"Janamejaya said, 'O you of the wealth of Tapas (Rishi Vaishampaayana), tell me how our ancestor Yayaati, who is the tenth from Prajapati, obtained for a wife the unobtainable daughter of Shukra. I desire to hear of it in detail. Also, tell me, one after another, of those monarchs separately who were the founders of dynasties.'
"Vaishampaayana said, 'The monarch Yayati was in splendour like to (Lord) Indra Himself. I will tell you, in reply to your question, O Janamejaya, how both Shukra and Vrishaparva gave upon him, with due rites, their daughters, and how his union took place with Devayaani in special.
"In ancient times, there happened frequent encounters, between Devas and Asuras, for the sovereignty of the three worlds with everything in them. Devas, then, from desire of victory, installed the son of Angiras (Brihaspati) as their Guru to conduct their yagnas; while their opponents (Asuras) installed the learned Ushanas (Shukaraacharya) as their Guru for the same purpose.
"Between those two Brahmanas (Brihaspati and Shukra) there are always much boastful rivalry. Those Danavas (Asuras) assembled for encounter that were slain by Devas were all revived by Rishi Shukra by the power of his knowledge (Sanjivini). Then starting again, into life -- these (Asuras) fought with Devas. Also Asuras killed on the battle field many Devas. But the open-minded (Deva Guru) Brihaspati could not revive them, because he did not knew the science called Sanjivani (re-vivification) which Kaavya (Shukra) endued with great energy knew so well.
"Therefore, Devas were in great sorrow. Devas, in great anxiety of heart and entertaining a fear of the learned Ushanas (Shukra), then went to Kacha, the eldest son of Brihaspati, and spoke to him, saying, 'We pay court to you, be kind to us and do us a service that we regard as very great. That knowledge which resides in Shukra, that Brahmana of immeasurable capability, make your own as soon as you can. You shall find the Brahmana in the court of Vrishaparvaa (the Chief of Asuras). He (Shukra) always protects the Danavas but never us, their opponents. You are his junior in age, and, therefore, capable of adoring him with respect. You can also adore Devayaani, the favourite daughter of that high-souled Brahmana (Shukra). Indeed, you alone art capable of propitiating them both by worship. There is none else that can do so.
"By pleasing Devayaani with your conduct, liberality, sweetness, and general behaviour, you can certainly obtain that knowledge.' The son of Brihaspati (Kacha), thus asked by Devas, said 'So be it,' and went to where Vrishaparvaa was. Kacha, thus sent by Devas, soon went to the capital of the chief of the Asuras, and saw Shukra there. Seeing him (Shukra), he (Kacha) thus spoke to him, 'Accept me as your disciple. I am the grandson of the Rishi Angiras and son of Brihaspati. By name I am known as Kacha. Yourself becoming my Guru, I shall practise the Brahmacharya mode of life for a thousand years. Command me, then, O Brahmana!'
"Shukra (hearing this) said, 'You are welcome, O Kacha! I accept your speech. I will treat you with regard; for by so doing, it is Brihaspati who will be regarded.'
"Vaishampayana continued, 'Kacha commanded by Kavya or Usanas himself, also called Shukra, then said, 'So be it,' and took the vow he had spoken of. O Bharata (Janamejaya), accepting the vow of which he had spoken, at the proper time, Kacha began to conciliate regardfully both his Guru and (Shukra's daughter) Devayaani. Indeed, he began to conciliate both. As he (Kacha) was young, by singing, dancing and playing on different kinds of instruments, he soon pleased Devayaani who was herself in her youth. O Bharata (Janamejaya), with his whole heart set upon it, he soon pleased the woman Devayaani who was then a young lady, by presents of flowers, fruits and services rendered with readiness.
