (Chapter 016)
  • “he gave his two children to the Brahman”
• Viśvaṇtara told Madrī that he had given their children to a Brahman.(Chapter XVI · 📍 the hermitage)
  • With: Madrī Prince Kṛishṇa Princess Jālinī
  • “A Brahman came to me full of hope. To him have I given the two children.”
• Viśvaṇtara gave Madrī to a Brahman who requested her.(Chapter XVI · 📍 the hermitage)
  • With: Madrī The Brahman who requested Madrī (Chapter 016)
  • “Then he took Madrī by the hand, and said to that Brahman: “Receive, O most excellent Brahman, this my dear wife”
• Śakra returned Madrī to Viśvaṇtara and instructed him not to give her away again.(Chapter XVI · 📍 the hermitage)
  • With: Madrī Śakra
  • “I give you Madrī for your service. You must not give her to any one.”
• After being invited back, Viśvaṇtara was installed as king.(Chapter XVI · 📍 the city)
  • With: King Viśvāmitra
  • “There they installed him as king.”

Chapter XVI

• parent: King Viśvāmitra “They said, ‘As the boy is King Viśvāmitra’s son he shall be called Viśvaṇtara.’”
• child: Prince Kṛishṇa “After saying these words he went away, mounted a chariot along with his son, daughter, and wife, and went forth from the good city;”
• child: Princess Jālinī “After saying these words he went away, mounted a chariot along with his son, daughter, and wife, and went forth from the good city;”
• married with Madrī “O father, be pleased to forgive me my fault, the giving away of the elephant. As I am now going forth from the city into the forest, your treasury, O king, will not become empty.”
• parent: King Viśvāmitra’s unnamed wife (Chapter 016) “It came to pass that his wife conceived, and, after a space of eight or nine months, gave birth to a fine, well-formed, handsome boy”
• with Rājyavardhana (interaction) “Another time he was riding on the elephant Rājyavardhana, which in whiteness equalled jasmine blossoms, white lotuses, snow, silver, and the clouds”

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Extracted from the original text of Tibetan Tales, Derived from Indian Sources. Made with Rho MD.