Srimad Bhagavatham - Story of Cyavana Maharishi and Sukanya
Who is Sage Cyavana? How could Ashwini kumaras get a share in Soma Juice though objected by Indra?
Sage Cyavana is the son of Sage Bhrgu. He was well versed in scriptures and was highly revered.
King Saryati, son of Vaivaswatha Manu, was truthful and was authority in ritualistic sacrifices. Sukanya was his only daughter.
Once King Saryati happened to visit the hermitage of Sage Cyavana with his daughter. The King cautioned his subjects to be careful knowing well Sage Cyavana’s short-temperness and his yogic powers.
In the hermitage, Sukanya saw a pair of bright things like fire flies in an ant hill. Impelled by destiny, the girl in her childish innocence pricked the two bright things with a thorn.
Immediately, a good deal of blood flowed out. That very moment, there was obstruction of stool and urine among the troops that had escorted the king. The King enquired whether any wrongdoing has happened to royal Sage Cyavana.
Sukanya narrated her act to the King. The terrified King gradually propitiated the sage buried underneath an anthill. In order to escape the wrath, he offered his daughter in marriage to the Sage and returned to his capital more cautious than before. Princess Sukanya diligently took care of her husband.
After some days, ashwini kumaras (celestial physicians) came to his hermitage. The Sage requested them to bestow youth on him, and in return, he would make them entitled to Soma Juice though Indra has denied it.
Ashwini Kumaras gladly accepted the proposal and asked Sage Cyavana to enter the pool created by the Siddhas. Astonishingly, three males appeared adorned with wreaths of lotuses and ear rings of gold and finely dressed.
Sukanya could not recognize her husband and requested ashwini kumaras to help identify her husband. Pleased with her vow of fidelity, the two gods showed her husband and left for heaven in their aerial car.
King Saryati visited Sage Cyavana’s hermitage to seek his help to perform a Yagna. He saw beside her daughter a male glowing like a sun as against the previous form of Sage Cyavana.
Sukanya bowed at her father's feet, but he was not pleased. He said “ You have betrayed your husband, the Sage adored by the whole world. You have deserted him because he was old and therefore he was not liked by you. It is indeed a strain on your family”.
When the father was about to curse, Sukanya said “He is none other than your son-in-law," and narrated the whole incident. King Saryati was very much pleased with her conduct.
Sage Cyavana performed the yagna and, through his ascetic power, offered Soma juice to Ashwini Kumaras. Lord Indra objected to it and raised his thunderbolt to kill the Sage. Sage Cyavana paralyzed the arm of Indra. Left with no choice, Indra agreed to offer Soma juice to ashwini kumaras.
Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana
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