Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2171

c7.2171

It was this Kaśyapa himself who was reborn as Vasudeva and Aditi became Devakī. Surasā was born as Rohiṇī, another wife. There is another reason for Kaśyapa and Aditi to take birth for the third time. Once Kaśyapa had prepared to perform a Yāga. All arrangements were complete. But the sacrificial cow alone was not available. Kaśyapa solved the problem by stealing a cow from Varuṇa's cattle-shed. Aditi and Surasā concealed it in the Āśrama. Enraged at the theft of his cow, Varuṇa complained to Brahmā. A curse was pronounced by Brahmā and Varuṇa that as a punishment for stealing and hiding the cow, Kaśyapa should be reborn as a cowherd and Aditi and Surasā should be reborn as the cowherd's wives. It was by this curse that Kaśyapa, Aditi and Surasā were reborn as Vasudeva Devakī and Rohiṇī respectively. (Devī Bhāgavata, 4th Skandha).