This story, from [Devi:4.3.3-4.7.23], contains multiple intertwining narratives involving several key figures in Hindu mythology, highlighting the complex relationships between divine beings and their incarnations, curses, and boons.
Kashyapa and His Divine Cow
The sage Kashyapa, known as the grandson or wish-born son of Lord Brahma, plays a significant role in this myth. Kashyapa sought to perform a great Yagna (sacrifice) and borrowed a divine cow from Varuna, the god of water, to assist in the ceremony. After the Yagna was completed, however, Kashyapa refused to return the cow despite Varuna’s repeated requests.
Connection to Other Entities:
- Varuna, growing angry, approached Brahma to seek justice. However, Brahma claimed he could not control Kashyapa.
- Varuna then cursed Kashyapa, condemning him to be born in the cowherd caste among humans. His wives, Diti and Surasa, were also cursed to share his fate. This connects to the broader Yadava lineage (cowherds) in Indian mythology.
| Entity | Role/Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Kashyapa | Borrows and refuses to return Varuna’s divine cow | Cursed to be born as Vasudeva in the Yadava clan |
| Varuna | God of water, whose cow was taken | Issues a curse against Kashyapa and his wives |
| Brahma | Creator deity, unable to intervene | Affirms the curse |
| Diti & Surasa | Present during the Yagna | Born as Kashyapa’s wives in the Yadava clan (as Devaki, etc.) |
Incarnation as Vasudeva and Devaki
According to the curse, Kashyapa was reincarnated as Vasudeva, a member of the Yadava clan, and married Devaki, the sister of the tyrant Kamsa. Devaki was the incarnation of Aditi, who bore the sorrow of seeing her children killed, thus fulfilling the curse given to her by Diti, her co-wife in a previous life. This introduces a key connection to the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana narratives, where Vasudeva and Devaki play significant roles as the parents of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu.
Connection to the Story of Indra and Aditi:
- Aditi, as the mother of the Devas, had been previously cursed by Diti, after Indra split Diti’s fetus into seven pieces. This curse led to the death of seven of Aditi’s sons, aligning with the birth and deaths of Devaki’s first seven children at the hands of Kamsa.
| Entity | Role/Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Aditi | Reincarnated as Devaki | Suffered the curse of seeing her children die |
| Indra | Son of Aditi, who played a role in Diti’s curse | Indirectly causes the curse to manifest in Devaki’s life |
| Kamsa | Tyrant who killed Devaki’s children | Fulfilled the curse by killing Devaki’s seven sons |
Nara and Narayana’s Penance and Conflict with Indra
Meanwhile, another facet of the narrative concerns Nara and Narayana, the twin sage incarnations of Vishnu. They were born to Kashyapa and his wife Moorthy. Both sages, from a young age, displayed immense dedication to Tapas (penance) on the banks of the Ganga, where they meditated upon the supreme Brahman.
Connection to Indra’s Fear of Losing Power:
- The intensity of their penance alarmed Indra, the king of the gods, who feared losing his throne due to the spiritual power of Nara and Narayana. This mirrors a recurring theme in Hindu mythology, where powerful ascetics and sages, through their austerities, inadvertently threaten the celestial order.
| Entity | Role/Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Nara-Narayana | Perform severe austerities on the banks of Ganga | Threaten the power of Indra, who tries to disrupt their penance |
| Indra | King of gods, fearful of losing his throne | Fails to disrupt their penance through illusions and seduction |
Indra’s Failed Attempts to Distract Nara and Narayana
Indra’s attempts to thwart their penance involve calling upon Kama (the god of love) and the Apsaras (celestial nymphs) to seduce the ascetic brothers. However, Nara and Narayana remain unaffected by their beauty and charm, much like other stories where ascetics resist divine temptations. This theme reflects the supreme power of Tapas, which, when properly channeled, cannot be overcome by material temptations.
Connection to the Creation of Urvashi:
- In response to the Apsaras’ attempts, Narayana creates Urvashi, a nymph more beautiful than any of the celestial dancers. Urvashi, a figure who appears in many stories within Indian mythology, was gifted to Indra by Narayana. This highlights Narayana’s power over creation, which transcends even the beauty of the heavens.
| Entity | Role/Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Kama | God of love, attempts to disrupt Nara and Narayana | Fails to distract the sages with arrows of love |
| Apsaras | Celestial nymphs sent to seduce the sages | Creation of Urvashi, surpassing their beauty |
| Urvashi | Nymph created from Narayana’s thigh | Becomes the most beautiful celestial, gifted to Indra |
Reincarnation as Krishna and Arjuna
Nara and Narayana, as foretold, reincarnate in the Mahabharata era as Arjuna and Krishna, respectively. Krishna’s vow of celibacy in this incarnation, despite his many consorts, and Arjuna’s role as a key warrior in the Kurukshetra War, fulfill the earlier prophecy of their union in divine purpose. The nymphs, who had asked to become their wives, were reincarnated to be Krishna’s consorts and companions.
| Entity | Role/Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Krishna | Reincarnation of Narayana | Fulfills the prophecy of the nymphs becoming his consorts |
| Arjuna | Reincarnation of Nara | Plays the role of the great warrior in the Mahabharata |
| Apsaras | Reincarnated as consorts of Krishna | Fulfill their wish to be united with Nara-Narayana |
Conclusion
This story beautifully connects several key themes and characters from Hindu mythology. It links the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana through the figures of Vasudeva, Devaki, Krishna, and Arjuna, while also illustrating recurring motifs such as penance vs. celestial power, the consequences of curses, and the ultimate triumph of spiritual discipline over temptation. It weaves together divine, human, and celestial worlds, reflecting the rich, interconnected fabric of Indian mythology.