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Sharngaka Birds and Rishi Mandapala – Stories from Adi Parva

sharngaka-birds

When Agni burned the Kandava forest, only six beings came out alive. One was Maya (the asura architect), and the other was Ashvasena, the son of Takshaka. The other four were the Sharngaka birds. These birds were the children of Rishi Mandapala and a female Sharngaka bird. 

Once upon a time, there lived a rishi named Mandapala. He loved to travel across the world and explore new regions in the universe. He had completed all the austerities and given up his body to freely travel across the spaces. However, he wasn’t permitted entry into the world of ancestors (pitrs). When he asked for the reason, he was told by the other dwellers of heaven that he could gain entry to that world only if he had an offspring. His children or grandchildren would perform the necessary rituals to make it possible. Since he didn’t have any kids, he couldn’t enter the pitr world. 

Mandapala decided he needed some children quickly. After some thinking, he decided to transform into a bird and find a partner from the same species. He chose Jarita, a female Sharngaka bird as his wife. Jarita laid four eggs and the rishi left them and went back to his previous wife, Lapita. They resumed their travel across the three worlds. 

Jarita took care of her eggs and brought up the four chicks with love and affection. Being the sons of a rishi, the little ones were born with immense knowledge. Their mother further taught them about Vedas, Shastras, etc. 

One day, Mandapala was roaming with Lapita when he saw Agni Deva move towards the Kandava forest. He was worried about the family he abandoned and requested Agni Deva to not kill his children in the forest fire. Agni Deva agreed. 

Meanwhile, Jarita and her sons got a whiff of the forest fire. She was terrified for her children as they were too young to fly. She couldn’t abandon them, nor could she take them with her and escape. The children (Jaritari, Sarisrikva, Stambamitra, and Drona) asked her to leave before the fire caught up. They reasoned that if she was alive, she could have more children. However, if she died, they wouldn’t know how to survive in the big bad world. 

Jarita offered many options to hide the chicks (like the mouse’s hole on the ground, hollowed tree trunk, etc.). However, the babies said it was too risky and their nest was the safest place. Jarita wasn’t sure but they convinced her to leave and promised to do their best to stay alive. As the flames came closer, Jarita flew high and left the forest. The four chicks prayed to Agni Deva. He appeared and asked them what they wanted. They requested him to save their little lives. 

Agni Deva said that the little Sharngaka birds were also rishis and he would listen to their words. He added that their father, Mandapala, already sought their protection, so their lives would be safe. The youngest chick, Drona, requested Agni Deva to consume the cats which often eyed them as its meal. He assured them that all their enemies would be consumed. The fire blazed on but the nest was unharmed. 

However, Mandapala saw the raging flames and was restless. He felt guilty for being selfish and abandoning his family. Lapita was annoyed and told him to go to his new family. She left him and stalked off. Unable to stop worrying, Mandapala walked through the forest and its ruins, searching for his sons. 

As the flames settled, Jarita came back and found her sons safe. She let out a delighted cry and hugged her children. Just then, Mandapala also reached the spot and was relieved to find them alive. That said, the four little birds didn’t react or acknowledge his presence. He tried to talk to them and asked for their names. 

Jarita asked him to leave since he didn’t care for her or their children and abandoned them. He replied that he had asked Agni Deva to protect his children and assured them that he indeed cared for their safety. Convincing his wife and sons, he left the region. They travelled to another land to live peacefully. 

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Birth and Names of the Upapandavas – Stories from Adi Parva

Draupadi gave birth to five sons, one with each Pandava brother. Her five sons were called the Upapandavas and were born after Abhimanyu (Arjuna and Subhadra’s son). However, more research shows four Upandavas were older than Abhimanyu (who was sixteen when the Kurukshetra War occurred).

upapandavas

The Upapandavas (sons of Pandavas) were born a year apart from each other but were very close. Vyasa described the Upapandavas as beautiful and radiant children (glowing like the sun and moon) who grew up to be well-built, well-trained, and well-mannered. 

  • Prativindhya was Yudhistira’s son, named after a mountain range. 
  • Sutasoma was Bhima’s son, born after Bhima performed the thousand moon sacrifices. 
  • Shrutakarman/ Shrutakirti was Arjuna’s son, born after Draupadi listened to the various exploits of Arjuna (Kritin).
  • Satanika was Nakula’s son, named after a rishi.
  • Shrutasena was Sahadeva’s son. 

Along with Abhimanyu, they trained under Arjuna and the other Pandava brothers to learn warfare. Purohit Dhaumya taught lessons about Vedas, Shastras, etc. Later, when the Pandavas went into exile, the Upapandavas divided their time between Panchala and Dwarka, though they were under the care of the Panchala king (Draupadi’s father and brother). The Upapandavas were often a unit and stayed together, even on the battlefield.

