Puranjaya (Kukutstha) is the son of King Vikukshi. In the Treta Yuga a war broke out between the Gods and the Asuras (demons), in which the Gods were defeated. Then they went to Lord Vishn for help. Lord Vishnu said that there is a prince named Puranjaya and he will infuse a portion of himself into Puranjaya and will destroy all their enemies. On his advise, Gods went to prince Puranjaya and requested for his help. Puranjaya asked Lord Indra, the king of Gods to carry him upon his shoulders and he will fight with demons. Indra assumed the shape of a bull and carried Puranjaya on his shoulders. Puranjaya destroyed all the enimies of the God by seating upon the shoulder (or the hump, kakud ) of the bull, he therefore got the title Kakutstha (seated on the hump). His dynasty was also known as Kakuthstha after him.

Puranjaya was descended by his son Anena.