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Great Indians
King Bhartruhari becomes a Viraagi
Perhaps there will be no Bhaarateeya who did not hear about “Bhartruhari Subhaashitaani”. He was the Bhraata of the great Vikramaaditya maharaja. He was a great Samskruta kavi. In addition to Subhaashita-Ratnaavali, he wrote divya granthas like: “Vaakyapradeepam” (a vyaakarana grantham), “Raahata kaavyam”, “Kaarika” (Pantanjala mahabhaashya vyaakarana ruupam).
Vararuchi, Vikramaaditya, Bhatti and Bhrartruhari were the priya-putras of Keshava Sharma. Bhrartruhari was made the King and he did Raajya-paalana around 135 years before Shaalivaahana Shakam. From childhood, Bhartruhari was always interested in Saadhu, Sajjana seva.
Once a poor Braahmana in Bhrartruhari’s Raajyam did upaasana of Bhuvaneshvarii Maata. He knew sakala mantra-shaastras. Bhuvaneshvarii devi appeared before him and gave him a divya-phalam and said that whoever eats this phalam will not have jaraa-maranam (will not become old and be immortal). The Braahmana thought like this “I am a poor Braahmana. What rakshana of others can I do even by living for long. Anyway since I am Braahmana, I must do Bhiksha-aatana and eat. If I give this to the Raaja, he can do great seva to the praja and do their Rakshana”. Thinking like this he went to Bhartruhari and gave his aashiirvaadam, the divya-phalam and told its Mahima.
However Bhartruhari gave it to his priyaa, Anangasena. She in turn gave it to her priya-sakha, an ashva-poshaka. The ashva-poshaka gave the divya-phalam to his daasi and she in turn gave to her priya, a Gopaalaka. The Gopaalaka gave the divya-phalam to his priyatama. She kept it in the basket in which she was carrying cattle-dung and was going through Raaja-viidhi to her house. To his surprise Bhrartruhari saw that the divya-phalam finally reached in such a place. He called her and got to know the entire story.
Knowing what had happened, he got Virakti on samsaaram. He realized that everything is mithya and Bhagavat-bhakti is only shaashvatam. He then left for the aranyas to do Tapas, giving the Divya-phalam to Vikramaaditya. Aaha! Vidhi is great. Finally the phalam reached the person who deserved it.
Bhartruhari then wrote Neetishatakam, Shrugaarashatakam and Vairaagyashatakam. He spent the rest of his life as a Viraagi doing Daiva-dhyaanam. Once, taking pity on an old Braahmana, Vikramaaditya gave away the divya-phalam to him!
रत्नैर्महार्हैस्तुतुषुर्न देवा न भेजिरे भीम-विषेण भीतिम्।
सुधां विना न परयुर्विरामं न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः॥
— भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतकम्
ratnairmahārhaistutuṣurna devā na bhejire bhīma-viṣeṇa bhītim |
sudhāṁ vinā na parayurvirāmaṁ na niścitārthādviramanti dhīrāḥ||
— bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatakam
Morals in the story:
- Paropakaara buddhi of Bhaarateeyas is well shown in this story through the Braahmana who did upaasana of Bhuvaneshvarii devi and the great Vikramaaditya maharaja.
- The Braahmana showed us what is Nishkaama Bhakti. Though Bhuvaneshvarii devi gave him the divya-phalam, he gave it to the King, who can protect many more.
- Saadhu, Sajjana seva, respecting elders are great sadgunas. Bhartruhari was always interested in them.
Sukarma
(Maata-Pita seva is alone enough!)
This Dharma-rahasya katha, known as “Pitrutiirtha Katha”, was first told by Mahaavishnu to Vena-chakravarti, then to Shaunaka-aadi munis by Shri Suuta Muni.
In the pavitra-punya-kshetram, Kurukshetram, there used to be a Viprottama by name “Kundala”. His putra was a gunavanta by name “Sukarma”. Doing seva of his Maata-pita, who were very old, was his Vratam. He got sakala-samruddhi by doing Pitru-seva.
At that time, “Pippala” did ghora-Tapas for 3000 years, being a Jitaahaari, Jitamatsara and Jitendriya. Devatas did pushpa-varsham seeing his divya-tapas. Pippala asked the Devatas to make him a Vidyaadhara. He also asked to make the Vishvam his aadhiinam. Devatas granted him the Varam, he was made a Vidyaadhara and whatever he wanted used to be in his Vasham.
