Chyavana

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?

Having married the ancient rishi she blinded, Sukanya becomes his wife. She tends to him lovingly, observes the rules of austerities, serves the fire and guests, and worships her husband without a trace of discontentment — transforming a forced marriage into genuine devotion.

King Sharyati's daughter Sukanya, roaming alone in the forest, sees something glowing inside an anthill. Out of curiosity, she pierces it with a thorn — not knowing she has just blinded the ancient rishi Chyavana, who responds with a curse that stops the bowel and bladder movements of every soldier in the king's army.

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.