Sage Agastya and the Demon Brothers
Ilvala and Vatapi were two demon brothers who held a deep hatred for Brahmins. They devised a sinister plan to trick and kill them. Using their dark powers, Vatapi would transform into a goat, and Ilvala would prepare the goat as a meal to offer to any Brahmin guest. Once the Brahmin ate the meat, Ilvala would call Vatapi, who would tear his way out of the guest’s stomach, killing him. This deadly scheme allowed them to take the lives of many innocent Brahmins.
One day, the demon brothers decided to target the renowned Sage Agastya, hoping to add him to their list of victims. They invited him to a feast and prepared the goat as usual, planning to execute their gruesome trick. However, Agastya, being a wise and powerful sage, saw through their wicked intentions and decided to teach them a lesson.
As Agastya ate the goat meat, Ilvala began chanting to bring Vatapi back to life. However, before Vatapi could emerge, Agastya simply patted his stomach and said, “Vatapi, be digested!” With his mystical powers, Agastya instantly digested the meat, killing Vatapi before he could escape.
Enraged and shocked, Ilvala tried to attack Agastya, but the sage’s divine power protected him. Agastya, calm and composed, overpowered Ilvala, ending the demon’s wicked plans for good.
—
**Moral:** This story of Sage Agastya and the demon brothers teaches us that wisdom and righteousness can overcome even the darkest forces. Evil schemes cannot triumph over those who are virtuous and wise.