Bhagavada Vahini - Chapter 29

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Bhagavada Vahini by Sathya Sai Baba

 

Chapter 29

The Dialogue Begins

 

 

Some ascetics who heard the story of the curse from the lips of the

King were so incensed at the 'son of Sameeka' that they declared he

must be a fake, an unworthy child, for, no child born of a Rishi of

the 'stature of Sameeka' will ever pronounce such a devastating

curse, for such a trivial misdemeanor. He must be an ignorant fool or

a madcap, they guessed. How can the curse emanating from the tongue

of such a one take effect they asked? The King cannot come to harm,

as a consequence of his curse, they affirmed. They tried to convince

the King that he need have no fear on that account.

 

Many who felt similarly argued that the King had no reason to take the

curse seriously, but, the King was unmoved. He replied to them with

folded hands: " You are thinking and speaking on these lines, prompted

by sympathy and kindness towards me. But, I know that the wrong I have

committed is not light and inconsiderable. Is there a more terrible

sin than casting insult on those deserving reverence? Besides, I am

the King, responsible for their welfare and the maintenance of their

honor. How can my act be dismissed as light and inconsiderable?

Moreover, if you only consider it deeply, the curse pronounced by the

boy is no curse at all. It is on the other hand, a great big boon.

 

For, I had fallen into the well of sin called empire; I had deluded

myself into the belief that pleasure is the be-all and end-all of

life; I was leading the life of a mere beast; I had forgotten God and

my duty towards Him. God Himself has, by this means and through this

instrument, directed me along the correct path. God has blessed me.

This is a boon, not a punishment for past wrongs, as you imagine " .

 

When the King spoke thus, tears of joy and thankfulness flowed from

his eyes; he was visibly moved by extreme sincerity and devotion. He

was uttering what he felt in calm, unruffled contentment. The

ascetics and the subjects around him were amazed at his equanimity.

They knew his declaration was true.

 

The aged ascetic rose and standing before the wailing populace, he

addressed the gathering thus, " O Best of King! Your words are rays of

sunlight to the hearts of the ascetics; they are so appropriate to

your lineage and upbringing; for, you are a Pandava born. The

Pandavas never even once slipped into wrong or sin. They held fast

always to the Feet of Hari, the Lord; they stuck to the commands of

the Lord, unwaveringly. When the Lord returned to His Abode, they

gave up the kingdom as a result of spontaneous renunciation; they

left for the northern regions. You too are today following this holy

path, since you belong to this great clan, which has inherited this

way of life. "

 

At this, the King prayed to them, with palms folded in adoration: " O

best among ascetics! I have just one doubt; please remove it from my

mind. Make my days worthwhile. " " Tell me what it is, " responded the

ascetic. The king asked that he be informed what the man for whom

death is imminent can best do. At this, one sage rose and said that,

so far as time permitted, one could perform yajnas or yagas, or one

could engage himself in japa or thapa, acts of charity or

pilgrimages, or fasts or ritual worship. Another declared that

liberation can be acquired only through the acquisition of

Jnana, " Jnaanaa devathu Kaivalyam; " a third spoke of the supreme

importance of holy acts prescribed in the Vedas and

Sastras, " Karmanyai vahi samsiddhi. " Some others argued that

cultivating devotion to God is the best method of using the

week, " Bhakthirvasah Purushah, " the Lord is won over by devotion

alone. In this confusion of conflicting opinions, the king sought the

true path and the ascetics were silenced by the persistence of the

king to get a real answer to the problem he had posed.

 

Meanwhile, a youthful ascetic, with an extra-ordinarily bright face,

and a personality of attractive splendor, moved through the gathering

of aged sages, like a fast stream of light and reaching the presence

of the king he seated himself on a height. The onlookers were amazed

at this sudden appearance. Some among them were stricken with

curiosity about his antecedents. To all outward appearance, he was

a 'munikumar' that is to say, the son of an ascetic. But, his stance,

his pose and poise, his personality - all affirmed that he was a

Master. In years, he was quite tender. Yet, there was a divine halo,

bathing him.

