[3] According to the Mahabharata, he was powerful enough to oppose the celestial thunderbolt (vajra) of Indra, and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial offerings.

[4] Chyavana (with a different spelling: च्यवान Cyavāna) is also mentioned in the Rigveda, where he is described as an aged and feeble person whose youth and strength was restored by the twin Aśvins (RV VII.68:6).

[5] According to Rigveda X.61:1-3,[6] Cyavāna is a weak opponent of Tūrvayāṇa, an Indra worshipper and a Paktha king, as the former was closer to the Ashvins.

According to another tradition, he married Sukanyā, daughter of Vedic king Sharyati and granddaughter of Vaivasvata Manu.

[4] According to an account found in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva, Ch.5-6), when Bhrigu's wife Puloma was pregnant and lived in her hermitage, a rakshasa harassed her.

The earliest version of the narrative of Chyavana's practice of austerities and subsequent restoration of youth is found in the Brahmanas.

When Sharyati found the cause of his misfortune, he offered his daughter Sukanya in marriage to Chayavana, so that she could take care the revered saint.

[7] According to the narrative found in the Vana Parva (Ch.122-5) of the Mahabharata, Chyavana was so absorbed in practising austerities on the side of a lake that termites built up their mound all over his body and only his eyes were left.

Indra objected to this, stating that as mere servants of the devas, they have no right to receive offering of Soma juice.

[15] In a narrative found in the Anushasana Parva (Ch.52-56) of the Mahabharata, Chayvana exacted many menial offices from king Kushika and his queen for 21 days.

Later, he was pleased by their devotion and rewarded them by creating a magical palace of gold and predicting the birth of their grandson endued with great energy, Vishvamitra, who would attain the status of a Brahmana.

[17] Another place claimed to be the location of Chyavana's hermitage (ashram) is Chaunsa in the Buxar district of Bihar.