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King Samvarana Marries Tapati – Stories from Adi Parva

King Samvarana was an ancestor of the Pandavas who married Tapati (the river goddess), the daughter of Vivasvat (Surya Deva). 

varana-and-tapati

Tapati was the younger daughter of Vivasvat, born after Savitri. She was a mesmerizing beauty with symmetrical features and an unblemished face. She was also known for her devotion to austerities. Surya Deva wanted to find a worthy groom for her when she reached the marriageable age. He searched among the devas, gandharvas, yakshas, and others only to find the right man on earth. Vivasvat zeroed in on King Samvarana, the son of Riksha of the Kuru lineage. Samvarana was a worshipper of the sun and performed many yagnas to ensure the prosperity of his kingdom. He was also a capable warrior and an efficient ruler. 

Once, Samvarana went on a hunt in a forest. He was tired, hungry, and thirsty. When his horse died, Samvarana climbed up a hill to search for food. Instead, he saw the most beautiful woman doing tapasya. She was so angelic that Samvarana thought he got a darshan of Goddess Lakshmi. The sun’s rays further enhanced her beauty. Samvarana fell in love with her. He asked her who she was and said he had never seen someone as ethereal as her. 

However, Tapati didn’t reply. He continued to talk to her but she vanished. Samvarana searched the entire region, hoping to find her in vain. When it didn’t happen, he was dejected and disappointed. His body was so exhausted that he fell unconscious. 

Tapati appeared to help him regain his consciousness. Samvarana was delighted to see her again and proposed marriage immediately. Tapati replied that her marriage would be her father’s decision. She said she would be happy to marry him but he should wait for the right time and approach Vivasvat to ask for her hand. She then rose high into the sky and disappeared again. The king fell unconscious again. 

A while later, Samvarana’s ministers arrived at the spot, searching for him. The minister helped the king sit and gave him water to drink. Once he recovered, the king sent everyone back to the kingdom and took a bath to purify himself. Then, he prayed to the family purohit and his guru, Rishi Vashishtha. Hearing his call, Vashishtha arrived at the site on the twelfth day. Samvarana bowed to the rishi and requested his help. Vashishtha agreed. He went to Vivasvat and recommended Samvarana as a suitable groom for Tapati. 

Surya Deva accepted the recommendation. He sent Tapati with the rishi to get her married to Samvarana. The king was overjoyed to find the rishi return to the hilltop with the lady. They got married according to the rituals and were blessed by Vashishtha. Samvarana sent a message to his ministers to take care of the kingdom. He stayed back in the forest with Tapati.

The couple spent happy times there for twelve years. However, the lack of a king’s presence affected the kingdom. There was no rain for the entire duration. Severe drought hit the land, and the citizens suffered. 

Vashishtha advised Samvarana and Tapati to return to the kingdom as it wasn’t right that the ruler stay away from his responsibilities. The rishi supervised the yagna conducted by the king. As soon as they entered the kingdom, the clouds began to rain. Very soon, the Kuru kingdom was prosperous and wealthy again. Samvarana and Tapati continued to rule for a long time.

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Enmity Between Drona and Draupada – Stories from Adi Parva

The enmity between Drona and Draupada is an interesting situation caused by childhood promises and differences in their approaches to life. After all, Drona was a Brahmin and Draupda was a king.

drona-and-draupada

Drona was the son of Rishi Bharadwaja. He studied Vedas, Vedeangas, and Shastras under his father. Bharadwaja had a friend, King Prishata, whose son was Draupada. When young, Drona and Draupada played and studied together as the rishi trained them in various arts and skills. 

Though they were friends during their childhood and teen years, their paths took them in different directions. When Prishata passed away, Draupada became the king of Panchala. Drona was married to Kripi, the twin sister of Kripa. Drona and his wife had a son called Ashvatthaman. 

Years passed. Drona lived with his wife and son in a humble ashram. They didn’t have enough money and struggled to even have milk at home. When Drona heard that Parasurama was giving away his wealth, he approached the rishi for some donation. However, Parasurama had already given away everything he had. Then, Drona asked Parasurama for his knowledge of weaponry and warfare. The rishi gladly shared it and taught him about Dhanur Veda. 

One day, Drona decided to renew his acquaintance with his childhood friend, King Draupada. He went to Panchala and tried to remind the king about their younger days. Draupada’s response was lukewarm. While he was willing to give some donations, he didn’t show interest in renewing their friendship. An angry Drona left the place and went towards Kuru where he caught the attention of the young princes. Soon, Bhishma found out and made Drona the teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Bhishma gave houses to Drona and Kripa and ensured they had enough wealth to live comfortably. 

However, Drona wasn’t one to forget the insults by Draupada. When the princes finished their training, he asked them to attack Panchala and defeat Draupada as a guru dakshina. The Kauravas, Pandavas, and Karna did what their master wanted. Arjuna showed his prowess, which impressed everyone, including Draupada. When Draupada lost, Drona said he would take only half the kingdom and leave the other half for Draupada to continue ruling. 

