Sages & Others
Namuchi
नमुचि
The Asura Killed by Foam
Who was Namuchi?
Namuchi (नमुचि): The Asura Killed by Foam, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A Danava who hid inside a ray of the sun in fear of Indra, until Indra made friends with him and swore not to kill him with anything wet or anything dry, by night or by day.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | नमुचि |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Asura Killed by Foam |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Wary, Trusting, Vengeful, Persistent |
| Notable relationships | Slayer and Sworn Friend: Indra, Fellow Daitya: Prahlada, Fellow Daitya: Bali, Judge of the Deed: Brahma |
| Featured in | 7 stories |
About Namuchi
A Danava who hid inside a ray of the sun in fear of Indra, until Indra made friends with him and swore not to kill him with anything wet or anything dry, by night or by day. Indra waited for a fog, took up the foam of water, and struck off his head; the severed head then pursued the god from behind, calling him friend-slayer and wretch, until the sin was washed away in the tirtha of Aruna.
In Their Words
Slayer of a friend! Wretch! Where will you go that I am not behind you?
Namuchi
Traits
- Wary
- Trusting
- Vengeful
- Persistent
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Namuchi
5 further tales on this site name Namuchi, in canonical reading order.
- The Lineages of Gods and DemonsVaishampayana recites the descent of every creature from Brahma and the daughters of Daksha
- What the Blind King Was ToldDuryodhana's inventory of the rajasuya, and the quarrel it started
- Indra Comes to GandhamadanaMatali brings Arjuna home from heaven, and the king of the gods follows him down
- Bali in the Nooses of VarunaThe prisoner who would not be mocked, and the god who let him be
- Why Men Cling to WomenYudhishthira asks the question that Panchachuda's answer left standing
Character Arc
- The CovenantTakes Indra's oath and comes out of the sun
- The FogBeheaded with water foam at neither day nor night
- The AccusationHis head follows the god of heaven, naming his crime
Key Relationships
Places in Namuchi's Story
Drawn from the stories Namuchi appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.