However Pippala thought there is no one to match him and got antar-Garvam. Once seeing the antar-Garvam of Pippala, a Saarasa-pakshi came near him and said “O Dvija! Why are you having so much Garvam? Garvam will lead to your downfall. You dont have the proper gnyaanam to make Vishvam into your Vasham. This is because you dont know ‘Arvaachiina-Paraachiina’ gnyaanam.
Sukarma, the putra of Kundala, knows about Arvaachiina-Paraachiina and hence this entire Vishvam is in his Vasham. Indeed there is no one to match Sukarma in the Bhuulokam. He is a Pitru-Maatru-sevaarata, Punyaatma, Vignyaani. What gnyaanam that the baalaka, Sukarma has, you also dont have. So leave this useless Garvam”.
Not liking these words Pippala replied “Who are you? Why are you doing my ninda. Are you Brahma, Vishnu or Maheshvara? Can you tell me what is Arvaachiinam-Paraachiinam?”. Saarasa-pakshi replied “I am not going to tell. Come with me to Sukarma, he will tell you”. Both of them reached Sukarma’s house:
Pippala saw the Punyaatma, Sukarma, who was doing Paada-seva of his Maata-Pita. Sukarma did Yathaavidhi Atithi satkaaram to Pippala and answered his question. (He told Pippala that the Saarasa-pakshi is Brahmadeva and explained what is Vishvaavasham and Arvaachiinam-Paraachiinam)
Pippala, surprised, asked Sukarma how he got so much gnyaanam. Sukarma replied “I did not do any Tapas nor Shariira-shoshanam. I didnt do any Vratas. I only know one thing — Maata-Pita seva and puuja:
- I do snaanam with the water which my maata-pita use for snaanam. This gives me Bhaagiirathii-snaana phalam.
- By doing Jananii-janaka puuja, one gets phalam of doing all Yaagams and doing Veda-pathanam.
- The place where Maata-pita of a bhaktiyukta putra live, are equal to Ganga, Gaya-kshetram, Pushkara-tiirtham.
- The putra who gives Mrushta-annam and satisfies his Maata-Pita, will get Ashvamedha Yaaga phalam.
- There is no tiirtham in Iham or Param, which is greater than Maata-pita.
- A place where Maata-pita are worshipped, there sarva-Devatas will be worshipped.
- One can do poshana of Trijagas by doing Pitru-sushruusha.
- A putra, whose character/nature/sadgunams gives happiness to parents, is one who follows all Dharmas.
- A Putra who eats Mrushta-annam before (without giving) his Maata-pita is a paapi.
- A putra who does ninda of Maata-pita will have to experience 1 crore janmams as a Grudhra (vulture)”.
We also know how Upamanyu and Dhruva, in childhood only, got Iishvara darshanam and Vishnu darshanam respectively. This was because they listened to their Maata. Karna got ananta-kiirti due to his Maata, Raadha, seva. Arjuna too got Vijayam due to his Maatru-vaakya-paalanam.
Maata is tiirtham. Pita is Guru. After taking their permission only a putra must attend to other Dharmas. I got all this gnyaanam only through Maata-pita seva. You also do Pitru-sushruusha”. Feeling bad for his unnecessary Garvam, and Agnyaanam Pippala went away.
Morals in the story:
- Importance of Maata-Pita seva is well shown by Sukarma. He achieved more gnyaanam than a Vidyaadhara (who is supposed to know all Vidyas), just by doing Maata-Pita seva.
- Garvam, Dambham and Ahankaaram lead to one’s downfall. Hence we must always have Vinayam. We must remember that there will always be someone greater than us. Brahmadeva told Pippala, who had Garvam that he had Vishva-vashitvam, that Sukarma had greater gnyaanam.
Story of Sunandana
Once upon a time, there used to live a sadbraahmana by name Sunandana in Meghankaram. He was a Saaranga-paani Bhakta (Paramashiva bhakta). He used to do archana of Parama Shiva, who was in the form of Saaranga-paani in Meghankaram. Sunandana was a Pandita, Veda-vedaanga nipuna and a Shuddha Brahmachaari. Hence was doing Nitya paaraayana of the 11th Adhyaayam of Shri Bhagavat-gita.
