Kacha

The gods ask Kacha, son of Brihaspati, to learn the life-restoring knowledge held by Shukra, who serves the danavas. Kacha goes to Vrishaparva’s court, takes Shukra as his teacher and promises a thousand years of service. He attends to his teacher and Devayani. After five hundred years, the danavas recognize him. They attack while he tends cattle, kill him and scatter his remains to animals. When the cows return without Kacha, Devayani asks her father to find him. Shukra calls Kacha back, and he appears again.

Later, the danavas attack Kacha while he gathers flowers. They kill him, burn him, grind his ashes and mix them into wine given to Shukra. Devayani again pleads for Kacha. Shukra summons him and hears his voice from within his own body. Kacha explains how the danavas have killed him. Shukra sees that Kacha cannot emerge without his teacher dying, so he teaches Kacha the revival knowledge and tells him to use it afterward. Kacha emerges, and Shukra dies; Kacha then revives him with what he has learned. Shukra declares a ban on wine for Brahmanas after realizing that drinking it has led to this danger.

Kacha completes the thousand-year vow and asks to leave. Devayani tells him she loves him and asks him to marry her. Kacha refuses, explaining that she is his teacher’s daughter and that they have both dwelt in Shukra’s body, making her his sister by the story’s reasoning. Devayani curses that Kacha’s learning will not succeed for himself. Kacha answers that it will still succeed through the person he teaches, and says that no rishi’s son will accept her hand. He then returns to the gods. They praise his service and promise him a share in their offerings.