Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3931

c9.3931

6) Theft of Varuṇa's cow by Kaśyapa. Kaśyapa once decided to perform a sacrifice. He made all preparations. But he did not get the required cow at the stipulated time. So he got the Homadhenu of Varuṇa by theft and began to perform the yāga (sacrifice). Varuṇa knew this. Instantly he went to Kaśyapa and demanded his cow. But Kaśyapa refused to return the cow. Varuṇa complained to Brahmā, who sent for Kaśyapa and asked him about the cow and both Brahmā and Varuṇa cursed Kaśyapa that he who had taken the cow by stealth would take birth as a cowherd in Ambāḍi. (For further details see under Kaśyapa and Nandagopa).