Mahabharata – 175
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
 Aadivamsavatarana Parva

The Legitamation of the Mandavya story

Silence is a recurrent motif in the Mahabharata The Mandavya episode is significant on many counts. Firstly the episode tells us of a society where there was no wise method to distinguish the saints from a criminal as it is with us today.Neither the king nor his men can distinguish a saint who observes a vow of silence from a person who does not respond to the enquiries of the kings or the police people. We do not know why the king Parikshit punished a saint who was plunged in silence. What wrong did the saint do for which he was oddly punished by Parikshit? One wonders whether the kings like Parikshit were like Lactogen feeding babies of today! Can’t the kings of those days tolerate thirst for an hour or so? Because their horses were not ordinary ones but pegasus. Mandavya was also punished in the same way because of his maintaining silence. But the narrator however probes into the case and tells us that he was punished because of his doings in childhood. Mandavya can resist death and endure torture by virtue of his penance. But he cannot prove his innocence in front of the king or the police surgeant. He can argue with the god of death and justice. But he cannot argue with a king. As it is with Mndavya, many innocent persons are brought to books for no fault of theirs in the present legal system as well. Be that as it may Mandavya could communicate with numerous sages with extra sensory powers that baffle our imagination. And those sages flocked to Mandavya in the disguise of birds.This adds a fairy tale motif to this episode.The episode points out that one has to reap one’s actions.Mandavya pinned an ant when he was a child.And for that his anus was pierced with an iron rod when he was pretty old and a saint by occupation. As a saint he wished  no one any harm.It is a pity that the god of justice paid no regard to the life and activities of Mandavya as a saint which should have redeemed offences if any commited by Mandavya unknowgly when a child. Consequently in his conversation with the god of justice he said that no child up to the age of fourteen should be punished for wrong doing if any.In our time also if children do any offence they are not sent to jail. Instead they are sent to juvenile court and to reformatories. We have to mark that the god of justice had to acknowledge the ruling of Mandavya. Since that time on the surface, crime if any, committed by children were not taken into account. It seems that the notions of right or wrong are not always properly developed in children. But if we pin our faith on transmigration of soul children do not come empty handed. They bring the clouds or the resultant of their actions from their earlier births. How can law judge on such a priori inclinations?  It is a moot question. However it is said that Mandavya cursed the god of justice for doing wrong to Mandavya.So even the god of justice enjoys no immunity from the decrees of man. But ironically enough the sages and saints will only those things that are beneficial to the world. When the god of justice incarnates  as sudra or one among the working class and when in the mortal shape of Vidura he proves that he is the fountain of good will, common sense, wisdom and knowledge, should we not go to the working class men to purge ourselves of the grossness and crudities from which we upper classes do suffer?  

Mahabharata – 174
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
 Aadivamsavatarana Parva

The story of Mandavya

At the site of the snake sacrifice the king Janamejaya was hearing Vaisampayana telling stories.Vaisampayana told us how the god of justice was born in the womb of a sudra mother.Janamejaya was surprised to hear it. He asked  --- What did the god of justice do for which he was born in the womb of a sudra woman? And who was the Brahmarshi that  cursed him due to which he had to be born of a Sudra mother?

Vaisampayana said --- There was a great Brahmana known by the name  Mandavya. He was conversant with all the duties and was devoted to religion, truth and asceticism. The great ascetic used to sit at the entrance of his ashrama under a tree, with his arms raised  upwards while observing  the vow of silence. And  he was meditating  there for years together.One day there came to his ashrama a number of thieves with their stolen material.Those thieves were  pursued by a number of  security guards.  The thieves, hid there in that ashrama of Mandavya in fear  with their stolen things. But scarcely they had hidden there when the security guards following them came to that ashrama. The guards, seeing the Mandavya muni sitting under the tree, questioned him --- Oh best of the Brahmanas! Which way have the thieves run away? Please tell us so that we may follow them without loss of time.But Maharshi  Mandavya did not utter a single word in reply. Then the guards of the king, searched that ashrama and discovered the hidden thieves there with the stolen treasure. On this, their suspicion fell upon the muni, and accordingly they took him with the thieves and brought him before the king. The king sentenced him to be executed along with his supposed associates.

And the guards,not knowing him a sage  in ignorance, carried out the order of the king by transfixing the sage Mandayva with sharp weapon. And having lanced him, they went to the king with the stolen material  they had recovered. But the virtuous sage, though lanced and kept without food, remained in that state for a long time without dying. And the sage by his ascetic power not only preserved his life but summoned other sages to the scene and they became very sorry. And they came there in the night in the forms of birds, and saw him engaged in meditation though lanced. And they disclosed their identity to Mandavya and asked ------- Oh Brahmana, we desire to know what has been your sin for which you have been thus made to suffer.

