Vāpu and Tārkshī

This narrative comes from the opening chapter of the Mārkaṇḍeya Mahā Purāṇa. It tells how Vāpu, the most beautiful of the apsarās (the dancers of the devas), was cursed by Durvāsa Maharshi for breaking his tapas (austerity). It tells how she was later known as Tārkshī, the daughter of Kandara, the bird-king of the Garuḍa line. It also tells how Tārkshī guarded four eggs at the battle of Kurukshetra.

The contest in Nandana Vana

In Nandana Vana, Nārada Maharshi once came upon Devendra seated among the apsarās. Rambhā, Karkaśā, Urvaśī, Tilottamā, Ghṛtācī and Menakā were among them. Indra asked Nārada to choose one of them to dance. Nārada looked at them all and asked each one to perform. The apsarās then began to quarrel about which of them was best in beauty and in qualities. Indra said they should ask Nārada to judge. When they asked him, Nārada looked at them all and turned his eyes to Vāpu. He named her the first among them in form, in quality and in grace.

The curse

Vāpu was honoured by this and flew in great joy toward the āśrama of Durvāsa Maharshi. When she was within a krośa (a short distance) of the āśrama, she began to sing in the sweet voice of a kokila (cuckoo), at the highest pitch of her joy. Durvāsa Maharshi was deep in tapas. He heard this beautiful singing and came out to see who was singing. He saw the apsarā of perfect beauty and understood that her presence put his tapas in danger. In his anger he gave her a śāpa (a curse) to be born in bird form.

The Garuḍa line and the rebirth

The narrative then gives the line of descent. From Arishṭanemi came Garuḍa. From Garuḍa came Sampāti. From Sampāti came Supārśva, who had no equal in valour. From Supārśva came Kunti. From Kunti came Prololupu. From Prololupu came two sons, Kaṅku and Kandara.

The rākshasa Vidyudrūpa killed Kaṅku on Kailāsa Parvata. Kandara was full of grief and anger. He chased Vidyudrūpa and killed him. The rākshasa’s wife was Madanikā. She was none other than Vāpu, scorched by Durvāsa’s curse. Kandara took her as his spiritual daughter. The bird-king named her Tārkshī.

Tārkshī at Kurukshetra

Tārkshī was present at the great battle of the Mahābhārata. She saw the fearful fight between Bhagadatta and Arjuna, in which arrows filled the sky like locusts. During the battle a huge bell fell, the great ghaṇṭā of Bhagadatta’s elephant. It came down on the four eggs of Mandapāla’s sons that lay on the ground. Tārkshī covered the eggs with the rim of the bell to protect them from the killing of the war. Under this bell the four bird-children lived. Śamīka Maharshi raised them, and they became the dharma-birds of Vindhya.

Sources

• Mārkaṇḍeya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 1