Table of Contents
Kacha meets Devyani
Recap:
Vaishampayan had narrated the origin of the lunar dynasty, the dynasty to which Janamejaya belonged. While talking about that, he had said King Yayati had been cursed by Rishi Shukracharya to become old. The king had then exchanged the old age for his son’s youth. Janamejaya wanted to know about that. Rishi Vaishampayan started telling the king about the curse.
Rishi Vaishampayan said, ‘I will tell you about King Yayati and his curse. Before I do that, I will tell you how Shukracharya gave his daughter in marriage to Yayati.
There was a war going on between the devas and asuras. The winner of the war would take control over all the worlds. For their welfare, both sides chose their priests. The devas chose Rishi Brihaspati, son of Rishi Angira, as their priest. Rishi Shukracharya became the guru of the asuras. As he was the son of Rishi Bhrigu, Shukracharya was also called Bhargava. In the battles, the devas killed many asuras. Now, Shukracharya had the knowledge of a mantra called Sanjivani, which could be used to revive the dead. So, when the asuras died, Shukracharya brought them back to life. Revived, they would come back and fight the devas. Unfortunately, however skilled and learned Brihaspati was, he did not have the knowledge of Sanjivani that Shukracharya possessed. The Devas would fall in battle and Brihaspati was helpless. The devas were amazed and also worried by the power of Shukracharya. This was the kind of power that the devas should possess. Indra and the other devas began discussing this among themselves. They needed to find a way to get this mantra.
The devas were at war, so they could not leave the battle and go. Someone had to go to Shukracharya and learn the mantra. The person had to be young and intelligent. At that moment the only person they could think of was Kacha, Brihaspati’s eldest son. They went to Kacha and said, “We need your help. Shukracharya, son of Rishi Bhrigu, is the guru of the asuras. He has the knowledge of a mantra that he uses to revive the fallen asuras. We need your help. After much deliberation we have decided only you can help us get that mantra. You are young and intelligent. Go to Rishi Shukracharya. Currently the Rishi is living in the capital city of King Vrishaparva. Learn from him. Only you can help us in this time of need. Enrol yourself as his disciple. Accept him as your guru. Shukracharya has a daughter called Devyani. Serve her as you will serve the Rishi.“
After listening to the devas, Kacha took their leave and left for the capital city of Vrishaparva. Reaching the city, he went to the ashrama of Rishi Shukracharya. Seeing the Rishi, Kacha bowed down and prostrated himself before him and introduced himself. “I am Kacha, grandson of Rishi Angira. I have come to you to learn from you.”
Shukracharya accepted Kacha as his disciple and said, “I will teach you all that you wish to learn.”
Initiated by Shukracharya, Kacha accepted the vows of celibacy and started his education. Along with his studies, he performed many tasks for Shukracharya. The Rishi’s daughter became a close friend of Kacha, and he tried to please her and do whatever she asked him to. If she asked him to dance, he would do that. If she asked him to sing, he sang the best songs he knew. If she wanted to hear a specific musical instrument, Kacha would play that to please Devyani.
Thus, many years passed. Kacha was a young man now. One day, Shukracharya called him and asked him to take care of the cattle. He was to clean them, milk them and take them out to graze. Kacha did that and took the cattle out for grazing in a forest nearby. Unknown to Kacha, he had been spotted by some daityas. They had earlier got the news that a new student had come to learn from Shukracharya. From that time onwards, they were curious. Who was he? Later they got to know he was the son of the guru of the devas. The son of an enemy’s guru was their enemy. Why would he come there? Definitely to get the mantra to revive the dead. They could not allow that. This day was their chance. They waited. When they realized Kacha was not paying any attention to them, they attacked him. Before Kacha could realize what was happening, he was dead. The asuras chopped his flesh and fed it to the tigers and leopards in the forest. Their task achieved, they went back to their respective duties.
It was evening and the cattle slowly returned to their homes, by themselves. Kacha was missing. Devyani noticed this and became anxious. She ran to her father and said, “Father, you had asked Kacha to look after the cattle. The cattle have walked in by themselves. Kacha is missing. I am afraid either tigers, leopards or the daityas have killed him. I will not be able to live without Kacha. Do something, dear father or else I shall kill myself.’ Saying this she started crying.
Shukracharya said, “Dear daughter, do not cry. If Kacha has been killed, I will revive him using my mantra.”
Saying this, Shukracharya sat down in an upright position. He began to take deep breaths and began uttering the mantra. Having uttered the mantra, he called out Kacha, taking his name thrice. Due to the power of the mantra, Kacha came to life in the forest. Having regained his life, he came back to the ashrama of Shukracharya. Seeing Kacha enter, Devyani was elated. She went to him and taking his hand in her hands asked, “Where were you, Kacha? I was so worried. What had happened to you?” Kacha said, “When I had gone to the forest with the cattle, the daityas saw me. They killed me and fed my flesh to the tigers and leopards in the forest. It is by the grace of the Guru, that I am back alive.”
Devyani then said to her father, “Please find someone else to take care of your cattle. From tomorrow, Kacha will not be going to the forest with the cattle.”
Shukracharya smiled and agreed to that. ‘
Analysis
First, let me touch upon something - knowledge. Knowledge of Sanjivani, to be precise. Rishi Brihaspati has intellect and skill, but he is helpless. He cannot revive the dead. Rishi Shukracharya has that specialized knowledge. Specialization is what becomes useful in the hour of need. Because the devas lack this knowledge, their entire survival is threatened, forcing them to resort to strategic diplomacy.
