Ashvins

Lomasha points out the place of Sharyati's sacrifice, where the Ashvins once drank soma, and mentions that the sage Chyavana was so angered by Indra that he paralysed the king of the gods — and also won Sukanya as his wife. Yudhishthira, hearing this, asks for the full story: how did Chyavana paralyse Indra, why was he angered, and why were the Ashvins made drinkers of soma?

Sukanya obtains her husband Chyavana's permission to accept the Ashvins' proposal. The twin gods enter the lake with Chyavana, and all three emerge equally youthful and divine. Then the Ashvins ask Sukanya to choose one of them as her husband — and she must pick the right man.

During a royal sacrifice, the aged sage Chyavana prepares to offer soma to the Ashvins — the twin physicians of the gods. Indra stops him, declaring them unworthy of the sacred drink. Chyavana does not yield. He offers the soma anyway. Indra hurls his vajra. What happens next changes the balance of power between gods and sages.

Mada — the intoxicating force of excess — had been created before, and now it had returned. The valorous one took it and divided it into four parts: drinks, women, gambling, and hunting. Having thrown Mada away, he satisfied Indra and the Ashvins with soma, performed a sacrifice for the king, and became famous throughout the worlds.