36. Tapati and Samvarana

This story is narrated to Arjuna by a Gandharva. This Gandharva tried to stop the Pandavas when they were walking on the banks of the Ganga after escaping from the House of  Lac but was overpowered by Arjuna.

The Gandharva told the story to emphasize the need for a king to have a Guru.

Samvarana, the son of Riksha, once met Tapati, the daughter of Surya, the Sun God. in the forests and instantly fell in love with her.  When Samvarana expressed his love to Tapati, she said that she had also fallen in love with him but that he should seek her father’s consent for having her as his wife.

After Tapati went away, Samvarana became unconscious, unable to bear the separation.  His minister came to him and helped him gain consciousness by sprinkling water on him.

When the minister advised Samvarana to return to his kingdom, the king refued to come. He sat there in penance prating to Surya. He also prayed to Vasishta, the Guru of his kingdom, to help him.

Sage Vasishta appeared befoer him on the 12^th day and offered to help him.

Vasishta went to Surya and asked him to give his daughter Tapati in marriage to Samvarana, after apprising Surya of Samvarana's virtues.  Suryawas pleased. He said that he had always considered Samvarana to be a prospective groom for his daughter. He  handed over Tapati to Vasishta and requested him to get her married to Samvarana

Accordingly, Vasishta performed the marriage of Tapati with Samvarana.

Vasishta having been the Guru of Samvarana’s ancestors came to the help of Samvarana, said the Gandharva.  The ancestors of the Pandavas were able to perform grand sacrifices by having Vasishta as their priest, the Gandharva added

After marrying Tapati, Samvarana remained in the forest for 12 years. He did not visit his capital even once. There were no rains in the kingdom for these 12 years. Affected by the severe drought, people began to leave the country. Seeing the plight of the people affected by the drought, Vasishta came to Samvarana and asked him to return to his capital.

After Samvarana returned to his capital, it began to rain and the drought came to an end. To express his gratitude to Indra for blessing his kingdom with rain and ending the drought, Samparana, in the company of his wife Tapati, performed a sacrifice for 12 years.

Kuru was born to Samvarana and Tapati.  It was after him that Arjuna’s ancestors began to be called Kauravas (the descendants of Kuru), said the Gandharva.

The above story appears simple and straightforward. But it has several messages, some explicit and some subtle.

1) A king has the primary duty to govern his kingdom. Samvarana abdicated his responsibility by keeping away from his kingdom for 12 years. His country suffered on account of the king's dereliction of hid duty.

2) While the advice of a Guru/ Counselor/ Minister  is essential and valuable, the governing of a country cannot be  delegated by the king.

3) After the king had realized his mistake and came back to his kingdom, the country was blessed with rains. But the king performed a sacrifice for 12 years. This can be considered to be by way of making amends for his sin of abdicating his responsibility. It can also be considered as an act of thanksgiving. We need to offer prayers not only seeking certain thinks but also thanking God for the things we have got from him.