Dharmaraja Yudhishtira asked Bheeshma, “O Pitāmaha! What type of affection develops by seeing and staying with someone? Also, what is the greatness of gau? Please tell me in detail.”
Bheeshma thoughtfully replied, “O radiant king! I will narrate the conversation between Chyavana Maharshi and Nahusha on this matter. In the ancient days, Chyavana Maharshi, son of Bhrigu Maharshi took refuge in an extraordinary vrat and began living in water.
He renunciated pride, anger, exhilaration and sorrow and observed the vrat with firm determination remaining in water for twelve years. The devout sage was like the cool rays of the moon and gained the trust and confidence of all the marine beings.
One time he offered prostrations to the Devathas and upon purification, entered the sangam of Gangā and Yamunā and sat inside the water unmoving like a log of wood.
The speed of the Gangā and Yamunā was frightening. A thunderous sound emanated from them. The speed of the waters that was like the speed of wind was terrifying and yet, the Maharshi bore the injury to his forehead resolutely.
But Gangā, Yamunā and the other rivers and lakes only circumambulated the Maharshi and did not trouble him. That intelligent sage would sometimes sleep like a log of wood in the water or sometimes stand above the surface of water. He was loved by all the marine beings. The marine beings would joyfully smell him.
Many days passed like this. One day, many ferrymen and fishermen arrived there with their nets to catch fish. These fishermen were hardworking, strong, courageous and did not retreat from the turbulent waters.
They came with the intention of spreading the net in that place. They entered into the deeper part of the water where the fishes resided and spread their net. The fishermen came up with various ideas to catch fishes and spread their net in the waters of the Gangā and Yamunā.
Their net was made of new rope yarn and was very wide in measurement both lengthwise and breadthwise and had been made in a fine way and was strong. This was the net that they spread in the deep waters.
After some time had passed, all the fishermen got into the water fearlessly. All of them were amiable and supportive of each other. All of them began to pull up the net together. Fishes and other marine beings were caught in that net.
The fishermen pulled up even Bhrigu Maharshi’s son, Chyavana Maharshi along with the rest of the catch from the water. The sage’s whole body was covered with seaweed from the river. His moustache, beard and hair had turned green and his body had imprints of conches and other marine beings that had once attached itself to his body.
When the fishermen saw the wise Chyavana Maharshi who possessed profound knowledge about the Vedas among their catch, they offered prostrations and fell to the ground. The fishes and other marine beings that had been caught in the net began to die now as they were on land.
When the sage saw the fishes dying, he became overwhelmed with mercy and began taking long breaths. One fisherman said to the learned Chyavana Maharshi with folded hands, “O Great Sage! Please forgive us for the sin committed by us unknowingly and please be pleased with us. Also, please tell us what we can do for you?”
Chyavana Maharshi replied, “Fishermen! Please listen carefully to what I want at this moment. I will either give up or protect my prāna along with these fishes. They have been my companions. I have lived with them for many days and I cannot give them up.”
Upon hearing the words of the wise sage, the fishermen became afraid and began trembling. Their faces lost colour and they ran to convey this news to Raja Nahusha.
On receiving the news that Chyavana Maharshi had reached his kingdom, Raja Nahusha accompanied by his Purohit and ministers rushed to the river bank. He offered his prostrations and humbly introduced himself in a soft tone. The Purohit honoured Chyavana Maharshi in accordance with the tenets of the shāstras.
Nahusha asked, “Please tell me what I can do for you? Bhagavān! I will try to accomplish any task you assign me however difficult it may be.”
Chyavana Maharshi replied, “Hey king! These men who catch fish for their livelihood have with all their effort caught me in their net. So, therefore, you must offer a reasonable price for me also along with these fishes.”
“O Purohit! Bhrigu Maharshi’s son has commanded me to offer a reasonable price for him. Please give these fishermen one thousand coins.”
Chyavana Maharshi replied, “O king! I am not worthy of being sold for one thousand coins. Do you think that I am worth only that much? Please give it some thought and decide the right price to offer for me.”
Nahusha replied, “Please give these fishermen one lakh coins. Bhagavān! Do you think this is the appropriate offer or should something else be given?”
“Please do not put me in the range of one lakh coins. Please consult your ministers on this matter and suggest a reasonable price.”
