________________ 204 Homage to Vaisali After Karandbama's death in the Bhtgu asrama, Marutta'a grandmother sent a message to Marutta at Vaisali, complaining of atrocities committed by the Nagas on the members of the Bhrgu asrama (killing brahmanas and defiling sacred tanks), and communicating her instruction in governmental duties to her young grandson in great detail (quoted in the Puranic account). Marutta, greatly ashamed, visited her at the Bhrgu asrama and used "Samvarttaka" incendiary weapons (evidently as taught by his Angirasa high-priest, Samvartta,) to set the Naga strongholds ablaze. The Nagas in distress sought the help of Marutta's mother, Bhav(m)ipi (Vaisalini), who had previously promised safety to the Nagas, while assisted by them in regaining her husband, Aviksita. Bhavini requested Aviksita to turn away their son's fury from the Nagas. Aviksita was doubtful, as Marutta was right in his action; but, since a promise had been made to the Nagas, he undertook to go to Bhtgu asrama to persuade Marutta and in case he declined, to fight with his son. Then Bbavini and Aviksita went to Bhtgu asrama, and Aviksita called on Marutta to spare the Nagas, but Marutta insisted on his clear duty and refused, Aviksita proposed to fight it out with Marutta, who though deprecating the idea, agreed (after a good deal of fine argument on both sides, quoted in the Puranic account). But, as at this juncture the Nagas repented and offered to make amends and peace, and also sought both Marutta's and Aviksita's protection, the members of the aggrieved asrama themselves intervened in the fight, and all ended well in affectionate greetings,-Vira and Bhavini, both Vaigalian ladies, congratulating themselves as mothers of Aviksita and Marutta, their respective heroic and virtuous sons. Vira soon after passed away, praised as an illustrious wife and queen, and Bhavini "went to her own city", while Aviksita and Marutta "returned to the capital on one and the same chariot". It does not become clear whether the same city of Vaigali is meant, or two different ones in the same region. Perhaps a New Vaisali was built by Marutta as his capital-Bhavini-Vaisalini continuing at Old Vaisali,-or, perhaps, Bhavini's father, Visala, built a new Vaisali (as the Epic-Puranic traditions aver) while Karandhama, Aviksita, and Marutta were in possession of the old capital of the region, whence Vatsa-pri had once ruled it. Marutta, (who was partly an Aila, Turvasa by descent and partly Manva or Iksvaku on his motber's side), married seven wives, all of whom belonged to royal families of the Aila or Aryan group, none to the Manva or Iksvaku group. They were :- Prabhavati, daughter of Vidarbha' or the King of Vidarbha; Sauviri, daughter of Suvira or the King of
