दुष्पण्य

{ duṣpaṇya }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

DUṢPAṆYA   Last son of a merchant in Pāṭalīputra. Short-tempered and haughty, this Duṣpaṇya killed many children. The King outlawed him. He went into the forest where he drowned the child of maharṣi Ugraśravas The maharṣi cursed him that he also should end his life by drowning and his soul roam about in unsupportable distress. The curse came true. After roaming about for many years he approached Agastya and prayed for redemption from the curse. The sage directed his disciple, Sutīkṣṇa to get holy water from Agnitīrtha in Mount Gandhamādana and sprinkle it on the sinful soul of Duṣpaṇya. Sutīkṣṇa did as he was asked by the guru, and the soul of Duṣpaṇya attained salvation. [Setumāhātmyam] .

प्राचीन चरित्रकोश

दुष्पण्य n.  पशुमान का पुत्र । दूसरे के लडकों को भगा कर, यह पानी में डुबो देता था । राज्य की सीमा के बाहर निकाल देने पर भी, यह वही कार्य करता रहा । इसलिये ऋषियों ने इसे पिशाच होने का शाप दिया । किंतु सुतीक्ष्ण ने अग्नितीर्थ पर इसका क्रिया-कर्मातर करने से यह मुक्त हो गया [स्कंद.३.१.२२] ।