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 ...