This act made Draupada resent Drona. He wanted a powerful son who would one day defeat and kill Drona. Eventually, Draupada found a way to have this son, Dhristadhyumna. Draupadi was also born from the same yagna. 

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Draupada’s Yagna for a Son – Stories from Adi Parva

King Draupada of Panchala wanted a son who could one day avenge his humiliation and kill Drona. This desire eventually led to the birth of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna.

Draupada-yagna-dhrishtadyumna-and-draupadi

After the defeat in Drona’s hands (when Drona used his students, the Pandavas and Kauravas, including Karna, to attack Panchala), Draupada went into the forests and hills, wandering and searching for an answer to his desire. He couldn’t forget the humiliation and wanted to avenge it by gaining a son skilled and powerful enough to kill Drona.

After a while, he reached a hermitage on the banks of the River Ganga. Here, he found two Brahmin brothers, Yaja and Upayaja, belonging to the Kashyapa lineage. Realizing that Upayaja had greater powers, Draupada decided to serve the rishi and became his assistant for two years. He then broached the subject with Upayaja and offered countless gifts. Draupada wanted the rishi to perform a yagna, giving him a powerful son who would kill Drona. 

Upayaja declined the offer. Draupada continued to serve him. However, after a year, the rishi recommended his brother Yaja for the yagna. He said that Yaja wasn’t a strict follower of vows and didn’t maintain high standards of hygiene, which made him a better choice for this kind of yagna. Draupada thanked the rishi and went to Yaja with his request. Nevertheless, he reduced the amount of gifts he offered. 

Despite this, Yaja agreed to perform the yagna and sought help from Upayaja. Upayaja agreed to help but didn’t want any rewards or gifts. The brothers began the yagna. When it was time, Yaja called the queen to join the ceremony. However, she asked him to wait saying she was getting ready. Yaja said the offering was ready, so he wouldn’t wait. He poured it into the yagna fire. 

From the yagna, rose a young man with the complexion of fire and wearing armour. He carried a bow in one hand and a sword in another. When he rose from the fire, he jumped into a chariot and rode out of the site. The voice from heaven declared that this young man would be responsible for Drona’s destruction and named him Dhrishtadyumna. 

Next, a beautiful young woman came out of the yagna flames. She was dark-skinned and had large eyes like the petals of a lotus. She smelled like the blue lotus and her fragrance could be felt for two miles. She was the loveliest and mesmerizing beauty anyone had ever seen. The same voice from heaven declared that this young woman would be the cause of the destruction of the Kshatriyas and achieve the objectives of the gods. She was named Krsna, the dark-skinned one, Draupadi, the daughter of Draupada, and Panchali, the princess of Panchala. 

King Draupada was delighted to gain two powerful children from the yagna. His wife said that the children would be hers and that they would no one else expect her as their mother. Yaja said that would be so. 

Later, King Draupada sent Dhrishtadyumna to train under Drona and fine-tune his skills.

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How Bhima Killed Rakshasa Baka – Stories from Adi Parva

bhima-kills-baka

The second Pandava brother, Bhima, was known for his tremendous physical strength. He killed many rakshasas throughout the Mahabharata, though these events took place more during their time spent in the forests. 

After escaping the House of Lac in Vanavrata, the Pandavas went into hiding. Bhima first killed Hidimba and had to marry the rakshasa’s sister Hidimbi. Later, after the birth of Ghatotkacha, the Pandavas went to Ekachakra, a small village. Here, they stayed for a few months as guests in the Brahmin’s house. 

When Kunti found out the villagers were being troubled by a rakshasa named Baka, she assured the hosts that her son would sort out the problem. Bhima was more than happy to flex his muscles and practice his skills. The next morning, Bhima took the cartload of food and other animals meant as a meal for the rakshasa. However, he consumed all the food and loudly called out to Baka. The rakshasa came out and was enraged at a human taunting him. Baka was a massive rakshasa with large limbs and sharp teeth. He roared and rushed at Bhima. Bhima continued to enjoy the food without sparing a glance at Baka. Once done, the fight began in earnest. 

They dashed at each other, threw punches, uprooted trees to hit the other, and used all fighting tactics. However, Bhima more or less had an upper hand throughout. At last, Bhima flung the rakshasa to the ground and pummelled him with his fists. He then placed his knee on Baka’s middle, grabbed his neck with one hand, and the lower body with the other. Bhima killed Baka by tearing him apart. The rakshasa’s death cry was so terrifying that his family fled from the place. Bhima warned them not to come back, or they would face the same fate. 

Job done, Bhima secretly placed Baka’s dead body outside the gates of the village for the villagers to find it. 

