Tapatī and Saṃvaraṇa (Mahābhārata)
The Tapatī and Saṃvaraṇa Upākhyāna is told in the Chaitraratha Parva of the Mahābhārata, in the Ādi Parva, Chapters 171 to 173. Saṃvaraṇa, a king of the Paurava line, met the radiant Tapatī, daughter of Sūrya, on a mountain. Love overwhelmed him and he fainted. The ṛshi Vasishṭha spoke to Sūrya and asked him to give his daughter in marriage. The couple lived twelve years in the forest, and in that time their absence from the kingdom brought a terrible drought. Vasishṭha brought them back. Their son was the great king Kuru, who gave his name to the Kuru line and to Kurukshetra.
Saṃvaraṇa sees Tapatī
King Saṃvaraṇa of the Paurava line was a descendant of Pūru through a long line of kings, and a ruler of great virtue and strength. He was hunting in the forests on the slopes of a great mountain when he saw a woman of matchless splendour. She stood there with the brilliance of Sūrya himself, lighting up the forest around her, shining in form and bearing. At the sight of her Saṃvaraṇa was at once overcome by a love so complete that his limbs failed him. He fell.
(Ādi Parva, Chapter 171)
Tapatī leaves and Vasishṭha goes to Sūrya
Tapatī was the daughter of Sūrya and Chāyā, his shadow-wife. She was called Tapatī, the burning one, because of the heat and lustre she gave off like the sun itself. When she saw the fallen king, she did not stay. She rose into the sky and vanished.
When Saṃvaraṇa came to himself, he searched the forest in anguish and found no sign of her. He stood on the mountain and prayed to Sūrya, without eating or drinking, until Sūrya took notice.
The ṛshi Vasishṭha was Saṃvaraṇa’s kula-guru (family teacher). Through his yogic sight he learned of his king’s state. He went up to the realm of Sūrya and met him. He told Bhagavān Sūrya of Saṃvaraṇa’s love and asked for Tapatī’s hand for the king. Sūrya saw that both the king and the request were righteous, agreed, and gave Tapatī to Saṃvaraṇa.
(Ādi Parva, Chapter 172)
Twelve years in the forest
Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī were united. They were so taken up with each other that Saṃvaraṇa did not go back to his kingdom. The couple lived in the forest for twelve years, wandering together and forgetting all their royal duties.
While the king was away, the Paurava kingdom suffered badly. No rain fell for twelve years. A terrible drought struck the land. Crops failed, rivers shrank and the people were in great hardship. The kingdom was close to ruin.
(Ādi Parva, Chapter 172)
Vasishṭha brings them back and Kuru is born
Vasishṭha stepped in again. He sought out Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī in their forest home and persuaded the king to return to his duties and his people. Saṃvaraṇa obeyed his guru without delay and went back to the capital. When the king returned and the proper royal yajñas (fire rituals) were done under Vasishṭha’s guidance, rain fell, the crops came back and the kingdom recovered.
From the union of Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī a son of great stature was born: Kuru. He became the forefather who gave his name to the Kuru line. He ploughed and made holy the field that came to be called Kurukshetra, the field of the Kurus, and so made it the holiest region of Bhāratavarsha.
(Ādi Parva, Chapter 173)
Other Purāṇas
Other Purāṇas also tell of Saṃvaraṇa, Tapatī and King Kuru and give more details. They tell that Kuru ploughed Samantapañcaka with the bull of Rudra and offered the blood and marrow of his own body to make the land holy.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chaitraratha Parva, Chapters 171–173