Question

How many sons did Ajigarta have, according to the Shunahshepa legend in the Aitareya Brahmana?

• A. Five
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Six

Hint:

Remember: Ajigarta = 3 sons. Their names all mean 'tail'. Shunahshepa is the "Middle Tail" (Middle Son). This unique detail makes it easy to distinguish from other Vedic families.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question is based on the specific characters mentioned in the Shunahshepa legend (Aitareya Brahmana, 7th Panchika). The story is a moral tale about greed, sacrifice, and divine intervention. Ajigarta Sauyavasi is depicted as a starving and destitute Brahmin who, driven by extreme poverty and greed, agrees to sell his own son to be a sacrificial victim. The details of his family are specifically mentioned in the text to emphasize the tragedy of the situation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
According to the Aitareya Brahmana (7.15), Ajigarta had three sons. This is a crucial detail because it drives the plot of how the victim was chosen.

The Names of the Sons:
1. Shunahpucha (The eldest)
2. Shunahshepa (The middle son)
3. Shunolangula (The youngest)

The Selection Process:
When Rohita (the son of King Harishchandra) met Ajigarta in the forest and offered him a hundred cows in exchange for a son to be sacrificed, a tragic negotiation took place. Ajigarta said, "I will not give the eldest (my favorite)," and his wife said, "I will not give the youngest (my favorite)." Thus, by the elimination of the parents' favorites, the middle son, Shunahshepa, was sold for a hundred cows.

This naming convention—Pucha, Shepa, and Langula—is very peculiar as all three words mean 'tail' in Sanskrit. This suggests a symbolic or low status of the family. The story goes on to show that Ajigarta was so greedy that he even agreed to bind and slaughter his son for more cows. Eventually, after Shunahshepa's release, the sage Vishvamitra adopts him, and Shunahshepa refuses to go back to his biological father, Ajigarta. In Vedic studies, the number of sons and their names are frequently asked to check the student's depth in 'Akhyana' literature. The tragedy of the "middle son" is a recurring motif in such legends.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Ajigarta had three sons. Thus, option (2) is correct.