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Kanika Niti Lessons for Dhritarashtra – Stories from Adi Parva

kanika-niti-dhritarashtra

When the Pandavas became more popular than his sons, Dhritarashtra couldn’t suppress his jealousy. However, he knew he couldn’t openly display his partiality as a king. He called his ministers and wise Brahmins to ask for help to handle the situation. A Brahmin named Kanika taught him the art of duality where he could act as if he cared for the Pandavas but could do whatever was best for his sons (Kauravas). The long discourse by Kanika is called Kanika Kuta Niti since some of the advice is not according to dharma. 

Dhritarasthra told Kanika that he couldn’t bear to see the Pandavas prosper. He asked if he should remain calm or stop them.

Kanika was more than happy to impart his version of political wisdom to the king. Here’s a summary of his lesson –

A king should rule and extend his influence. He should not expose his weakness. He should see through others but let no one see through him. He should complete whatever task he sets to achieve. The king should wait and strike the enemy when facing adversaries and get rid of him quickly. 

Weak enemies should be watched and tracked. If an enemy falls into the king’s hands, show no compassion and finish him off, even if the enemy seeks shelter. This can be done openly or in secret. Stubborn enemies can be won over using wealth and should then be killed. Once the enemy is removed, all his friends and allies should also be wiped out. No one should left alive to avenge the dead. 

A king should hide his weaknesses but continue to note the errors others make. Make enemies let their guard down and strike when they don’t have a chance to react. 

The cheapest way to riches is trickery. Use any means to trick the enemy and kill him even if he begs for mercy. Create discord among his friends and isolate him otherwise. 

Kanika shared a story about a clever jackal in a forest – 

A devious jackal had four friends – a tiger, a wolf, a mouse, and a mongoose. One day, they spotted a herd of deer but the leader was too fast and got away. The four friends called a meeting. Jackal advised the tiger to send the mouse to nibble on the deer’s toes when it is asleep so that it would slow down and the tiger would be able to attack easily. 

They did and caught the deer. The jackal told them to take a bath first and they could feast together. The tiger finished washing and returned to find the jackal in deep thought. It said to the tiger that the mouse boasted that it was the king of the jungle as it helped kill a deer. 

The jackal acted as if it was scared and didn’t want to touch the meat without the mouse present. The tiger replied that it would eat only what it killed on its own and walked away. 

A few minutes later, the jackal repeated similar statements to the mouse and said that the mongoose felt it was the tiger who killed the deer and it would happily eat the mouse. The mouse was afraid and ran to its hole to avoid becoming a meal of the mongoose. 

When the wolf arrived, the jackal continued its evil games. He warned the wolf that the tiger was furious. The wolf rushed off to avoid confronting the tiger. 

Next, the mongoose arrived. The jackal boasted that all the others ran away after being trashed and demanded if it also wanted the same treatment. The mongoose replied that it was no hero and left. 

The happy jackal devoured the entire deer. 

Kanika said that a king could learn a valuable lesson from this. 

Depending on the enemies’ weaknesses, different methods should be used to trick and defeat them. 

Even if the king’s relative, son/ brother/ father/ etc., becomes an enemy, they should not be ignored. The enemies should be destroyed through means like seduction, bribery, poison, treachery, etc., and it should be done immediately. If both sides are equally strong, the one who strikes first has an advantage. 

A pompous guru should not be rebuked or angered even if he is annoying. A king should never show his anger. Instead, he should strike when the other person doesn’t expect it. Or, he should first act kind and win over the person with gifts and then attack. It is also important to burn down the enemy’s house after killing him.

The enemy has to be crushed totally by any means. Suspect the ones that appear harmless as loss occurs due to misplaced trust. Always be cautious when treating the faithful ones. Double-test the spies before appointing them. Fake ascetics and scoundrels make good spies and should be placed in public spaces, temples, hills, forests, drinking halls, yagna sites, and among state officials. Even the most vicious act should be done with a smile. To achieve success, be humble first and flatter people. 

Face misfortune nobly. A king should never relax after signing a treaty with an enemy. Counsel and advice should be given in secret. Use spies but prevent others’ spies from seeing the internal matters. Gauge the enemy’s strengths and find a way to destroy them. 

When in need, don’t beg or ask. If aid arrives, don’t ask for more. Don’t complete the projects entirely. Leave a little for others to fulfill. Their services might be useful later on. 

Don’t let a friend or enemy guess the plans until the job has been accomplished. Share only the smallest possible details with friends if required. Keep worrying about danger until it occurs but face it with courage and overcome the challenges. Don’t overlook minor details when planning. 

Intelligence and hard work go hand in hand to achieve success. Never underestimate the enemy as even a small king can win with proper support from allies. Give false hopes to the enemies and defer their demands. Present a convincing reason for this. Be like a razor sheathed in leather. Slice off hair when the right time arrives. 

Kanika concluded his advice by telling Dhritarashtra to treat the Pandavas the way he thinks would be the best and nothing he does should cause repentance later on. 

