Sages & Others
Samvarta
संवर्त
The Naked Priest of Varanasi
Who was Samvarta?
Samvarta (संवर्त): The Naked Priest of Varanasi, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. Son of Angiras and the discarded younger brother of Vrihaspati, who wandered Varanasi naked and raving, in the garb of a madman, to the wonder of all creatures.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | संवर्त |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Naked Priest of Varanasi |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | naked, brilliant, unbought, fierce |
| Notable relationships | Younger brother: Brihaspati, Son: Angiras, Priest: Marutta, Adversary: Indra |
| Featured in | 1 story |
About Samvarta
Son of Angiras and the discarded younger brother of Vrihaspati, who wandered Varanasi naked and raving, in the garb of a madman, to the wonder of all creatures. King Marutta, refused by his hereditary priest because Indra had bought that priest's loyalty, identified him by laying a corpse at the city gate and following the one man who turned away, and endured being smeared with mud and spittle until Samvarta agreed to officiate. He sent the king to Munjaban peak for Mahadeva's gold, turned back Agni and the gandharva sent as Indra's envoys, and finally brought Indra himself down to drink the Soma he had sworn to withhold.
In Their Words
Thy priest belongs to Indra. I belong to no one, and so I am free to serve thee.
Samvarta
Traits
- naked
- brilliant
- unbought
- fierce
Story Appearances
Character Arc
- The Corpse at the GateA test only the right madman would fail
- Mud and SpittleA king following an insult through the streets with folded hands
- Indra Brought DownThe god who refused the Soma drinking it after all
Key Relationships
- Younger brotherBrihaspati
- SonAngiras
- PriestMarutta
- AdversaryIndra
Places in Samvarta's Story
Drawn from the story Samvarta appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.