Janamejaya said: -
1-2. How did our ancestor (Yayati) who was the tenth from Prajapati, obtain the unobtainable daughter of Shukra? 0 great ascetic, I desire to hear this in detail. Tell me also separately the account of those kings who were the founders of dynasties.
Vaishampayana said: -
3-4. O Janamejaya, the king Yayati was as effulgent as Indra himself. I shall tell you in reply to your question how Shukra and Vrishaparva bestowed (on the king) their daughters in due rites and I shall specially narrate how the union of the Nahusha, took place with Devayani.
5. In the days of yore, great battles were often faught between the Devas and the Asuras for the sovereignty over the three worlds.
6-8. From the desire of securing victory, the celestials appointed the Rishi who was the son of Angirasa (Brihaspati) as their priest to conduct their sacrifices; and their opponents appointed Ushanas (Shukra) as their priest for the same purpose. There was much boastful rivalry between these two Brahmanas. All those Danavas that were killed in battle by the Devas were revived by that sage (Shukra) with the power of his knowledge; and they, thus being made alive, fought again with the celestial.
9. The Asuras also killed many Devas, but the greatly learned Brihaspati could not revive them.
10. He did not know the science of Sanjivini (giving life to the dead) which the greatly powerful Rishi (Shukra) knew very well. The celestial were, therefore, very sorry.
11. Thereupon, the celestials, in great anxiety and in fear of the learned Ushanas, went to Kacha, the eldest son of Brihaspati; and they spoke to him thus.
12-13. “We ask for your protection, we worship you. Help us in a work which we consider as very important. The knowledge of that science which is known to that Brahmana of immeasurable prowess. Shukra, must be obtained by you as soon as possible. You will then be a sharer with us in all sacrificial offerings. You shall find that Brahmana (Shukra) in the court of (king) Vrishaparva.
14. He always protects the Danavas, but never the celestials, their opponents. You are younger than he and you are, therefore, able to revere him.
15. You can also adore Devayani, the favourite daughter of that illustrious man. You are capable of conciliating them both. There is none else who can do it.
16. "You are sure to obtain that knowledge (of Sanjivini from the Rishi) by gratifying Devayani with your conduct, liberality, sweetness and general behaviour.”
17. Having been thus addressed and worshipped by the celestials, he said, “Be it so.” He then went to the court of king Vrishaparva.
18. O king, having been thus sent by the celestials, Kacha soon came to the city of the king of the Asuras; and seeing Shukra there, he thus addressed him.
19. “Reverend Sir, accept me as your disciple. I am the grandson of Rishi Angirasa and the son of Brihaspati. I am known as Cacha by name.
20. Accepting you as my great preceptor, I shall practise Brahmacharya for one thousand years. Therefore, command me.
Shukra said: -
21. O Kacha, you are welcome, I accept your words. I shall treat you with regard, for by my doing it, Brihaspati will be regarded.
Vaishampayana said: -
22. Commanded by the son of Kavi, Ushanas, also called Shukra, Kacha said, “Be it so.” And he took the vow he spoke of.
23-24. O descendant of the Bharata race, (Kacha) took the vow he had spoken of at the proper time and began to worship his preceptor (Shukra) and Devayani. That youth (Kacha) daily gratified Devayani who was also in her youth with singing, dancing and playing on various kinds of instruments.
25. O descendant of the Bharata race, he gratified that maiden, Devayani, who was in her youth, with the presentations of flowers and fruits and serving her as an obedient servant.
26. And Devayani also, when they were alone, gratified that vow-observing youth (Kacha) with her songs and sweetness of manners.
27-28. When five hundreds years had thus passed away of his vow, the Danavas came to know his intention. One day the Danavas saw Kacha when he was tending (his preceptor’s) kine. They then killed him out of the hatred they bore against Brihaspati and from the desire of saving the knowledge of Sanjivini.
29. They hacked him to pieces and gave his body to be devoured by jackals and wolves. The kine returned to the fold without the cowherd (Kacha).
30. O descendant of the Bharata race, when Devayani saw that the kine had returned without Kacha, she spoke to her father thus-
Devayani said: -
31. O sire, the Agnihotra (evening fire) is kindled, the sun has also set. The kine have come back without their cowherd. But Kacha is not to be seen.
32. O father, it is evident, Kacha is either dead or killed. I tell you truly that I shall not live without him.
Shukra said: -
33. I will revive him by saying, “Come here.” Then with the help of the knowledge of Sanjivini, he summoned Kacha (to come to him.)
34. Having been thus summoned, Kacha appeared in joy, tearing the bodies of the wolves (that had devoured him.)
35-36. Having been asked by the daughter of Bhargava, (Shukra) the reason of his delay, he said, “O sweet lady, burdened with sacrificial wood and Kusha grass, I was coming towards the hermitage and feeling tired, I sat under a banian tree. All the kine also were staying under the shade of that tree.