"Devayaani also with her songs and sweetness of manners used, while they were alone, to attend upon that youth carrying out his vow. When five hundred years had thus passed of Kacha's vow, the Danavas (Asuras) came to learn his (Kacha's) intention (i.e. Kacha's intention to learn Sanjivini from Shukra). Having no regret about slaying a Brahmana, they (Asuras) became very angry with him. One day they saw Kacha in a lonely part of the forest engaged in tending (his Guru's) cows. They then killed Kacha from their hatred of (Deva Guru) Brihaspati and also from their desire of protecting the knowledge of reviving the dead from being conveyed by him. Having slain him (Kacha), they (Asuras) chopped his body into pieces and gave them to be devoured by jackals and wolves. (When twilight came) the cows returned to the stable without him who attended them (i.e. without Kacha). O Bharata (Janamejaya), Devayaani, seeing the cows returned from the forest without Kacha, spoke to her father (Shukra) thus:
'Your evening-fire has been kindled. The Sun also has set, O father! The cows have returned without him who tends them. Kacha is, indeed, not to be seen. It is plain that Kacha has been lost, or is dead. Truly do I say, O father, that without him I will not live.'
"Shukra hearing this said, I will revive him by saying, 'Let this one come.' Then having recourse to the science of reviving the dead, Shukra summoned Kacha. Summoned by his Guru, Kacha appeared before him in the gladness of heart by virtue of his preceptor's science tearing the bodies of the wolves (that had ate him). Asked about the cause of his delay, he thus spoke unto Bhargava's (Shukra's) daughter (Devayaani). Indeed, asked by that Brahman's daughter (Devayaani), he (Kacha) told her, 'I was dead. O you of pure manners, burdened with fuel of yagna, Kusha grass, and logs of wood, I was coming towards our abode. I sat under a banyan tree. The cows also, having been brought together, were staying under the shade of that same banyan tree. The Asuras, seeing me, asked 'Who are you?' They heard me answer, 'I am the son of Brihaspati.' As soon as I said this, the Danavas (Asuras) slew me, and hacking my body into pieces gave my remains to jackals and wolves. Then then went home in the gladness of heart. O friendly one (Devayaani), summoned by the high-souled Bhargava (Shukra), I after all come before thee fully revived.'
"On another occasion, asked by Devayaani, the Brahmana Kacha went into the forest. As he was wandering about for gathering flowers, the Danavas (Asuras) saw him. They again slew him, and beating him into a paste they mixed it with the water of the ocean. Finding him long still (in coming), the lady (Devayaani) again represented the matter to her father. Summoned again by the Brahmana (Shukra) with the aid of his science, Kacha appearing before his Guru and his daughter told everything as it had happened.
"Then slaying him (Kacha) for the third time, burning him and reducing him to ashes, the Asuras gave those ashes to the Guru (Shukra) himself, mixing them with his wine. Devayaani again spoke to her father (Shukra), saying, 'O father, Kacha was sent to gather flowers. But he is not to be seen. It is obvious that he has been lost, or has died. I tell you truly, I would not live without him.'
"Shukra hearing this said, 'O daughter (Devayaani), the son of Brihaspati (Kacha) has gone to the region of the dead. Though revived by my science, he is thus slain frequently. What, indeed, am I to do? O Devayaani, do not grieve, do not cry. One like you should not grieve for one that is mortal. You art indeed, O daughter, in consequence of my capability, worshipped thrice a day during the ordained hours of prayer, by Brahmanas, Devas with Indra, the Vasus, the Ashwins (Ashwini Devas), the Asuras, in fact, by the whole universe. It is impossible to keep him alive, for revived by me he is often killed.'
"To all this Devayani replied, 'Why shall I, O father, not grieve for him whose grandfather is old Angiras himself, whose father is Brihaspati who is an ocean of Tapas merit, who is the grandson of a Rishi and the son also of a Rishi? He himself too was a Brahmachari and a Rishi; always wakeful and skilled in everything. I will starve and follow the way Kacha has gone. The handsome Kacha is, O father, dear to me.'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'The Maharishi Kaavya (Shukra), then, pained by what Devayaani said, cried in anger, 'Certainly, the Asuras seek to injure me, for they slay my disciple that stays with me. These followers of Rudra desire to deprive me of my character as a Brahmana by making me participate in their crime. Truly, this crime has a terrible end. The crime of slaying a Brahmana would even burn (Lord) Indra Himself.'
