Mahabharata – 127

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

While Yayati was falling from heaven they saw a flaming meteor descending from the skies. This glorious sight drew the attention of Ashtaka, the sage king.

Ashtaka enquired of Yayati -- Who are you? Oh handsome youth equal to Indra, in splendour blazing as the fire, thus falling from the sky? You are equal to that foremost of the bodies traversing the skies, the prince of the birds the Sun emerging from, dark masses of clouds? Seeing you falling from the solar course, possessed of measureless energy & the splendour of fire or Sun, every one of us is curious & eager to know as to what it is that is descending. Beholding you in the path of the celestials, possessed of energy like that of Indra, or Surya, or Vishnu, we have approached you to ascertain the truth. We did not ask who we are out of politeness. You are not as well asking us who we are. We now ask you who you. Be that as it may we ask you Oh bright & beautiful! Who are you  & why are you here? Let your fears be eliminated. May your distress & trouble cease. You are now in the presence of the virtuous and the wise. Even Indra himself--the slayer of Vala--cannot do any injury here. Oh! You have the prowess of the Indra. The wise & the virtuous are the support of their brothers in grief. Here are none but the wise and the virtuous like you assembled together. Therefore, stay you here in peace. Fire alone has power to give heat. The Earth alone has power to infuse life into the seed. The Sun alone has power to illuminate everything. So the guest alone has power to command the virtuous and the wise.

Yayati said  -- I am Yayati,the son of Nahusha and the father of Puru. Cast off from the region of the celestials and of Siddhas and Rishis for having disregarded every creature. I am falling down.My righteousness seems to have waned. In years I am older than you. Therefore, I have not saluted you first. Indeed, the Brahmanas always appreciate him who is older in years or superior in learning or in ascetic merit.

Ashtaka then replied -- you said that he who is older in years is worthy of regard. But it is said by the saints that he who is superior in knowledge & ascetic merit is truly worthy of worship. Yayati replied to this --- It is said that sin destroys the merits of virtuous acts & leads to hell. Presently or in the past the virtuous never follow the footsteps of the vicious. The virtuous act in such a way that their religious merit always waxes.I myself had great religious merit. But all that, however, have come to nought. I will scarcely be able to regain it even by my best efforts. Seeing my fate, he who wanted to achieve his own good to become virtuous must be careful. There by one will be wise.

He who having acquired great wealth  performing religious ceremonies, he who having acquired all kinds of knowledge remains humble,& he who having studied the entire Vedas devotes himself to asceticism attains prosperity &  goes to heaven. One should not be overjoyed in having acquired great wealth. One should not be arrogant for having studied the entire Vedas. In the world men are of different nature. Destiny is supreme. Both power & endeavour are of no use. Knowing destiny to be all-powerful, the wise, whatever their portions may be, neither should neither be arrogant nor should they lament.

When creatures knows that their wealth  and sorrow are dependent on destiny and not on their own endeavour or power, they should neither lament  nor should they be joyful.We must  remember that destiny is all in all. The wise should ever live contented, neither lament at distress nor revel in prosperity. When destiny is supreme, both grief and happiness are inappropriate Oh Ashtaka! I never allowed myself to suffer from fear, nor do I ever entertain grief. Insects and worms, all oviparous creatures, vegetable existences, all crawling animals, snakes, the fish in the water, stones, grass, wood--in fact, all created things, when they are freed from the effects of their acts, are united with the Supreme Soul. Happiness and misery are both transient. Therefore, Oh Ashtaka! Why should I grieve? We can never know how we are to act in order to avoid misery. Therefore, none should grieve for misery.'

Possessed of every virtue,  Yayati who was the maternal grandfather of Ashtaka, while staying in the skies was again questioned by the Ashtaka on the details of the heaven.