Nahusha then said, “O Purohit! Please give these fishermen one crore coins and if this is also not the right price, then give them more.”
Chyavana Maharshi said, “Hey king! I am not worthy of being sold for one crore coins or even more than that. Give that which is equal to me and my worth and consult the Brahmans on this matter.”
“O Brahman! If that is the case, then give half or my entire kingdom to these fishermen. I think this is the right offer for you. What do you want besides this?”
Chyavana Maharshi replied, “O ruler of this earth! I do not think that either half or your entire kingdom is my price. Think carefully and if you cannot come up with an appropriate offer, then consult the Rishis on this matter.”
On hearing the words of the learned sage, Nahusha became overcome with sorrow and began to deliberate with his ministers and Purohit. At that moment, a sage residing in the forest living on fruits and roots who had been born inside a cow arrived there and went near Raja Nahusha and said thus,
“Hey king! I know how this sage can be pleased. I will make him happy immediately. I have never said an untruth even in jest, therefore, I definitely will not say an untruth at this time. You must do whatever I tell you without any doubt or hesitation.”
Nahusha humbly said, “Bhagavān! Please tell me the right offer for Bhrigu Maharshi’s son Chyavana Maharshi and by doing so, please release me, my lineage and the entire kingdom from this difficulty. If this Bhagavān Chyavana Muni gets angry, then he can reduce the three worlds to ashes.
When that is the case, how difficult will it be for him to destroy a king who is bereft of tapobala and dependent on his physical strength? Maharshi! I along with my ministers and Purohit are drowning in this ocean of unfathomable difficulty. Please be the ferry and help me cross. Please reveal his appropriate value.”
The Maharshi replied, “The lineage of Brahmans and gau is one and the same but has been divided into two forms. In one place, mantra is consecrated and in the other havishya.
Brahman is exalted in all classes. No price can be assigned to Brahmans and gau. Therefore, please present one cow as his price.”
Nahusha along with his ministers and Purohit were pleased with the wise words of the Maharshi and approached Chyavana Maharshi with humility, “O most excellent Maharshi! O son of Bhrigu Maharshi! I have given one cow and bought you. Therefore, please rise. I think this is the right offer for you.”
Chyavana Maharshi said, ” I will rise now. You have given the right price and bought me. I do not see any wealth as precious as the gau in the universe.
Reciting the name of the gau, meditating on its qualities, worshipping the gau, having darshan of the gau and donating the gau have been extolled in the shāstras. These will set aside all the sins and bestow ultimate blessings.
Svāhā and Vashatkāra are always consecrated in gau. Gau only governs the working of yagnas and their mukha.
Gau are always the foundation for Lakshmi. There is not a trace of evil in them. It is the gau that has always given anna to man and havishya (sacrificial food) to the Devathas.
They retain the divine amrut without any attachment or affection and give the amrut when milked. They are the base for amrut.
The entire universe offers prostrations to them. Gau on this earth are likened to Agni because of their body and radiance.
They are a repository of immense tej and bestow happiness upon the entire gamut of creation. A place where a kine (group of cows) sits or rests without fear and breathes will be beautified and all the sins of that place will be snatched.
Gau are the steps to the heavenly world. Gau are worshipped even in the heavenly world. Gau are the Devis that fulfil one’s every desire. There is nothing greater than them.
O scion of Bharat! I have now revealed to you the greatness of the gau and barely highlighted their qualities. It is impossible to list out all their qualities.”
Nahusha replied, “Hey Maharshi! Friendship is formed by walking seven steps with realized persons. We have only had your darshan and spoken to you for a long time. Therefore, have mercy on us.
O repository of Dharma! Just like how Agnideva accepts all the havishya offered, similarly you are the Agnirupa who burns out all our bad nature and qualities.
O learned One! We lay ourselves at Your Lotus Feet and wish to please you. Please have mercy on us and accept this gau that has been given.
You have been blessed with the most exalted state for saving those who are drowning in disaster. We are living in hell. You are our solace and refuge.”
Chyavana Maharshi smilingly said, “O fishermen! I accept your gau. With the gaudāna, all your sins have been set aside. Now, you along with these fishes proceed to the heavenly world immediately. ”
[Excerpt: Anushāsanaparvani, Dānadharmaparva, Mahābhārat]
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