A famous king who ruled Ujjain. He was the father of Udayana’s wife Vasavadatta. His original name was Mahasena. After he became king, he meditated for a long while for a wife and a sword. When he finally started offering his skin as a sacrifice, the devi appeared, gave him a sword and said that he would be invincible so long as he had it. She also told him that the beautiful Angaravati, daughter of Angaraka would become his wife soon. Since he was meant to do violent things, she named him Chandamahasena. Later, he also got an elephant named Nandagiri.

Once Mahasena went for a hunt and saw a huge boar. But despite using several weapons against it, it was unharmed. It also toppled Mahasena’s chariot and ran into a cave. The furious king followed it and reached a lake, where he saw a beautiful lady in the company of several other women. She approached him and started conversing with him. He was infatuated and gave her all of his details, following which she started crying. He asked her the reason. She said, “My name is Angaravati and the boar you saw is my father Angaraka whose skin is so thick that nothing can harm him. The women that you see have all been kidnapped by him from various kingdoms to keep me company. My father is a rakshasa as a result of a curse, and he is now asleep, in his natural form. As soon as he wakes up, he will become hungry and even harm you. That’s why I cried.”

He replied, “When your father wakes up, go to him and start crying. He will ask you the reason. Tell him that you don’t know what will happen to you if someone kills him.” Angaravati did just that. On hearing her reason, Angaraka said, “No one can kill me. My skin is as hard as diamond and only my left palm has an opening. I hide it with my bow.” Mahasena listened to all this, and challenged him. The asura raised his palm and asked him to wait. But Mahasena chose this opportunity to send an arrow at his palm and killed him.

According to the Kathasaitasagara Kathamukhalambaka Taranga 3, the king married Angaravati and took her to his palace. They had two children – Gopalaka and Palaka. A daughter too was born to them with the blessings of Indra, who was pleased with Mahasena’s Indrotsava. Since she was born with the blessings of Vasava (Indra) she was called Vasavadatta who would become the wife of the famous Udayana.