Mahabharata – 131

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Ashtaka said -- How Oh Sir! Do men attain those higher realms? Is it by the sheer force of asceticism or by the attainment of higher knowledge? How can one gradually attain the higher regions? Please tell me in details.

Yayati answered --The wise say that for men there are seven gates of heaven. They are asceticism,benevolence, tranquillity of mind, self-command & modesty, simplicity and kindness to all creatures. The wise also say that a person loses all these in consequence of vanity. That man who having acquired knowledge by reading the Vedas regards himself as learned and with his learning if he seeks to destroy the reputation of others thereby he never attains the heaven. That knowledge also does not make its possessor competent to attain  Brahma. Study, observing the vow of silence, worship before fire and sacrifices, these four remove all fear. But when these are mixed with vanity, they cause fear. The wise should never be delighted at receiving honours nor should they grieve at insults. For it is the wise alone that honour the wise. The wicked never act like the virtuous. I have given away so much--I have performed so many sacrifices,--I have studied so much--I have observed these vows--such vanity is at the root of fear. Therefore, you must not indulge in such feelings. Those learned men who accept as their only resort, the unchangeable, inconceivable Brahman alone that ever shows blessings on persons virtuous like you enjoy  perfect peace here and hereafter.

Ashtaka said -- The wise differ in opinion as to how the followers of each of the four modes of life,like,Grihasthas, Bhikshus, Brahmacharins,and Vanaprashthas should conduct themselves in order to acquire religious merit.

Yayati answered --These are what a Brahmachari must do. While residing at the abode of his preceptor, he must receive lessons only when his preceptor summons him to do so. He must attend to the service of his preceptor without waiting for the guru’s command. He must rise from his bed before his preceptor rises and he must go to bed after his preceptor goes to bed.He must be humble, must have his passions under complete control,must be patient, vigilant and devoted to studies.It is then only that he can achieve success.

It has been said in the oldest scriptures that a grihastha, should acquire wealth by honest means,by which he may  perform sacrifices & charities. He should perform the rites of hospitality to all arriving at his house.He must never accept wealth from unwilling persons. He who adopts Vanaprashtha life should bring fruits & other foods through his own effort.He should abstain from all vicious acts. He should give away something in charity.He should never hurt any creature.It is then only he can achieve success. And a Bhikshu should not support himself by any manual arts. He should always give something in charity. Always his passions should be under complete control. Always he should remain aloof from worldly concerns. He should never sleep in the shelter of a householder. Always he should travel a little way every day,there by  to cover a large extent of the country.

The night when a familyman is preoccupied with self indulgence or sexual act,the person who follows Vanaprastha mode of life should keep his passions under complete control.If one properly observes the vanaprastha way of life & passes away in the forest itself does liberate ten generations of his ancestors.Ten generations of his descendants are liberated there by.He himself also liberated.

 Ashtaka asked -- How many kinds of munis are there?  Also tell us how many kinds of silence are there.

Here it should be noted that muni is one who observes the vow of silence.

Yayati replied -- One who keeps the village at his back is a kind of muni. One who keeps the forest at his back is another kind of muni.

Ashtaka said -- It seems to be a paradox. What is its real import?

Yayati answered -- A Muni who lives in the woods never supports himself with the fruits & other things that  are available in an inhabited place.

He does not offer sacrifice to the fire regularly. He does not live in any house. He puts on a piece of cloth to cover his waist only. Whatever portion of land is covered by the waist cloth is the land that he cleans to. He takes as much food as it is required to sustain his breath. When such a person lives in a village the village lives at his back.

Once again, a person sans any worldly desire might give up his daily chores.He does not perform any action with any design whatever.He does not act in order to fulfil any worldly ambition.If such a person keeps the vow of silence,he is destined to be liberated.

There could be a man who is ugly. But if he cleans his teeth & shaves regularly & puts on ornaments & good looking garments & is plunged in pure thoughts he commands the respect of everyone around him.

One who undergoes hard penance might become thin.He might be flesh & bone only.Since his blood decreases,his body might wane.In fact such a person could not only conquer this world,but also he conquers the world hereafter.     

When the Muni takes food like a cow or other animals,he becomes identified with the all-pervading spirit.He becomes acquainted with the whole universe and attains  liberation.

Ashtaka asked  --Who amongst these,Oh king,when both are  like the Sun and the Moon in spirit,are first liberated?.

 Yayati replied --The sage who lives sans desire among the householders whose heads are full of desires is earmarked for liberation.He is over head & ears in meditation.And meditating on the sublime he  leaps into trance. Such a man is liberated earlier.

And such a person always abstains from sinful acts because of the fear of being damned.

 The sacrifices by a person who feels that he would  never be benefitted by asceticism bear no fruit. He is unable to restrain  his sensual appetites.But whose reverence  is dependent on action that does not proceed from any desire of fruition is earmarked for liberation.This is as per the verdict of the scriptures & such men are Yogis.