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कपस् (kapas)

 
पुराणम्
English
कपस् / KAPA(S). A company of Asuras. The mahābhārata gives a story of how the brahmins killed these demons. The aśvinīdevas once came to the earth and gave eyesight to the blind sage cyavana. It was the time when indra had denied soma juice to the aśvinīdevas. Sage cyavana got back his eyesight and promised the aśvinīdevas that he would lift the ban on wine for them. cyavana conducted a Yāga to which the aśvinīdevas were also invited. indra and the other devas refused to take the sacrificial wine and butter along with the aśvinīdevas. cyavana got angry and he produced from the sacrificial fire an asura named mada. With a huge mouth and long teeth the demon went round eating all the devas. All at once cyavana conquered the earth and the kapas subjugated heaven. When they lost both heaven and earth the devas approached the brahmins for help. The brahmins started a war against the kapas. The kapas sent dhani to the brahmins for peace-talks. dhani said “The kapas are equal to you, Oh brahmins, and so why do you fight them? They are well-versed in Vedas and are very wise men who are entitled to conduct Yāgas. They are righteous persons similar to Brahmarṣis. Prosperity lives in them. They never keep unchaste wives nor do they eat stale meat. It is not proper to fight against such virtuous persons.”
But the brahmins did not pay heed to what dhani said and they killed all the kapas in bulk. The kapas, though they were born Asuras, were good-natured persons. (Chapter 157, anuśāsana parva)