Thus asked, the best among the munis then answered those great sages ------------- Whom shall I blame for this? In fact, none else than my  self has offended me! After this, the guards of the town seeing him alive, informed the king of it. The king hearing what they said,  came to the place with his advisers and began to pacify the sage, fixed on the lance.

And the king said ---------- Oh you best of sages, I have offended you in ignorance. I beseech you to pardon me for the same. I plead to you not to be angry with me.

Thus addressed by the king, the sage was pacified. And seeing him free from wrath, the king took him up with the stake and tried  to remove the lance from his body. But they did not succeed. Finally they cut it off at the point just outside the body. The sage, with a portion of the lance within his body, continued his practice of  austerity and penannce. He travelled  from one country to another in that state. He conquered numberless regions unattainable by others.

And as because a part of the lance remained within his body, he came to be known in the  world by the name  Ani-Mandavya.

And one day the great Mandavya conversant with the highest truth of religion went to the abode of the god of Justice. And seeing him seated on his throne, the sage blame him and said, What was that sinful act committed by me unconsciously, for which I am bearing this punishment? Oh, tell me soon! And see my  power of asceticism.

The god of justice, thus questioned, replied --------Oh! a little insect was once pierced by you with a blade of grass. You now bear  the consequence of the act. Oh brahmrshi! Just as an act of charity, however small, multiplies in respect of its religious merits, so does a sinful act multiply and engenders great sufferings.On hearing this, Ani-Mandavya asked --------- Oh tell me truly! At what age was this act committed by me?. In reply, the god of justice told that he had committed it, when he was a child.

The sage said --- Henceforth,if any child till the age of twelve commits any thing wrong he or she must not be deemed to be a sinner.  The gods also shall not recognise any wrongful act done by a child  as sinful. The punishment you have forced upon me for such a tolerable offence has been disproportionate in its severity. The killing of a Brahmana involves a sin that is heavier than the killing of any other living being. You shall, therefore, Oh god of justice! You shall be born among men  in the Sudra order. And from this day I establish the limit in respect of the consequence of acts that shall not be sinful when committed by one below the age of fourteen. But when any wrongful act is committed by one above that age, it shall be regarded as sin.

Cursed for this fault by that illustrious sage, the god of justice had to born as Vidura in the Sudra order. And Vidura was well-versed in the doctrines of morality and also politics and worldly profit. And he was entirely free from greed and wrath. Possessed of great foresight and great tranquility of mind, Vidura was ever devoted to the welfare of the Kurus.

Mahabharata – 173
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Aadivamsavatarana Parva
The story of the birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu & Vidura cond.

Satyavati the mother of the Kurus wanted that her widowed daughter –in – laws should bring forth children with the seed of the great rishi Vedavyasa. She wanted more than one child by Vedavyasa.Saying, So be it, Vyasa went away.

And the Amvikadevi in due time brought forth a blind son. Soon after Satyavati, summoned Vedavyasa, after having the consent of her daughter-in-law Ambalika. Vedavyasa came again according to his promise. And he approached, as before, Ambalika the second wife of his brother.

And Ambalika seeing  the sage, became pale with fear. And, seeing  her in trouble and pale with fear.Vedavyasa addressed her and said --- Because you have been pale with fear at the sight of my awful appearance, your child shall be pale in complexion. Oh you of handsome face! the name of  the child will be Pandu (the pale). Saying this, the illustrious rishi came out of her chamber. And as he came out, and met  his mother, she asked him about the would-be-child. The rishi told her that the boy will be of great prowess in due time. But due to his mother’s fault he will be of pale complexion.And in due course of time he will beget five children of great prowess. Saying this the great sage was about to leave the place.

Satyavati again begged the rishi for another child, and the rishi told her in reply, 'So be it.' 

When her time came Ambalika, brought forth a son of pale complexion, blazing with beauty  and  prowess & with all the auspicious marks of royalty. Indeed, it was this child who afterwards became the father of those mighty archers, the Pandavas.

Some time after, when the eldest daughter in law Amvika again had her monthly season, she was solicited by Satyavati to approach Vedavyasa once again.

Ambika refused to obey her mother-in-law's request. She remembered the horrible appearance and strong odour of the rishi. She, however, sent to him, a maid of hers, of great beauty and decked the maid with her own ornaments.

And when the Vedavyasa arrived, the maid rose up and showed him due respect and duly loved him. The great rishi of rigid vows was well-pleased with her during mating. And when he rose to go away, he addressed her and said ---  Amiable one, You shall  no longer remain a slave from now on. Your fortunate child, best of the men will be great and virtuous. And he will be  the foremost of all intelligent and wise men on earth!