Shukracharya is great Rishi but he too has his weak point. He loves his daughter and will do anything for her. When Devyani says she will end her life, Shukracharya uses the mantra to revive Kacha.
Meanings of names
Shukracharya (also Bhargava as he is the son Rishi Bhrigu): Shukra means bright or pure.
Brihaspati: The term comes from Brihat (meaning vast or great) and Pati (meaning Lord).
Kacha: The word literally means hair and also brilliant. He signifies youth and potential.
Devyani: The word comes from Deva and Yana meaning vehicle. The word deva here does not imply the gods, but it comes from the word Daivya or divine or shining one. She is the daughter who will go on to marry king Yayati and also lead to Yayati’s curse.
Sanjivani Mantra: The word comes from Sanjivan meaning bringing back to life (from Sam and Jivan. Sam means bringing together and Jivan means life).
Linking the gurus with planets
In Indian astronomy and astrology, there are stars and planets mapped to names of Rishis. Shukra is associated with Venus. Venus is the brightest object in the sky after the moon and because of its brilliance, it is called Shukra (meaning bright). Brihaspati is associated with Jupiter. Brihaspati coming from Vast or great is associated with Jupiter.
Origin of the term Shukra
Before I proceed further, I want to talk about Shukracharya a bit. In Mahabharata of Vyasa, Shukracharya is referred to by many names. As the son of Bhrigu, he is called Bhargava (meaning descended from Bhrigu). He was actually born with the name Ushnas (meaning the desirous one, having a desire, or the eager one). As per Matsya Purana, he was a student of Rishi Angira. Angira taught both Brihaspati and Ushnas, but favoured his own son, even though Ushnas was more dedicated and brilliant. After completing his education, Ushnas meditated on and pleased Shiva. From Shiva, Ushnas got the secret of the Sanjivani mantra. With the knowledge, he began to shine and thus got the name Shukra. He is also called Kavya in many texts as his mother was called Kavyamata. Semen is also called Shukra as it has life force, is white, meaning pure.
Characters and their significance
Let me talk about the main characters here and their significance.
Kacha is sent with a purpose. He is someone who has a fixed goal and is focussed on achieving it. To do that, he is willing to perform any task to please the Guru and the Guru’s daughter. He is like the ambitious intern who does all the tasks they are assigned (running errands, photocopying, etc.) as long as they get to learn from the seniors. Kacha does whatever Devyani asks him to do, but he knows he has a goal. He is like the person who is making friends at work, but not letting that friendship distract them from their objective.
Devyani is the factor of attachment and emotional leverage. She is the person who takes a liking to someone and because of that, the other person gets the privilege. Kacha’s revival happens only because Devyani asks for that.
Shukracharya is the repository of knowledge. He has a skill which no one else has.
The Daityas here represent the insecurity and cut-throat competitive spirit. They are the corporate politics that try to sabotage someone. The Devas here are the delegators. They need a skill but they cannot go themselves. So, they send young talent and sponsor that assignment, to gain the knowledge.
Sanjivani Mantra is like a corporate intellectual property. It’s highly guarded and only a select few have access to it.
Asuras and Daityas
In Sanskrit literature, some titles can evolve into general descriptions over time. Asura literally means one who opposes the Devas (Sura and A-sura). Since the Daityas were rulers and warriors who were against the devas, the term gets used interchangeably in many places.
Other sources of this text
This tale from the Mahabharata can be found in many Puranas. Here are some of them:
Matsya Purana: The Matsya Purana has a detailed narration where it talks about Shukracharya’s beginnings and also about Kacha and Devyani, which leads to king Yayati. This can be found in chapters 25 and 26 of the Purana.
Shrimad Bhagavata Purana: In Canto 9 of the Purana, the focus is on Yayati and to explain how a king married a brahmin’s daughter, the backstory of Kacha is shared.
Vayu Purana: The Purana talks about the descendants of Bhrigu, Shukracharya’s gaining the mantra and how Kacha is sent by the devas to Shukracharya.
Padma Purana: Srishti Khanda in the Padma Purana talks about Kacha and Devyani.
These are not the only Puranas. This story is also found in Vishnu Purana, Agni Purana, Brahmanda Purana and Devi Bhagavata Purana, amongst many others.
Before I proceed further, I want to talk about the Sanjivani mantra. This is the mantra mentioned in Mahabharata and has the power to revive the dead. There is one more term that one comes to hear, Mrita Sanjivani Mantra. The Puranas like Agni Purana, Shiva Purana use this term. Both the terms refer to the same mantra.
Comparing this with Vyasa's work
Comparing the work of Kashidas and that of Vyasa, shows negligible differences.
The main points are untouched:
- The Devas are losing the war because Shukracharya alone has the Sanjivani mantra.
- Kacha, Brihaspati's son, is sent on a mission to enrol under Shukracharya.
- He works to stay in the good books of both the Guru and his daughter, Devyani.
- The Daityas find out his true identity, ambush him in the forest, and kill him.
- Devyani's grief forces Shukracharya to use his sacred knowledge to bring Kacha back to life.
Conclusion:
Kacha enrolled himself as a student under Shukracharya. Next week, I will share how Kacha gained the knowledge of Sanjivani.
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