Bhagavatha Vahini, Chapter 27 - Curse or Godsend

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Chapter 27Curse or Godsend

 

The pointed words of the father inflicted great pain on the tender heart of

Sringi, the son; they fell like sword thrusts or hammer strokes; the poor boy

could bear them no longer; he fell on the floor and grasping the feet of his

father, he wailed, "Father pardon me. I was overcome by anger that the king

himself should behave so outrageously insolent, so irreverently, so inhumanly.

I could not control my resentment at the insult hurled on you. It is not proper

that a king should behave like this, in this most inappropriate manner, having

come into a hermitage; isnt it?"

Seeing his plight, Sameeka, the ascetic, took the son beside him and said, "Son,

the compulsion of the moment is inescapable. The dictates of reason are often

brushed aside by man, due to that compulsion. The drag of destiny will destroy

the reins of reason. The force of the moment faces man with all its power and

he cannot but yield. This king is a staunch theist, a deep devotee. He has

earned spiritual splendour. He is established in moral behaviour. He is the

lord of all the regions; his fame has pervaded all the three worlds. He is

served always by thousands of loyal men and minds. When he leaves his mansion

and moves out, he is accompanied by many guards who await with folded hands and

eyes fixed on him, his least command, so that they may win his favour by

executing them to his satisfaction. As soon as he enters a kingdom, the ruler

thereof accords him a glorious welcome, offers him magnificent hospitality and

respectful homage. A person accustomed to this

rich routine was naturally shocked when he did not receive any sign of welcome

here; he was not even recognised and respected; the neglect was so serious that

he did not get a cup of water to alleviate his thirst. He was torn by the pangs

of hunger, and of humiliation, for, there was no response even though he called

out many times. So, unable to bear the agony and the shock, he was led to commit

this improper act. Of course, it is a fault but, just for this small

misdemeanour, when you reacted so harshly, you brought irreparable damage to

the entire community of ascetics and hermits. Alas! What a terrible calamity

have you called down!"

The aged hermit closed his eyes and sat silent for a while, seeking some means

by which the king can be saved from the curse. Finding none, and realising that

God alone can set such things right, since He is all-powerful and all-knowing,

he prayed with all his heart. "0, Refuge of all the Worlds! This immature

little boy, with no knowledge of right and wrong, of what is one's duty and

what is not, prompted by ignorance, has committed this great blunder, harmful

to the king. Pardon this boy or punish him; but, promote the welfare of the

king."

The hermit opened his eyes. He saw the ascetics and the young comrades of his

son who stood around him. In sadness, he told them, "Did you notice the injury

that my son has perpetrated? It is not right that we, hermits, should insult

and injure the king who is the guardian and guide of humanity, isnt it?

Therefore, I request you all to pray God that the king should come to no harm

and that only auspicious things be added unto him." When the Rishi Sameeka

directed them thus, an aged monk rose from the group; he was the very picture

of peace and resignation; he said, "Great Soul! You are showering such profuse

Grace on this king. The person who pronounced this curse is your own son;

surely your spiritual attainments are much higher than your son's and, you can

achieve anything, through them. Why then are you so much concerned about the

curse that this boy hurled at the king? You can make it ineffective, can't

you?" At this, the rest of the group, the elders and the young ones, exclaimed,

"True, true; listen to our prayers and pardon this boy. Bring about the welfare

of the king and save him from harm."

The sage Sameeka smiled; he closed his eyes; he saw with his inner yogic vision

the past and the future of the king, and examined whether his present was

conditioned by his past or by his future. He found that Parikshith had to

suffer the poison-bite of the cobra, Takshaka and that this was his destiny. He

felt that trying to save him from this end will be going counter to the dictates

of Divinity; he realised that the misbehaviour of the king and the angry

reaction of his son were both the consequences of that compulsive urge. He

concluded that only God, the artificer of all resolutions and achievements, can

modify events and that, any effort on his part would amount to an exhibition of

egoism.