Once he went on a Teertha-yaatra to Kaantaasthali. It is the pavitra-kshetram where there prasiddha-aalayam of Shri Mahaalakshmi. A guide showed Sunandana the pavitra-kshetram and many siddha-pradeshams in it. He also told that the Nadi-jalam is very sweet and the people are good. However he advised Sunandana not to stay for the night and he added that even if he wanted, the villagers will not allow him to stay in the graama-satram.
Sunandana didnt understand why and requested the graama-adhikaari to grant him permission to stay in the satram. Finally Sunandana managed to convince the adhikaari. The adhikaari said “may be you are the person” and unwillingly gave his permission. Sunandana slept in the satram for that night and as usual woke up the next day before Suuryodayam.
However the villagers were awe-struck to see Sunandana alive. They requested Sunandana to give vimukti to Bhimamukha and told his story:
Bhimamukha was an ordinary Karshaka. Once when he was involved in doing his work in the fields near the satram, a Vruddha came there. Unfortunately, a vulture sees the Vruddha, who was not even having enough strength to walk, and attacks him. However Bhimamukha, being capable of saving the Vruddha, doesnt help him, because of being involved in his farming. Seeing this, a Sanyaasi who was passing near-by wanted to teach Bhimamukha a lesson so that no one will repeat such mistakes. He gives Bhimamukha a shaapam that he will become a raakshasa and a Nara-bhakshaka!
The shaapam of Bhimamukha turned out to be a shaapam for the villagers instead, because Bhimamukha was eating away the villagers one-by-one. All the villagers then ask the Sanyaasi for Sharanam. Sanyaasi gives abhayam and says that Bhimamukha will not cross the satram’s boundary and will only eat people who stay there in the night. Also when a Gnyaani who really has knowledge about Bhagavat-vishvaruupam comes, Bhimamukha will get vimukti.
Listening to this, Sunandana gives Vimukti to Bhimamukha and when aksed by Bhimamukha how he got so much Gnyaanam about Bhagavat-vishvaruupam, tells like this: “I used to do paaraayana of 11th Adhyaayam of Bhagavat-gita. Because of that I have gained this Gnyaanam. However since a perfect Brahmachaari, a Veda-vedaanga-tattvagnya and a Shiva-bhakta can only read it, ordinary people can do the smarana of ‘Sthavishthah’ naamam in Vishnu-sahasra-naamam instead and get the same phalam”.
Thus knowing the greatness of Vishnu-sahasra-naamam and in particular, the naamam of ‘sthavishthah’, the villagers and Bhimamukha do Naama-paarayana and get ananta-phalam.
Morals in the story:
- We must always do paropakaaram. Being capable of saving the Vruddha, Bhimamukha, being involved in his work, didnt save him. As told by this Sanyaasi, this is very bad.
- The greatness of Vishnu Sahasra naamam is well shown in the story. It is our adrushtam, that Bheeshma-aachraya and Veda Vyaasa gave us this ananta-nidhi. Especially in Kaliyugam Naama-sankeertanam is the easiest way for Mukti.
Story of Dharmavyaadha
Its a beautiful forest near by a village. There is a prashaanta-pradesham in that forest, where a small river used to flow. On the banks of the river was a huge tree giving shade to many. Under the treeKaushika, a Vipra, was doing Tapas. At afternoons he used to go to village, do Bhikshaatanam and divide the aahaaram into four parts — 3/4 he used to use for Daanam and other Dharma-kaaryas. The remaining 1/4 he used to eat.
When he was living such a life, one day, a baka (crane) put its droppings on him. The baka got burnt just as he saw it with Krodham. That day as usual he went for bhikshaatana. He stood in front of one house and said “Bhavati! Bhikshaam Dehi”. On hearing this the Gruha-lakshmi went towards the kitchen to bring him some food. But at the same time, her Bharta came back after a long journey. On seeing him, she washed his feet with cool water, fanned air for him for sometime, gave him someaahaaram and made him sleep. After doing pati-seva like this, she came with some aahaaram for Kaushika. Again Kaushika saw with Krodham. Seeing this the Gruha-lakshmi said
“Svaami! I not not the baka to get burnt. After Pati-seva-dharmam only there are other Dharmas for me”. Surprised, the muni replied “Amma! How did you come to know about the story that happened far off in the forest? Please do Gnyaana-bodha to me”. She replied “Muniishvara! Little away from here is Mithilaanagaram. There lives a Vyaadha who makes his living by selling maamsam. Approach him, he will tell you everything”.