 

Very soon, one wise old sage, identified him and approached him

reverentially with folded palms. " Blessed indeed are all of us. This

ray of Divine effulgence is no other than Sri Suka, the precious

offspring of Vyasa-bhagavan. " Introducing the stranger thus to the

gathering, the sage continued: " From the moment of birth, this person

is free from all attachment. He is the master of all knowledge. " The

king who heard this shed tears of gratitude and joy. He rose like a

kite in the air, so light and full of joy, and fell prostrate at his

feet. His palms were folded in prayer when he stood up; he was

straight and silent as a pillar. He was immersed in bliss. He

visualized the youth before him as Krishna Himself. The splendor of

Suka was too brilliant for his eyes. His charm appeared to the king,

equal to the God of Love. The black curly rings of hair moved like

black serpent-hoods hovering over the white oval face. As stars

amidst the dark clouds, his eyes shed cool luster and shone extra-

ordinarily bright. A smile showered drops of joy from his lips.

 

The King neared Suka, with slow steps; his voice was broken and

indistinct his throat was quivering with emotion. He said, " Master! I

have no strength to describe the depth of your grace. Every act of

yours is aimed at the welfare of the world. It is indeed my fortune

that I had your Darsan today, so easily, for, I know it can be won

only by protracted and persistent effort. 0, how fortunate am I! I

must ascribe it to the merit earned by my grandparents " . The King was

overcome with grateful joy at the presence of Suka; he stood with

tears of joy streaming from his eyes.

 

With a smile hovering on his lips, Suka directed the King to sit by

his side. He said: " 0 King! You are no doubt straight and steadfast

in moral conduct. You are ever intent on the service of the good and

the godly. Your meritorious life has drawn this large gathering of

sages around you, this day. Or else, these ascetics who are concerned

with spiritual discipline would not have left their schedules to come

here and pray that you may attain the realization of the Highest.

This is no act of charity! You have earned this gift by many lives

spent virtuously and well. "

 

The King was gazing with devoted admiration at the face of Suka, while

he was speaking to him. Suddenly, he raised his head and addressed the

young sage thus: " Lord! I have a doubt pestering me. Remove it and

give peace to my heart. I was laying it before this assembly when you

came. You can, I know, solve that doubt, in a trice. It must be

child's play for you. " Suka interrupted him and said, " Parikshith!

The reason I came to you is to solve this doubt that is pestering

you. You can ask me what you have in mind. I shall resolve your doubt

and grant you satisfaction " . When the great Suka uttered these words,

the sages who had gathered, exclaimed, " what great fortune! " " Blessed

indeed! " and clapped their hands in joy so loud that the acclamation

reached the sky.

 

The King spoke humbly and with evident anxiety, " Lord! What should a

person facing death who is aware of the oncoming of the end, engage

himself in? What should his mind dwell upon? After succumbing to

death,he should not be born again. When that is his prayer, how

should he spend the days at his disposal? This is the problem that is

bothering me at present. What is my highest duty? " the King pleaded

again and again for guidance.

 

Suka answered: " King! Withdraw your mind from worldly thoughts and fix

it on Hari, the Lord who charms all hearts. I shall instruct you in

the wisdom of the Divine, the Bhagavathathatwa. Listen to it with all

your heart; there is no activity holier than that. There can be no

greater spiritual exercise, or discipline or vow. The human body is a

worthy boat; the story of Hari is the rudder; this world of change,

this constant flow, this Sansar, is the sea. Hari is the boatman!

Today, this sacred equipment is available for you.

 

The problem you have raised is not concerned with just one individual,

the whole world is concerned with it, and its solution. It is the most

vital of all problems that deserves inquiry. The Atma principle is the

panacea for all beings. That is the ultimate Truth. No one can escape

it. To establish oneself in that faith during the final days is the

duty of living beings. It is on this basis that status in the next

birth is determined. So, the question that you asked, the doubt that

you raised, are matters of great moment for the welfare of the whole

world. The answer is not for you alone. Listen. "