Mahabharata – 154

by

Sankar Mukherjee

and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                       Aadivamsavatarana Parva

            Vasishtha & the Vasus

In course of Santanu’s conversation with Ganga, Ganga told him that she killed her children only to liberate them from mortal limitations. They were in fact gods. But they were cursed by the sage Vasishtha & were born as humans.Santanu    asked -- Who was Apava or Vasishtha? What was the fault of the Vasus & why through the curse of Apava, the Vasus had to be born among men? What is the fault of  this eighth child of yours, for which he has to live among men? Why are the Vasus,the lords of the three worlds,ill fated to be born amongst men?Oh Gange!Tell me that.

Thus addressed,  Ganga,then replied to her husband, the bull amongst men -- Oh king!  In the past he who was obtained as son by Varuna or water god was called Vasishtha, the Muni who afterwards came to be known as Apava. He had his ashrama on the side of the mountain Sumeru.The spot was sacred & crowded with birds & beasts. And flowers bloomed there at all times of the year in every season. That foremost of  pious men, the son of Varuna, Vasishtha practised his ascetic penances in that ashrama, laden with fruits & water.

Dakshaprajapati had a daughter known by the name of Surabhi, who, for benefiting the world, brought forth, by her connection with Kasyapaprajapati ,a daughter Nandini in the form of a cow. That foremost of all cows, Nandini, was the cow capable of granting every desire. Vasishtha obtained Nandini for his fire sacrifice. And Nandini, dwelling in that hermitage which was served by sages, roamed about fearlessly in that sacred & delightful hermitage. One day  there came into that hermitage the Vasus with Prithu & other celestials. And wandering there with their wives, they enjoyed themselves in those delightful woods and mountains. And as they were roaming there, the wife of one of the Vasus saw Nandini the cow capable of granting every desire in those woods. And seeing that cow possessing the wealth of all achievement, large eyes, flourished udder, fine tail, beautiful hoofs and every other auspicious sign,& yielding much milk, showed the animal to her husband Dyu. When Dyu was shown that cow, he began to admire her several qualities. And addressing his wife, Dyu said that the cow belonged to the Rishi Vasishtha of  this beautiful ashrama. A mortal who drinks the sweet milk of this cow has his youth for ten thousand years.

The exquisite goddess of faultless features then said to her husband of blazing splendour. -- There is on earth a friend of mine, prince Jitavati by name of great beauty. She is the daughter of the great royal sage Usinara famous for truthfulness & intelligence. Oh illustrious one! I desire to have this cow,with her calf for that friend of mine. Therefore, Oh best of the gods! Bring that cow for my friend so that she may drink  her milk & may alone become on earth free from disease & senility. Oh Sire! It is expected that you will  fulfill my   desire. There is nothing in this world that would be more pleasing to me.

On hearing these words of his wife, Dyu,moved by the desire of her, stole that cow, aided by his brothers Prithu & the others. Indeed, Dyu, to comply  with the request of  his lotus-eyed wife, ignored presently the high ascetic merits of the rishi Vasishtha who owned her. He did not think at that time that he might fall by committing the sin of stealing the cow.

When Vasishtha returned to his ashrama with fruits that he had collected, he did not find the cow with her calf there. He began to search for them in the woods. But when the cows were not found nearby on search, the sage saw by his intelligent vision that they were  stolen by the Vasus. His anger  was instantly flared up & he cursed the Vasus, saying -- as the Vasus have stolen my cow they will be born on earth. The great sage Vasishtha cursing the Vasus in anger set his mind once more in meditation.

The Vasus, knowing the curse of the Brahmarshi of great power later, again visited his ashrama. And they approached the rishi, to pacify him. But they failed,

The virtuous Vasishtha said, You Vasus, with Dhava and others, you have been cursed by me.But you shall be freed from my curse within a year of your birth among men. But Dyu, shall for his sinful act, shall have to reside on earth for a long span of time. My words cannot go in vain. Dyu, though residing on Earth, shall not beget children. He shall, however, be virtuous and conversant with the scriptures. He shall be an obedient son to his father. But he shall have to abstain from the pleasure of female companionship.

Saying this to the Vasus, the great rishi went away for meditation. The Vasus then together approched me. And,Oh king! They requested me for the boon that as soon as they would be born,I should throw them into the water. I did as they desired, in order to free them from their earthly life. Dyu only is to live on earth for some time as your son. This son of yours will attain the heaven during his old age.

            Ganga parted from Santanu

Ganga in her farewell address to Santanu with whom she lived for a long time said - Be that as it may,as because you questioned my conduct go away I must to serve the divine will.But whenever you remember me  I shall show up. Having said this, the goddess disappeared presently from the sight of the king with her youngest child.She went away to the region she chose. And that child of Santanu was named both Gangeya and Devavrata. And in course of time he outdid his father in all the skills.

Santanu, after the disappearance of his wife, returned to his capital with a sorrowful heart.