Eight serpent princes tending Vikramâditja

Overview

After King Gandharva abandons his extraordinary infant through misunderstanding a prophecy, he returns to find eight princes of the serpent-gods attending the child in a grotto. Some make him a covering of lotus blossoms, some feed him honey and others bow before him. All vanish when the king enters.

Busk’s accompanying note distinguishes these human-form attendants from a serpent-shaped guardian in a comparative Shishunâga legend. The latter’s cobra hood is not transferred to all eight princes. Their act expresses homage to the exceptional child in this literary Buddhist setting; the text gives them no individual names.

Origins & earliest records

Mongolian transmission of an Indian-derived tale, mediated by European editions and Busk’s adaptation

Records & interpretation

Busk’s 1873 Sagas from the Far East, Vikramâditja’s Birth, pp. 266–273, describes the eight serpent princes tending the infant on p. 272. The associated editorial notes are on pp. 398–400.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Sagas from the Far East

   Rachel Harriette Busk, compiler and adapter · 1873

   Vikramâditja’s Birth, complete266–273; guardians272; notes398–400

Family & connections

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Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical literary adaptationBusk, Vikramâditja’s Birth, pp.266–273 and notesResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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