The rishi said, "I am already old. I havenow lost my eyes. Your child pricked them with a thorn. Who will help me now in my old age?"

The king replied, "O rishi! Forgive us. Come to my palace. I shall put all my servants at your service!"

The rishi said: "No! Give your daughter in marriage to me! Did she not prick my eyes? I shall live with her here. Only then can I forgive her."

The king felt very sad. Sukanya came for- ward and declared: "Dear Father, I shall marry the rishi and live here serving him. I shall bear the punishment cheerfully!"

The king was thus forced to give away his young and beautiful daughter to the old ugly rishi. Sukanya served her husbandwith devotion and without any complaint. The rishi was very happy.

One day the twin-gods Asvins came to the rishi's ashrama. They are the heavenly doctors. They were the rishi's friends too.

When they saw young Sukanya serving her old husband so devotedly, they were filled with pity for her. The Asvins made Chyavana young and handsome by their divine power.