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In the Mahapurana, Uttara Purana, the king of Vasulaya, Vajrachapa, had a daughter named Vidyumala, who was born to his queen Subhama. Vidyumala was beautiful and radiant, like lightning. She was the wife of Singhketu, who was in the prime of his youth. 76-77
One day, while the couple was enjoying a stroll in the forest, they were spotted by the celestial being Chitrangada, who decided to take them away, thinking, "I will kill them." 78
In a previous birth, the king of the city of Bhogpur, Prabhanjan, was a close friend of the merchant, Sumukh. Due to his practice of Anuvrata, he was reborn as a celestial being named Suryaprabha in the Saudharma heaven. Seeing Chitrangada, Suryaprabha said, "Listen to me, what good will you gain by killing these two? This act will bind you to sin, it is not for those who act with reason, it will only lead to suffering, the fruit of the tree of Samsara. Therefore, you should leave this couple." He repeated this many times. Hearing this, Chitrangada was moved with compassion and released the couple. 80-82
Then, Suryaprabha comforted the couple and, knowing that they would find happiness in the future, left them in the forest of Champapur. 83
At that time, the king of Champapur, Chandrakirti, died without an heir. To ensure the continuity of the royal lineage, the wise ministers decided to find a worthy and virtuous successor. They sought out a well-omened elephant, offering it incense and other offerings. 84-85
The divine elephant went to the forest and, due to the power of past good deeds, found Singhketu and Vidyumala. He lifted them onto his back and brought them back to the city. 86
The ministers, filled with joy, performed the coronation ceremony for Singhketu. They seated him on the throne and adorned him with a royal sash. 87
Then, they asked him, "Whose son are you and where did you come from?" Singhketu replied, "My father is Prabhanjan and my mother is Mrikandu, adorned with virtues. I am the moon of the pure sky of the Hari dynasty. A celestial being brought me here and left me in the forest with my wife. I have been living in the forest ever since." 88-89
Hearing this, the people recognized him as the son of Mrikandu and named him Markandeya. 90
Thus, Markandeya, brought to the city by divine intervention, ruled for a long time. His descendants were known as the Harihimagir dynasty. 91