That son of Vedavyasa was afterwards known by the name of Vidura. He was thus the brother of Dhritarashtra and the illustrious Pandu. And Vidura was free from desire and passion and was conversant with the rules of economics.It was the god of justice born on earth due to the curse of the illustrious rishi Mandavya.

And Vedavyasa when he met his mother as before, informed her as to how he had been misled by Amvika and how he had begotten a son on a Sudra woman. And having spoken thus to his mother the great virtuous sage disappeared.

Thus were born, to the wives of Vichitravirya, by Vedavyasa those sons having  the splendour of celestial children ---The propagators of the Kuru race.

Mahabharata – 172
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
   

Aadivamsavatarana Parva

The story of the birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu & Vidura

The untimely death of Vichitrivirya and Chitrangada put the Kuru race in real trouble. They must have a child by the widows of Vichitrivirya. So they appointed Vedavaysa the narrator of the
Mahabharata to cohabit with the widows. And when Bhishma had approved the appointment of the great sage Vedavyasa to raise the Kuru race,Satyavati  meditated on the sage.Vedavyasa at that time was studying the Vedas.Vedavyasa knowing  that he was being called up by his mother, showed up instantly before his mother, without the knowledge
of  anybody.
Satayavati then duly greeted her son and embraced him with open arms, bathing him in her tears. And, the great Vyasa her first son, seeing the weeping mother, washed her with cool water, and bowing to her, Vedavyasa said --- I have come, Oh mother!, to fulfil your wishes. Therefore, Oh virtuous one! Command me without delay what I should do.
The Royal priest then worshipped the great sage duly, and the latter accepted the offerings of worship, uttering the usual mantras. After the worship, Vedavyasa took his seat.
Satyavati, after the usual inquiries of his wellbeing, addressed him --- Oh learned one! Sons derive their birth both from the father and the mother. They are, therefore, the common property of their parents. As you are,  indeed, my eldest son, O Brahmarshi, so is Vichitravirya my youngest son. And as Bhishma is Vichitravirya's brother on the father's side, so are you his brother on the mother's side. I do not know what you may think, but this is what, Oh my son!--- I think. This Bhishma, the son of Santanu, devoted to truth, does not entertain the desire of either begetting children or ruling the kingdom. Therefore, from the affection for your brother
Vichitravirya and his wives, and also for the continuation of our dynasty, for the sake of  Bhishma's request and my command, for the kindness to all creatures, for the protection of the people Oh sinless one, do what I say. Your younger brother has left two widows who liken the daughters of the celestials, in their youth and beauty. For the sake of virtue and religion, they have become desirous of offspring.
You are the fittest person to be appointed. Therefore beget on them children worthy of our race and for the continuation of our line.
On hearing Vyasa said --- Oh mother Satyavati! of great wisdom, you know what virtue is both in respect of this life and the other. Oh your eyes are also set on virtue. Therefore, at your command, making virtue my objective, I shall do what you desire. Indeed, this agrees with the teachings of the true and the eternal religion. I know that.
I shall give to my brother Vichitravirya children that shall be like Mitra and Varuna. Let the ladies then duly observe for full one year the vow I tell. They shall then be purified. No woman shall ever approach me without having observed a rigid vow.
Satyavati then replied, --- Oh my son! Take such steps that the queens may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there is no king, the people perish from want of protection. Sacrifices and other holy acts are suspended. No rains are there, and the gods seem to be displeased.  How can we  protect  the kingdom that has no king ? Therefore, see that the queens conceive presently. And  Bhishma will maintain the children.
Vedavyasa replied --- If I am to beget children without paying attention to due season, then let the queens bear with my repulsive & ugly appearance. That will be the necessary penance for them. If Ambikadevi can bear with my strong odour, my ugly and grim look, my clothes and body, she shall then conceive an excellent child.
Having said this to Satyavati, the great spirited Vedavyasa made up his mind to cohabit with the queens.Vedavyasa then disappeared in a moment from there.
Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-laws and spoke in private to them with soft  words of beneficial and virtuous intention  ---
Oh Amvika! Listen to what I say. It is rational to cohabit with a person who is not your husband.Virtue says that. The dynasty of the Bharat as has become extinct due to my misfortune. Seeing my misfortune and the extinction of Bhishma’s paternal line, the wise Bhishma, impelled by the desire of continuation of our race, had given me a suggestion. The suggestion, however, for its accomplishment  depends on you. Achieve it, Oh my daughter! and restore the lost line of the Bharatas. Oh you fair lady!Bring forth a child equal in splendour to Indra, the chief of the celestials. He shall bear the burden of our hereditary kingdom. Satyavati succeeded with great difficulty in gaining the approval of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her proposal which was not inconsistent with the dictates of virtue.
Then gods, brahmanas and rishis and countless guests who arrived on the occasion there were feasted. Soon after the monthly seasonal purifying bath of the daughter in law Ambika took place. Satyavati, led her daughter-in-law into the sleeping apartment. There she addressed her, in soft words saying --- Oh  Ambika your husband has an elder brother who shall this day enter the seed into your womb. Wait for him tonight without sleep.
Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the amiable Ambika, lay on her luxurious bed and, began to think of Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race.
Then the truthful rishi, who had given his promise in respect of Ambika in the first instance, entered her chamber where numerous lamps were burning. Ambika, seeing his dark appearance, his matted hair of copper colour, blazing eyes, his dreadful beard, closed her eyes in fear. The sage, impelled by the desire to accomplish his mother's wishes, however cohabited with her. She however did not open her eyes at that time even for a while. And when Vedavyasa came out, he met his mother,  who enquire of him as to how he fared, Shall the princess have an accomplished son? Hearing her, the omniscient sage replied, by god’s
grace --- The son of the princess shall be equal in might to ten thousand elephants. He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of great learning and intelligence and energy. The high-souled one shall have in his time hundred sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall be blind. At these words of her son, Satyavati said, Oh you great ascetic! How can one that is blind become a king of the Kurus?
Therefore bring forth one who shall be able to protect the Kuru race and raise the glory of the same .You have to give another king to the Kurus.

