Yavakrida`s fruitless penance

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Yavakrida`s fruitless penance

Source: Free Press Journal

 

By Meera Sashithal

 

 

Bharadwaja's son Yavakrida was incensed, when he observed that

people respected the sage Raibhiya more than they did his father. He

asked the mighty Indra to grant him, Yavakrida the mastery of the

sacred Vedas. Indra replied that the mastery of a subject had to be

acquired by the dint of one's effort under a guru and not by grace

that came through penance. But Yavakrida obstinately continued

mortifying his body till Indra finally relented and granted the

wish, warning the lad of the pitfalls of pride. But alas Yavakrida

did not heed the advice and became so conceited that Bharadwaja

feared that he would anger the great sage Raibhiya by uttering

something inappropriate or acting against the dictates of dharma.

 

Once, Raibhiya's daughter in law caught Yavakrida's fancy and in a

moment of lust he violated her chastity. When the news struck

Raibhiya, he created a Demon and a Damsel from his hair and

commanded them to kill Yavakrida.

 

While Yavakrida was answering nature's calls, the Damsel lured him

away from his water-jug and then the ghost attacked him. Being

ritually impure and thus unable to use his yogic powers Yavakrida

panicked and fled but was finally killed by the Demon.

 

When Bharadwaja learnt of his son's death cursed Raibhiya that he

would be killed by his own son and then in remorse for having

harbored the desire for revenge flung himself on his son's pyre,

ending his own sad life. The moral is – never get conceited by

little knowledge that you gain.