Home | Biographies

A-J | K-M | N-S | T-Z | Others | Back

1. Birth of Parashuraam
2. Parashuraam and Sahastraarjun, Parashuraam and Ganesh Jee
3. Parashuraam and Raam and Krishn - Raam, Lakshman, Ambaa, Bheshm, Karn
4. Other Incidents of His Life
5. Parashuraam's Temples

[These questions and answers have taken place in the same situation in which Yaksh and Yudhishthir question answers; and Python (Nahush) and Yudhishthir question answers took place. In this incident also a Braahman named Sumant, cursed as a ghoul, holds back the King Hemaangad's brother Rukmaangad. The ghoul releases him only after Hemaangad answered all his questions correctly.]

There Guru Dattaatreya continues the story to Parashuraam in Tripur Rahasya "Hey Raam, The ghoul started asking the questions which were troubling its mind for a long time. The question and the answer given to them by Hemaangad are as follows:--

Q1. What is more extensive than space and subtler than the subtlest?
A1. Abstract intelligence is more extensive than space and is subtler than the subtlest.

Q2. What is its nature?
A2. Its nature is to glow.

Q3. Where does it abide?
A3. It abides as Self.

Q4. How can it be extensive than space being single?
A4. Being the material cause of all, intelligence is extensive though single.

Q5. How is it subtler than the subtlest?
A5. Being impalpable it is subtler than the subtlest.

Q6. What is that glows?
A6. Glowing implies consciousness and that is Self.

Q7. Where and how abstract intelligence (Chitta) to be realized and what is effect?
A7. The intellectual sheath must be probed for its realization. One pointed search for it reveals its existence. Rebirth is overcome by such realization.

Q8. What is birth?
A8. Birth is the false identification of the Self with the body.

Q9. What is that sheath and what is that one-pointed concentration?
A9. The intellectual sheath is the veil drawn over pure intelligence. This sheath is inert by itself. One-pointedness is abiding as the Self.

Q10. Why is that abstract intelligence which is ever shining not realized? What is the means by which it can be realized?
A10. Ignorance is the cause of non-realization. Self realizes the Self. There is no external aid possible.

Q11. Why did birth take place at all?
A11. Birth originated through the sense of doership.

Q12. Whose is the sense of doership?
A12. The ego or 'I-thought' is the root of action.

Q13. What is that 'ignorance' you are speaking of?
A13. "Ignorance" is the sense of separateness from consciousness and false identification with the non-self.

Q14. Again what is "Self"?
A14. As for the "Self", the question must be referred to the "Self" in you.

Guru Dattaatreya tells Parashuraam - "Raam, I shall continue these question answers which are precise answers to all your doubts."
Guru Dattaatreya continues with the narration of questions and answers to Parashuraam in Tripur Rahasya.
The ghoul continues with its questions troubling its mind for a long time and Hemaangad answers them.

Q15. By what means ignorance is destroyed?
A15. Investigation cuts at the root of ignorance.

Q16. How investigative mind can be acquired?
A16. Dispassion develops investigation.

Q17. What leads to dispassion?
A17. Disgust of pleasures of life generates dispassion towards them.

Q18. What is exactly investigation?
A18. Investigation is analysis conducted within oneself, discriminating the non-self from the Self, stimulated by stern, strong and sincere desire to realize Self.

Q19. What is dispassion or disgust in pleasures?
A19. Dispassion is non-attachment to surroundings. This comes about when mind is made to realize the misery consequent to attachment.

Q20. How this whole series of disgust, dispassion and investigation really begin? What is its root cause?
A20. Divine grace is the root cause of all that is good.

Q21. How divine grace is brought about?
A21. Devotion to God alone can bring down his grace.

Q22. How devotion is produced?
A22. Devotion is produced and developed by association with the wise. This is the initial cause of all that follows.

Q23. Who is the God you are referring to?
A23. God is the master of cosmos.

Q24. What is devotion?
A24. Unwavering love and trust in Him is devotion.

Q25. Who are those wise persons?
A25. The wise are those who abide in supreme peace and melt with love for all.

Q26. Who is always in the grip of fear and who is in the grip of misery?
A26. Fear holds a man possessed of enormous wealth; misery of large family.

Q27. Who is in the grip of poverty?
A27. Poverty holds man with insatiable desires.

Q28. Who is fearless?
A28. The man with no attachments is free from fear.

Q29. Who is free from misery?
A29. The one who is with controlled mind, is free from misery.

Q30. Who is never needy?
A30. The self-realized man is never needy.

Q31. Who is he, who can not be understood by men and though visible is without the body?
A31. He is the one who is emancipated here(jeevanmukta). He is beyond the understanding of men. He is seen, though he does not identify himself with the body.

Q32. What is the action of such persons?
A32. His actions are those of the inactive.

Q33. What is real? What is unreal? What is inappropriate?
A33. The subject (Self) is real; the object (non-self) is unreal and worldly transactions are inappropriate

There were no further questions from the ghoul. Then Hemaangad said to the ghoul - "I have now answered all your questions. Please release my brother at once."
The ghoul released Rukmaangad with pleasure and himself appeared as a Braahman and told his story of turning into a ghoul because of his own argumentative nature with the sage.
The Braahman further questioned Hemaangad on some more points and gets satisfactory answers from Hemaangad. Then, he said to Hemaangad - "Oh, Prince, You have now released me from that curse. I hold you as the best among men, knowing all that pertains to life here and beyond." Then, the princes saluted the Braahman and both went their way.
Guru Dattaatreya adds "Raam, You have heard all that you needed to know. If you want anything more, you may ask."

Home | Biographies

A-J | K-M | N-S | T-Z | Others | Back