Vrishakapi the Asura Chief

We have already seen that Bharata Varsha extended from China Sea to the Mediterranean.

This was Arya Desha.

Then this got divided as east of Sindhu and west of Sindhu.

Those to the east of Sindhu continued as followers of Veda dharma, recognized Indra as the king of Devas.

From the time of Zaratustra, grandson of a Rishi called Rijrashwa, those to the west of Sindhu became rebels.

They stopped recognizing Indra as the king of Devas.

Instead, they considered Varuna as their king.

They even came up with their own script called Kharosthi which writes from right to left.

Their dharma became known as Asura dharma with no negative connotation attached to it.

Asura means-Not Sura-that's all.

In the place of soma juice, the Asuras made liquor, Sura.

Liquor is also called Sura.

Initially, there was not much of animosity between the two dharmas.
Indra even participated in a Soutramani yajna organized by Vrishakapi, the Asura chief at Bahleeka, which is in present day Afghanistan. The place is called Balkh at present.

This was a trap.

Indra was offered liquor in this yajna.

When he drank it, they started insulting him, making fun of him.

Indra's wife, Indrani tried to prevent Indra from getting into this trap.

Rigveda Mandala 10, Sukta number 86-

वि हि सोतोरसृक्षत नेन्द्रं देवममंसत ।
यत्रामदद्वृषाकपिरर्यः पुष्टेषु मत्सखा विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

Indrani says: see they didn't praise you in that yajna.

Your stutis were not sung.

Instead, Vrishakapi's stutis were sung.

They were told to sing your praises.

Still they didn't.

It was a planned conspiracy.

To insult you.

But still, you are the greatest in the world.

परा हीन्द्र धावसि वृषाकपेरति व्यथिः ।
नो अह प्र विन्दस्यन्यत्र सोमपीतये विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

Indra considers Vrishakapi as his own son.

Indra is affectionate towards him.

Indrani is asking: why are you going after him?

You have so many places where they offer you soma juice.

What is the compulsion?

Why have you come to this place?

You are the greatest.

You don't have to be in a place where they don't respect you.

किमयं त्वां वृषाकपिश्चकार हरितो मृगः ।
यस्मा इरस्यसीदु न्वर्यो वा पुष्टिमद्वसु विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

Why are you so much attached towards this big fat blotted up Vrishakapi?

Indrni is insulting Vrishakapi.

What has he done for you?

You are so attached to him.

You give him so much, so much wealth.

यमिमं त्वं वृषाकपिं प्रियमिन्द्राभिरक्षसि ।
श्वा न्वस्य जम्भिषदपि कर्णे वराहयुर्विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

This Vrishakapi is a pig.

Only dogs eat pigs.

May he be eaten by dogs, soon.

You are the greatest.

Now, Indra tries to console her-

किं सुबाहो स्वङ्गुरे पृथुष्टो पृथुजाघने ।
किं शूरपत्नि नस्त्वमभ्यमीषि वृषाकपिं विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

Don't get angry, Vrishakapi is like our son.

I am still the greatest.

नाहमिन्द्राणि रारण सख्युर्वृषाकपेरृते ।
यस्येदमप्यं हविः प्रियं देवेषु गच्छति विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः

I like it when I am with Vrishakapi.

He is like our son.

I enjoy when I am with him.

अयमेमि विचाकशद्विचिन्वन्दासमार्यम् ।
पिबामि पाकसुत्वनोऽभि धीरमचाकशं विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

I use my discretion where I should go and where I should not go.

I am the greatest.

Vrishakapi himself consoles Indrani-

इन्द्राणीमासु नारिषु सुभगामहमश्रवम् ।
नह्यस्या अपरं चन जरसा मरते पतिर्विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

Don't get upset, Indra is still the greatest.

You are the greatest among women.

That's what I hear always.

Your husband doesn't get old and die like others.

He is the greatest.

Vrishakapi must have heard Indrani calling him a fat pig.

He says-

उक्ष्णो हि मे पञ्चदश साकं पचन्ति विंशतिम् ।
उताहमद्मि पीव इदुभा कुक्षी पृणन्ति मे विश्वस्मादिन्द्र उत्तरः ॥

They cook fifteen/twenty bulls for me.

Eating all that I became fat.

Your husband is still the greatest.

Thus a truce was reached.

Indrani was pacified.

But the problem just started from there.

The Aryas present in the Soutramani yaga at Balkh took sides and started debating about the very basic Vedic principles.

We will see about this in the next episode.

Knowledge Bank

What is Hastinapur called now?

Meerut. Hastinapur, the capital of the Kurus in Mahabharata is identified with Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.