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12-Shaanti Parv, 28-29
Kathaa-G - 12-Shaanti - page 5

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All Advice Yudhishthir-4

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Vyaas Jee again said - "There is a story of Asmaa. One king Janak of Videh requested a Braahman named Asmaa to remove his doubts. He asked - "How should a man, desirous of his own good, behave upon the loss of his kinsmen and wealth?"

Asmaa said - "As soon as a creature is born, joy and sorrows attach to his life. If happiness comes first, he thinks that he is born fortunate, but if sorrows come first he thinks otherwise. A King should exercise his intelligence to judge others behavior and alleviating the sorrows of his subjects. There are two cause of mental sorrows - delusion of mind and accession of distress, no third cause. All kinds of sorrows including sorrows arising from earthly attachments and enjoyments and fear of old age and death devour all people - old or young, rich or poor, strong or weak, short or tall. But since there is no escape from them so one should take them with indifference as they come. Agreeable or disagreeable, good and evil, bliss and sorrow, poverty and prosperity all are predestined and all follow Destiny. The course of Time is very wonderful. Whether pleasures or sorrows all are won by Destiny.

Sometimes even without committing any sin one has to suffer with various kinds of illnesses, while others, even after committing sins, are healthy, wealthy and happy. One may live a long life in a lowly race, while born in a high race one can die like an insect. Some affluent people can not eat even normal food while a poor person can digest even chips of wood. It is only Time which gives pleasure to some and starvation to others. Some people come together and some get separated, while some get related to us. Who are they and who are we? No one can become anyone's own. "Where am I? Where will I go? Who am I? How have I come here? What for and whom I grieve?" Pondering on such questions give you peace. Our union with our kinsfolk is like that of travelers staying in an inn. No one understands that this world is sinking in an ocean. The people with great knowledge or no knowledge, all have to tread the path of Time in the same way, only their way of looking at it is different. One cannot lasting companionship with anyone. In this matter scriptures are the real eyes. So first you follow Brahmcharya, then beget children, then perform sacrifices,"

Hearing Asmaa, Videh got relieved and went to his capital. You also be free from grief, be happy, you have won Earth, enjoy it."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Hearing this Yudhishthir got speechless, then Arjun spoke to Krishn - "This Dharm's son is burning in grief of killing his folks. Once again we have fallen into danger, please come to rescue us." Krishn looked at Yudhishthir. Yudhishthir could not have avoided Krishn as he loved him more than Arjun from the earliest times. Krishn took the king's hand in His hand and spoke - "Don't grieve, those who have been slain in the battle, cannot come back by grieving, as the things seen in the dream cannot be brought back. Those were great warriors, it is not right to grieve for them. In this connection Naarad's discourse to Srinjaya is worth listening, listen to it, I tell you that. Srinjaya's son died, he was grieving for him. Naarad came and said to him - "There was a king named Marutt, son of Avikshit. Even he died. All Devtaa came in person to take their share in his Yagya. He used all gold pots in that Yagya. He gave so much to Braahman that they could not take all to their homes. When that king who exceeded your son in religious merit, knowledge, purity, died then why do you grieve for your son?

There was another king Suhotra, son of Atithi. He also died. It is said that Maghaavat showered gold for one year so the Prithvi became Vasumati (possessed of wealth) in real meaning. Rivers had golden animals in them because Indra gave all these to him. He performed a sacrifice at Kurujaangal and gave it to Braahman. When that king exceeded in four attributes - religious merits, knowledge, renunciation and affluence, died then why do you grieve for your son who never did any sacrifice and never made any gifts. There was another king Brihadrath who also died. He gave away 100,000 horses. He gave 100,000 maidens in one of the sacrifices he made. He gave away 100,000 elephants in another sacrifice, hundred million bulls and thousands of cows in another sacrifice. He surpassed even Devtaa, Gandharv, and men in giving away gifts. He did a sacrifice near the hill Vishnupad, Indra got intoxicated after drinking Somras. No other man has ever been born or will born who has given or will give so much in seven sacrifices he made. When he, who was so much superior to your son, why do you grieve for your son?

Usheenar's son king Shibi also died. He alone defeated many kings. He was like Indra in power. When he died, O Srinjaya, why do you weep for your son? The king Bharat, son of Dushyant and Shakuntalaa, also died. Devoting 300 horses to Devtaa on the banks of Yamunaa, 2o on the banks of Saraswatee, and 14 on the banks of Gangaa, he did 1,000 Ashwamedh Yagya and 100 Raajsooya Yagya. No one can be as great as Bharat. He gave away innumerable horses and wealth to Rishi Kanv. He also died then why do you cry for your son? Raam, the son of Dashrath, also died. He loved his people like His own children. As long as He ruled there was nothing to fear. People lived for 1,000 years. Nobody was sick or old. After spending 14 years in forest He did ten Ashwamed Yagya. He ruled this Prithvi for 11,000.When He exceeded you in four attributes and was purer than your son, and He died then why do you grieve for your son?

