Stories of Mahapurasha - Sri Bhagavata
Avataras
Importance of keeping one’s word
We all know that the pandavas left their kingdom for 13 long years for keeping up their word! Well, for Arjuna going away from the bhogas of a king, for the sake of truth, was not new. He did it once well before the aranyavaas. The story goes like this:The kalyaanam of pandavas with Draupadi was an unusual one. However, it was perfectly according to dharma shastras. Infact Draupadi is one of the greatest pativratas and praised even by Lord Krishna for her Dharma vartana. A few reasons to justify the kalyaanam:
1. Kunti Devi, the mother of pandavas, who
never knew what a lie was, gave her will.
2. Vyaasa Maharshi, one of the avataar of
Lord Vishnu, ordered the kalyaanam to be done.
3. Lord Shiva, pleased with her tapas, gave a
boon to Draupadi to marry the pandavas.
4. Pandavas, though were five physically,
were all amshas of Indra, the King of the Gods. Hence, pandavas were actually
one.
Naarada, again an avataar of Lord
Vishnu, suggested some rules to be followed by pandavas and Draupadi for living
together. This is because, though they were amshas of Gods and Godesses, since
they had a human form some addition rules according to dharma shastras needed
to be followed. One of the rules was that: Draupadi should spend one year with
each of the pandavas and while she was with one of them, no other pandavas
should visit the palace where they might be. In case of any breach of their
rule, one-year pilgrimage was prescribed by way of penance leaving the
kingdom.The pandavas and Draupadi were living happily until one day: a brahmana
came running to Arjuna saying that the thieves had stolen his cows. Arjuna
wanted to rush with him to catch the thieves but he realised that his bow and
arrows were kept in Yudhisthira's palace and he was there in the company of
Draupadi. He hesitated for a while, then seeing brahmana's plight he rushed in
to Yudhisthira 's palace took his bow and arrows and ran to catch the thieves.
After he caught the thieves and punished them, after restoring the cows of the
brahmana, Arjuna came back to Yudhisthira and told him about his transgression
of the rule.Yudhisthira, knowing the reason of the breach of their rule, said their is no need for Arjuna to take the pilgrimage. Since it is a mistake committed towards him, and that too for a good reason, he will pardon arjuna . However, Arjuna would never break his word. He immediately set out for a one-year pilgrimage. May be this is why Arjuna is such a favourite sakha of Lord Krishna.
Morals in the Story:
1. The story shows how important it is to
keep up ones word, whether it is of any consequence or not, how much ever
difficult it is.
2. Arjuna, knowing that he will be punished
for breaching the rule, did not stop doing his duty as a king to protect his
people and punish the theif. Thus, one must always perform his duty without any
laziness or any kind of fear.
3. Rewards for such people do show up as
immediate difficulties, but in the end – it is truth is what always wins
(Satyameva jayate). Arjuna's win was in the way of gaining eternal friendship
with the Lord.
Message:
1. Imagine if everyone keeps his word and
always speaks truth — will we have corruption? will we have poverty? Though its
a very difficult to inculcate, unless we are truthful there will be no
development.
2. Like Arjuna if everyone does they duty —
will there be such slow development for such a large community of intelligent
people?
3. Temporal gains got by saying lies never
will be permanent. They will not only bring us down on a long run in life,
leave aside winning the heart of the God.
Naarada maharshi upadesham
Naarada (Naaram is Gnyaanam. He is the one who gives Gnyaanam) is one of the 21 important avataars of Mahaavishnu. For many great Bhaktas, Yogis, Maharshis He was the Guru. It is well known that with His anugraham only one gets Bhakti. He was the Guru of Aadi Kavi Vaalmiiki, Veda Vyaasa, Dhruva, Prahlaada, Haryashwaas & Shabalashwaas, children of Dakshaprajaapati, Chitraketu, …. (the list goes on). He did divya-upadeshas to Saavitri, Dharmaraaja, Duurvaasa, Sanat-kumaras ….. It is because of Him only we today know about Satyanaaraayana Vratam, which is the easiest way to attain Iham and Param in Kaliyugam. He gave us Naarada-smruti, Naarada Bhakti-suutras. He is the pravartaka of Mahaabhaaratam in Devalokam (see this for more info).Naarada maharshi’s darshanam in Mahaabhaaratam happens in Sabhaa-parvam. He came to see the Raajyaabhishekam of Dharmaraaja in Maya-sabha. Yudhishthira went and recieved Naarada maharshi and did Atithi-seva. Naarada maharshi gave His aashiirvaadam and said “O Dharmaraaja! I am happy to see the abhishekam of the Dharmadevata in human form (Yudhishthira, the amsha of Yamadharmaraaja).
