M102 - Ganga and The Eight Vasus (Ashta Vasus)

Ganga on her way to earth, she saw the dwellers in heaven, the Ashta Vasus, also pursuing the same path. Ganga beholding them in the predicament, asked them, "Why you look so dejected? Is everything right with you?" Those celestials, the Eight Vasus, answered her, saying, "O queen of rivers, we have been cursed, for a venial fault, by the sage Vasishta in anger. The foremost of excellent Rishis, Vasishta, the son of Varuna, the God of Rains, was a great sage who had attained an exalted status through intensive penance. He was also known as Apava. He had his abode in Mount Meru, where he was doing penance." 

Continued saying "Vasishta has a divine cow Nandini(which was the daughter of Surabhi, by he sage Kashyapa. Here, Surabhi is probably Kamadhenu. Nandini, like her mother, was capable of yielding great riches to its possessor.) which was a Cow of Abundance, capable of granting any wish sought from it. Vasishta obtained this cow for performing the rites. This cow would provide him things like Ghee required for performing a Homa (fire sacrifice), which was a routine activity for sages like him. Nandini dwelled in Vasishta’s Ashram, roaming in the woods freely. Nandinin was adored by all sages for its divine power of delivering whatever was requested of it. One day we, The Vasus, the eight brothers with Prithu as our head, came to the forests, along with our wives wandering in the forests, we sighted Nandini. The wife of Dyu, one of the Vasus pointed the cow to her husband and asked about it. Dyu told her that it was a divine cow that belonged to Sage Vasishta and that those who drank its milk would retain their youthfulness for many years. She said that she had a friend Jitavati, who was a daughter of Sage Usinara and who was endowed with intelligence and was devoted to truth. She wanted Nandini’s milk to be given to her so that she could live long without being affected by any disease."

"Intending to please his charming wife, Dyu momentarily failed to realize that he would be committing a sin and stole the cow with the help of his brothers. SageVasishta had been away from his hermitage at this time. By the time sage returned to his abode in the evening and found that Nandini was missing. He searched the nearby woods and saw no sign of the cow. He then used his psychic power and celestial vision to see all that had taken place. He then cursed the Vasus, saying, "Since in their arrogance the Vasus have committed the sin of stealing a Brahmana's property, may they be born on earth and suffer a mortal's fate!".

When We (Vasus) came to know of the Rishi's curse, we became penitent, and asked the Rishi to save us from his curse. At last, the sage relented and said, "My curse cannot be completely revoked. The seven of you who have merely obeyed your brother's orders, shall not have to suffer the mortal fate for a long time. However, Dyu, who is the main culprit, will have to suffer his curse for a long time on earth. However, he shall be an great warrior, and will not have any children and would remain a celibate throughout his life."

"Therefore, O river Ganga, yourself becoming a human female, make us the Vasus, your children. O amiable one, we are unwilling to enter the womb of any human female." Thus addressed, Ganga told them, "Be it so and asked them, 'On earth, who is that foremost of men whom you will make your father?'

The Vasus replied, "On earth, unto King Pratipa shall be born a son, Santhanu, who will be a king of world-wide fame." Ganga then said, "You celestials, that is exactly my wish which you sinless ones have expressed. I shall, indeed, do good to that Santhanu. That is also your desire as just expressed." The Vasus then said, "It advised you to throw the children after birth, into the water, so that, you on of three courses (celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean) we may be rescued from curse soon without having to live on earth for any length of time." Ganga then answered, "I shall do what you desire. But in order that his intercourse with me may not be entirely fruitless, provide you that one son at least may live." The Vasus then replied, "We shall each contribute an eighth part of our respective energies with the sum thereof, you shall have one son according to this and his wishes. But this son shall not begat any children on earth. Therefore, that son of thine endued with great energy, shall be childless."

The Vasus, making this arrangement with Ganga, went away without Waiting to the place they liked.