Stories from Mahabharata
Story of Kacha and Devyani
Stories from Mahabharata
A long time ago, when the Gods and Demons were still fighting for supremacy over the three worlds - Heaven (Aakash), Earth (Prithvi) and the Netherworld (Pataal) - they appointed their priests (Gurus) who would pray for them and advice them in matters concerning the war.
The gods appointed Angiras Vrihaspati as their priest and the demons (Asuras), not to be left behind, appointed Bhargav Shukracharya to be their guru. Now both these brahmin priests were stalwarts in their fields and enjoyed a healthy rivalry too. They respected each other immensely but also indulged in a game of one-up man ship.
The war between the gods and asuras had started in earnest and both the priests were busy with their Yajnas and prayers to make their sides more powerful. Shukracharya, the priest of the demons, would breathe life into the demons who died in the battle and make them healthy again. He could do so because he was an expert in the knowledge of Sanjeevani (the art of breathing life in a dead being). This Sanjeevani Vidya (knowledge) was making the asuras stronger and they were the obvious leaders in the fight, as they were not facing any casualties.
The gods on the other hand were suffering great losses, as Vrihaspati, their guru, did not possess the Sanjeevani Vidya. The gods and their guru deliberated on this drawback and decided that someone would have to go and learn this art of breathing life into a dead body from the guru of the demons.
It was decided that Kacha, the son of guru Vrihaspati, would go to the land of the demons to learn the Sanjeevani Vidya. Kacha went to Vrishparva, where Shukracharya had his Ashram (hermitage). He introduced himself to the great priest, "Sire, I am the grandson of Maharishi Angira and the son of Vrihaspati, the priest of gods. I implore you to accept me as your pupil. I promise to live the celibate life of a Brahmachari (student) and serve you for one thousand years."
Shukracharya was pleased with the humility of Kacha and accepted him as his pupil. He said, "I will treat you as if I am treating my friend Vrihaspati and I will be honoured to accept you as my pupil."
Kacha started his studies and would keep the guru happy with his behaviour. He would also take good care of the daughter of his guru, Devyani. Time passed and Kacha became Shukracharya's favourite pupil. After 500 years had passed, the demons learnt of the real purpose of Kacha's visit. They were incensed and feared that with the Sanjeevani Vidya, the gods would become more powerful. So they plotted to kill Kacha.
One day, when Kacha was grazing the cattle in the jungle, the demons killed him, cut him into small pieces and fed him to the wolves. In the evening the animals returned without Kacha. Devyani, who was by now deeply in love with Kacha, was worried and went to her father. She told him that Kacha was missing and that he must do something to get him back. She said, "I fear that someone has killed him or he is dead somewhere in the forest. Please use your knowledge to bring back my Kacha. I cannot live without him and shall die if he is not brought back from the dead." Shukracharya, who himself was fond of Kacha, used his powers and breathed life into Kacha. All the pieces of Kacha tore open the stomachs of the wolves and joined together and Kacha came alive. He returned to the hermitage and thanked his guru.
After a few days, the asuras again killed Kacha and on Devyani's request, Shukracharya again breathed life into him. The third time, the asuras killed Kacha, and burnt his body. They then took his ashes and mixed it with wine and requested Shukracharya to drink the wine. Shukracharya, who was unaware of the vile machinations of the asuras, drank the wine. When Kacha didn't return to the hermitage, Devyani again went to her father and requested him to bring Kacha back to life. Shukracharya started chanting the mantras which would bring Kacha to life. Kacha, who was inside the stomach of Shukracharya, revealed his dilemma from inside in a quiet voice. He said that he would not come out of the stomach of his guru, as that would mean killing his guru.
Shukracharya said, "Son, you are a great ascetic and very dear to me and my daughter. If you are not Indra, and if you are a Brahmin, then I shall teach you the Sanjeevani Vidya. And I know that you are not Indra, because only a brahmin could stay alive in my stomach for so long. Now, I shall teach you the secret knowledge of Sanjeevani so that you can come out of my stomach and then breathe life into me."
Kacha said, "I have lived in your stomach, so I am your son. You have breathed life into me and have taught me the art of Sanjeevani which is like the flow of Amrit (the divine ambrosia which gives eternal life) in my veins. I shall behave as a good son should do because those who do not respect their guru, who is like a god for a pupil, deserves to rot in hell."
Shukracharya, who was displeased with himself for drinking wine, which caused him to be irrational so that he could not see through the machinations of the asuras promised never to touch a drop of any intoxicants. He also laid out a rule for all the brahmins, that if they drink alcohol, they would be breaking divine rules and would deserve to rot in hell. They would not only spoil the good deeds of this life, they would also ruin their next birth, if they touched even a drop of wine.
After this, he asked Kacha to tear open his stomach and come out. Kacha did as he was told and when he came out the guru died. Kacha used his knowledge of Sanjeevani and breathed life into his guru, like a dutiful son should do. He then stayed with Shukracharya till the completion of his one thousand years and soon it was time for him to leave.
