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Story of King Muchukunda and Sri Krishna

Story of King Muchukunda and Sri Krishna is found in the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. The king was blessed with the rare darshan of Srihari Vishnu. King Muchukunda ruled the earth during the Krita Yuga. He helped the Devas in the in the battle against Asuras. Then Kartik, son of Shiva, took over as the general of the army of the Devas. Now Devas decided to give Muchukunda the much needed rest.

But the earth had changed so much during the period. Thousands of years had elapsed and there was no one on earth that King Muchukunda could relate to. So the King wanted to attain moksha. The Devas wanted to help Muchukunda for his service. But they were incapable of granting moksha to the king as it can only be granted by Srihari Vishnu.

The king then said that he was tired and he needed rest. He asked for a boon that will make him sleep for very long time. He also wanted the one who wakes him up to be burnt to ashes. The boon was granted.

Krishna - King Muchukunda - Kalayavana


The king slept in a cave on earth through Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga.

In Dwapara Yuga, Mathura, the city of Sri Krishna, was constantly attacked by Jarasandha. Each time, Mathura was successfully defended by Sri Krishna and Balarama. Finally, Jarasandha took the help of Kalayavana.

Kalayavana had got the boon that the Yadavas will be afraid of Him.

Sri Krishna and Balarama knew that they will not be able to kill Kalayavana as they had to respect the boon given by Shiva.

So to kill Kalayavana, Sri Krishna acts as if he is running away from Kalayavana. The ignorant king chases Sri Krishna who enters the cave in which King Muchukunda was sleeping.

In the dark cave, Kalayavana mistakes King Muchukunda for Sri Krishna and forcibly wakes him up by kicking him. An angry King Muchukunda looked at Kalayavana. Suddenly fire sprang out from the eyes of the king and Kalayavana was converted into a heap of ashes.

Muchukunda who was now fully awake was blessed with the rare sighting of Srihari Vishnu. Sri Krishna appeared before the king in the form of Vishnu.

The king was granted moksha for his devotion.