Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma- Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Puru – Janamejaya – Prachinvan – Namasyu – Veetabhaya – Shundu – Bahuvidha – Samyati – Rahovadi – Bhadrashwa – Matinara – Santurodha – Dushyanta – Bharata – Suhotra – Suhota – Gala – Garda – Suketu – Brihalkshetra – Hasti – Ajameedha – Riksha – Samvarana – Kuru – Sudhanva – Sugotra – Chyavana – Kriti – Uparicharavasu

As per Indra’s advice, Vasu built a hermitage and started meditating. When he had meditated long enough, Indra appeared and gifted him a vimana. Since Vasu used to frequently fly around in it, he came to be known as Uparicharavasu, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 63.

Once Indra gifted Vasu a garland that would never wither. He also blessed that so long as he wore that he would not be harmed. Indra also gave him a staff, and said that he should conduct an Indrotsava after he planted it on the ground. From then on Indrotsava came to be celebrated on earth.

Vasu had five sons – Brihadratha, Kushamba (Manivahana), Mavella, Yadu, Rajanya.

The river Shuktimati flowed through Vasu’s capital. Once a mountain named Kolahala was enamoured by the river and refused to let it pass. Vasu became angry and split the mountain allowing the river to flow through. But Shuktimati had two children – a boy and a girl from Kolahala and she gave them to Vasu. The boy later became the commander of the army and the girl became the queen, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 63.

Once Vasu decided to go for a hunt. Coincidentally, it was also the day the queen maturated. The king stuck to his plan, but was not able to get the queen out of his mind. As he rested in the forest, he remembered her and ejaculated. He gathered that in a leaf and sent it to the queen via an eagle. Another eagle mistook it for food and a fight ensued. The leaf fell into the Yamuna and was eaten by a fish named Adrika. Later, a fisherman caught the fish, and when he slit open its stomach, found two human babies – a boy and a girl. The king heard about this and sent his soldiers to bring the boy to him. The girl was left with the fisherman. The boy became famous later as king Matsya and the girl became Satyavati (also known as Matsyagandhi, Kali) as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 62.

According to Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 8 verse 20, Vasu was present in Yama’s court.

He was Indra’s friend, Vishnu’s devotee, and was known to be a just and dynamic king. He got the kingdom thanks to Vishnu’s blessings. He finally dedicated his kingdom to the gods.

Indra once made him sit in ardhasana as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 335. Garuda helped him travel the skies as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 337 verse 37. He finally attained brahmaloka as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 337 verse 88.

Once Indra and some sages debated during a yajna on whether killing cows was right or wrong. Vasu reached there then and was asked to mediate. But Vasu agreed with Indra that cows could be killed. The sages were angered and cursed Vasu to go to patala as per Matsyapurana Chapter 152. This story is told slightly differently in Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapters 322, 324.