"Having said this, the Brahmana Shukra, urged by Devayaani, began to summon Kacha who had entered the jaws of Death. But Kacha, summoned with the aid of science, and afraid of the consequence to his Guru, feebly replied from within the stomach of his Guru, saying, 'Be graceful to me, O lord! I am Kacha that worships you. Behave to me as to your own dearly-loved son.'
"Vaishampayana continued, 'Shukra then said, 'O Brahmana (Kacha), by what path have you entered my stomach, where you stay now? Leaving the Asuras this very moment, I shall go over to Devas.'
"Kacha replied, 'By your grace, memory has not failed me. Indeed, I do recollect everything as it has happened. My virtue of Tapas have not been destroyed. It is, therefore, that I am able to bear this almost insufferable pain. O Kaavya (Shukra), slain by the Asuras and burnt and reduced to powder, I have been given to you with your wine. O Brahmana (Shukra), when you are present the art of the Asuras will never be able to vanquish, the science of the Brahmana.'
"Hearing this, Shukra said, 'O daughter, what good can I do to you? It is with my death that Kacha can get his life back. O Devayaani, Kacha is within me. There is no other way of his coming out except by ripping open my stomach.'
"Devayani replied, 'Both evils shall, like fire, burn me! The death of Kacha and your own death are to me the same! The death of Kacha would deprive me of life. If you also die, I shall not be able to bear my life.'
"Then Sukra said, 'O son of Brihaspati (Kacha), you are, indeed, one already crowned with success, because Devayaani regards you so well. Accept the science that I will today teach to you, if, indeed, you be not (Lord) Indra in the form of Kacha. None can come out of my stomach with life. A Brahmana, however, must not be slain, therefore, you accept the science I impart to you. You start into life as my son. Possessed of the knowledge received from me, and revived by me, take care that, on coming out of my body, you do act gracefully.'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'Receiving the science imparted to him by his Guru the handsome Kacha, ripped open his stomach, came out like the moon at evening on the fifteenth day of the bright fort-night (Shukla Paksha in Sanskrit). Seeing the remains of his Guru lying like a heap of Tapas, Kacha revived him, aided by the science he had learned. Worshipping him with regard, Kacha said to his Guru, 'Him who pours the nectar of knowledge into one's ears, as you have done into those of myself who was void of knowledge, him do I regard both as my father and mother. Remembering the immense service done by him, who is there so ungrateful as to injure him? They that, having acquired knowledge, injure their Guru who is always an object of worship, who is the giver of knowledge, who is the most precious of all precious objects on Earth, come to be hated on Earth and finally go to the regions of the sinful.'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'The learned Shukra, having been deceived while under the influence of wine (Suraapaanaa in Sanskrit), and remembering the total loss of consciousness that is one of the terrible consequences of drink, and seeing too before him the handsome Kacha whom he had, in a state of unconsciousness, drunk with his wine, then thought of achieving a reform in the manners of Brahmanas. The high-souled Ushanas (Shukra) rising up from the ground in anger, then spoke as follows: "The wretched Brahmana who from this day, unable to resist the temptation, will drink wine shall be regarded as having lost his Dharma, shall be reckoned to have committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana (Brahmahatya Dosha), shall be hated both in this and the other worlds. I set this limit to the conduct and dignity of Brahmanas everywhere. Let the honest, let Brahmanas, let those with regard for their superiors, let Devas, let the three worlds, listen!' Having said these words that high-souled one, that Rishi of Rishis (Shukra), then summoning the Danavas (Asuras) who had been deprived by fate of the good sense, told them these words, 'O foolish Danavas, you know that Kacha has obtained his wishes. He will from now on dwell with me. Having obtained the valuable knowledge of reviving the dead, that Brahmana (Kacha) has, indeed, become in capacity as (Lord) Brahma Himself!'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'Bhargava (Shukra) having said so much cut short his speech. The Danavas (Asuras) were surprised and went away to their homes. Kacha, too, having stayed with his Guru for a full thousand years, then prepared to return to the abode of Devas (Devaloka in Sanskrit), after having obtained his Guru's permission.'"
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