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Note: Kanika Niti is not a part of the Critical Edition 

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How Duryodhana Poisoned Bhima – Stories from Adi Parva

Duryodhana-poisoned-bhima

Duryodhana’s hatred for the Pandavas hadn’t occurred overnight. Soon after the Pandavas came to Hastinapura after Pandu’s death, they became popular with everyone for their good manners and helpful nature. This caused envy and jealousy in Duryodhana, who until then, considered himself a favorite. He poisoned Bhima and tried many other ways to get rid of the Pandavas (but failed).

When Bhishma hired Drona to train the Pandavas and Kauravas, things escalated. The Pandavas were much more talented, which irked Duryodhana. He became friends with Karna, who disliked a younger Arjuna for his archery. Over the months and years, Duryodhana tried various means to kill the Pandavas, though none of these succeeded. 

One of the initial attempts was the kalakuta poison he fed Bhima by mixing it with his food. Bhima, who loved food, consumed it and fell into a deep sleep. Duryodhana, with help from Karna, Dushasana, and Shakuni, rolled Bhima’s body into a bag and dropped it into River Ganga. He tied rocks to the bag to prevent Bhima from escaping in case Bhima somehow managed to survive despite being poisoned.

The bag sank to the bottom of the river where the nagas lived. Young nagas were playing around. They saw the bag and attacked it. When the young nagas saw Bhima, they bit him at random places. The venom released into his body clashed with the kalakuta. This resulted in Bhima waking up from a deep sleep. He moved around, crushing the young snakes under him. 

The older nagas, Vasuki, Aryaka, and others, arrived at the site. They recognized Bhima as the great-grandson of Aryaka (Kunti’s father’s grandfather) and guessed what had happened. The elders collected the deadliest poison and made Bhima drink it. He then slept for seven days under their care. When Bhima woke up on the eighth day, he felt as energetic as ever. The nagas were relieved that their plan worked. They made Bhima immune to all kinds of poison so that he would be safe from such attacks in the future. 

Bhima took their blessings and went back to his worried mother and brothers. He informed them about Duryodhana’s evil actions. The news reached Vidura as well. However, Vidura and Kunti told the brothers to keep it a secret. In fact, the Pandavas escaped many such attempts and kept them a secret since they knew they weren’t likely to get enough support from the elders in Hastinapura.

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The Curse on Dharma – Stories from Adi Parva

Dharma was born as Vidura in the Mahabharata due to a curse from Rishi Mandavya. This story has been narrated in the Adi Parva. 

rishi-mandavya-curse-on-dharma

A long time ago, there lived a Brahmin named Mandavya who was steadfast in following austerities. He was devoted to truth and established in dharma. He took the vow of silence and meditated with his hands held high in the air. 

One day, a group of robbers stole something from the nearby kingdom and escaped into the forest. They reached the region where Mandavya lived in a small hut. Seeing his house, they hid the stolen goods inside to prevent getting caught by the royal guards. However, the guards chasing the robbers came to the same place and asked Mandavya where the robbers went. Since he was meditating, the Brahmin did not respond. The guards searched the place and found the stolen goods in his hut. 

They assumed he was one of the robbers and acted like a rishi to avoid punishment. The guards grabbed the meditating rishi and carried him to the king. The king listened to the update and sentenced Mandavya to death. He was impaled on a stake. However, he continued with his meditation. He summoned other rishis who visited him in the form of vultures at night and spoke to him. 

The king found out he had wrongly punished a rishi and went to him with his advisors. He apologized to Mandavya and asked for forgiveness. The king personally lowered the rishi from the stake. However, no matter how much he tried, the tip of the stake remained inside the rishi. Finally, the king cut it off. The rishi continued his tapasya with the sharp end of the stake inside his body. 

Many days later, Mandavya went to the abode of Dharma (Yamadharmaraja) and asked why he was given such a punishment. Dharma replied that the rishi had inserted a stick in an insect and impaled its wings when he was young. This act of his was being punished. 

Mandavya felt that the punishment was too much for such a small crime, that too committed by a young child. He said that crimes committed by those younger than fourteen should be severely punished. Mandavya cursed Dharma to be born as a human from a lower sect. However, he would still be a learned and wise man and help others follow dharma. 

That was how Dharma was born as Vidura, the son of Vyasa and the maid of Ambika (the widow of Vichitrivirya, son of Satyavati and Shantanu). 

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Yayati – Stories from Adi Parva

Yayati is an ancestor of the Kuru lineage. His sons are the ancestors of the Yadavas and the Purus. The full story of Yayati’s marriage, curse, and redemption is narrated in the Mahabharata. 

Nahusha was the emperor of the earth. He and his wife Priyavasa had six sons – Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Pancha, and Uddhava. Yayati became the heir and continued to rule the world like his father. He was a capable king who was kind to his subjects. 

