Maharaja Agrasen is known as icon of non-violence , messenger of Peace, Maharaja Agrasen was an embodiment of Sacrifice, Compassion, Non-Violence, Peace, Prosperity and a True Socialist. Emperor Agrasen was born to King Ballabh of Pratapnagar. He was the eldest son. According to the Mahalakshmi Vrath, the age then was the last stages of Dvaapar Yug. According to current calendar the birth of Maharaj Agrasen took place about 5185 years ago. King Ballabh was a Suryavamshi ( lineage from the Sun). Even when he was very young, Prince Agrasen was very well known for his compassion. He never discriminated against anyone and the subjects were very pleased with the way he conducted himself.
When Agrasen became a young man, he attended the Swyamvara of the daughter of the King Nagaraj, Princess Madhavi . Many kings from around the world attended including Indra, the King of the Devas. In the swayamvara, Princess Madhavi selected Prince Agrasen, by putting the garland on him. This marriage caused a coming together of two different family cultures, Prince Agrasen was a Suryavanshi and Princess Madhavi was a Naagavanshi. Indra, the King of the Devas had been smitten by the beauty of Princess Madhavi and had planned to get married to her. However, now that he had been unable to marry her, he became very jealous and angry with Agrasen. To get revenge against Agrasen, Indra – as he was also the Lord of Rain, made sure that Pratap Nagar did not receive any rainfall. As a result, a frightening famine struck the Pratap Nagar kingdom. Emperor Agrasen then waged war against Indra, and because he had dharma on his side, his army vanquished Indra’s forces and put them to flight. Faced with this situation, Indra approached Narada ( the celestial sage) for mediation between him and Emperor Agrasen. Narada, then mediated a peace between them.
Agrasen started a severe penance to propitiate Lord Shiva in the city of Kashi. Pleased with the penance of Agrasen, Lord Shiva appeared and advised him to propitiate Goddess Mahalakshmi. Maharaj Agrasen again started meditating on Goddess Mahalakshmi, who appeared before him. Goddess Mahalakshmi then blessed Agrasen and suggested that he take up the Vaishya tradition of business for the sake of prosperity of his people. She then asked him to found a new kingdom and promised that she would bless his descendants with prosperity. So he gave up his Kshatriya tradition.