Sages & Others
Swetaki
श्वेतकि
The King Who Sickened Fire
Who was Swetaki?
Swetaki (श्वेतकि): The King Who Sickened Fire, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A royal sage whose heart was so fixed on sacrifice that his own priests, eyes ruined by years of smoke, walked out and told him to go trouble Rudra instead.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | श्वेतकि |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The King Who Sickened Fire |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Devout, Relentless, Generous, Excessive |
| Notable relationships | Granter of his boon: Shiva, Officiating priest: Sage Durvasa, Surfeited by him: Agni |
| Featured in | 2 stories |
About Swetaki
A royal sage whose heart was so fixed on sacrifice that his own priests, eyes ruined by years of smoke, walked out and told him to go trouble Rudra instead. He stood six months on Kailasa like a rooted post until Shiva agreed to help on one condition, twelve unbroken years of clarified butter poured into the fire, after which Durvasa was sent down to officiate. Agni, force-fed for twelve years, went pale and listless and could not eat, and Brahma's cure for the surfeit was the forest of Khandava.
In Their Words
I am not fallen and I have not stinted you. Assist me, or say plainly that you will not.
Swetaki
Traits
- Devout
- Relentless
- Generous
- Excessive
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Swetaki
One further tale on this site names Swetaki.
Character Arc
- The WalkoutHis priests abandon him with their eyes ruined by smoke
- The Six MonthsStands on Kailasa with arms raised until Shiva appears
- The Twelve YearsPours butter without a break until Durvasa comes to serve him
Key Relationships
- Granter of his boonShiva
- Officiating priestSage Durvasa
- Surfeited by himAgni
Places in Swetaki's Story
Drawn from the stories Swetaki appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.