Mahabharata – 171
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and
Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
 

Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Story of the birth of Vedavyasa
Satyavati the queen mother of the Kurus had two sons in Chitrangada and Vichitrivirya.One of them died heroically in the battle field. The other died of mortal disease. So to continue the family line of the Kurus she implored her step son Bhisma to get married. But  Bhisma
would not marry. He advised the bereaved Satyavati to get her daughter in laws childing with the help of some Brahamin. In exchange of that the Brahamin should be given some wealth. This shows that during the Mahabharata era a married woman could beget children by a Brahamin, who was not her husband, in exchange of some wealth if circumstances had so dictated. Call it male prostitution? In fact prostitution was an honorable practice in those days. If we hark back to Buddha era we will find prostitutes who were highly venerated.
Bhisma alluded to history and narrated how the race of Kshatryas were rejuvenated by the seeds of the Brahamins in the past.
Satyavati then, smiled softly and spoke in shy and broken voice and addressed Bhishma ---What you say is true. During the time of distress such practice may be permitted. I have great confidence in you. I shall now suggest  another means of up holding our lineage. It
happened to me in the past. You are the Virtue, and Truth incarnate. In our race, you are, our only stay. Therefore hearing what I say, do what may be proper.
My virtuous father for virtue's sake kept a boat. In the prime of my youth, I used to ply that boat. One day the great and wise sage Parasara came, to my boat for crossing the Yamuna. As I was rowing him across the river, the foremost of the sages became excited with desire
and began to allure me in soft words and promised me a boon. The sage also added that I am not the daughter of the fishermen. The fisherman king was my foster father only. He updated me regarding my parentage.
The fear of my fisherman father and  the terror of the sage’s curse overwhelmed me. And having obtained from him a precious boon, I could not refuse his urge. The rishi by his spirit enveloped the region with a dark fog and brought me under his complete control. Before this there was a  fishy odour in my body, but the sage  replaced  it  with sweet fragrance. He also added that, I would  remain a virgin even bringing forth his child in the island. The child of Parasara  was instantly born during my maidenhood. He  is  known as Dwaipayana of
great ascetic power. That great sage through his ascetic power divided the Vedas into four parts. And he became famous on earth by the name of Vyasa and for his dark complexion, he is also known as Krishna Dwaipayana. The truthful mighty ascetic, whose passions are under control, went away with his father immediately after his birth. If we, me and you, ask that great spirited sage to cohabit with the widowed children of ours, we will certainly beget virtuous children on the wives of his brother. He told me before leaving, ‘Mother!, Think of me when you are in difficulty. I shall show up’. Oh Bhishma! If you so desire. I may now summon him. Oh  Bhishma! I am sure that the great ascetic will beget children upon Vichitravirya's wife.
Hearing  the name of that great rishi, Bhishma with joined palms said---That man is truly intelligent who judiciously considers virtue, profit, and pleasure, before any act. And he is one who can review, all such acts in such a way that virtue may lead to future virtue, profit to future profit and pleasure to future pleasure. He is known as wise. Therefore, that which has been said by you and which is beneficial to us is valid for our purpose. This is certainly the best and the most virtuous advice for us. And it has my full approval.
This episode is very significant. It shows that cohabiting with a sage does not rob the virginity of a maiden. Furthermore one might argue that a widow could cohabit with her brother in laws and remain in the family. Of course, the continuation of her deceased husband is her duty. The chief value is the child. Besides when the Kuru race is on the verge of being obliterated from
the face of the earth the narrator himself is to be invoked for the continuation of the race of the Kurus. This is unique in the realm of narratives.