Ganga narrates how the vasus stole Apava's cow
The divine vasus, led by Prithu, visit a forest hermitage. Dyou, persuaded by his wife, steals a wish-fulfilling cow from the sage Apava to give to a mortal friend. The sage discovers the theft and pronounces a terrible curse on all eight gods.
Ganga began the story. The sage Apava — also known as Vashishtha, son of Varuna — had a hermitage on the slopes of Mount Meru. It was a peaceful place, full of deer, birds, and flowers, where he performed his austerities. For his sacred rites, he possessed a divine cow named Surabhi, born of the goddess of the same name. This cow could fulfill any desire.
One day, all eight vasus — the elemental gods — came to that forest with their wives to roam and enjoy its beauty. The wife of the vasu named Dyou saw the wish-fulfilling cow and was captivated. She pointed it out to her husband, praising its beauty and power.
Dyou told her, "This cow belongs to the sage Apava. Anyone who drinks its milk will live for ten thousand years with undiminished youth."
His wife replied, "I have a friend in the world of men, Princess Jinavati. She is young and beautiful. I wish to give this cow and its calf to her so she can drink the milk and be freed from age and disease. Please get it for me. No other gift would please me more."
Wishing to please his wife, Dyou did not pause to consider the ascetic power of the cow's owner. With the help of his brothers, led by Prithu, he stole the cow.
In the evening, the sage Apava returned to his hermitage with gathered fruit and found his cow missing. He searched the forest. When he could not find her, he used his divine sight and saw the vasus had taken her. His anger blazed.
He pronounced a curse: "Because the vasus have stolen my cow, which yields sweet milk and has a handsome tail, they will all be born as men."
The vasus, learning of the curse, went to the sage's hermitage to beg for mercy. The righteous Apava was learned in all dharma, but his anger was not easily placated. He told them, "You have all been cursed. But you will be freed from it within a year of your human births — all except Dyou. He is the one whose act led to this curse. Because of his own deeds, he must live in the world of men for a long time. My words, uttered in anger, cannot be false. However, this great-souled one will not have offspring. He will be devoted to dharma, skilled in all weapons, engaged in pleasing his father, and he will forsake pleasure with women."
Having spoken, the great rishi departed. The vasus then went together to Ganga and craved a boon. "O Ganga," they said, "as soon as each one of us is born, you should throw us into the water yourself." She agreed, in order to free them swiftly from their human lives.