मलयप्रभ

{ malayaprabha }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

MALAYAPRABHA   A King celebrated in Purāṇas. He ruled over Kurukṣetra. Once when there was a famine in the land, King Malayaprabha exempted his subjects from all taxes. The greedy ministers did not like it and they advised him against it. The King yielded to the advice of his ministers. On one occasion Malayaprabha's son Induprabha pleaded with his father and told him that he should not oppress his subjects at the instigation of his evil ministers. He added that the King was their “Kalpavṛkṣa” and the subjects were his “Kāmadhenus.” But the King did not heed the advice of his son. He jokingly said that Induprabha was also their “Kalpavṛkṣa”. Stung by this taunt, Induprabha took a solemn oath that he would either become a “Kalpavṛkṣa” or lay down his life in the attempt. He left the palace at once and began an austere tapas. Indra was pleased and appeared before him. Receiving his blessing, Induprabha returned to his capital and stood there as a “Kalpavṛkṣa”. He fulfilled the desires of the people. A few days later, Indra came to the tree to test Induprabha. He told Induprabha: “Your mission of service is over; now you may come to Heaven”. But he insisted that his subjects also should be taken with him to Heaven. Indra was pleased at the devotion and love of Induprabha for his subjects and agreed to take all his subjects also with him. Induprabha gave up the form of the tree and resuming his own shape, accepted “Bodhisattvācārya”. [Kathāsaritsāgara, Śaśāṅkavatī lambaka, 5th Taraṅga] .

A Sanskrit English Dictionary

मलय—प्रभ  m.  m. N. of a king, ib.

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मलय प्रभ