Vedic Intercaste Marriages

2011-03-31
Srimad Bhagavatam 09.18.22 - Vedic Intercaste Marriages (download mp3)
by Sankirtan Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net





 
 SB 9.18.22
yad idam kupa-magnaya
bhavato darsanam mama
na brahmano me bhavita
hasta-graho maha-bhuja
kacasya barhaspatyasya
sapad yam asapam pura

Translation:
Because of falling in the well, I met you. Indeed, this has been arranged by providence. After I cursed Kaca, the son of the learned scholar Brhaspati, he cursed me by saying that I would not have a brahmana for a husband. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, there is no possibility of my becoming the wife of a brahmana.

Purport:
Kaca, the son of the learned celestial priest Brhaspati, had been a student of Sukracarya, from whom he had learned the art of reviving a man who has died untimely. This art, called mrta-sañjivani, was especially used during wartime. When there was a war, soldiers would certainly die untimely, but if a soldier's body was intact, he could be brought to life again by this art of mrta-sañjivani. This art was known to Sukracarya and many others, and Kaca, the son of Brhaspati, became Sukracarya's student to learn it. Devayani desired to have Kaca as her husband, but Kaca, out of regard for Sukracarya, looked upon the guru's daughter as a respectable superior and therefore refused to marry her. Devayani angrily cursed Kaca by saying that although he had learned the art of mrta-sañjivani from her father, it would be useless. When cursed in this way, Kaca retaliated by cursing Devayani never to have a husband who was a brahmana. Because Devayani liked Yayati, who was a ksatriya, she requested him to accept her as his bona fide wife. Although this would be pratiloma-vivaha, a marriage between the daughter of a high family and the son of a lower family, she explained that this arrangement was made by providence.