A Father's Warning

Yavakrīta came to his father and told him: The Vedas will shine forth in both of us, and we will surpass all others. I have won these boons.

Bharadvāja said, You will grow proud, my son, now that you have the boons you wanted, and in your pride you will soon perish. There is an old story the gods tell. There was once a sage named Bāladhi. Stricken with grief over a son, he did fierce austerities and asked for a son who would not die. The gods would not make a mortal immortal, but they said the son's life could be tied to something, and last as long as that lasted. Then let my son live as long as these mountains stand, said Bāladhi.

The son was born, clever and always angry, and when he heard of it he grew proud and insulted the sages, until he wronged the great sage Dhanuṣākṣa. Dhanuṣākṣa cursed him: Become ashes! But he did not turn to ashes. Then Dhanuṣākṣa had the mountains broken apart by buffaloes, and the boy died at once, and his father wept over him. No mortal can go beyond what is fated, the sages said. So young men who win boons grow proud, and quickly perish. Do not be like that, my son.

Then Bharadvāja warned his son about Raibhya. Raibhya is a man of great power, he said, and so are his sons. Take care never to go near him. He is learned and an ascetic, and he has a terrible temper, and if he is angry he can do you harm.

I will do as you say, father, said Yavakrīta. Do not worry. I honour Raibhya as I honour you. But having spoken gently to his father, he went about without fear, wronging other sages and delighting in it.