Mahabharata – 126

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

King Yayati because of his austerities was transported to heaven.While the monarch Yayati  stayed in heaven--the home of the celestials, he was revered by the gods,the Sadhyas,the Maruts,and the Vasus.Of sacred deeds and mind under complete control, the monarch used to travel independently  now and then from the abode of the celestials to the realm of Brahma. And it has been heard by us that he stayed for a long time in heaven.

One day that best of the kings, Yayati, went to Indra and there in course of conversation the lord of the gods spoke to him as follows  --

'What did you say, Oh king! when  Puru took your old age on earth & when you gave him your kingdom?’

Yayati answered -- I told him that the whole country between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna was his.Therefore you are the king of the central region of the Earth, while the out-lying regions are to be the dominions of your brothers.

I also told him -- Never show your weakness,anger, wickedness, enmity or jealousy to others & never ever allow anyone to practise these.The wise never disobey the parents, the senior &  learned persons. Also revere the ascetics & the forgiving person. A powerful person always forgives. Those who are incapable always show grievance. The wicked always envy the good. Similarly incapable persons always envy the able.The beautiful & the handsome always hate the ugly, the poor envy the rich, the unsuccessful people always envy the successful. Similarly the impious people always hate the pious. Oh Puru! You must be aware of the fact that the worthless always hate the worthy. These are the manifestation of ‘kali’ the opposite to which is ‘satya’.Mixing  with the good people amongst the Brahamins,Kshatriyas,Vaishyas & Sudras makes a man honourable & people praise the honourable.Therefore Oh Puru! Always try to keep in touch with the good people.But your brothers are foolish & of wicked nature.They are unable to study the character of the people.

Indra then said  -- Oh king! As you had studied the different characteristics of men, as you can read human character, you are surely proud of it. You deserve our praise. Please tell me more as to the different characteristics of people.

Yayati replied, --Those without anger are ever superior to those under the  control of anger.Those disposed to forgive are ever superior to the unforgiving. Man is superior to the lower animals.Among men again the learned are superior to the ignorant.

If wronged, you should not wrong one in return. One's wrath, if disregarded, burns one's own self. If one displays his anger to somebody, the latter will be enriched with the fruitions of the pious deeds of the former. Never should you hurt others with cruel speeches. Never take excessive interest from the poor person & never utter  scorching and sinful words.Others must not be tortured with words. Otherwise it brings about misfortune & during the after life one goes to  hell. You must know that prosperity and luck fly away at the very sight of one who pinches others by means of hard and cruel words.And people consider such men as unlucky.You should ever keep the virtuous people before you  as your model, you should ever with retrospective eye compare your acts with those of the virtuous.You should always disregard the hard words of the wicked.The man hurt by the arrows of cruel speech drags one to hell.The wise never shoot the arrows of cruel speech at others. There is nothing in the three worlds by which you can worship & adore others than by kindness,friendship,charity and sweet speeches to all. You should always employ sweet speech to others. And you should always take into account those that deserve, & you should always give but never beg.

Indra continued  -- Oh king Yayati! You did retire into the woods, after accomplishing all your duties.I would ask you whether there is any equal to you in ascetic austerities.

 Yayati answered -- Oh king of gods! I do not in the matter of ascetic austerities, consider anyone as  my equal among men, the celestials,the Gandharvas and the great Rishis.

 Indra then said-- Oh king! You disregarded those  who are your superiors or your equals, & even your inferiors, without, in fact, knowing their real merits. Your virtues have suffered & waned. You must fall from heaven.

 Yayati then said --Oh king of gods! If, indeed, my virtues have declined & I must fall down from heaven on that account. I desire, O chief of the celestials, that I may at least fall among the virtuous and the honest

Indra replied -- Oh Yayati! Never again disregard those who are your superiors or your equals. Oh king! You shall fall among those who are virtuous and wise, & you shall acquire also much honor.

Thus Yayati fell from the region of the celestials. And as he was falling, he was beheld by the foremost of royal sages.