Devyani then approached him and told him of her love for him. She requested him to marry her according to the norms and take her with him. Kacha was now in a dilemma as he considered the daughter of his guru as his sister, as was the correct conduct for a rishikumar (son of a guru). He said, "Sister, as I have lived in the same stomach from which you were born too, I am your brother. Therefore, due to this reason, I am your brother, besides, you are the daughter of my guru, who is like a father to me. So I cannot marry you as you are my sister."
Devyani was hurt and angry at Kacha's refusal and she cursed him. She said that all the knowledge that he had acquired from her father would be of no use to him. Kacha replied that he accepted her curses as inadvertently he had hurt her, but he would teach others what he had learnt and then they would use it to the benefit of others. He also said that she had not considered that he was bound by the rules of conduct and had cursed him, therefore no Brahmin would marry her. He then took leave from his guru and went to the gods and his father where he used his knowledge for the benefit of others.
Story of King Yayati
Stories from Mahabharata
This story, from the Mahabharata, conveys the timeless message of self control and restraint.
Sukracharya was the preceptor of Asuras (demons). The Asura king Vrishaparva greatly respected Sukracharya as he knew the secret of Mritasanjibani, a drug that brings the dead back to life. Devayani was Sukracharya's only daughter and spoiled by her father's indulgence.
One morning, Sharmishtha, the Asura princess, daughter of Vrishaparva, came to Sukracharya's hermitage with her friends. She asked Sukracharya to allow Devayani to accompany them for a bath in a nearby lake. Sukracharya agreed. They soon reached the lake and left their clothes on the bank to go into the water. Suddenly a storm blew up and scattered their clothes. The girls hurriedly came out of the lake and got dressed. It so happened that the princess Sharmishtha, by mistake, clad herself in Devayani's clothes. Angered by this, Devayani insulted Sharmishtha, the Asura princess. Argument began and Sharmishtha pushed Devayani into a dry well and left Devayani in the well.
It so happened that Yayati, the king of a nearby state, came hunting in the forest and was looking for water to drink. When he came near the well he was surprised to find Devayani lying at the bottom. Devayani introduced herself and said that she fell into the well. She then requested the king to pull her out. Yayati helped her out. Devayani demanded that Yayati marry her as he has held her by the right hand. Yayati was alarmed and turned down her request on the ground that he belonged to lower Khatriya (or warrior) caste, and Devayani was a Brahmin (priestly) maid. Yayati then left and Devayani continued to sit under a tree.
When she did not return, Sukracharya set out in search of her. He found Devayani under a tree, her eyes filled with tears of anger and grief. When Sukracharya inquired, Devayani told her father every thing, carefully hiding her own faults. She refused to return to the kingdom of Vrishaparva as she was badly insulted by the Asura princess, Sharmishtha. Failing to change her mind, Sukracharya returned to Vrishaparva and announced that he was leaving the Asura kingdom because of his daughter Devayani's unhappy conflict with princess Sharmishtha. Vrishaparva begged Sukracharya to stay. Sukracharya left the decision with his daughter Devayani.
Vrishaparva wasted no time and went to Devayani taking his daughter Sharmishtha along. He begged forgiveness for his daughter. Devayani agreed to return on one condition that Sharmishtha be her handmaiden for the rest of her life. Sharmishtha agreed for the sake of her father, the king. Devayani was pacified and returned to her father's hermitage. But Devayani was vindictive and humiliated Sharmishtha by asking to massage her legs and run errands.
One day, king Yayati passed that way. Devayani introduced Sharmishtha as her maid and reminded Yayati that he should marry her. Yayati repeated that he could not marry a Brahmin maid. Devayani then took Yayati to her father. Sukrachaya gave his blessing on their marriage. They were soon married and led a happy life. Devayani had two sons.
Sharmishtha continued to stay as Devayani's handmaid. Yayati made a palace for Shramishtha at the request of Devayani. One day Sharmishtha secretly met Yayati and told him what happened between her and Devayani. Yayati was sympathetic. Sharmishtha begged Yayati to take her as the second wife. Yayati agreed and married her but without the knowledge of Devayani. Sharmishtha had three sons.
One day, Devayani met the three sons of Sharmishtha. She asked the boys the name of their father. They pointed to Yayati. Devayani was shocked. She felt deceived and ran to her father's hermitage. Sukracharya was enraged and cursed Yayati with premature old age. Yayati begged for forgiveness. Sukracharya and Devayani felt sorry for him. Sukracharya then said, "I cannot take back my curse, but if any of your sons is ready to exchange his youth for your old age, you will be young again as long as you wish."
Yayati, now an old man, quickly returned to his kingdom and called for his eldest son. "My dutiful son, take my old age and give me your youth, at least for a while, until I am ready to embrace my old age." The eldest son turned down his father's request and so also the next three older brothers. Then came the youngest, Puru. He agreed and immediately turned old. Yayati rushed out as a young man to enjoy his life. After years spent in vain effort to quench his desires by indulgence, Yayati finally came into senses. He returned to Puru and said, "Dear son, sensual desire is never quenched by indulgence any more than fire is extinguished by pouring oil on it. Take back your youth and rule the kingdom wisely and well."
Yayati then returned to the forest and spent the rest of his days in austerities, meditating upon Brahman, the ultimate reality. In due course, he attained heaven.
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