Will you follow all the ways which your ancestors and elders followed and did Dharma-sthaapana? Will you look after all the people in your Raajyam with Samaana-drushti? I am sure you are not having dhana-lobham and treating some with Prema and the others with Dvesham. If such a thing is done then it will lead to anarthas. And ultimately this will destroy the King only. A Raaja must be a Maarga-darshi for the praja. Dhana-kaanksha will lead to Sarva-naashanam.
Sleeping in the day, staying awake in the night leads to anaarogyam (see this too). Your Mantris must be duty oriented, have nirmala-manas, have Kushaagra-buddhi, have no Svaartham. Your must test the Vidya, Vivekam and Shiila-svabhaavam of people and recruit them as Government officials.
You must never give Unnata-padavi to adhamas and madhyamas; and for uttamas give alpa-padavi. Because of this the people who get Unnata-padavi will not know how to do the job, the people who get alpa-padavi will face avamaanam and may try to spoil the Govt. out of frustration.
You must do your own duty; if you hand it over to your sub-ordinate, then your respect will decrease and will lead to your downfall.
The Govt. servants must be paid good salaries. You must be extra careful with the people who do praana-tyaagam and save the Kingdom. You must only carefully look after their families. Else no one in future will voluntarily come forward for Desha-rakshana. Desha-rakshana will thus be destroyed. It is the most important duty of you to look after them well.
Of the Govt. servants some will be very bright. They perform there duties very well. You must recognise them and keep promoting them only to higher posts. Else these bright people will loose Utsaaham and this will destroy your Raajyam and will also cause apakhyaati to you.
Similarly you must do ghana-sanmaanam to people who do saahasa-kaaryas and people who are Panditas. Remember always there will be very few people who will be Panditas and have Pratibha. The very presence of such people in your Raajyam will increase your Raajyam’s glory.
Your Raajyam will have two kinds of calamities: one Natural (due to storms, floods etc.); the other because of people who dont have Samskaaram and are muudhas (since they are muudhas they dont listen to others, thinking that whatever they do is good). Pashutvam will be very high in them. If Raaja is a dhiishaali, then these people will lead there life in some corner. If not, these people only will do himsa and loot the people. Additionally if the King has dhana-lobham, these people will rob the people in King’s name. A King must always see that the number of such muurkhas, muudhas doesnt increase.
Immediately you must punish the people who deserve to be punished according to the Danda-neeti-shaastram. Whatever may happen you must never leave them unpunished. Else robbery, murders, everything will increase. There is no bigger foolishness than leaving such people.
King must ensure that Praja dont have agni-pramaadam etc. He must provide heath-care to all and ensure everybody gets pure water.
It is the duty of the King to protect Anaathas, handicapped etc. You must appoint Tax collectors with utmost care (see this too). You must not appoint muurkhas who cut Sandal-wood trees for wood. Tax collectors must collect tax carefully like how a garland-maker carefully makes the garland without spoiling the flowers.
Many foriegn bussiness people come to our Raajyam. You must not loot them with heavy heavy taxes. Else they will never come again. In the same way you must ensure that they pay taxes very promptly.
You must look after your health properly and eat aahaaram which is prepared with Parishubhrata (and prepared in a way as recommended by our Shaastras). Along with physical health if the King needs to maintain mental health he must spend some time in Sat-kaalakshepam with Sat-purushas and Panditas.
O Dharmanandana! I know that you know all these. However it is my vidhi (duty) to tell you all this.”
Every line in this story shows things which even recent Kings like Shri Krishna Deva Raaya and Chatrapati Shivaaji firmly followed.
