One of the राक्षसस् , who, in ancient days ruled the earth and ultimately died. The story of सङ्कोच was told by भीष्म to युधिष्ठिर to prove the truth that even the greatest and most powerful has, one day or other, to quit life and die. Among such great ones are included पृथु , ऐल , मय , भौम , नरक , शम्बर , हयग्रीव , पुलोमा , स्वर्भानु , प्रह्लाद , नमुचि , दक्ष , विप्रचित्ति , विरोचन , सुहोत्र , वृष , वृषभ , कपिलाश्व , विरूप , बाण , कार्तस्वर , and विश्वदंष्ट्र . Though all of them were once emperors they had to give room to the next generation. भीष्म , on his bed of arrows, was thus describing the transience of life. [mh-12-277-1 ] Mahābhārata • Śānti parva .