The Story of Kacha

Shukracharya and Kacha
(source: wikimedia)
no copyright infringement intended

A friend sent me today a Romanian rendering of the story of Kacha: a legend belonging to the Hindu mythology, a narrative unfolding in those old times when gods (the Devas) and demons (the Asuras) were competing for the lordship of the Universe. This story can be found (so I was told) in some of the most sacred books of Hinduism: in Mahābhārata, also in Matsya Purāna, and in Agni Purāṇa as well.

I said gods and demons. I should add here that, while in the Abrahamic spirituality the difference between God and Evil is very clear, for Hinduism the things are more nuanced: it is rather about two competing forces, sharing benevolent and malevolent attitudes, depending on the situation (or maybe better put: it is about supernatural beings with very human behavior).

Now, this narrative can be told (and understood) at different levels. As sent me today by my friend, it seemed targeting a children public. And like any children tale, it has its charms. I looked on the Internet and I found the text in English. It belongs indeed to a story collection maintained by an Association of Grandparents of Indian Immigrants.

Here is the English text:

The Devas and the Asuras fought all the time for the lordship of the three worlds. The Asuras were care free and happy as long as Shukracharya, their preceptor, was with them. The valiant Devas, tired of the unequal struggle, went to Kacha, the handsome son of Brihaspati, preceptor of the Devas and asked him to go to Shukracharya and learn the secret of Mritasanjibani.
The obedient and dutiful Kacha immediately set out to meet Shukracharya. He humbly presented himself before the great wise man, introduced himself as the son of Brihaspati, and asked to become his disciple.
Shukracharya was a true teacher. He immediately recognized Kacha’s brilliance as a student. Shukracharya did not differentiate between his students. He gave Kacha a warm welcome and accepted him as his pupil.
Shukracharya had a daugher, Devayani, whom he loved dearly. He introduced Kacha to his daughter saying, Kacha has vowed to be my pupil till the period of his studies is over.
All learning in those days was handed down by word of mouth. The pupil lived with his guru's family as one of the household. In return for his education, the pupil served his guru with love and devotion. However, Shukracharya was very busy either at court or he was deep in meditation. So Kacha helped Devayani with her daily chores and watched after her. Within a few days of his arrival, Kacha found himself spending all his leisure hours in the company of the lively Devayani. She was slowly drawn towards Kacha and they fell in love.
As the years passed, the Asuras became suspicious of Kacha. They wanted to get rid of him. One day as Kacha was attending Shukracharya’s cattle, the Asuras fell upon him and slew him. Then they cut him into pieces and fed their dogs with his flesh.
When Kacha did not come home at the normal hour, Devayani became alarmed. When the cattle came back without Kacha she ran in a panic to her father and told him that Kacha was missing. Shukracharya closed his eyes and to the great relief of Devayani, Kacha came back to life and appeared before her. When Devayani inquired about his disappearance, Kacha tried to explain in a puzzled voice, I was killed by the Asuras but I do not know how I came back to life. Shukracharya just smiled.
One day Devayani asked Kacha to get her a particular flower that only grows in the deep forest. Kacha went for it. The Asuras followed him and once again killed him. But this time they carried his body to a secluded spot, grounded up into a paste, and dissolved it in the water of the ocean.
Devayani waited and waited. When Kacha did not return she went again to her father. Shukracharya meditated and once again used the secret knowledge to revive Kacha. Devayani was overjoyed.
The Asuras were now at their wits end. How can we kill Kacha? Every time we kill him, his guru brings him to life!
They went to one of the senior Asuras and asked him how to destroy Kacha for good. The senior Asura gave them an idea. The next day, when Kacha went out with the cattle, they again slew him. This time they burnt him in the jungle. Then they took the ashes home and mixed it in a wine which Shukracharya was very fond of. They took the drink to Shukracharya for a taste. Shukracharya loved it. He immediately drank it and blessed the Asuras.
When the cattle once again returned home without Kacha, Devayani knew what had happened.
She went to Shukracharya and wept. Father, without Kacha I am as good as dead, please bring him back to life.
Shukracharya waited for a while thinking. It is no good to bring Kacha to life. The Asuras will only kill him again.
He tried to console his daughter, It is futile Devayani to bring Kacha to life. The Asuras are determined to get rid of him. A wise soul, like you, should not grieve at a loved one's death. You are young and beautiful and you have your own life to live.
Devayani stopped eating. Shukracharya could no longer bear to see his daughter in such agony. Again Shukracharya used his secret knowledge and called upon Kacha to come back to the world of the living. Kacha came back to life and spoke from inside the stomach of Shukracharya.
After long deliberation Shukracharya thought of a way out. He knew now the real purpose of Kacha's visit. He addressed Kacha, I now see why you came and truly you have succeeded. There is only one way by which both of us can ensure Devayani's happiness. I will have to teach you the craft of Mritasanjibani.
With his new knowledge Kacha emerged from Shukracharya's dying body and then immediately brought his guru back to life.

