Bharadvaja Warns Yavakrita About Pride
Yavakrita has obtained every boon he desired, and his father Bharadvaja sees the danger. To warn his son against arrogance, Bharadvaja tells him the ancient story of Medhavi — a sage's son who believed himself untouchable, insulted the wrong man, and died when the mountains that held his life were shattered by buffaloes.
Yavakrita had obtained everything he asked for. The gods had granted him every boon. And his father, Bharadvaja, watched him and saw what was coming.
"O son," Bharadvaja said. "Since you have obtained all the boons that you desired, you must be proud. But once you are filled with pride, you will soon be miserably destroyed."
He told Yavakrita a story — an account recited by the gods themselves, from ancient times.
There was once a valorous sage named Valadhi. He was afflicted with grief over his son, and he performed difficult austerities so that he might obtain a son who was immortal. The gods granted his wish — but not entirely. They showed him their favour, but they did not make his son the equal of the immortals. "A mortal one can never be immortal," they said, "and life must be subject to causes."
Valadhi pressed further. He pointed to the mountains — eternal, indestructible, established for an age that had no end. "These mountains will determine my son's span of life," he said.
The gods agreed.
A son was born to him. His name was Medhavi, and he was prone to anger. When he heard about his origins — that his life was tied to the mountains themselves — he became insolent. He insulted the rishis. He roamed the earth, causing injury to the sages.
Then he met Dhanushaksha — immensely energetic, intelligent, and not a man to be crossed. Medhavi insulted him. Dhanushaksha cursed him: "Be reduced to ashes."
But Medhavi was not reduced to ashes.
Dhanushaksha saw that the curse had no effect. He understood why. He caused the determinant of Medhavi's life — the mountains themselves — to be shattered by buffaloes. When the mountains were destroyed, Medhavi died instantly.
His father Valadhi grasped his dead son and began to lament. All the ancient sages, learned in the Vedas, recited a verse as they watched him: "Under no circumstances, can one who is mortal change his destiny. Dhanushaksha shattered the mountains with buffaloes."
Bharadvaja looked at his son. "Having thus obtained boons, young ascetics are filled with pride and swiftly meet their destruction. Do not become like them. Raibhya is immensely valorous and his sons are like that. O son! Therefore, be careful that you do not cross him. O son! If he is angered, he can crush you with his wrath. Raibhya is a learned ascetic and a great rishi prone to anger."
Yavakrita replied, "O father! I will do as you say. Have no anxiety on my account. You are my father and I will honour Raibhya as I honour you." Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 433