Vengeance and Wisdom

Bharadvaja and Raibhya were friends. Raibhya had two sons, Arvavasu and Paravasu. Bharadvaja had one son named Yavakri.

Raibhya and his sons were well-versed in the Vedas, while Bharadvaja practiced deep asceticism. Even as children, the friendship between Bharadvaja and Raibhya was strong. But Yavakri grew sad because he noticed that his father was not respected by the Brahmanas, while Raibhya and his sons were. Yavakri felt troubled and decided to perform intense austerities to gain a unique knowledge of the Vedas.

Yavakri exposed himself to fire, practicing the most severe penances, which worried Indra, the king of the gods. Indra appeared and asked Yavakri, 'Why are you practicing such harsh austerities?' Yavakri replied, 'I want a level of Vedic knowledge that no Brahmana has ever gained. Teachers take too long. I want to gain it through my austerities.'

Indra advised him, 'This is not the right way to gain the Vedas. Go and learn from a teacher.' But Yavakri ignored him and continued his penance. Indra appeared again, this time as an old man, and began to build a dam across the river Ganga with handfuls of sand. Yavakri laughed and said, 'You can’t block this mighty river with sand.' Indra replied, 'And just like that, you can’t learn the Vedas without a teacher.' Yavakri still refused to listen.

At last, Indra granted him the Vedic knowledge. Yavakri, feeling powerful and proud, returned home. His father warned him that pride would bring ruin, but Yavakri paid no attention.

One day, Yavakri went to Raibhya’s hermitage. There, he saw Raibhya’s daughter-in-law and, filled with desire, he approached her inappropriately. Frightened and knowing Raibhya’s power, she cleverly avoided him and told Raibhya everything. Enraged, Raibhya tore a matted lock of his hair, placed it in the fire, and created a female spirit and a demon to punish Yavakri. The female spirit resembled Raibhya’s daughter-in-law, which helped her deceive Yavakri and take away his water-pot, the source of his protective powers.

Once the female took Yavakri’s water-pot, the demon chased him. Yavakri tried to escape, but all rivers and lakes had dried up. The demon finally caught and killed him.

When Bharadvaja returned to his hermitage and learned of Yavakri’s death, he was overcome with sorrow. He cursed Raibhya, saying that Paravasu would kill him. Bharadvaja then entered a blazing fire, ending his life.

At this time, King Brihadyumna, who was performing a sacrifice, had engaged Raibhya’s sons, Arvavasu and Paravasu, as his priests. With their father’s permission, they left for the king’s sacrifice. One night, Paravasu returned home alone to visit his wife. In the darkness, he saw his father wrapped in a deer skin and, thinking it was a wild animal, shot and killed him.

After killing his father by mistake, Paravasu returned to the place of the sacrifice. He told his brother, Arvavasu, what had happened. He convinced Arvavasu that he would not be able to perform the sacrifice alone, but that Paravasu could. Because killing a Brahmana (Brahmahatya) was a great sin, Paravasu said that someone needed to perform a penance for purification. He persuaded Arvavasu to take on the penance in his place, while he continued with the sacrifice for King Brihadyumna.

Arvavasu agreed and went to perform the penance, trusting his brother to manage the sacrifice. However, when Arvavasu returned to the sacrifice after completing the penance, Paravasu lied to King Brihadyumna, saying that Arvavasu had killed their father. Believing Paravasu, the king ordered Arvavasu to be expelled from the sacrifice.

Arvavasu, angry and humiliated, retreated into the forest and prayed to the Sun God. Pleased, the Sun God granted him the power to bring everyone back to life and fulfill his wishes. Arvavasu asked for his father, Bharadvaja, and Yavakri to be brought back to life, that Paravasu be forgiven, and that his father not remember being killed by his own son. The gods granted these wishes.

Yavakri then asked the gods, 'How could Raibhya kill me even though I had such great knowledge of the Vedas?' The gods explained, 'You gained knowledge quickly, without a teacher, while Raibhya earned it through hard work and respect for his teacher.'

Having learned his lesson, Yavakri, Bharadvaja, Raibhya, and Paravasu returned to life, and the gods returned to heaven.

Key Takeaways

1. The Dangers of Pride and Arrogance

Yavakri's quest for unparalleled Vedic knowledge without the traditional guidance of a teacher led to his downfall. His pride made him ignore wise counsel, and his arrogance blinded him to the consequences of his actions. This underscores the importance of humility. No matter how much one achieves, staying grounded prevents missteps that can negate hard-earned success. Pride can create blind spots, making us susceptible to errors that humility could have helped avoid.

2. The Importance of Proper Guidance and Respect for Mentors

Indra's advice to Yavakri emphasized learning through proper channels and respecting the traditional teacher-student relationship. Yavakri's dismissal of this advice resulted in his failure. In today's world, while self-learning and innovation are valued, the guidance of mentors remains invaluable. They provide not just knowledge but also wisdom born of experience. Respecting and learning from those who have walked the path can lead to more profound and lasting success.

3. The Consequences of Unethical Actions

Yavakri's inappropriate approach toward Raibhya's daughter-in-law triggered a chain of events leading to his demise. This illustrates that unethical behavior, especially actions driven by desire without consideration for others, can have severe repercussions. It serves as a reminder that personal actions have consequences, and ethical misconduct can lead to personal ruin and harm to others. Upholding moral principles is essential for personal integrity and societal harmony.

4. The Destructive Effects of Jealousy and Rivalry

Yavakri's envy of Raibhya and his sons' respect among the Brahmanas fueled his misguided quest. His inability to accept his own circumstances led to destructive choices. This teaches that jealousy can consume one's life, leading to poor decisions and negative outcomes. In the modern context, focusing on personal growth rather than comparing oneself to others fosters mental well-being and leads to more genuine achievements.

5. The Power of Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Arvavasu's decision to forgive his brother Paravasu and restore life to all affected by the tragedy highlights the transformative power of forgiveness. Instead of seeking revenge, he chose reconciliation, which healed relationships and rectified wrongs. This demonstrates that forgiveness can be a powerful tool for personal peace and societal healing. Letting go of grudges allows for progress and the restoration of harmony in relationships.

Knowledge Bank

What is the concept of ahimsa?

Staying away from himsa is called ahimsa. To hurt someone or some being through deeds, words, or even thinking about hurting is himsa. Himsa is done due to greed, rage, or a false presumption that you are doing the right thing. Himsa is perpetrated by oneself or through someone else. Closing your eyes towards himsa when you have the power to interfere is also himsa. The gravity of himsa can be mild, medium, or intense. Staying away from all these twenty-seven types of himsa is ahimsa.

What is the difference between Shruti and Smriti?

Shruti means a group of scriptures comprising of Veda Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads. They are eternal knowledge revealed to the Rishis in the format of mantras. No authorship can be attributed to them. The Smritis, written by Rishis, are expositions based on the Shruti.