Sages & Others
Madayanti
मदयन्ती
Queen of Saudasa
Who was Madayanti?
Madayanti (मदयन्ती): Queen of Saudasa, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. Queen of Kalmashapada, wearer of celestial earrings that produced gold day and night and that gods, yakshas and nagas all watched for a chance to carry off.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | मदयन्ती |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | Queen of Saudasa |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | dutiful, shrewd, composed, generous |
| Notable relationships | Husband: Kalmashapada, Father of her son: Vashishtha, Son: Asmaka, Given her earrings: Utanka |
| Featured in | 2 stories |
About Madayanti
Queen of Kalmashapada, wearer of celestial earrings that produced gold day and night and that gods, yakshas and nagas all watched for a chance to carry off. Commanded by her husband to raise offspring for the line - he being cursed to die the moment he came to her himself - she went to Vasishtha and bore Asmaka. Years later she gave those earrings to Utanka on the strength of a bleak message from a man-eating king, first making the brahmana go back and fetch a token to prove he had been sent.
In Their Words
Bring me a sign from my husband, and the earrings are yours.
Madayanti
Traits
- dutiful
- shrewd
- composed
- generous
Story Appearances
Character Arc
- The RefusalReminds her husband of the curse that would kill him at her door
- The HeirBears Asmaka to Vasishtha at her lord's command
- The TokenSends a stranger back for proof before parting with her jewels
Key Relationships
- HusbandKalmashapada
- Father of her sonVashishtha
- SonAsmaka
- Given her earringsUtanka
Places in Madayanti's Story
Drawn from the stories Madayanti appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.