37. The Asuras, having seen me there, asked me, “Who are you?” They heard my reply, “I am Kacha, the son of Brihaspati.”
38. As soon as I said this, those Danavas killed me and having hacked my body to pieces, they gave it to jackals and wolves. They then went to their homes in joy.
39. "O amiable lady, summoned by the illustrious Bhargava (your father), I have somehow or other come before you having been made alive.”
40. On another occasion, the Brahmana Kacha at the request of Devayani, went into the forest to collect flowers and when he was freely roaming there, he was again seen by the Danavas. They again killed him, (pounded him to powders) and mixed him with the waters of the ocean.
41. Finding him again late in coming home, that maiden again told her father what had happened. Having been again summoned by that Brahmana (Shukra) to come home, Kacha appeared before the daughter of his preceptor. He again repeated to her all that had happened to him.
42. They killed him for the third time. And having reduced him to ashes by burning, they mixed those ashes with the wine which they offered to the Brahmana (Shukra).
43. Devayani again spoke to her father thus, “O father, Kacha was sent to gather flowers, but he is not to be seen.
44. It is evident, Kacha is either dead or killed. I tell you truly, I shall not live without him.”
Shukra said: -
45. O daughter, the son of Brihaspati, Kacha has gone to the land of the Dead. Though again and again revived by my knowledge, he is often killed. What shall I do?
46-47. O Devayani, do not grieve, do not weep. One like you should not grieve for one who is mortal. You are worshipped by Brahma, by Brahmanas, the celestials with (their king) Indra, the Vasus, the Ashvinis, the Asuras and by the whole universe. It is impossible to keep him alive. For every time I revive him he is killed (by the Danavas).
Devayani said: -
48. Why should I not grieve and weep for Kacha, whose grandfather is old Angirasa himself and whose father is the great ascetic Brihaspati, who is the grandson of a Rishi and the son of a Rishi.
49. He himself is a Brahmachari and an ascetic; he is always wakeful in every work. O father, I shall starve and follow the way on which Kacha has gone. The handsome Kacha is dear to me.
50. Vaishampayana said: The great Rishi (Shukra), the son of Kavi, being much afflicted by Devayani’s words, cried in anger, “The Asuras certainly want to injure me, for they killed my disciple living with me.
51. These followers of Rudra (Asuras) want to make me a non-Brahmana by making me participate in their crimes of killing Brahmanas. The crime of killing a Brahmana even bums Indra. This crime has a terrible end.” Having said this, he summoned Kacha, but being afraid of his preceptor’s safety, he feebly replied from within the stomach of Shukra.
52. Shukra then asked him, “O Brahmana, how have you entered my stomach. Tell me truth.”
Kacha said: -
By your grace ijiy memory has not left me. I recollect everything that had happened not been destroyed. Therefore, I am capable of bearing this insufferable pain.
53. O son of Kavi, I was killed by the Asuras; my body was burnt and reduced to ashes and I was then given to you with your wine. O Brahman, when you are present, how is possible for the Asura Maya (the power of the Asuras) to overcome the Brahma Maya (the power of the Brahmanas)?
Shukra said: -
54. O Devayani, what good can I do to you? Cacha’s life can be revived only with my death. Kacha is within me. There is no other way of his coming out, except by ripping open my stomach.
Devayani said: -
55. Both the shocks will bum me like fire. The death of Kacha and that of yours are both same to me. The death of Kacha will kill me. If you die, I shall not be able to bear life.
Shukra said: -
56. O son of Brihaspati, you are crowned with success, when Devayani adores you so much. If you are not Indra in the guise of Kacha, today, accept, I give you the science of reviving life.
57. None can come out alive from my stomach. A Brahmana, however, must not be killed. Therefore, accept the knowledge I teach you.
58. Come to life again as my son. Possessed of the knowledge I teach you and being again revived by me, O child, take care that you act with gratitude when you come out of my stomach.
Vaishampayana said: -
59. Receiving the knowledge (of reviving life) from his preceptor, the handsome Kacha ripped open the stomach (of Shukra) and came out like the moon on the evening of the full-moon night.
60. Seeing the remains of his preceptor lying like a heap of ascetic virtues and learning, Kacha revived him with the knowledge he had received. He then spoke to the preceptor thus,
61. “I regard him, who pours the Ambrosia of knowledge into one’s ears, as you have done to me who was devoid of knowledge, both as my father and as my mother. He who has gratitude can never injure his preceptor.
