01.071
Janamejaya said.
How did Yayāti, our forefather, who was tenth in descent from Prajāpati, obtain Śukra's daughter, who was exceedingly difficult to obtain? (01-71-1)
I wish to hear this in detail, O best of the twice-born. Tell me separately and in proper order about the continuers of Pūru's lineage. (01-71-2)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Yayāti was a royal sage whose splendor equaled that of Indra, the king of the gods. Śukra and Vṛṣaparvan indeed chose him, as they had formerly. (01-71-3)
I shall fully recount that to you, who ask, O Janamejaya: the union of Devayānī and Yayāti, the descendant of Nahuṣa. (01-71-4)
A mutual conflict arose between the gods and the asuras over sovereignty in the three worlds, together with all that moves and does not move. (01-71-5)
Then, desiring victory, the gods chose the sage Āṅgirasa as their priest for the sacrificial office; the others, however, chose Kāvya Uśanas. Those two Brāhmaṇas were both always intensely in rivalry with one another. (01-71-6)
There, in battle, the gods struck down the assembled Dānavas. Kāvya revived them again through reliance on the power of knowledge. Then, rising once more, they waged battle against the gods. (01-71-7)
But the noble-minded Bṛhaspati did not revive those gods whom the demons slew at the forefront of battle. (01-71-8)
For he did not know the knowledge known to the mighty Kāvya, namely the life-restoring Sañjīvanī. Therefore the gods fell into deep despair. (01-71-9)
Then the gods, alarmed by fear of Kāvya Uśanas, approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and said. (01-71-10)
Favor us, who are devoted to you, and give us the best help. Bring quickly that knowledge which dwells in Śukra, the Brāhmaṇa of immeasurable splendor; you will become a partaker in our share. (01-71-11)
That Brāhmaṇa can be seen by you near Vṛṣaparvan. There he protects the Dānavas; he does not protect those who are not Dānavas. (01-71-12)
Being young, you are able to propitiate that sage, and also Devayānī, the beloved daughter of that great-souled one. (01-71-13)
You are able to propitiate; no one else is found who can do so, through good character, graciousness, sweetness, conduct, and self-restraint. (01-71-14)
When Devayānī is pleased, you will certainly obtain that knowledge. (01-71-14)
Having said this, Kaca, the son of Bṛhaspati, set out. Honored by the gods, he went to the presence of Vṛṣaparvan. (01-71-15)
Kaca, sent by the gods, went quickly, O king, and in the city of the lord of the Asuras, having seen Śukra, spoke these words. (01-71-16)
May your honour accept me as a pupil: I am known by the name Kaca, the grandson of the sage Aṅgiras and the direct son of Bṛhaspati. (01-71-17)
I shall practice brahmacarya under you, the supreme guru. Permit me, O Brahman, for a thousand years. (01-71-18)
Śukra said.
O Kaca, you are most welcome. I accept your words. I shall honor you, who are worthy of honor; may Bṛhaspati be honored. (01-71-19)
Vaiśampāyana said.
But Kaca said to him, "So be it," and undertook that vow, as instructed by Śukra Uśanas himself, the son of Kavi. (01-71-20)
He accepted the prescribed period of the vow as stated, while honoring his preceptor and Devayānī, O Bhārata. (01-71-21)
Always seeking to win her favor, the young man, newly come into youth, delighted Devayānī by singing, dancing, and playing. (01-71-22)
He cultivated companionship with Devayānī, a maiden who had come of age, and pleased her with flowers, fruits, and errands, O Bhārata. (01-71-23)
Devayānī too, singing along, secretly attended upon that Brāhmaṇa, who was practicing restraints and vows, at that time. (01-71-24)
As Kaca was thus practicing the vow, five hundred years passed. Then the Dānavas, having learned of him, then approached Kaca. (01-71-25)
Seeing him alone in a secluded place in the forest, protecting the cows, they became enraged and killed him out of hatred for Bṛhaspati and also for the very purpose of safeguarding the knowledge. After killing him, they cut him into tiny pieces and gave him to the jackals. (01-71-26)
Then those cows returned without a cowherd to their own dwelling. Seeing that the cows had come back from the forest without Kacha, Devayānī then spoke these words at the proper time, O Bhārata. (01-71-27)
O lord, your Agnihotra remains unoffered, and the sun has set. The cows have returned without their herdsmen, O father, but Kaca is not seen. (01-71-28)
Surely Kaca, dear father, has been slain or is dead. Without him I would not live; I tell you the truth about Kaca. (01-71-29)
Śukra said.
