An Aged Sage and a Princess
Chyavana Muni was ancient and covered in matted hair. He resided near a forest lake. One day, the young princess Sukanyā entered the grove and innocently poked a glowing anthill — it was Chyavana’s eyes.
Blinded, the muni cursed the king’s camp, halting all activities. To rectify her mistake, Sukanyā was offered to Chyavana as his wife. Despite his appearance, she served him faithfully.
The Aśvinī-kumāras’ Temptation and the Sage’s Transformation
Pleased by her loyalty, the twin demigods Aśvinī-kumāras offered her a deal — they would restore Chyavana’s youth if she agreed to marry one of them. Sukanyā refused, loyal to her husband.
They agreed to rejuvenate him. Three identical young men emerged from the sacred lake. Sukanyā chose her husband without hesitation. Chyavana, youthful again, rewarded the twins by arranging for them a share in soma offerings, which they had previously been denied.
Lessons to Be Learned
1. Chaste Devotion Overrules External Appearance
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.9.45) glorifies Pativratā-dharma — the purity of a wife who accepts her husband in any condition, as Sukanyā did. Her devotion brought miracles.
2. Faithful Service Transforms the World
Chyavana’s curse lifted, his body renewed, and the Aśvinī-kumāras gained spiritual elevation — all due to the humble service of a devoted wife. Service to saintly persons purifies all surroundings.
3. True Beauty Lies in Character, Not Youth
Though Chyavana was disfigured, Sukanyā honored him as her guru and protector. She saw the divine soul beyond the skin, a perspective praised in Gauḍīya teachings.
