Sages & Others
Kaitabha
कैटभ
The Danava Made of Rajas
Who was Kaitabha?
Kaitabha (कैटभ): The Danava Made of Rajas, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. One of the two danavas born in the primeval lotus from drops of water cast by Narayana, sprung from the hard drop and made of the attribute of Rajas as his brother Madhu was of Tamas.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | कैटभ |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Danava Made of Rajas |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | hard, brazen, thieving, primordial |
| Notable relationships | Brother: Madhu, Slain by: Vishnu, Robbed of the Vedas: Brahma |
| Featured in | 1 story |
About Kaitabha
One of the two danavas born in the primeval lotus from drops of water cast by Narayana, sprung from the hard drop and made of the attribute of Rajas as his brother Madhu was of Tamas. Armed with maces from birth, the two saw Brahma shaping the four Vedas and snatched them out of his hands, diving with them to the floor of the ocean and leaving the Creator blind. Lured away by the chanting of the horse-headed form, they came back to an empty spot, woke the sleeper on the serpent's hood, and got the battle they demanded.
In Their Words
Whose is this white sleeper on the snake? Wake him, and let us see.
Kaitabha
Traits
- hard
- brazen
- thieving
- primordial
Story Appearances
Character Arc
- The TheftThe Vedas taken from under the Creator's hands
- The SoundPuts the books down and runs toward a voice in the deep
- The WakingRouses Narayana from yoga-sleep and asks for a fight
Key Relationships
Places in Kaitabha's Story
Drawn from the story Kaitabha appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.