Mahabharata – 136

by

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Dushmanta episode gives us a vivid description of an ashrama in the Mahabharata age. While Dushmanta was approaching the great sage Kanva he saw the bees  humming around the ashrama & the brahmanas were engaged there in their activities.The yajnas were being performed. The Rigvedi brahamanas were chanting the principal sections & the sub  sections of the Rigveda to invoke the gods & goddesses. The king listened to them with all attention.The master in yajnas & angasastra, the  learned brahamanas with rigid vow ---- the Samavedi brahamanas enriched the ashrama with their melodious voices. The air of the ashrama was filled with the chanting of that section of the Samaveda which is known as Bharundu.The last part of the Atharvaveda was also being recited. In fact it is the Rigvedi brahamanas who invites the gods at the site of the yajnas. Once the gods show up at the site of the yajna the Samavedic brahamanas chant hymns to please the ears of the gods & to entertain them. Their voice seemed to add to the beauty of the environment of the ashrama. Here is an  instance of synaesthesia.The king also was over hearing the discussions between the experienced brahamanas on the principles of the rituals. Education, logic, the Upanishad & the Vedas were the subject matter of the discussion. They also discussed on such topics as meditation & the way to liberation. Grammer, liguistics, astrology, chemistry, Ayurveda & decoding the cries of the animals & the like figured in their discussions. He also found in some other places some others engaged in meditation or in sacrifice or in prayers.The king was amazed seeing that numerous seats were placed with great care.The brahamanas kept the rooms neat & clean. Seeing this the king thought that he was at Brahmaloka.The ashrama was so enchanting & beautiful that the more he saw it the more he longed for it.

Then the king saw the house of great sage Kanva.The blessed place was very pure & excellent. Many great sages were staying there.

The king leaving the priests & the ministers entered into that ashrama house  alone. Seeing no body there the king in deep voice asked --- Who is there? The king’s voice filled the air of that hermitage. On hearing the king’s voice a female ascetic looking like goddess Lakshmi came out from the ashrama.The beautiful eyed lady seeing  Dushmanta the king, paid due respect  to the king & asked him whether he came here to the ashrama  with joyful mind? The lady offered the king welcome offerings like arghya, paddya & seat. Then she asked him ---- Are you maintaining good health & is every one in your kingdom well & happy?