Kacha Rejects Devayani's Proposal and Departs
Kacha, having learned the secret of reviving the dead from the asura-guru Shukra, prepares to return to the gods. Devayani, Shukra's daughter who protected and loved him during his long studies, asks him to marry her. Kacha refuses, invoking a dharma that makes her his sister.
Kacha’s long task was complete. He had endured death at the hands of the asuras three times, been revived each time by Shukra, and finally, by a desperate act of ingestion, had learned the secret knowledge of the sanjivani mantra from inside his own teacher’s body. His vow of studentship was over. With his preceptor’s permission, he prepared to leave for the abode of the thirty gods.
Devayani came to him. She had been his protector during those perilous years, the one who pleaded with her father to bring him back each time the asuras killed him. Now she spoke plainly.
“O grandson of the rishi Angirasa,” she said. “You are dazzling in your conduct, birth, learning, austerities and self-control. Just as my father honours your grandfather, so must I honour Brihaspati, your father. You know my behaviour towards you while you observed your rigid vow. You have now achieved your learning. I love you, and you should love me in return. Accept my hand in accordance with the proper rites and mantras.”
Kacha’s reply was immediate and firm. “O unblemished lady, you are an object of my honour and worship, as your illustrious father is. You are an object of greater reverence to me. You are dearer to the great-souled Bhargava than his own life. O fortunate one, you are my preceptor’s daughter and, in accordance with dharma, I must always worship you. Just as your father Shukra, my preceptor, is always honoured by me, so must I always honour you. O Devayani, you should therefore not speak to me in this way.”
Devayani pushed back. “You are not my father’s son. You are only the son of his preceptor’s son. Therefore, you are an object of my honour and worship. O Kacha, you must remember the love I showed you when the asuras killed you again and again, and even now. Remembering my friendship, love and devotion towards you, you should not forsake me when I love you and have not shown any guilt.”
Kacha held his ground. “You are pure in our vows. But you are now asking me to be engaged in a task that is not recommended. O lovely one with the beautiful brows, you are greater to me than my preceptor. Be gracious. O lady with the large eyes, with a face like the moon, you have dwelt in Kavya’s loins and I have dwelt in the same place.” He was referring to the final, grotesque method of his learning: after the asuras had killed him, burned him, and mixed his ashes into Shukra’s wine, he had been reborn from Shukra’s own body. “According to dharma, you are my sister. O fortunate one, do not say that. I have lived here happily and I hold no bad feelings. I ask your permission to leave. Bless me on my way. Remember me in your conversations as someone who has never transgressed dharma. Always serve my preceptor with single-minded alertness.”
Devayani’s plea turned to rage. “O Kacha! If you spurn me for the sake of dharma, artha (prosperity), or kama (desire), despite my asking, your knowledge will never achieve success.”
Kacha did not flinch. “You are my preceptor’s daughter and there is no sin in refusing you. Nor has my preceptor given me instructions about this. Curse me if you so wish. O Devayani, I have told you the dharma the sages have decreed. I deserve no curse. Nevertheless, you have cursed me, not out of dharma, but out of desire. Therefore, your desire will never be satisfied. No rishi’s son will ever accept your hand. You have said that my knowledge will never bear fruit. So be it. But it will bear fruit for the one I teach it to.”
Having said this, Kacha, the best among Brahmanas, left quickly for heaven. The gods, with Indra at their head, were delighted to see him arrive. They paid homage to his father, Brihaspati, and told Kacha, “You have performed a supreme and extraordinary act for our welfare and your fame will never diminish. You will have a share in our sacrificial offerings.”