In the last few days of 2020, I watched the recently
released Disney movie – Soul with my family. It was an amazing enriching
experience. The movie had a great message – find your purpose in life, and
don’t let your life be governed by the goals you set forth for yourself. The
goals are stepping stones towards your purpose and not the final destination
themselves. This came in just handy as we were preparing for our goals for the
new year and setting our resolutions. It is always important to work towards your
goals but not let the purpose of life slip away from your view and thoughts.
In this regard, I would like to take a slight spin on the
story of Yayati. Please indulge with me in this story and the message I looked
upon for myself.
A long time ago, there used to be an Asura king Vrishaparva
and his main advisor as well as teacher was the rishi Shukracharya. Their
daughters Sharmishtha (daughter of Vrishaparva) and Devyani(daughter of
Shukracharya) were good friends. They used to play and pass all their time
together. However, once due to some misunderstanding, Sharmishtha got angry
with Devayani and in her moment of rage and pride asked her soldiers to throw
Devayani in a well. Devayani cried for help and another king – Yayati happened
to pass by the well and hear her prayers. Yayati helped Devayani out of the
well. Devayani was smitten by the good looks, well built and the helpful nature
of Yayati. Yayati too fell in love with Devayani’s beauty. When Yayati escorted
Devayani to her father’s ashram, he asked Shukracharya’s permission to marry
Devayani. Meanwhile, Shukracharya was very angry with Vrishaparva and
Sharmishtha for Sharmishtha’s act towards Devayani. Vrishaparva, knowing his
teacher’s anger and importance, pleaded for forgiveness. Sharmishtha too filled
with guilt over her actions, pleaded for forgiveness. While Sharmishtha’s rage
was over, Devayani was filled with the similar rage and the thirst to prove
herself superior. She demanded Sharmishtha to serve as her servant. In the same
order to prover might, she took Devayani as her servant even after marriage to
King Yayati’s kingdom. What she did not realize was that the
same Devayanai could become her challenge later. Yayati fell in love
with Sharmishtha later on seeing her princess like beauty and took her as his
new wife. When Devayani found out about this relationship, she became angry and
complained to her father. In his fit of anger, Shukracharya cursed Yayati to
loose his virility and youth. Yayati later regained his lost youth when his own
son Puru accepted Yayati’s curse.
Picture credits - Yayati symbol inspired from Netflix's Sacred Games show
In this story, multiple points happen –
1.
Actions are taken in fit of rage and anger – These actions led to
other issues and much more twisted tail of events than initially envisioned by
the actors
2.
Yayati’s lust for youth and virility – Yayati set his goals on the
youthfulness and enjoyment. In this goal setting, he forgot the purpose of life
and tried to govern the nature. He forgot that everything that rises, must fall
down. For his own selfishness, he destroyed his own son’s youth
3.
Yayati’s clan – Yayati’s sons later become the forefathers of the
famous Kuru clan which fought the Mahabharat war. If only Yayati had controlled
his lust and selfishness, the Mahabharat war could have been avoided.
4.
Every action has a reaction – Call it Newton’s law or Karma – no
act goes unnoticed and has a repercussion. Devayani’s act of proving herself
superior costed her husband!
5.
Do not try to control the nature or the flow of events – Whenever the
natural phenomenon or circumstances are controlled, unexpected results are
seen. Will talk in detail in many more articles to come…
6. Yayati's story is a also a classic example of a pessimistic / optimistic view of life. The trick is in maintaining the balance. And that is something you shall achieve when you have the goals and purpose properly set for yourself!
Let’s start the new year with the proper thoughts and the
learnings from Yayati’s story – not to let the selfishness or anger overpower
you and never to loose the purpose of life. It may not be an easy task to
determine your purpose, but keep looking for it!
