Eight shadows crouched behind a rock. Slowly they began moving in a single file line, for a moment they would merge with the darkness of a tree, then with the darkness of another rock, rarely were they in the open. Suddenly they spotted their goal: a milky white cow. The cow was kneeling peacefully and unknowing in the grass.
One of the shadows, who was called Prabhasa, began to bark orders out at the others.
“You, Anila, embodiment of wind, move as the breeze and remove the bells from all around the cow. You, Apa, embodiment of water, let the sound of that nearby brook muffle the sounds of Anila’s work. Pratyusha, embodiment of light, keep watch for that old Vasishtha. The rest of you, follow me. We will surround the cow and make sure it stays quiet as we move it behind that boulder. From there, we are safe to get back.”
The shadows began to move across the pasture, and the cow slowly followed along. Finally, they were behind the boulder. Prabhasa, embodiment of the dawn, lit up, his face glittering with pride. It was done. The others congratulated each other, and they began to head home. “It is late,” Soma (embodiment of the moon) said. “Indra will wonder where we are. We must get back quickly. We have the cow of plenty. Let’s go!”
At just that moment, Prabhasa put his hand up to his neck and noticed his pendant missing. “I… I…My….MY PENDANT!!! I have to go back. I have to get it. Like the dawn, I will go slowly and be gone in a flash! You seven keep going, and don’t turn around.” Prabhasa slowly returned. Near a tree, he saw his pendant floating. As he glided over to the pendant and grabbed it, Vasishtha materialized, holding the pendant and looking down at Prabhasa. “So, Prabhasa, I was not expecting you so soon. The dawn should not be here for a few hours still. I see you have taken my cow……but that is not a job for one.” Vasishtha closed his eyes and opened them back up. In the dark pupils, Prabhasa saw eight shadows pass. “Yes, just as I assumed. Indra does not keep you eight trouble-makers on a good enough leash, nor will he punish you. I’ll have to do it myself. Oh Prabhasa, embodiment of dawn, you and your seven comrades will learn. You will all eight be reborn as humans on earth.”
Prabhasa interjected, “NO! It was me. It was my idea. Do not make them suffer.”

“Oh, I know it was your idea. You always are the mastermind behind the vasu-plots, aren’t you? Don’t worry, you will be the only one to remain on earth and live out the life of a human; the others will simply be born and gain a small taste of rebirth. I will find other small punishments for them.”

Suddenly, Vasishtha laughed a little, and Prabhasa felt funny. He felt himself shrinking, shrinking, shrinking. Suddenly, he saw the dawn, and he noticed he was in the arms of a man named Santanu.“Devavratha. We shall call him Devavratha. Please, please don’t drown him with the other seven. Let him live.”

Devavratha knew. The curse of Vasishtha had begun, as had his life on earth.

 

Analysis: Karma is the effect of a person's actions and conduct during their lives, regarded as determining that person's destiny. Karma is a huge part of reincarnation. It extends through a being’s past lives, present life, and future lives. Karma is not only used as a punishment for humans, as is sometimes thought. Karma can be a reward or a punishment and affects all beings. Karma will then dictate reincarnation. In the case of this story, the vasus are punished for their bad karma. They are sent down to earth and reincarnated as humans. Devavratha, also known as Bhishma, lives his life on earth fulfilling his promises and vows, and attempting to be the best he can. He even keeps a promise to never have children (although he is begged to), to never accept the throne, and to never marry a wife. He does this to make his father happy. Being a good son and living up to his promises will give him better karma, and he can then return to heaven once his punishment has been fulfilled.

This story was not really depicted anywhere in either Buck or Narayan's version of the Mahabharta. We are told that Bhishma and his brothers are reincarnated as a punishment for stealing Vasishtha's cow, but we are never really told what exactly happened. I used hints from the text as well as notes from the encyclopedia to put together my own interpretation of what happened to these vasus. The Vasus were the 8 attendants of Indra, and lived in heaven. In my own interpretation, they are the "rowdy teens" and the "troublemakers" of the heavens, and what better guardian god to have for troublemakers but Indra!

Sources:

 

Picture Information:

1. "Picture of a Cow,"Website: Religion - India religion, culture, conflicts, issue, weblink

2. "Untitled," Photo, Artist: Lorran Meares, Website: Painting with Light, weblink

3. "Spirit Sun Pendant", Artist: Michael Good, Website: "Innovators VI: Michael Good ", weblink

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