Devayani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the guru of the danavas. He was the family purohit of Asura king Vrishaparva. The king had a daughter named Sharmishtha. While the fathers had a decent friendship, their daughters were always fighting and wanting to gain power over the other. As always, the ladies went to take a bath in the river. However, that day, a gust of wind blew their clothes on the riverbank. In a hurry, Sharmishtha picked up Devayani’s clothes and wore them. Devayani was annoyed and said that Sharmishtha was inferior to her and still dared to wear her clothes. 

Sharmishtha replied that if not for her father, Devayani and her father would be without food and housing. As they fought, Sharmishtha pushed Devayani into a well and strode into the city. 

Meanwhile, Yayati was hunting in the nearby forest. He was looking for a well or water source when he heard the calls of a distressed woman. Yayati saw Devayani in the well and helped her climb out safely. He asked who she was and she shared the details. Once she was out, Yayati turned back to return to his troop. Devayani sent her maid Gurmukhi to her father to inform him about the events. When Shukracharya arrived she instigated him against Sharmishtha. He angrily went to the king and informed him of what happened. 

Since Vrishaparva knew how important Shukracharya was for the daityas, he made his daughter apologize to the rishi and Devayani. Devayani wanted Sharmishtha and a thousand other women to be her maids and to do whatever she wanted. The king agreed. Sharmishtha had no choice but to become the maid of the woman she loathed. 

Sometime later, Devayani and the women went to the forest to play. There, she met Yayati again. Yayati wanted to know about Sharmishtha. She asked him about his name and details. Yayati was ready to leave after he answered her questions. Devayani stopped him again and said he should marry her. He replied that it wasn’t possible since she was the daughter of Brahmin which made him unworthy of her. She replied that since he touched her hand, he had to marry her. 

Yayati said he wouldn’t risk angering her father. Devaynai then spoke to Shukracharya about wanting to marry Yayati. The rishi agreed since he knew she was cursed that she wouldn’t have a Brahmin husband. Yayati accepted the marriage proposal. Shukra warned Yayati to be faithful to Devayani and that he should also take care of Sharmishtha and the other maids who would follow Devayani to the kingdom. Yayati agreed. Once they reached his capital, he made arrangements for their living. Soon, he and Devayani had a son. 

A while later, Sharmishtha had attained the marriageable age but since she was Devayani’s slave, she knew her life would be miserable and alone. She decided to approach Yayati. Sharmishtha asked Yayati to help her have a child. He said that Shukra would be furious since he made it very clear that Yayati shouldn’t have any relations with Sharmishtha. However, she managed to convince him by saying he was her king which made it his responsibility to ensure her happiness. Moreover, since she was Devayani’s slave, she technically belonged to him as well, and she was the same as Devayani. 

Yayati agreed. Soon, Sharmishtha conceived and gave birth to a son with beautiful features and a blue lotus complexion. When Devayani heard of this, she went to Sharmishtha and asked for details. Sharmishtha lied that a rishi gave her a boon and she didn’t commit a sin by desiring anyone. After a small conversation, Devayani was happy to let it go. Devayani had two sons – Yadu and Turvasu. Sharmistha had three sons – Druhyu, Anu, and Puru.

One day, when they were in a forest, Devayani saw the three boys and asked who they were since they looked a lot like Yayati. The boys came to him but he didn’t react, fearing Devayani. Seeing the sad boys cry and rush to their mother Sharmishtha, Devayani understood what had happened. She confronted Sharmishtha who said that she did nothing wrong. 

Devayani was upset and left to meet her father. Sukhracharya was angry when he heard the news from his daughter. Yayati tried to defend himself but Shukra cursed him to be deprived of his virility and youth and become an old man for a thousand years. When Yayati pleaded forgiveness, Shukra said he could transfer the curse to anyone who willingly bore the burden on his behalf. 

Back in the capital, Yayati called his sons for a meeting. He first asked Yadu to take on the curse. Yadu declined. The same happened with the others. Only Puru, the youngest child of Sharmishtha, volunteered to accept Yayati’s curse and let his father have years of youth. Yayati made Puru his successor and crowned him the heir. He then cursed his other sons. He said Yadu’s sons would not get a share of the kingdom. Turvasu’s lineage would become extinct with the men becoming weak and acting without morals. Druhyu’s dreams wouldn’t come true and no one in his lineage would become kings. They would have the title of Bhoja and rely on waterways for a living. Anu’s offspring would die young (as soon as they attain youth) and he would never be able to perform a yagna or a fire sacrifice. 

Yayati then blessed Puru that he would regain his youth after a thousand years and that his future generations would continue to be kings for prosperous kingdoms. Yayati became young again while Puru looked like a frail old man. Yayati spent the next thousand years enjoying his youth. However, he ensured to perform the necessary sacrifices and offered donations as expected of him. When the time ended, Yayati told Puru that he had enjoyed his life to the fullest and returned the youth to his son as promised. When Yayati made Puru his heir, many people objected. However, he declared that he had the right to choose his heir and it would be someone worthy like Puru. Installing Puru as the king, Yayati left for the forest. He attained heaven when he died. 

