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= Ruru =

Ruru (Sanskrit: रुरु) was a rishi(sage) of the epic Mahabharata. He was the son of Pramati and Ghritachi, the celestial danseuse and a descendant of Bhrigu. Ruru married Pramadvara, foster-daughter of sage Sthulakesha.

Pramadvara's death
Ruru was attracted by the beauty of Pramadvara, the daughter of Menaka and Vishvavasu. Seeking his father, Pramati's permission he asked for the hand of Pramadvara in marriage. Stulakesha, the foster father of Pradamvara gave his assent to the marriage. Ruru and Pramadvara were engaged. On the day of their marriage, Pramadvara while playing with her companions was bitten by a snake very fatally which led to her. Ruru was gravely hurt at this incident and beholding his fiancée's dead body began to lament inside the forest. Hearing his lamentations, a messenger was sent from svarga to him. The messenger said if Ruru gave half of his life, then Pradamvara will be revived. Ruru agreed to that deal. Then the messenger and Pradamvara's father, Gandharva Visvavasu went to the lord of death, Dharma or Yama and asked him to revive Pramadvara, by the moiety of Ruru's life. Dharma agreed to the offer and Pramadvara was restored to life. Pramadvara married Ruru and gave birth to Sunaka.

The oath of killing snakes
A fit of anger was born in the mind of Ruru against the serpents. So he took an oath that whenever he saw a serpent he would kill that. So, according to his oath whenever he saw a snake he killed that. One day he encountered a snake of Dundubha species (non-venomous). When he was going to kill him, the serpent said that he was not fit to be called a snake as he was non-venomous. Then the serpent also revealed that he was a Brahmin earlier named Sahasrapat, who was cursed to be a snake by another sage named Khagama, for pranking. When Khagama pardoned Sahasrapat, he gave him the boon that when he encounters Ruru, he would be free from the curse. So, when Sahasrapat met Ruru, he regained his human form. He advised Ruru, to be mild and benevolent towards other creatures.

'''O thou first of created beings, verily the highest virtue of man is sparing life of others. Therefore a Brahmana should never take the life of any creature. A Brahmana should ever be mild. This is the most sacred injunction of the Vedas. A Brahmana should be versed in the Vedas and Vedangas, and should inspire all creatures with belief in God. He should be benevolent to all creatures, truthful, and forgiving, even as it is his paramount duty to retain the Vedas in his memory. The duties of the Kshatriya are not thine. To be stern, to wield the sceptre and to rule the subjects properly are the duties of the Kshatriya.'' - Pauloma Parva, Section XI, PC Roy Mahabharata.