Only Tara knew whose child outshone the gods
In the ancient Indian Vishnu Purana, gods and demons go to war over one woman. And she is the one who has the last word. Her name is Tara, and she is the wife of Brihaspati, teacher of the gods.
Tara was carried off by Soma, the Moon, grown proud after the royal Rajasuya sacrifice. Her husband couldn't win her back, and neither could Brahma's command or the sages' protests, because Soma refused to give her up. The war fought over her was even named for her: the Tarakamaya. When Brahma ended the fighting, Soma was made to give Tara back to her husband. She was already pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.
The boy shone so brightly that he outshone every god, and both Brihaspati and Soma claimed him. The gods turned to Tara. She was ashamed and stayed silent, however many times they asked. Then the child threatened to curse his mother unless she named his father.
Brahma calmed the boy and asked her himself: "Tell me, daughter, is this the child of Brihaspati or of Soma?" "Of Soma," Tara said, blushing. The boy was named Budha, "he who knows". But the one who knew was Tara.
Sources
- Vishnu Purana, Book IV, ch. 6. Trans. H. H. Wilson, ed. F. Hall. The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition, vol. IV (Works by the late H. H. Wilson, vol. IX). London: Trübner & Co., 1868, pp. 2–4