Importance of Vastram
Kubera, the parama-mitra of Shankara Bhagvaan, has two putras by names Nalakuubara and Manigreeva. However once Nalakuubara and Manigreeva got ahankaar and garvam because of their ananta-aishvaryam. Because of this, though they had the adrushtam of being Rudra-anucharas (sevakas of Paramashiva), once they did vihaaram with divya-striis in the beautiful pushpavanam on Pavitra Kailaasa parvatam. They drank a madira by name Vaaruni (see this to know 1 reason why this is wrong). They were singing together with the striis and were doing vihaaram.At that time Naarada, the Brahmarshi, Parama-puujya, came near the place where Nalakuubara-Manigreeva were doing Vihaaram. Due to their janma-janmaantara Punyam, they got the mahat-bhaagyam of having the Divya-darshanam of Shri Naarada maharshi. However even seeing the Brahmarshi, due to effect of having madira and aishvarya-ahankaaram, they didnt bother. With lajja and shaapa-bhayam, the striis, who were vivastras, immediately did vastra-dhaarana and left. However Nalakuubara-Manigreeva, who were Vastra-hiina, did not do Vastra-dhaarana even noticing that Naarada maharshi came there.
Naarada maharshi in order to give His anugraham to the Kubera-putras, said the following and gave a shaapam: (shaapam given by Divya-purushas must be considered as an anugraham only, since it will make a person realize his mistake and correct it.)
“Dhana-garvam is worse than the garvam one gets due to any other possession. People who have Dhana-garvam, though they know and see in everyday life that this physical body is easily destroyed and is nothing before Nature’s power, believe that satisfying the physical senses (Indriyas) is very important and do jeeva-himsa in doing so.
Even though you got the adrushtam of being Rudra-anucharas, and are the putras of the great Kubera, you did Madiraa-paanam, had adhika-garvam and even committed the mistake of remaining as Vastra-vihiina. You did not even realize that you were a Vastra-vihiina and stood like immobile trees. You dont deserve being Devatas. You will take the form of (immobile) Yamala, Arjuna Vrukshas for 100 Divya-varshas! You will have puurva-janma smruti and hence will have great pashchaattaapam for your mistake during that period. However since you did many many Punya kaaryas and otherwise are great people and due to My anugraham, you will have the durlabha-divya-darshanam of Shri Krishna Paramaatma and never repeat such mistakes. From then onwards you will become Shri Krishna Bhaktas and get Daivatvam again”.
After the Divya-baalya-leela of Shri Krishna of Dadhi-kumbha-bhanjanam and eating butter
Yashodaa devi tried to punish the Baalakrishna by trying to bind
him with a rope to a Iluukhalam.
Then Shri Krishna, in order to make the words of Naarada maharshi true, started to move towards the Yamala-arjuna Vrukshas (who were Nalakuubara-Manigreeva), pulling the Iluukhalam (grinding stone, device) along. As soon as Shri Krishna passed between them, and uprooted the Vrukshas, two Divya purushas came out and did stotram of Shri Krishna. Later They left to Their lokam and became Shri Krishna Bhaktas.
Morals in the story:
1. Ahankaaram is the main cause for all
paapa-kaaryas. Due to Dhana-garvam even great people like Nalakuubara and
Manigreeva had madiraa-paanam, did vilaasa-vihaaram on Pavitra Kailaasa
Parvatam and became Vastra-vihiina.
2. Importance of Vastra-dhaarana in our
Bhaarateeya Saampradaayam is well shown in this story. This story again shows
how madiraa-paanam leads to may other paapa-kaaryas. Hence our Bhaarateeya
Saampradaayam always warns us to be away from it.
Message to the present society:In our “open-minded” modern society today we are seeing increasing number of examples where women, who were supposed to be treated with great respect in our Indian culture, are being used in films, fashion shows as an object of pleasure. Even films which reach the notice of many, portray nudity and drinking alcohol as a very common thing. In such a situation where access to such things is easy, we must be still more careful to be away from them.
Also the present story and this story, show that Punya-kshetras are not meant for vihaaram. Hence going to Divya-kshetras like Tirupati, Shri Shailam, Shrungeri or other such kshetras (which are also very rich in Natural beauty) in view of Vihaaram or “pleasure-trip” must be avoided.