After many years in heaven, Yayati lost his place there due to his arrogance. This happened during his conversation with Indra who asked Yayati if he thought there was anyone equal to him in austerities. Yayati was so proud of his austerities that he said there was none. Indra said that Yayati would fall from heaven for his answer since many great men did better. However, he was suspended in the air without falling to the earth since he still had some merit left. When he was hanging midair, his grandsons (born of his daughter Madhavi and four kings) gave him each a share of their punya to help him regain his place in heaven. Yayati was also able to learn his lesson and get rid of his flaws completely. 

The four grandsons were – Vasumana, Ashtaka, Pratardana, and Sibi. 

As he fell, he first met Ashtaka who asked him why he was filling. They had a detailed conversation where Yayati taught Ashtaka about many things. Ashtaka was so happy with the knowledge that he gave away his share of space in heaven so that Yayati would regain his position. Similar conversations took place with Pratardana, Vasumana, and Sibi, who volunteered to give up their share for Yayati. 

Yayati told the four kings that they had all attained heaven for their selflessness. Then, he asked them whose sons they were and realized they were his grandsons. Yayati said that daughters and grandsons would help the parents find a place in heaven. 

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Shakuntala and Dushyant – Stories from Adi Parva

The love story of Shakuntala and Dushyant (Duhshanta) has been popularized by Kalidasa. However, the version we read in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata is different. It doesn’t include the curse of Rishi Durvasa nor does Dushyant forget his wife. However, it is dramatic in its own way and shows Shakuntala’s inner strength. 

shakuntala-dushyant

A long time ago, there lived a king named Dushyant, belonging to the Paurava dynasty. He was the emperor of the world that covered various kingdoms, lands, water bodies, mountains, etc. People lived happily and prospered under Dushyant’s rule. They loved him and felt safe under his rule. Dushyant was described as a young but well-built warrior king with a body like a diamond and skilled in using all kinds of weapons. 

Dushyant went to hunt in a forest with River Malini. He and his troop spent a few days hunting various animals. However, one day, Dushyant was deep inside the forest and thirsty. He explored the land searching for water sources and came across the most beautiful ashram he ever saw. The ashram was situated alongside River Malini and flourished with different types of plants (flowering and fruit). Birds, bees, butterflies, etc., flew around happily. Some ascetics were chanting mantras or in deep tapasya. He wanted to meet Rishi Kanva who lived at the ashram and told his troop to go back to their camp. 

Dushyant walked inside the heavenly ashram and felt refreshed. He didn’t find Rishi Kanva and called out loudly to announce his presence. A beautiful young woman stepped out of a hut to greet him. Dushyant was mesmerized by her beauty and elegance. She welcomed him to the ashram and gestured for him to sit. She then offered him water and fruits and inquired about his welfare. 

After a while, Dushyant said that he wanted to pay his respects to Rishi Kanva. Shakuntala replied that the rishi was away. Dushyant inquired about her, saying he wanted to know who she was and why she was at the ashram. Shakuntala gave him her name and replied that she was Rishi Kanva’s daughter. 

A surprised Dushyant asked how that was possible. Shakuntala explained that she was actually the daughter of Apsara Menaka and Rishi Vishwamitra. Indra had sent Menaka to disturb Vishwamitra’s tapasya. She managed to be successful and conceived a child during the affair. Menake delivered the baby and left her on the riverbank near Rishi Kanva’s ashram. The rishi found a newborn one morning and decided to adopt her. Since the child was surrounded by birds and animals, he named her Shakuntala. She had grown up at the ashram as his daughter. 

Dushyant then proposed to marry her and said he would gift his entire kingdom to her if she agreed to be his wife. He suggested they wed in the gandharva style which didn’t require lengthy rituals or mantras but was an acceptable form of marriage for the Kshatriyas. Shakuntala asked him to wait for Rishi Kanva’s return as he would officiate the wedding. 

However, Dushyant insisted that it wasn’t necessary. He explained the various forms of marriage – brahma, daiva, arsha, prajapatya, asura, gandharva, rakshasa, and paishacha. While the four forms were recommended for the Brahmins, the first six were valid for Kshatriyas. The pisacha and asura forms are not sectioned by dharma and should not be used. Hence, they could get married in gandharva style wedding and it would be official. 

Then Shakuntala said that she would agree to the wedding only if he promised to make her son his heir to the throne. Dushyant agreed right away. They were married and spent the next few days at the ashram. He left to go back to the kingdom, promising to send an army to escort Shakuntala to Hastinapura and make her his queen. 