62. Those that, having acquired knowledge, injure their preceptor who is an object of adoration, who is the giver of knowledge and who is the most precious of all precious objects on earth, become hated on earth and finally go to the regions of the sinful.
Vaishampayana said: -
63-64. Having been deceived while under the influence of wine and remembering the terrible consequences of drink and the total loss of consciousness, the result of it and seeing before him the handsome Kacha whom he had drink with the wine while intoxicated, (the learned Shukra), with the wish of effecting a reform in the manner of the Brahmanas, rose from the ground in anger and spoke thus:
65. “That wretched Brahmana, who being unable to resist the temptation, will drink liquor from this day, shall be considered as to have committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana. and he shall be hated both in this and in the other world.
66. I set this limit to the conduct of the Brahmanas everywhere. Let this (my solemn words) be heard by the honest men, by the Brahmanas, by the celestials and by those who regard their superiors.”
67. Having said this, the illustrious Rishi, the ascetic of ascetics, summoned the Danavas who had been deprived of their good sense by Fate. He then told them.
68. “O foolish Danavas, know that Kacha had obtained his wish. He will henceforth dwelt with me. Having obtained the knowledge of Sanjivini, that illustrious Brahmana has become as powerful as Brahma himself.”
69. Having said this much, Bhargava (Shukra) stopped. The Danavas, being astonished, went away to their homes.
70. Kacha, after having lived with his preceptor for full one thousand years, prepared to go to the land of the celestials with the permission of his preceptor.
Thus ends the seventy sixth chapter the history of Yayati, in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
Vaishampayana said: -
1-2. When the period of his vow expired and when he was prepared to go to the land of the celestials, after having received the permission of his preceptor, Devayani addressed him thus - “O the grandson of Rishi Angirasa, you shine most brightly in conduct, in birth, in learning, in asceticism and in humility.
3. As the Rishi Angirasa is honoured by me illustrious father, so is (your father) Brihaspati honoured and respected by me.
4. O great ascetic, knowing this, hear what I say. You are aware of my behaviour towards you during the period of your vow.
5. "Your vow is now over; you should now fix your affection on me who love you. Accept my hand with ordained rites and Mantras.”
Kacha said: -
6. You are an object of my respect and worship, as is your illustrious father. O lady of faultless features, you are an object of greater reverence to me (than your father).
7. You are dearer than life to the high-souled Bhargava. O amiable lady, you are ever worthy of my worship, as you are the daughter of my preceptor.
8. As your father Shukra, my preceptor, is ever honoured by me, so are you. 0 Devayani, therefore, you should not speak to me thus.
Devayani said: -
9-10. O best of the twice bom, you are the son of my preceptor’s son, you are not the son of my father. Therefore, you are an object of my respect and worship. O Kacha, when the Asuras killed you again and again, you should recollect today the love I showed towards you.
11. O virtuous man, remembering my love and affection for you and also my devoted regard for you, you should not abandon me without any faults.
Kacha said: -
12-14. O lady of virtuous vows, do not urge me into such a sinful course. O lady of fair eyebrows, be graceful to me. O amiable lady, you are an object of greater regard than my preceptor. 0 large-eyed lady, O lady of handsome face, O amiable maiden, the place the body of the son of Kavi, (Shukra) where you live, is also my abode. You are truly my sister. O slender-waisted lady, O amiable maiden, do not say so. We have most happily passed the days we have lived together. There is perfect good feeling now existing between us.
15. I ask your leave to go away. Bless me so that good may come to my journey. Remember me in your conversations as one who has not transgressed virtue. Serve my preceptor with readiness and singleness of heart.
Devayani said: -
16. If you refuse to make me your wife, solicited by me as I do, O Kacha, (indeed I say) your knowledge will bear no fruits.
Kacha said: -
17. I refused to comply with your request, because you are my preceptor’s daughter. (I did not refuse you) for any fault of yours, my preceptor also had not issued any command regarding this matter. Curse me if it pleases you.
18-19. O Devayani, I have told you what should be the conduct of Rishis. I, therefore, do not deserve your curse. But notwithstanding all this you have cursed me out of desire and not from a sense of duty. Therefore, your desire shall not be fulfilled no Rishi’s son will ever accept your hand.
20. You have said that my knowledge would not bear fruits. Let it be so. But it shall bear fruits in him whom I shall teach it.
21. Vaishampayana said: Having said this to Devayani, that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of the twice-born, Kacha hurriedly went away to the land of the celestials.
22. Seeing him arrived, the celestials with Indra at their head looked with delight towards Brihaspati and spoke to him thus.
The Devas said: -
23. You have performed an act of great good for us; your achievements are wonderful, your fame will never die, you will be the sharer with us in the sacrificial offerings.
Thus ends the seventy-seven chapter the history of Yayati, in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.