Suvarṇaṣhṭhīvi
One day in the Sabha of Srunjaya maharaja, Shri Naarada Maharshi was present. He was sitting on a Unnata-simhaasanam. Along with Srunjaya, many did puuja of the great Maharshi. One of the Vipras present asked Naarada Maharshi with Vinayam, “Muniidra! Maharaja is a good person. Dharmaatma. He is everytime busy with doing Anna-daanams. Having anugraham of great people like You too, why is he still having duhkham”? Naarada Maharshi asked “Is it? I didnt know. Maharaja! What is the reason for your duhkham? Why didnt you tell Me all this while?”.Srunjaya Maharaja replied “Maharshi! I want a putra who is a Gunavanta and Ruupavanta.”. “That’s all no”? asked the Maharshi. With Dhana-kaanksha and Duraasha, Srunjaya went on to say “Not only that. His Mala, muutra, sveda aadi (excretory materials from body) must become Gold”. Naarada Maharshi gave him the Varam and went away.
Srunjaya became very happy. He named his putra “Suvarnashtheevi”. They started looking after the kid with great care. With the Gold got from Suvarnashtheevi, everything right from Anthahpuram to Paada-peetham was made of Gold. Some time passed by like this.
One day some thieves entered the Anthahpuram and took away Suvarnashtheevi. They took him into the forest, cut his stomach and saw if Gold is there inside. Not finding anything they threw the body there only and went away. Seeing the Mruta-deham of Suvarnashtheevi, there was no end to Srunjaya’s duhkham. Then Naarada Maharshi appeared and said
“Maharaja! Will your putra now come back, even if you cry? It is not possible to go against Kaala-gati. Sat-sheelam, Keerti are permanent not Shariiram. You wanted a putra who has Sadgunam and Ruupam. Till that it was fine. But with Duraasha you asked for more. If a person has Duraasha, the end will be like this only” said Naarada Maharshi. Then Naarada Maharshi told stories of Marutta Maharaja, Angaraaja, Shibi Chakravarti, Shri Raama Chandra, Bhageeratha and other such great people’s stories.
Srunjaya then said “Maharshi! I became dhanya listening to stories of these Mahapurushas. I became a Nirmala-hrudaya”. Pleased, Naarada Maharshi said “ask Me what Varam you want”. Srunjaya replied “Deva! Your anugraham is alone enough. I dont need anything more“. Happy with the King’s reply, Naarada Maharshi brought Suvarnashtheevi back to life and went away.
Duraasha always leads to difficulties. Though Srunjaya was King and was ruling this entire Bhuu-khandam, he was not satisified. Finally he had to repent for his mistake.
Garvam (Egoism)
Nandana used to rule the Nishadha desham. The praja was very happy with the Raaja, who ruled them without deviating from the path of Dharmam. The Raaja used to do many Daanams to the poor. He used to do Anna-daanam to 1 lakh people everyday!!Once Naarada Maharshi heard the keerti of Nandana and came to test him. He said “Raaja! In the Trilokas, people are talking about your Dharma-gunam. Till now you were cooking the aahaaram in earthen pots right? Now use sand pots instead and your keerti will increase” and went away. After some days He came back.
“Nandana Maharaja! I saw many who did Anna-daanam but none like you could cook in sand pots” said Naarada Maharshi. Then Nandana replied, with Garvam, “Naaradamuniindra! Only because of my Dharma-gunam, the sand pots are remaining intact without breaking. Not only this, I can do anything”. Naarada Maharshi went away with mandahaasam.
The next day when the aahaaram was about to be cooked in sand pots, they broke off. After telling this story the Pratima on the simhaasanam of Shri Vikramaaditya continued “O Bhoja Raaja! Because of one praising himself, having Garvam, he will loose all the sat-phalitam he earned till then. Hence one must never have Garvam, Ahankaaram. Vikramaaditya Maharaja, though he was very great, never had even slightest Garvam; are you also like that?”
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble greatfulness to Moral Stories dot com, Hindu dot com and Devotees for the collection)
( A tribute to the great Bharatiya Samskruti)
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