aśvasena (von aśva + senā) m. N. pr. eines Nāga MBH. 1, 803. 8237. Vater des 23sten Arhant's in der gegenwärtigen Avasarpiṇī H. 38. aśvasenanṛpanandana Sanatkumāra, der 4te Cakravartin in Bhārata H. 692.
AŚVASENA . A serpent which lived in the forest of Khāṇḍava. This was the son of Takṣaka and he tried his best to escape from the fire that burnt the forest. (Śloka 5, Chapter 239, Ādi Parva, M.B.). Once when Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa were sitting on the banks of the river Yamunā, Agni approached them and request- ed them to help him burn the forest of Khāṇḍava (see under Khāṇḍavadāha). They agreed to help him and Agni started burning the forest. Indra poured rains over the fire; Arjuna created a canopy of arrows and prevent- ed the rains from falling down. Aśvasena, son of Takṣaka tried to escape from the fire but Arjuna obs- tructed his way by arrows. Then Aśvasena's mother swallowed him and kept him in her stomach. Arjuna cut off her head. Seeing this Indra sent a cyclone to smash the canopy of arrows and Arjuna fell fainting. Taking the opportunity Aśvasena escaped. When Arjuna woke up from his unconscious state he found Aśvasena missing. Then Arjuna cursed him thus: “Let not you get refuge anywhere.” (Chapter 226, Ādi Parva, M.B.). Aśvasena kept his grudge against Arjuna till the end. In the great battle Arjuna and Karṇa met for a fight and when Karṇa sent his Nāgāstra (serpent missile) against Arjuna, Aśvasena hid himself in that missile and burnt the beautiful headwear of Arjuna. But Karṇa did not like this foul play and refused to accept him when he came back. Enraged at this the serpent attacked Arjuna directly and was killed. Before his death he got acquainted with Kṛṣṇa. (Chapter 96, Karṇa Parva, M.B.).