Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3867

c9.3867

In the great city of Nandarāja, there was a great Brahmin named Śaṅkarasvāmī. He had two sons named Varṣa and Upavarṣa. Both married and lived in separate houses. By and by Varṣa became cruel and wicked and poor. Upavarṣa became learned and wealthy. The rainy season approached. In those days it was a custom for women to make a sweet food of rice flour with sugar and give it to cruel Brahmins. It was to prevent the extreme cold in the winter and the extreme heat in the summer from affecting them severely. The wife of Upavarṣa made this sweet food and gave it to Varṣa. When he brought it home, his wife scolded him. Varṣa felt very sorry because of his foolishness. He gave up all his desires and began to worship Śaṅkarasvāmī. Kumārasvāmī was pleased with him and blessed him with all kinds of knowledge. Kumārasvāmī had ordered him to teach all of this knowledge to one who could learn at first hearing. From that day onwards Varṣa had been waiting for a disciple who could learn at first hearing.