Immediately he left for Mithila. He enquired about Dharmavyaada and reached his shop. Seeing different jantu-maamsam, he stood away. Dharmavyaadha, seeing the Muni, went and did Yathaavidhi namaskaaram and said “Muniishvara! Namaskaaram. Is the Pativrata who sent you to me doing well?” Kaushika was awe-struck to listen to these words of Dharmavyaadha. He thought “there that woman and here this person. Even after doing so much Tapas, Idont have so much power. May be because that woman was a Pativrata, she was able to know what happened in the forest. But how come this kasai, who lives selling maamsam, have Divya-drushti?” Seeing Kaushika thinking, Dharmavyaadha continued “Svaami! You cant tolerate this smell. Please come I will take you to my house and show you how I got all these divya-shaktis”. With great Vinayam, Dharmavyaadha took Kaushika to his house.
Just on entering his house, Dharmavyaadha did pranaamam to his Pita who was taking rest. After asking him Kushala-prashnas, he went to his Maata and did Yathaavidhi namaskaaram to her. He then did her seva. After this he told Kaushika “Svaami! This is the only thing that I do. Many ever Vratas, Japams, Tapas we do, if we dont do the seva of Maata-Pita, there will be no prayojanam. A Maata carries her shishu in her Garbham for 9 months, experiences prasava-vedana and then protects the shishu like how an eye-lid protects the eye. A Pita gives us this shariiram to do paropakaaram and Daiva-praarthana. He experience many difficulties in doing our poshana. Our very existence is because of them. Howmuch ever seva we do to them, we will never to able to repay this runam.
I do seva of my Maata-Pita and so poshana of my Samsaaram. Thats all. Also I dont cheat people while selling maamsam. I dont expect adhika-laabham and be happy with what I get. I never leave my Sva-dharmam of being a Vyaadha, neither do I take up Para-dharmam. I try to do poshana of people who come under my aashrayam and enquire their Yoga-kshemam. More important than all of these, one must have Samyamam. We must never have Raaga-dvesham. WIth Nirmala-chittam, we must always do Parameshvara-aaraadhana”. Listening to these Amruta-vaakyas of Dharmavyaadha, Kaushika went away and continued his Tapas, this time with a nishchala-manas.
Morals in the story:
- Importance of Maata-Pita seva is well shown in the story. Just by doing this, Dharmavyaadha got many great shaktis and was always involved in Parameshvara-dhyaanam.
- Greatness of a Pativrata is also shown in the story. What, even with great Tapas, Kaushika could not achieve, the Gruha-lakshmi achieved with her Paativratyam.
The story of Kashyapa and Takshaka
In the Kalikaalam, Lord Shri Venkateshwara is the pratyaksha-daivam. In kali-kaalam only adharmam will be encouraged and people do not even know what is right and what is wrong. Rewards will be given to the bad people and people do not even get chance to realize their mistakes. In order to save the patitas Shri Venkateshwara came to Bhuloka and made the Saptagiris in Tirupati as His abode. May be the following story is the earliest of Shri Venkateshwara Maahaatmyams:
Takshaka in order to fulfill Shrugi's shaapam, starts for the place where Parikshit mahaaraaja was listening to Bhaagavatam from Shri Shuka maharshi (see this). On his way he meets a great scholar by name Kashyapa (not the Kashyapa Prajaapati). He is a very great mantra-vetta. On listening to the news that parikshit mahaaraaja will be bitten by Takshaka, Kashyapa immediately sets out to save Parikshit mahaaraaja's life. He was very confident that with his mantra-shakti he can counter any great vishaagnijwaalas. Takshaka and Kashyapa exchage their identities and Takshaka challenges Kashyapa saying that nothing can counter his teevra-visham. Takshaka to show the strength of his visham bits a huge vruksham and in a second it comes down to ashes. Kashyapa with his matra-shakti immediately restores the Vruksham to its original form.
