Bhagavada Vahini - Chapter 27

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Bhagavada Vahini by Sathya Sai Baba

 

Chapter 27

Curse 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.