SOUBHARI

SAGE SAUBHARI
It was the Vedic age and sages from different areas had gathered on a grand scale to hold a sacrifice. Of
them was the son of Sage Kanva namely Saubhari popularly known as Sobhari to several other sages. The
devout sage glorified Agni, the Fire God in several hymns sung by him. In some such hymns the sage
glorified Agni as the dear friend of mighty mornings, whose spark is black and crackling. He also invoked
the Ashvin Gods on one such occasion. Several sages who had seen Sage Saubhari worshipping Agni so
earnestly exclaimedPraise Saubhari (attract hither) by a new song the youthful purifying showerers. Sage Saubhari was well
versed in Vedas and once he set up his hermitage near the Vindhya Mountains. The devout sage
performed several great austerities to attain divine knowledge on the banks of Kalindi river. In due
course, the sage resorted to a severe penance of 12 years immersed in waters of the river. While
meditating, he observed the fishes in the water one day. The Sovereign of the fishes named Sammada, of
large size had numerous progeny and he lived a happy life with his children and grandchildren. On being
disturbed mentally, in devotion by their frolicking, the sage began to have matrimonial thoughts and
forsaking his austerities, he went to the palace of king Mandhata and sought an alliance to marry his 50
daughters. Mandhata did not like the appearance of the sage. But at the same time he was in a dilemma
lest he be cursed. So he said that it was the custom of the family that daughters married their chosen
bridegrooms. The sage realized that it was a mere ploy of Mandhata to avoid giving a daughter in
marriage to an old man. Therefore Sage Saubhari requested that he be given one chance to meet the
daughters of Mandhata. If anyone wished to marry him, only then he would marry him else he would go
away. Having assumed several forms by his power of penance, the sage married them and begot 100 sons
of each of them. He summoned the divine architect Vishwakarma and asked him to build separate palaces
for the 50 wives each having its own ponds, lotuses, swans, beds, seats jewels and so on. One day
Mandhata came to see his daughters and on going to each palace he found the sage having assumed
different forms was happily living with each of the wives. He fell at the Sages feet and begged
forgiveness.
Once when Sage Saubhari was sacrificing to the Gods with his family members in Kurukshetra, rats
devoured his corn and various oblations. So he praised Indra, Chitra and Sarasvati. Then, Chitra, king of
rats rejoiced from self satisfaction. Chitra being praised like a God gave to the seer as many as 1000
cows. The seer accepted it. Chitra addressed him I do not deserve the praise of a seer having begotten in
an animal womb. Do you rather praise the Gods. The sage then praised the Gods like Surya, Indra, Soma,
Angiras, Sarama, Agni and Ashvins with several hymns.
One day Sage Saubhari was living with his wife Manomayi in the forest. A Gandharva named Krauncha
set his eyes on the wife of the sage and was waiting for a chance. Once while Sage Saubhari was away,
she lured him and gave food to the visitor. The sage on returning back realized the folly and cursed
Krauncha to become a rat. As it proceeded to Sage Parasharas hermitage and started devouring grain
stocks, Lord Ganesha who was at the hermitage skillfully caught the rat. The rat narrated its tale of woe to
the Lord and mercifully was taken by him as his Vehicle.
After living happily with Mandhatas daughters for several years, one day the sage realized his folly and
contemplated that his earlier mental devotions were interrupted by attachment to the fish. The result was
his marriage and insatiable desires. Therefore he again left to perform penance. The sage meditated for
1000 years and became a great Siddha contemplating on Lord Krishna always. Close to the place of his
meditation in the waters, Garuda the king of birds used to come and play there fearlessly and take rounds
of the sage delightfully daily and catch fish by his beak. One day Garuda caught hold of a large leader of
the fishes. The sage being a protector of fishes cursed Garuda that he would be killed if he came to the
lake. The lake was later inhabited by the Kaliya snake that was devoured by Lord Krishna. It was this
curse that gave protection to the snake there.
One day while at the hermitage, Arjuna the Pandava arrived to invite the sage to the grand Ashvamedha
yagna performed by his elder brother, king Yudhishtira. The sage offered him a seat and on enquiring his
well being narrated the story of Chandi who had been cursed by sage Uddalaka.

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