Then, without being asked, yet moved by his deep knowledge, Kacha spoke slowly from within the belly of Shukra. He addressed his teacher, saying, “By whom have you been initiated, and why do you remain in my belly? Speak, my child.” Kacha replied, “By your grace, my memory remains undiminished; I remember everything—what has happened and how. Yet, let my ascetic merit not be diminished in this way; for this reason, I recall a suffering even greater than this.” He continued, “O Kavya, the Asuras gave me to you in your drink, after I had been killed, burned, and crushed. The Brahmin’s magic is with you, but here, the Asuric magic prevails. How can it overpower you while you remain?” Shukra, deeply moved, asked, “What dear thing can I do for you today, my child? Without you, my life would not remain; Kacha could only be seen if my belly were split open, for he is within me, O Devayani.” He lamented, “Two griefs, like fire, consume me: the loss of Kacha and the harm to you, my daughter. With Kacha’s loss, I have no peace; with your harm, I cannot live.” Shukra then addressed Kacha, “You are perfected, O son of Brihaspati, for Devayani, devoted, cherishes you. Attain this knowledge that grants life; otherwise, today you will become Indra in Kacha’s form.” He declared, “No one else, except a Brahmin, can return to life from my belly; therefore, attain the knowledge.” “Become my son and emerge from my belly, breaking it open; revive me, dear one, and observe proper conduct. Having obtained knowledge from the teacher, be learned.” Thus, having fully obtained the knowledge from his guru, the Brahmin Kacha broke open Shukra’s belly and emerged, like the moon rising from the peak of the snowy mountain at nightfall on the full moon. When those present saw Shukra fallen, the Vedas themselves were invoked in his honor. Then Kacha, having attained that perfected knowledge, bowed and addressed his teacher with reverence. He reflected, “Those who do not honor the guru, who is to be worshipped, the best among treasures and boons, whose forehead shines like the blazing Himalayan peak—such people, unstable, go to sinful worlds.” He remembered, “By making one drink liquor, by deception, causing the loss of consciousness and reason, one is deluded by the attractiveness of the drink.” At this, Kavya, of great power, rose in anger, wishing to address the wrong done to Ushanas, and spoke these words, suspecting the act of drinking liquor: “Any Brahmin from this day onward who, out of delusion, drinks liquor, being dull-witted and fallen from dharma, is indeed a slayer of Brahmins, condemned in this world and the next.” He proclaimed, “I have established this boundary of Brahmin conduct in all the worlds; let all virtuous Brahmins, attentive to their teachers, and all gods and demons, listen.” Having thus spoken, that one of immeasurable brilliance, the treasure of ascetics, gathered the Danavas of hidden intent and addressed them: “I declare to you, O Danavas, you are childish; Kacha, the disciple, will remain with me. Having obtained the Sanjivani knowledge from me, this Brahmin, equal in power, will become like Brahma.” After living near his guru for a hundred years, and with permission, Kacha wished to go to the abode of the gods. When his vow was complete and he was released by his teacher, as Kacha set out for the dwelling of the gods, Devayani spoke to him: “Grandson of the sage Angiras, you shine by conduct, by birth, by knowledge, by austerity, and by self-restraint.” She continued, “Just as the sage Angiras, my illustrious ancestor, is honored, so too is Brihaspati, my father, worthy of honor and worship for me. Knowing this, understand what I say, O possessor of austerity, steadfast in vows and discipline, as I conduct myself toward you.” She pleaded, “You, having completed your studies, should not abandon me, your devoted one; take my hand in the proper way, with the prescribed mantras. Just as my father is worthy of honor and respect for me, so too are you, O faultless one, considered most worthy of worship.” Kacha replied, “By life and breath, you are most dear to the great-souled Bhargava; O gentle one, by righteousness, you, the guru’s daughter, are always worthy of my honor. Just as my guru Shukra, your father, is always honored by me, O Devayani, so too are you; you should not speak to me otherwise.” He explained, “You are to me as a guru’s daughter, not as my father’s daughter; therefore, O best of Brahmins, you are also to be honored and respected by me.” Devayani reminded him, “When you, Kacha, were repeatedly slain by the Asuras, remember the affection I had for you from that time onward. You know my supreme devotion, both in affection and love; O knower of dharma, you should not abandon your innocent devotee.” Kacha gently replied, “O virtuous lady, you assign me to a task where I should not be assigned; be gracious, O beautiful one, for you are more venerable than even the guru. Where you, O wide-eyed one, with a face like the moon, have dwelled, there I too have dwelled, O gentle lady, within the womb of Kavya, O radiant woman.” He continued, “By dharma, you are my sister, O auspicious-faced one; do not speak thus. I have dwelled with you happily, O gentle lady, and I bear no anger.” “I take leave of you; I shall depart. May my journey be auspicious. Without violating dharma, remember me in another tale. Always be vigilant and devoted, and worship my guru.” Devayani said, “You were slain by the demons, yet I protected you with the resolve of a husband. If you reject me for the sake of dharma, desire, and wealth, then so be it.” She pronounced, “Then, Kacha, this knowledge will not attain its fulfillment for you.” Kacha replied, “Declaring myself as the guru’s son, I shall reject you, not out of fault. Having been permitted by the guru, curse me as you wish. I speak the ancient dharma, O Devayani, just as you do. I am not fit to be cursed by you, O blessed one, either by desire or by dharma today.” He concluded, “Therefore, the desire you have will not be fulfilled. No son of a sage will ever take your hand in marriage. My knowledge will not bear fruit, as you have said. Yet, I shall teach it to another, and for him, the knowledge will bear fruit.” Having spoken thus, O best of kings, Kacha then swiftly departed for the abode of the lord of the gods, O best of the twice-born.