The Pandavas and Rishi Lomasa visited Mount Vaidurya and went down to Narmada. Rishi Lomasa told them it was where Sharyati’s sacrifice took place, where the Ashwins drank soma with Indra. An angry Rishi Chyavana paralyzed Indra in his anger.
Yudhistira wanted to know the story.
Rishi Lomasa gave the details.
Rishi Chyavana was the son of Bhrigu and immensely popular for his austerities. He was in an intense tapasya that lasted several years. Seasons changed, nature changed, and ants built an anthill around him since he didn’t move from his position. Still, unbothered by it, the rishi continued his tapasya. Only his eyes were visible.
One day, King Sharyati arrived at the place to enjoy near the river. Four thousand women were with him (including his wives, etc.). His daughter, Sukanya, was also with them. She was a beautiful woman. Sukanya roamed in the forest with her friends. After a while, she separated from them and reached the anthill. Randomly she broke a branch with flowers and carried it with her. The rishi saw her through the anthill and called out. However, she didn’t hear him.
Stepping closer to the anthill, she saw two eyes stare at her. Curious, she poked in one of them with the branch. The rishi was angered and cursed the king’s soldiers to have loose bowel and bladder movements.
Noticing the sudden change in them, Sharyati knew something was wrong. He immediately asked if anyone knowingly or unknowingly disturbed Chyavana who was in his tapasya. The soldiers replied it wasn’t them. The king tried hard to find the person responsible. Finally, Sukanya said she poked at something in an anthill thinking it was an insect. The king went to the anthill and recognized it was the rishi. Sharyati bowed to him and pleaded forgiveness as her act was from ignorance and malice.
Chyavana said he would forgive the king if he gave his daughter’s hand in marriage. The king agreed. After the wedding, Sukanya lived with Rishi Chyavana in the forest and followed his lifestyle.
One day, Sukanya was bathing in the river when the Ashwins saw her. Mesmerized by her beauty, they asked who she was. When she replied, they asked why she was married to an older rishi. The Ashwins said she should leave him and go with them to lead a happy life by marrying one of them. She responded that she was devoted to her husband and didn’t want to leave him.
The Ashwins gave her an option. Since they were the physicians of the gods, they would make Chyavana youthful again. Then, She should choose a husband from among the three (the Ashwin twins and Chyavana). They even asked her to tell the rishi about this offer and bring him to them.
Sukanya did as told. Chyavana said they should do what the Ashwins asked and went with her to the river. The Ashwins asked Chyavana to take a dip in the water. They also did the same. When they rose, all three of them looked equally handsome and radiant. In a unified voice, the trio asked Sukanya to choose one of them as her husband. Sukanya used her intelligence to identify her husband and choose him.
Happy with the result, Chyavana said that the Ashwins had given him youth and beautiful looks as well as his wife again. In return, he gave them the right to drink soma in the presence of Indra. The Ashwins were also happy with the result and went back to heaven.
When King Sharyati heard of the events, he rushed to the ashram with his wife. They were all delighted with the developments. Rishi Chyavana said he would perform a yagna for the king. On the auspicious day, Chyavana got everything ready, built the altar, and performed the sacrifice. The gods arrived when it was time. Chyavana offered the cup of soma to Indra as per the custom. Then, he also offered two cups to the Ashwins. Indra objected saying they didn’t deserve it. Chyavana countered that they did deserve the soma and were worthy of accepting it along with Indra and other gods.
Indra protested but Chyavana was firm. Indra then threatened to hurl his vajra at the rishi if he offered the soma to the Ashwins. Chyavana simply smiled and handed over the cups to the Ashwins. When Indra grabbed the vajra to hurl it, the rishi caused his arm to freeze in paralysis. Once the offering was complete, the rishi created an asura named Mada (meaning arrogance and intoxication) using his powers. It was a horrible asura, large, terrifying, and ferocious. The asura rushed at Indra in rage. With his arm still paralyzed, Indra was sweating and worried. He didn’t know what to do. Deciding peace was his best choice, Indra agreed with Chyavana that the Ashwins were deserving of soma and would henceforth be allowed to drink it at yagnas. He asked the rishi to show mercy on him.
Rishi Chyavana was happy to do so. He divided Mada into parts and added it to drinks, women, gambling, and hunting, making them addictive to everyone. The god left after the yagna ended. King Sharyati went back to his kingdom. Chyavana and Sukanya stayed happily in the forest.