(source: IndoLink)

Devayani and Kacha
source: IndoLink
acknowledgement: Indian Book House Ltd., Mumbai, India (Amar Chitra Katha)
no copyright infringement intended

And here is the Romanian rendering:

În vremurile de demult, devaşii se aflau într-un război crâncen cu asuraşii. Devaşii îl aveau de partea lor pe Brihaspati, a cărui cunoaştere a textelor sacre era fără egal. Ceilalţi se mândreau cu Shukracharya. Asuraşii aveau un avantaj formidabil: în profunda lui înţelepciune, Shukracharya poseda secretul vrăjii sanjivini, prin care îi aducea pe cei morţi la viaţă. Pe câmpul de bătălie, asuraşii căzuţi erau resuscitaţi şi luptau din nou, iar şi iar, înfrângându-i pe devaşi.
De aceea devaşii l-au trimis pe Kacha, fiul lui Brihaspati, să devină ucenicul lui Shukracharya şi să înveţe secretele vrăjii sanjivini. Kacha a mers în capitala asuraşilor, unde trăia rivalul tatălui său, căruia i-a spus: Eu sunt Kacha, nepotul lui Angiras, fiul lui Brihaspati. Sunt brahman şi am venit să-ţi fiu ucenic. Shukracharya i-a răspuns: Kacha, eşti dintr-o familie onorabilă. Te accept ca elev cu atât mai mult cu cât în felul acesta îmi dovedesc respectul faţă de tatăl tău. Ştia foarte bine cu ce gânduri a venit tânărul, dar l-a primit, pentru că regula era aceea că niciun maestru nu trebuie să refuze un ucenic capabil să înveţe.
Kacha a petrecut mulţi ani sub tutela lui Shukracharya, achitându-se perfect de toate îndatoririle prescrise de maestru. Shukracharya avea o fiică adorabilă, Devayani, care îl iubea mult pe tânăr. Kacha se străduia să-i placă la rândul lui, cântându-i, dansând, petrecând timpul alături de ea, fără să compromită calea spirituală a brahmanului. Atunci când asuraşii au aflat de aceste lucruri, au devenit furioşi şi s-au hotărât să împiedice cu orice preţ divulgarea vrăjii sanjivini.
Într-o zi, pe când Kacha păştea turma maestrului, asuraşii se aruncară asupra lui, îl tăiară bucăţi şi dădură resturile la câini. Turma se întoarse fără Kacha, pe Devayani o cuprinse spaima şi fugi la tatăl său, căruia îi spuse că nu poate trăi fără iubitul ucenic. Tatăl, plin de compasiune, îl învie pe Kacha care, reîntors la viaţă, îşi salută maestrul cu un surâs. Altădată, Kacha se duse în pădure ca să culeagă flori pentru Devayani şi, din nou, asuraşii se aruncară asupra lui şi-l omorâră. După ce-i fierseră corpul, îl aruncară bucăţi în mare. Devayani merse din nou la tatăl ei şi acesta îl aduse la viaţă cu sanjivini.
A treia oara asuraşii îl omorâră pe Kacha, îi arseră corpul, amestecară cenuşa cu vin şi-i dădură lui Shukracharya să bea diabolica poţiune. Atunci când află ce s-a petrecut, îi spuse fetei: Deşi l-am mai adus la viaţă, asuraşii par foarte decişi să-l omoare de fiecare dată. Moartea este soarta tuturor, iar sufletul tău înţelept nu trebuie să se lase emoţionat de asta. Ai toată viaţa înaintea ta, tinereţea, frumuseţea şi farmecul lumii. Devayani îl iubea pe Kacha din toată inima şi, de când lumea e lume, un astfel de sfat n-a adus consolarea îndrăgostiţilor. Shukracharya încercă să-l readucă pe băiat la viaţă, dar risipit cum era în măruntaiele lui, îi fu cu neputinţă s-o facă.
Când înţelese mârşava manevră a asuraşilor, Shukracharya se mânie împotriva aliaţilor lui şi-i spuse fetei:  Draga mea, tu trebuie să rezolvi asta. Dacă îl vrei pe Kacha viu, trebuie să-mi străpungi stomacul cu sabia, numai că astfel eu voi muri. Viaţa lui nu poate fi răscumpărată decât cu moartea mea. Oripilată, fata îşi refuză tatăl afirmând că nici fără el n-ar putea trăi. În cele din urmă, străfulgerat de o intuiţie salvatoare, bătrânul maestru i se adresează lui Kacha cel neviu: O, fiule al lui Brihaspati, până la urmă pentru asta ai venit la mine… şi meriţi ce-ţi voi dărui! Trebuie să te aduc la viaţă pentru Devayani, şi tot pentru ea trebuie să nu mor. Singura metodă este să te iniţiez în arta sanjivini pentru ca tu să mă aduci la viaţă, după ce voi fi pierit, ajutându-te pe tine să-ţi croieşti drum prin măruntaiele mele. Va trebui să-ţi foloseşti cunoştinţele pe care ţi le voi transmite pentru a mă resuscita, astfel încât Devayani să nu plângă pe niciunul dintre noi!
Înviat graţie ştiinţei sanjivini, Kacha s-a înclinat în faţa lui Shukracharya şi i-a spus: Maestrul care transmite ucenicului înţelepciunea sa devine tatăl lui. În plus, pentru că am ieşit din corpul tău, eşti şi mama mea. Mulţi ani după aceasta Kacha a rămas ucenicul lui Shukracharya. Însă niciodată, în ciuda dragostei pe care i-a purtat-o, nu s-a mai căsătorit cu Devayani pe care, fiind ieşit din corpul tatălui ei, a considerat-o sora lui.



And how it all ended? After completion of his education, Devayani asked Kacha to marry her, but he refused on the grounds that she was his sister as he had come out of Shukracharya. She cursed him that he would never be able to use his art again. To this, Kacha replied that he would only not be able to use it, but he would definitely be able to teach it.

(source: wiki)

(A Life in Books)