Story 3 - Upmanyu's Story

This is the story of Ayuddhaumya’s second student, Upmanyu.

One day, Ayuddhaumya decided to test his devotion.
He called him and said, "Son, I have a task for you. I would like you to herd cows and protect them during the day."
Upmanyu accepted the task and took out the cows for grazing next day.

When he returned in the evening, Ayuddhaumya asked him, "Son, you are looking so healthy and radiant. What do you eat and drink?"
Upmanyu replied, "Sir, I eat the food that I get from begging."
His Guru forbade him to do so, saying, "Son, you should not eat anything before offering it to me."

Upmanyu obeyed his Guru’s wish. Next day, he presented all his alms to Ayuddhaumya. Ayuddhaumya took away all the food without leaving anything for Upmanyu to eat. Upmanyu did not complain and went back to herding cows the next morning.

When he returned, Ayuddhaumya asked him, "Son, I have taken all your alms. Now, what do you eat?"
Upmanyu answered, "Sir, after I presented my alms to you, I returned and begged again.”
Ayuddhaumya gasped. He said, "Son, this is highly improper. When you go and ask for alms the second time, not only you take the share of other people who deserve those alms, but you also prove your greed."
Upmanyu heeded his Guru’s words.

When he returned in the evening, his Guru asked him again, "Son, I take all your alms. You do not beg again. In spite of that, you are looking so healthy and strong. What is the reason for that?"
Upmanyu replied, "Sir, I drink cows' milk."
His Guru forbade him from that too, saying, "Without my permission, it is not proper to drink cows' milk."
Upmanyu obeyed to this wish too.

Next evening, after he returned from herding cows, his Guru asked, "Son, you have now even stopped drinking milk. What do you eat?"
Upmanyu humbly replied, "Sir. I now drink the foam that calves spurt out after they drink their mothers' milk."
His Guru lamented, "Oh Lord! The poor calves must be taking pity on you and spurting out a lot of milk. By drinking the foam from their mouth, you are hindering the calves' growth."
Upmanyu listened to his Guru and even stopped drinking the foam from calves' mouth.

After his Guru stopped all his means of nourishment, Upmanyu got desperate and ate leaves of the 'Aak' plant (Calotrope). The leaves of the plant were bitter and produced a poisonous juice. After a while, Upmanyu found that he had lost his eyesight. Blind and hungry, he wandered around the forest until he fell into a dry well.

In the evening when Upmanyu did not return, his Guru was worried. He asked his students, "Has Upmanyu retuned?"
The students answered, "Not yet, Sir. The cows have returned, but not Upmanyu."
Ayuddhaumya was concerned. He said, "I stopped all his means of eating. He must be angry and upset with me and thus has not returned. Come, let us find him."

Ayuddhaumya went to the forest with his students and called out. "Upmanyu! Upmanyu,” the group called out, “Where are you? Come son."
When he heard his Guru’s voice, Upmanyu called out from the well, "I am in the well."
The group heard him and rushed to the well. Ayuddhaumya looked inside and saw his poor student, weary, blind, and wounded. His clothes were torn but his face was turned up in the general direction of the Guru.

Ayuddhaumya asked him, "Son, how did you fell in the well?"
Upmanyu replied, "I ate Aak’s leaves and lost my eyesight. I started wandering around to find my way back to the hermitage and fell into this well."

Distressed on hearing his plight, Ayuddhaumya advised him to pray to Ashwini Kumars. Ashwini Kumars are extremely handsome twins who are physicians of gods. “Son, you must pray to Ashwini Kumars,” said Ayuddhaumya, “They will surely restore your eyesight." The group then pulled out the blind Upmanyu from the well and returned with him to the hermitage.

In his small hut, Upmanyu started praying to Ashwini Kumars. Pleased with his devotion, Ashwini Kumars appeared before him and offered him a sweet, "Son, we are very pleased with your selfless devotion,” said Ashwini Kumars, “Eat this sweet and your eyes will be healed."
Upmanyu folded his hands in namaskar to the gods. He said, "My Lords! I am deeply humbled by your gift, but I cannot eat it without first offering it to my Guru."
Ashwini Kumars smiled and said, "Upmanyu, there was a time when your Guru also prayed to us and we offered him a sweet. At that time, he ate it without offering it to his Guru. So, if you eat the sweet now, you are only following what your Guru did."
Upmanyu remained steadfast. He folded his hands and said, "Please forgive me, gods, but I cannot eat this sweet without offering it to my Guru first."

Ashwini Kumars were impressed by Upmanyu’s devotion and loyalty to his Guru even in this adverse time. They smiled and said, "Son, we are pleased by your devotion to your Guru. We will now give you a boon. Your teeth will turn into gold, your eyes will heal, and you will have a happy and prosperous life."
As soon as these words were uttered, Upmanyu’s eyesight was restored. He opened his eyes and saw the twin gods in all their splendour and glory. He bowed to the gods, who blessed him and disappeared.

Upmanyu then rushed to his Guru and narrated the entire episode. Ayuddhaumya was delighted. He said, "Son Upmanyu, as per the boon by Ashwini Kumars, you will live a happy and successful life. In addition, all Vedas and Dharamshastras will be known to you automatically."

Upmanyu was elated at these words. When it was time for him to leave the ashram, he happily bid everyone farewell and returned to his native town.

To be continued.