The story of the sage Chyavan

 

The Mahabharat by itself is a story narrated. It has many stories within it told by one or other characters within it. Some of them relate to the Puranas and date back to times much before Mahabharat. The Pandavas, in particular, during their sojourns and travails, individually or as family met many saints and oracles who narrated them various stories. One such story is that of the Rishi (sage) Chyavan and the lake named after him. This story was narrated by the sage Lomasa to Yudhishthir.

The great saint Bhrigu had a son named Chyavan. From a very young age he started practicing austerities by the side of the great lake. By constant meditation, he assumed the Vira posture- quiet and still like an inanimate post. He remained like this at the same spot of ground for ages and gradually an anthill grew upon him covered with creepers. In this position he continued his meditation for years.

Now it so happened that after a long space of time, the ruler of earth, Saryati by name, visited that pleasant and excellent lake for amusement with the women of his palace. He was also accompanied by a retinue of his soldiers. The beautiful princess Sukanya, his only daughter, while walking about, approached the anthill which grew on Chyavan. With the company of other women, they began to frolic around the mound of earth. Sensing them around him, Chyavan’s meditation was interrupted and his eyes opened. Through the holes on the mound he could see the princess and amorous desire arose in his soul. He called her out in a very low voice but she couldn’t hear him.

Noticing the shiny eyes of the sage through the mound of earth, she felt curious and took them to be glow worms. As natural with young people, she took a twig and poked it into the anthill. This pierced his eyes and he experienced terrible pain. Angered by the pain, he used his ascetic powers and obstructed the calls of nature of Saryati's forces. This was very unpleasant for everybody and the king ordered for a detailed enquiry. The transgression by Sukanya was revealed.

Saryati immediately came to the ant-hill, and found the old sage. He folded his hands and begged apology asking forgiveness for the rash act of his daughter due to ignorance and inexperience. Chyavan agreed with the condition that she be married to him as his wife. Saryati without thinking twice, bestowed his daughter to the sage and left for  his palace with his entourage. Sukanya started living in the forest with her husband who was very old for her.

Once, Sukanya the young and beautiful wife of the old hermit Chyavan went to have a bath in the lake. The twin Ashwin brothers, the celestial beings happened to see her glorious body resplendent with its bounty of youth, they approached her saying – “O young beauty, who are you and what are you doing in this forest?”

Bashfully, covering herself Sukanya replied – “O celestials, I am Sarayati’s daughter, and Chyavan's wife.”

The twins smiled at her word and said – “Don’t understand why your father chose to hand you over to that old man on the verge of death. O beautiful girl, you shine like a jewel in this wood. Not even in the celestial regions have we seen a woman like you. Even unadorned with costly robes and jewellery you are so excellent to behold.”

Sukanya didn’t answer and filled with a mixture of shame and pleasure started leaving.

The Ashwins further tried to seduce her saying- “O young lady, we understand your plight that you have to serve such a decrepit old husband who has become incapable of realising pleasure and also maintain you. Why don’t you forsake Chyavan and accept one of us for husband? Don’t spend your youth fruitlessly.”

Hearing this Sukanya answered the celestials saying. 'I am devoted to my husband, Chyavan. Don’t entertain any doubts regarding my fidelity.”

They again said “Well, then. We two are the celestial physicians. We can make your husband young and graceful. After that you chose any one between us three as your partner. “

Agreeing to this Sukanya went to her husband and told him everything. Hearing her, Chyavan to agreed. The Ashwins asked Chyavan to enter the water and dip into the water along with them. Eager to regain his youth, Chyavan did so and the three males dipped in the lake. And the next moment they all came out of the tank in exceedingly beautiful forms of youth and vigour. But they all appeared the same. Then one of them called out to Sukanya – “O, beautiful one, you can choose any one of us as your spouse. “

She was bewildered as all the three persons looked the same. After deliberating for quite some time, she chose one of them and the pleasant surprise was that it was indeed her husband, Chyavan. The Ashwins were dejected as their ploy to have Sukanya failed. But the sage Chyavan was elated to get back a youthful form and energy along with his coveted wife. He addressed the twins in a happy mood – “O kind celestials, I am grateful to you for regaining my youth and beauty. Therefore, I wish to repay you by offering you the Soma juice in the presence of the lord of celestials himself. I promise you this. “

Hearing this the Ashwins too were happy and they bid farewell to the couple and went back to their heavenly domain. Needless to say, after this, Chyavan and Sukanya too passed their days happily and in the most romantic manner exploring the fruits of youth in each other’s arms.

In no time the news of Chyavan having regained his youth reached Saryati and he was mighty pleased for his daughter and son-in-law. Accompanied by his troops he visited the hermitage in the forest where they lived and he and his queen were overjoyed to find the young couple there. As they sat together in discussion, the sage said – “O king, please arrange for an auspicious ceremony to rejoice on the event on a suitable day, I will myself officiate as the priest.”

Hearing this the king Saryati was delighted and he immediately asked his men to provide everything required to perform a Yagna (Sacrificial ceremony). On the next auspicious day, a shrine was erected and splendidly furnished with all things necessary for the ceremony. Chyavan officiated as the high priest in the ceremony. After the initial deliberations he proceeded to pick up the pot of Soma juice in order to invoke the Ashwin brothers and offer them the juice, as promised by him.

Suddenly there was a rumbling in the sky and the voice of Indra, the king of celestials pronounced his dictat – “O sage, the two Ashwins are just physicians and lowly placed in the hierarchy of the celestials and have no right to the offering of Soma made by you.”

Chyavan looked skyward and replied- “O lord Indra, I find them to be kind souls possessed of mighty enterprise and endued with beauty and grace. Moreover, they have converted me into an eternally youthful person, like a celestial. Why should only you and the other celestials have a right tothe distilled Soma juice, and not they? O lord of the celestials, O demolisher of hostile towns! be it known that the Ashwins also rank as gods.”

At this, Indra again thundered from the skies – “These two brothers practice the art of healing, so they are but servants. They assume forms at their pleasure and roam about in the world of mortal beings. How can they then rightfully claim the juice of the Soma?”

Saying this, Indra repeated his warning. But Chyavan, the great son of Bhrigu, did not pay any more attention to him. As he proceeded to offer the Soma Juice to the Ashwin twins, Indra appeared in person and prepared to hurl his Vajra (thunderbolt). But as he was about to do so the sage cast a spell on him through his ascetic powers that paralysed his arms. After having paralysed his arm, Chyavan recited sacred hymns, and made offering on the fire. Then by his ascetic energy, he created a huge evil looking demon – Mada to destroy Indra. The demon rushed at the celestial with the intent to devour him. The whole world resonated with the sounds of his fury. Finding his own arms paralysed, the king of Gods, Indra was frightened as the demon approached him. Then in fervent prayer to the sage he begged mercy and promised him that from that instant itself the two Ashwins will be ranked along with the Gods. They would also be eligible for the Soma juice.

Finding the king of the celestials praying to him so pathetically, Chyavan was appeased, and he reverted his curse to cure Indra of paralysis. And then, using his powers, he concentrated Mada into a very small form and distributed it amongst Sura (alcohol) as intoxication, in women as attraction, in gambling as addiction and in sports as zest to win.

The fame of Chyavan spread far and wide. He spent many years of conjugal happiness with his wife at the banks of the lake which came to be named after him. Even today, the ayurvedic medicine called Chyavanprash, considered to be an elixir for maintaining youth and vitality, bears his name. And the demon Mada distributed by him in wine, women, gambling and sports rule the world, we all must have experienced that.