He knew that egoism is the deadliest foe of hermits; but, yet he did not amass

his undoubted strength against it and destroy it completely. He decided to

render what little help he could to the unfortunate king of the realm. Opening

his eyes, he looked on all four sides to select a clever disciple of his from

among the gathering. At last, he called one student to him and said "You must

proceed immediately to Hasthinapura and return; prepare yourself for the

journey and come to me again." The student replied, "I am ever ready to obey

your command; what have I to do with preparations? I am ever prepared. I can

start this very moment; tell me what I have to do there." With these words, he

fell at his feet and offered his obeisance. The sage rose from his seat and

took the student into the inner apartment. He told him in detail all the points

that he had to inform the king. Then, the student fell at the master's feet and

set out towards the capital.

Meanwhile, the king had reached his palace and after a short rest, he awoke into

a realisation of the enormity of the wrong that he had done at the hermitage.

"Alas, into what depths of foulness did my mind fall! It is indeed heinous sin

that I, the emperor, should cast an insult on that ascetic." He lamented within

himself. "How am I to make amends for this crime? Shall I go to that hermitage

and plead for pardon? Or, shall I offer my head to bear the punishment that is

my due? What exactly is my duty, now?" He struggled with himself for an answer.

Just then, he saw a guard who came up to the door and stood silent with folded

arms. He asked him why he had come. The man said, "A student from a hermitage

has come and is waiting for audience; he says, he has been sent by the sage

Sameeka; he says his message is very urgent and important; he is in great

hurry. I am awaiting royal orders."

When these words fell on his ears, the bed of jasmine flowers on which he was

reclining appeared to have been transformed into a bed of snakes with fiery

tongues, hissing and writhing all around him. He called the guard to come near

him and he pelted question after question at him about the young man who had

come from the hermitage: how is he? does he appear sad or angry? or, is he

brimful of joy and equanimity?

The guard replied, "0 King! The sage's son who has come to have your audience is

quite calm and peaceful. He is repeating the words, 'Victory to the king',

'Victory to our Ruler.' "I do not see any trace of anger or passion on his

face." This gave the king some comfort. He sought to find out what reply had

been given to the questions asked by the young student. The guard said, "We

told him, the King had been to the forest, he returned only just now, he is

taking rest for a while; please wait for some time; as soon as he breaks his

rest, we shall inform him". The king inquired, "What did he say in reply to

this?" The guard said, "Lord! The young man was most anxious to see you as

quickly as possible. He said he had some urgent message to communicate; he

said, his master would be awaiting his return and counting the minutes. He said

that the sooner he sees you the better. He was repeating within himself all the

time, 'May it be well with the king', 'May safety and

prosperity be on him'. We offered him a high seat and invited him to occupy it,

but, he did not accept it. He preferred to stand at the door; he is counting

minutes there."

Tears of joy welled within the eyes of the king. Wiping them off, he hurried

towards the entrance, without donning regal robes or insignia, without caring

even to wear sandals or a robe over the chest. He fell prostrate at the feet of

that son of a hermit; he held both his hands in his own and led him into the

inner apartments, where he placed him on a high seat and himself sat on the

floor beneath. He prayed that he might be told the reason for the journey.

The student said, "0 King! My master, Sage Sameeka sends you his special

blessings. He has commissioned me to communicate to you some special matters,"

and broke into tears. Seeing this, the king exclaimed, "Well, tell me soon; if

anything has to be done by me, tell me soon; I am prepared to lay down my life

in the discharge of my obligations. Or, is my kingdom in any danger? Have I to

take any measure of relief? I am ready to sacrifice anything for saving it.

The student messenger replied, "0 King! No danger threatens the realm or the

hermits. No fear can ever bother them. You are the very person whom dangers

threaten, whom harm will overtake." When he gave this subtle warning, the king

declared exultingly, "I am indeed blessed. When my subjects and the hermits

engaged in asceticism are safe, I do not in the least care what happens to me.

I inhale and exhale so that I can ensure peace and prosperity for them both."

The king quietened after some time and asked the Disciple, "Now tell me what

your Master wanted me to know." He replied, "King! My master is very much

concerned over a grievous wrong that has been committed, out of sheer

ignorance. That is the prime reason tor his sending me to you."

Hearing this, Parikshit was very much agitated. He asked, "What is the wrong,

you speak about? Who did that wrong? Tell me, tell me all," he pleaded.

Bhajan: Manah Siksa

 

Contents of this Vahini

Source: http://www.vahini.org/bhagavata/chapter27.htmlVahini.org: 'Vahini' Books

written by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

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