Three of the sons of Priyavrata and Barhismati, namely Kavi, Mahavira and Savana, chose to dedicate their lives to the worship of God and renounced the material world. For the remaining seven sons, Priyavrata divided his kingdom into seven islands. These came to be known as Jambu, Plaksha, Shalmali, Kusha, Krauncha, Shaka and Pushkara and were given to Agnidhra, Idhmajihva, Yajnabahu, Hiranyareta, Ghritaprishthha, Medhatithi and Vitihotra respectively. In this manner Priyavrata ensured that there would be no quarrel between his sons after he left.
All this while Priyavrata and Barhismati had been enjoying the pleasures of marriage. Barhismati had not been his weakness but his source of strength. But now marital life no longer pleased him. Therefore he divided his wealth among his sons and, giving up all material comforts, once again devoted himself solely to the worship of God.
Agnidhra Proposes to Purvachitti
The eldest son Agnidhra had been given the largest island of Jambu. He ruled wisely and well as ordained in the scriptures. He desired to continue his dynasty and wanted a perfect son. He thought that in order to sire a perfect son he would need a perfect wife. So he went to the foot of the Mandara hill where the apsaras from heaven often came to enjoy the natural beauty. In order to fulfill the wishes of Agnidhra, Brahma sent the apsara Purvachitti to Mandara. Brahma, being responsible for creation, always aided the procreation of the human race.
Agnidhra was meditating when he was disturbed by the tinkling of her anklets. He was totally smitten by the seductive Purvachitti and began to woo the apsara by eulogizing the various parts of her body using appropriate metaphors. Her eyebrows became bows from which she fired looks that could kill. Her hips were compared to the fragrant Kadamba flowers and her breasts decorated with red powder were likened to the rising sun. Agnidhra compared Purvachitti’s face to a placid lake in which her eyes were like restless fish, her pearl white teeth like a row of swans and her jet black hair like a swarm of bees. Agnidhra continued, “You are wantonly dressed and uncaring of the consequences. You have not worn any upper garment to begin with and now the wind is threatening to take your lower garment away. It seems that Brahma has sent you to keep me company. Lady, please consent to be my wife.”
Agnidhra Marries Purvachitti
Purvachitti graciously accepted the proposal and spent many thousands of years enjoying conjugal pleasures with Agnidhra. In due course of time Purvachitti gave her husband nine handsome sons who were named Nabhi, Kimpurusha, Harivarsha, Ilavrita, Ramyaka, Hiranmaya, Kuru, Bhadrashva and Ketumala. Once the children grew up, Purvachitti told Agnidhra that she had fulfilled her duties and now had to return to heaven.
Agnidhra knew that she had no choice and reluctantly parted with his wife. But he missed the time they had spent together and longed for her touch. He divided the island of Jambu into nine regions and gave each son one region to rule. Each region came to be named after the son of Agnidhra who ruled it. Agnidhra then prayed to Brahma that he be allowed to dwell in heaven so that he could live with Purvachitti. Because of the merits he had earned in his life his wish was granted. Back on earth his nine sons married the nine daughters of Meru and got settled in their Grahasta ashram or family life.
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