The Story of Yavakrit (Part 2)

In the previous article, we saw that Yavakrit started laughing at Indra when he saw Indra, disguised as a Brahmin, attempting to dam the river Ganga with handfuls of sand. He said, “O Brahmin what you are doing is an impossible task, you cannot dam this mighty flow in this stupid way.”

Indra replied, “Just as you are practicing these terrible austerities so you can get the knowledge of the Vedas directly?”

Yavakrit realized that the Brahmin was Indra, he said, “O lord of the gods, how can you compare my severe penance with your impossible effort. If you do not give my father and me the knowledge of the Vedas, and also the boon that we will be better than others, I will die practicing tapas.”

Indra relented and told Yavakrit that both his father and he would get knowledge of the Vedas and all his desires would be fulfilled. Then, Indra left for his heavenly abode.

Yavakrit was very happy and ran to his father to give him the good news. He told him that both of them would get the knowledge of the scriptures and they would excel all the other Brahmins. His father, Bharadwaj, who was a mature rishi, became very sad. He spoke to Yavakrit, “You have acquired knowledge in a wrong way. This knowledge will only make you proud and haughty and one day will be the cause of your destruction.”

He added “As an example, let me tell you a small story which the devas repeat very often. Once there was a learned muni called Baladhi. He was very attached to his only son and started practicing severe tapas with the aim of acquiring the boon of immortality for his son. The gods were pleased with his effort and granted him a boon. When the gods realized what he wanted, they told him that immortality could not be given to any soul born in human form but they would grant him a long life. While they were saying these words, the rishi saw that he was standing near a mountain so he said that his son should live as long as the mountain stood there. The gods granted his request.”

He continued, “Baladhi’s son grew up to be a proud and angry young man. He knew that he was nearly immortal and this only increased his haughtiness. He started roaming the earth and troubling rishis who were deep in meditation and austerity. Once he came upon Rishi Dhanupakshya, who was not only learned but also had acquired power from his tapas. Baladhi’s son tormented the rishi, who, in turn, cursed him to be burnt to ashes. Even after being cursed nothing happened to the rishi’s son. Dhanupakshya then divined as to why his curse had not touched the young rishi’s son. He then recited some mantras and created a herd of powerful buffaloes and he ordered them to break the mountain which was the cause of the boy’s long life. The minute this happened the boy was reduced to ashes.”

He added, “Rishi Baladhi, the boy’s father was thrown into deep sorrow and cried out so loud that the gods could hear him.”