Takshaka tells Kashyapa since Parikshit mahaaraaja has a shaapam given by Shrungi and it cannot be undone, while doing mantra japam for Parikshit mahaaraaja Kashyapa will have little doubt and mantras dont work unless 100% belief in them is there. Also, knowing that Kashyapa is in need for money, he offers him a lot of riches and wealth. Kashyapa with his divya-drushti sees that Parikshit's ayu is going to come to an end and returns back taking the gold and wealth from Takshaka.
After coming back Kashyapa repents a lot for his greed for money. He deeply feels that he should have done his duty of trying to save the king and instead he chose to listen to Takshaka, took money from him and neglected his kartavyam. Afraid of the narakas he has to experience because of his paapam, he decides none other than Shri Venkateshwara can save him. He immediately goes to Tirupati and at the Srivaari paadaas near the start of the mountain steps, he with his whole heart cries "Venkataachalapati" and falls. He smells something burning and realizes that the paapam inside him, in a purusha rupam, was getting burnt. He gets released from his paapams and becomes a great Bhakta.
Morals in the story:
- Nothing can precede one's duty. One must never neglect his duty and always strive for helping others.
- Total surrenderence to God is the only way for getting out of this paapa-punya cycle.
The story in no sense conveys the message — do whatever paapa kaaryas you want and then finally God will pardon. As all of the previous stories suggest God only likes people who never deviate from the path of Truth and Dharma. The message that is being conveyed through the story is the importance of Bhagavat-Naamasamkeertanam in Kaliyuga.
Vande Maataram
(Bankim Chandra Chatterji)(We recommend people reading all previous morals before reading this story.)
It is our adrushtam that we belong to a place where janmabhuumi is called by the name “Maata”. It is our Kartavyam to understand the paramaartham behind the “Vandemaataram” geetam, which awoke the Bhaarateeyas, filled in Desha-bhakti in them and drove them to fight for Svaatantryam.
Vandemaatara geetam shows well the unnata aadarshas and aashayam of Bhaarateeyas. This mahaa-geetam shows the Vaibhavam of Bhaarata-maata, her Praakrutika-ramaniiyata, her strength. It was like an aushadham for people who were suffering from “aatma-vismruti”.
It was like taaraka-mantram for the mahaaveeras of Bhaarata-svaatantrya-udyamam. Shri Bankim Chandra Chatterji, a person equal to a rushi, gave us this maha-aushadham. This was what gave strength to bear the cruel laathi-charges, to experience execution, with a smiling face! In 1906, April 14th, absolutely without any reason the British police started laathi-charge. For every blow, Bhaarateeyas did “Vandemaatara” japam. Soon “Vandemaataram” became a nightmare for the British. On 17-8-1909, Madanlaal did Praana-tyaagam for Bharata-bhuumi, with a smile, singing this Vandemaataram only. When police were torturing people who sing Vandemaataram, Shri Chandrashekhar Azad, who was then only 13, did Vandemaatara japam only, without any fear.
During ~1875, Bankim Chandra Chatterji was travelling from Kolkata to his village, “Kaantaal paada” in a train. He looked out of the window and got great aanandam seeing the beauty of Bhaaratamaata. His antar-drushti made him see the Vaibhavam and alaukika-soundaryam of Bhaarata-desham. He stored this Varnana-ateeta-bhaavana as a Madhura geetam — Vandemaataram.
During the split of Bengal, Boom Field Fuller, then governer, imposed a strict prohibition against Vandemaataram geetam. The situation we are in now is not much different. Even after independence, we hear only the 1st stanza of this divya-geetam:
Mahaatmaa Gandhi many times praised this Vandemaatara-geetam; however the Mulsim league opposed it. In 1923, at Kaakinaada, during the Congress meet, when as usual Vandemaataram was being sung, Maulaana Mohammad Ali, who was the president of Congress, strongly opposed it. However, Shri Vishnu Digambar, who was the singer, sang it. May be it was the last time it was ever sung fully in a big meeting. Congress broke the song into pieces and divided it — similar to how Bhaarata-desham was divided! This was strongly opposed by many like Shri K.M.Munshi, Mahaatma Gandhi. But who will listen to them?
Let us show our Krutagnyata to Shri Bankim Chandra Chatterji and our Bhaaratamaata by learning, knowing the paramaartham in it and singing this Vandemaatara geetam.
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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