Rishi Kanva arrived at their ashram a while after Dushyant left. Shakuntala hesitated meeting him but the rishi assured her that she didn’t do anything wrong and that he blessed their union. Shakuntala continued to live at the ashram. She delivered a healthy son with all auspicious signs on his body. The baby was big and strong, so the rishis named him Sarvadamana. When the child was three years old, Rishi Kanva told Shakuntala it was time for her to go to her husband. 

Shakuntala took her son and went to Hastinapura accompanied by some Brahmins. She sought an audience with King Dushyant and introduced the child as his son, reminding him of his promise to her. However, Dushyant refused to acknowledge her, though he remembered everything. He said he didn’t know her. 

Shakuntala was angry and sad. She controlled her anger and said that it was worthy of a king to lie and that the universe was their witness. She asked him not to disrespect her since she came to him instead of waiting as he asked her to. Pointing out to the child, Shakuntala said Dushyant needed to acknowledge his flesh and blood. 

When she talked about being Menaka’s daughter, Dushyant insulted her and even questioned the boy’s parentage. Shakuntala was beyond furious. She retorted that Menaka was one of the goddesses, and her own birth was greater than Dushyant’s. She called him an evil man for his actions and said even ants showed better character than a king like him. Finally, she said she would go away since she didn’t want to be associated with someone like him. However, one day, Dushyant would die and her son would rule the world.

As Shakuntala turned to leave, a voice spoke from heaven. It admonished Dushyant for refusing to do his duty by abandoning his wife and son. It said that he and his kingdom would suffer if he did not accept his family and that his son would become a great emperor and be called Bharata.

Dushyant then announced to everyone in the court that the voice from heaven was proof of his relationship with Shakuntala and the child. He said he didn’t want any suspicion associated with them and hence had to pretend he didn’t recognize her. Dushyant embraced his son and declared him the heir to the kingdom.

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Churning the Milky Ocean – Stories from Adi Parva

The churning of the milky ocean for amrita is one of the popular stories from the Puranas. Rishi Sauti narrated it in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. 

churning-the-milky-ocean

A long time ago, the devas met on the mystical Meru Mountain. The repeated wars with asuras were affecting them. Many devas were being injured or killed. Though Mount Meru had many magical herbs, they wanted a better solution, something like a one-time drink to make sure the injured healed automatically and made them immortal. After the meeting, they went to Brahma Deva with their request. He took them to Narayana who advised that they churn the milky ocean to obtain amrita. Drinking the nectar of immortality would solve their problems. 

Narayana also advised the devas to convince the asuras to join them in the process, as it was laborious. He assured them that he would ensure the amrita wouldn’t be misused. The devas first went to the milky ocean and asked permission to churn it. With advice from Narayana, they requested Sesha (Ananta) to uproot and bring the Mandara Mountain for churning. To prevent the setup from sinking, they asked Akupara, the king of tortoises for help. The majestic tortoise carried the weight of the mountain on his back. Sesha wrapped around the mountain. The devas held his tail while the asuras held his head. 

The churning began. Sesha hissed venom in the process, but the asuras could handle it. However, both sides were soon exhausted. Narayana used his powers to shower them with endless energy until they achieved the task. Slowly, different items began to rise from the milky ocean. 

The moon arose, full, bright, and soothing. Goddess Lakshmi came out sitting in a lotus flower and married Narayana. The goddess of wine, Sura Deva, rose with a jar in hand. Then rose the white horse, Ucchaihshravas. A large red ruby named Kaustubha rose and adorned Narayana’s chest. Dhanvantri, the healer of the devas, rose from the milky ocean with a pot in hand. He brought the amrita to the surface. The asuras stole the pot from him. 

As the devas were dejected, Narayani transformed into Mohini, a beautiful young woman. Mohini went in search of the asuras and tricked them into giving the pot of amrita to her. Back in heaven, Narayana distributed the amrita to the gods. However, a danava followed Mohini to heaven and licked a drop of the amrita by hiding behind some devas. Surya Deva and Soma Deva saw this and informed Narayana, who sliced the danava’s head with his chakra. However, the amrita made him immortal. The danava became two beings – Rahu, the head, and Ketu, the body. They swore revenge on the sun and moon and tried to swallow them whenever possible. However, they couldn’t hold on for long and would eventually release them. 

In the next war with the asuras, the devas could win without casualties. They asked Narayana to keep the amrita safe. He helped Indra, the ruler of heaven, safeguard the amrita with various security measures.

The wish-fulling cow, Surabhi/ Kamadhenu, the parijata tree, Airavata, a four-tusked white elephant, and the deadliest poison, Kalakuta, also rose from the milky ocean during the churning. The cow was gifted to the rishis. Indra kept Airavata, and his wife, Sachi, asked for the parijata tree. The white-winged horse was gifted to Bali. Shiva collected the poison and held it in his throat to prevent the destruction of the world. 

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