By uttering the words "this one, come," I revive the dead. Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, after employing the knowledge that restores life, he called Kaca. When summoned, Kaca appeared unharmed by that knowledge. Questioned by the Brahmin maiden, he also said, "I have been killed." (01-71-31)
Puṣpāhāra, the Brahmin, having again been addressed by Devayānī, went to the forest by chance. Then the Dānavas saw him. (01-71-32)
Then the Asuras killed him a second time, burned him, reduced him to powder, and gave him to the Brāhmaṇa himself mixed in liquor. (01-71-33)
Then Devayānī once again spoke to her father: "Dear father, Kaca, who gathers flowers and carries out errands, is not to be seen." (01-71-34)
Śukra said.
O daughter, Kaca, the son of Bṛhaspati, has gone to the state of the dead. Even when brought back to life by the knowledge, he is killed in this way. What shall I do? (01-71-35)
Do not grieve like this, and do not weep, Devayānī. One such as you should not mourn for a mortal. The gods, all beings, and the whole world bow before the change that has come. (01-71-36)
Devayānī said.
How could I not mourn and weep for him, the son of the seer, or even his grandson, whose most venerable grandfather was Aṅgiras and whose father was Bṛhaspati, rich in austerity? (01-71-37)
He is a celibate student and an ascetic whose wealth is austerity; he is always diligent and skilled in his duties. I shall follow Kaca's path and I shall not eat, O father, for handsome Kaca is dear to me. (01-71-38)
Śukra said.
Surely the Asuras hate me, who slay my innocent disciple. Those fierce ones desire to make him a non-Brahmin; as indeed set forth by the Dānavas, they act against me. May there be an end here even to this sin; whom would the sin of killing a Brahmin not burn, even Indra? (01-71-39)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Urged by Devayānī, the great seer Kāvya again summoned Kaca, the son of Bṛhaspati, in agitation. (01-71-40)
Afraid of his teacher and called forth by the knowledge, he slowly spoke from within the belly. He said to him, by what path were you brought here, and why do you remain in my belly? Tell me, O Brahmin. (01-71-41)
Kaca said.
By your grace, memory does not leave me, and I remember everything, what happened and how. But in this way my austerity would not be lost; therefore I endure this terrible affliction. (01-71-42)
The Asuras killed me, burned me, ground me to powder, and put me into your liquor, O Kāvya. While you are present, how indeed could Asuric māyā surpass Brahmic māyā? (01-71-43)
Śukra said.
What dear thing can I do for you now, my child? Kaca could live only through my death. O Devayānī, Kaca, who has entered me, could be seen only by splitting open my belly. (01-71-44)
Devayānī said.
Two griefs as fierce as fire would burn me: the loss of Kaca and, indeed, harm to you. If Kaca is destroyed, I have no happiness; if you are harmed, I am not able to live. (01-71-45)
Śukra said.
You have attained your aim, O son of Bṛhaspati, since Devayānī loves you as one devoted. Obtain this life-giving knowledge; otherwise, today you are Indra in the form of Kaca. (01-71-46)
No other person would return alive again from my belly, except one Brāhmaṇa; therefore obtain the knowledge. (01-71-47)
Having become a son, care for me, who have cared for you. O dear one, after departing from this body, you should show righteous regard; having obtained learning from the teacher, be endowed with knowledge. (01-71-48)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having received the sacred knowledge from his preceptor, the handsome Brahmin Kaca split open the right side of the Brāhmaṇa’s abdomen and came out, like the moon on the full-moon day at the end of the bright fortnight. (01-71-49)
Seeing that fallen, dead repository of sacred knowledge, Kacha revived him. After obtaining that perfected knowledge and bowing, Kacha then said this to that guru. (01-71-50)
Those who do not revere the worshipful guru, the giver of unsurpassed truth and the treasure among the treasures of the four lineages, go to sinful worlds that have no foundation. (01-71-51)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having brought about deception through the drinking of liquor, and also a very terrible loss of consciousness, he then saw the handsome Kaca, who had been drunk with the liquor by the deluded one. (01-71-52)
Then the great-souled Uśanas Kāvya rose in anger and, wishing to act for the welfare of the brāhmaṇas, himself spoke these words, having indeed become suspicious about the drinking of liquor. (01-71-53)
Any Brāhmaṇa who, from today onward, hereafter drinks liquor out of delusion, being dull-witted, would be devoid of dharma and indeed like a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. He would be censured in this world and in the next. (01-71-54)
May the virtuous brāhmaṇas learned from their gurus, the gods, and all the worlds hear this rule: the boundary of the teaching on brāhmaṇa-dharma, which has indeed been established by me throughout the world. (01-71-55)
After saying this, that great and dignified one, the immeasurable treasure among the treasures of austerity, summoned those Dānavas whose minds had been bewildered by fate and spoke these words. (01-71-56)
I tell you, O Dānavas: you are foolish. Kaca has succeeded, and after obtaining the greatly significant science of restoring life, he will remain in my presence, equal in power to Brahmā and having become Brahman-like. (01-71-57)
After dwelling in his teacher's presence for a thousand years, Kaca, with permission, wished to go to the abode of the gods. (01-71-58)
