The story of Sukanya and Sage Chyavana is mentioned in the
Devi Bhagavata Purana. Legend has it that King Sharyati, his queens and only
daughter Sukanya once went on a hunting expedition. They put their tent near a
pond in the forest. Nearby there was a big anthill. Sukanya saw two shining
points in ant hill. Out of curiosity, she took a stick and drove them inside
the shining spots.
The Ashwini Kumars were pleased with fidelity and
devotion of Sukanya and as a reward they made Sage Chyavana handsome and young
with divine medicines.
Suddenly blood started to ooze from the two spots. The
soldiers opened up the anthill and found Sage Chyavana who was meditating. The
two shining spots were the eyes of the Sage.
Sage Chyavana had been meditating for several years and his
entire body was covered up by anthill.
Blinded and unbearable pain made Sage Chyavana angry and he
was about to curse the princess, when her father intervened and asked for
pardon.
Sage agreed to not to curse, if the king agreed to marry his
daughter to him. The sage argued that a blind man constantly needs to help of loyal
and devoted person.
Princess Sukanya, who realized her mistake, agreed to marry
old Chyavana.
Years passed and Chyavana was happy with his devoted and
beautiful wife.
Once Ashwini Kumars, the divine physicians, happened to see
Sukanya and took pity on her. They asked her to abandon the old ugly sage and
marry a young man. Sukanya condemned them and chastised them that if they said
anything unwanted about her husband then she would curse them.