The king Bhageerath also died, He gave away a million maidens laden with gold. Each of the maidens sat in a chariot drawn by four horses. With each chariot were hundred elephants, behind each elephant were thousand horses, and behind each horse were 1,000 cows. Gangaa which has three courses, agreed to become his daughter. sat upon his lap Gangaa lived near her stream, that is she was known as Urvashee. Even the high soul Dileep also died. In one of the sacrifices, he gave away the whole Earth to Braahman. When he who was much superior to you, died then why do you weep for your son? In each sacrifice performed by him, the chief priest received 1,000 gold elephants as sacrificial fee. In one of the sacrifices he put a golden animal on stake. Seeing this 6,000 Devtaa danced with joy. Even Vishwavasu (Gandharv) played Veenaa (an Indian string instrument) in the midst of them. Such was the effect of his Veenaa that everybody thought that he was playing for him only.  Vedic recitations, twangs of bows, and cries of 'let it be given' never stopped in his kingdom. When such a king died, why do you weep for your son, O Srinjaya?

We hear that Yuvanaashwa's son Maandhaataa also died. Maandhaata was born from Yuvanaashwa's stomach, and was fed by Indra. He became a 12-year old in 12 days, and a handsome youth in 100 days. He won the whole Prithvi in one day only. He defeated king Angad, Marutt, Asit, Gaya, and Brihadrath - the king of Ang. After having performed many Ashwamedh Yagya and a hundred Raajsooya Yagya, he gave many Rohit fishes (each 10 Yojan long and one Yojan wide - one Yojan = 9 miles) to Braahman. When he died then do not grieve for your son. We hear that Nahush, the son of Yayaati, also died. He conquered the whole Prithvi. After performing a thousand sacrifices and a hundred Vaajpeya Yagya, he donated three mountains of gold. He discarded his two sons - Yadu and Drahyu and gave the kingdom to his youngest son Puru and went to forest with his wives. When he was far superior to you and he died then do not weep for your son.

Even Ambareesh, the son of Naabhaag, died. In one of his sacrifices, he assigned one million kings to wait upon Braahman. Those kings got the fruit of Ashwamedh Yagya and followed Ambareesh by Dakshinaayan path (southern solstice). When he surpassed you in four attributes and was purer to your son, do not grieve for your son. We hear that Shashbindu, the son of Chitrasen, also died. He had 100,000 wives, and millions of sons, all of them used to wear golden armor. Each of them married a hundred princess, and each princess brought 100 elephants. With each of these 100 elephants there were 100 chariots backed with 100 horses adorned with gold; each horse backed up with 100 cows, and each cow backed with 100 sheep and goats. When such a king fell died, do not grieve for your son who is dead.

We hear that king Gaya, the son of Amoortaraya, also died. He subsisted on the remains of sacrificial food for 100 years, pleased with him Agni Dev gave him boons. The boons were, "let my wealth be inexhaustible even if I give it continuously", "let me always follow the path of virtue", "I should always speak Truth". On days of New Moon, Full Moon, and on every fourth month he performed Ashwamedh Yagya for 1,000 years. At the completion of each sacrifice he donated 100,000 cows and hundreds of mules to Braahman. In his great Ashwamedh Yagya, Gaya built the golden floor - 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide (one cubit = 18"), and gave it away as the sacrificial fee. He donated as many cows as the grains of sand. When such a king died, do not grieve for your son who is dead.

We hear that Sankriti's son king Rantidev also died. After a severe penance he got these Var from Indra - "let us have abundant food and numerous guests, I should not ask anything from anybody, and my faith should be persistent". The secretion that flowed from sacrificial animals made a river which to this day is known as Charmanvatee River. He had all the cups and plates, pots and pans etc of gold. When guests were there, 21,100 cows were slaughtered for them, still sometimes flesh was not available to all. When such a king died, then do not grieve for your son who has died.

We hear that even king Sagar, of Ikshwaaku Vansh and possessing superhuman powers, also died. He performed 1,000 Ashwamedh Yagya. He gave away palatial mansions with columns of gold and other parts of made of other precious metals and beautiful women. Through his anger he could send Prithvi along with sea to where it came from, that is why sea is called Saagar after his name. When such a qualitative king died why do you grieve your son who didn't do anything? We hear that even Vane's son Prithu also died. Rishi installed him king thinking that he would advance all mankind and so named him Prithu (advancer). Because he protected people from being Kshat (injured), he was a true Kshatriya. Because all people were attached to him that is why he was called Raajaa (one that can inspire attachment). During his rule every leaf bore honey and every cow gave lots of milk. They could live anywhere they liked. Once in an Ashwamedh Yagya he gave 21 mounds of gold - each measuring three Nalavaa (one Nalavaa means a distance of 400 cubits = 200 yards). When such a king who was superior to you in four attributes, died then why do you weep for your child who died."

Naarad Jee further said - "Why are you still silent O Srinjaya? If you have not heard what I said then it means that I said it uselessly." Srinjaya said- "I am listening to you O Naarad. Your discourse has been able to dispel my grief. But if you can show your grace toward me then my son can be revived and once more will be alive for me." Naarad said - "I will give back your son, named Swarnishthivin (whose excreta is of gold) to you. He will live for a thousand years." 

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Created by Sushma Gupta On 03/09/02
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Modified on 11/24/11