https://www.boloji.com/articles/55033/quintessence-of-life-and-truth

 

        Quintessence of Life and Truth

              P C K Prem 

A Page from Markandeya Puruna

It is about ordinary people, who revere the lord of the land –the ruler, who is chaste, dignified and honest in what he does. Virtuous actions for the wellbeing of people determine his life, and indirectly, he tells people graciously to live life of virtues free from sins and crimes.

In contemporary context, it is relevant to observe that rulers possess intellectual power and understand what virtues are. However, unfortunately, with a few exceptions, many demonstrate ego and self-interest, and hurt people who they claim to serve. They collect money through taxes and other unhealthy ways, and utilize a sizable amount for personal comforts euphemistically.  People live a miserable and worried life most of the time and undergo agonies of natural calamities, draught and famines but get ignorable help from… It is a fact in spite of enormous growth in science, technology and knowledge.  Thus, to live a good, reminiscent, virtuous and happy life creates many dilemmas. Acts of truth, righteousness of the rulers bring peace, harmony and prosperity to the people, the legendary tale tells. Righteous deeds of rulers influence ordinary men, who learn to cultivate characteristics of a clean, pure and honest life. If nobility and grace is absent in life, governance turns unauthentic. It leads to violence, greed, conflicts, disharmony, discord and war.

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Prince Rudra a source of troubles during hunting enters his body… and when he hears a wailing woman …creates disturbance...the king later satisfies sage Vishvamitra that he adheres to the spirit of dharma

Ages back, in Treta Yuga, a famous royal priest and sage Harishchandra lived, governed a vast empire and spread the message of truth to humanity. He was a sage of dharmic (life of truth, virtues and uprightness) countenance, devoted life to the service of humankind and the entire world. He was a sage of glory and magnificence. Destiny and nature were very generous and no famine or draught ever occurred in the vast kingdom during the golden period of governance. No diseases and unnatural deaths tortured people. The citizens of the kingdom nurtured religious -dharmic thoughts.

People of ancient times did not appreciate feelings and thoughts of arrogance and pride because of the power of celibacy and discipline, tapa and meditation. They also enjoyed fruit of affluence, ethical values and prosperity. No woman in the entire kingdom gave birth to child at adolescent age as they considered pubescence was an age of learning, devotion and faith, and therefore, women of the holy age observed purity of minds, hearts and bodies.

One day, the mighty King Harishchandra went to the jungle for hunting. While he ran excitedly after the prey, he heard poignant shrieks of some women. He was cautious and stopped for a while. He heard the women saying, ‘Please save. Protect.’

The king left pursuing the kill, turned toward the direction from where he heard painful voices, approached the women in agony and distress, and while he was still at a distance, asked, “Do not fear anybody. O women, you should not fear.” After assuring the women, he said again, “O women, who is the man of evil mind acting unjustly and insolently in the regime?”

He was silent for some time and thought cautiously over the situation.

Women in sorrow demonstrate fear, panic and anguish, the king of dharma thinks and so he hurriedly goes to the spot even as Rudra, who creates troubles to noble people, enters the body of the king, who out of ego and conceit disturbs Vishvamitra, and suffers.

After he uttered words loudly, he thought and went quickly to the site from where cries of lamentation touched ears. He covered some distance and saw the women in distress. In the meantime, the prince of hurdles Rudra present in the body of the king began to put up obstructions in the way of virtuous people and so, began to think seriously, “The great sage Vishvamitra is valourous and mighty. Taking shelter in wonderful tapasya, he adheres to the principles of supreme tapa, and continues to meditate on the bhava vidyas –knowledge to attain perfection, which he did not attain earlier. The great sage follows the laws of forgiveness, silence and self-discipline and tries to achieve such vidyas - knowledge and wisdom of various wings of life. Therefore, scared of the great sage, the vidyas lament here. How to work toward deliverance worries greatly.”

While deliberating on subtle matters, Rudrakumar, the lord of creating obstacles, thought long, decided in another way, and therefore, he as a disturbing spirit in the body of Harishchandra instantly caused much stimulation and anger in the mind and body of the king.

He failed to control anger and so, said, “Who is the sinner, the malicious fellow? It appears he tries to tie up fire in the gathari -a bag made of unfastened cloth. I want to know about the vicious man, who in the presence of a king of extraordinary brilliance, might and brightness, wants to penetrate the area of eternal sleep. It seems he does not know that arrows my bow releases, in fact, brighten up all directions, and now, in the glittering situation, he intends to enjoy a deep sleep.”

The king excited with the power of ego and pride thought that no man on earth could surpass him in radiance, glory and splendeur. Unfortunately, he was unaware of the magnificence of intellect and heart of sage Vishvamitra, a repository of divine glow. The king committed a grave mistake he realized but left no scope for possible retreat and inadvertently annoyed a great sage.

Vishvamitra did not expect anyone to humiliate him with strong words. After he heard expression of pride and imprudence, he was very angry with the king on a hunting spree. At that time, the spirit of Rudra ruled the body of the king. Anger arose in the mind, and all vidyas, who appeared weeping in the figures and images of the women, disappeared. Later on, when the king saw sage Vishvamitra, an embodiment of tapasya, fears and uncertainty filled him and unexpectedly, he began to tremble like leaves of a peepal tree.

In the meantime, the great sage said, “O wicked fellow, keep do not move. Stand there straight. You disgraced and violated the sanctity of penance.”

Realizing that he had committed a grave blunder, he fell at the feet of the sage, and said, “O lord, it was dharma. Please do not think it as a crime. I committed no sin. O holy monk, you should not get angry with a king engaged in the protection of principles of dharma. It is correct for a king, who knows dharma. A king should perform acts of charity -dana and protection, and then, if need be, should pick up bow and fight against the enemy.”

Thus, the king tried to justify uncharitable words he spoke when he heard women weeping in the jungle. Later on, the women disappeared. In fact, it was an attempt on the part of the sage to determine the wisdom, power and tolerance of the king. He wanted to know to what extent the king adhered to the laws of dharma. Now, the king told him of dharma and so, the sage was calm.

~*~

The logic of the king satisfies the sage, and so tells that as guardian of the people, he performs certain duties that do not appear appropriate for some but to defend principles of dharma is the duty of a good king…later the sage asks for the entire kingdom

After a moment, the sage said, “O king, if you are afraid of an act of adharma -an irreligious act, then, tell me immediately… what is the right act of dana? Who requires protection, and with whom one should fight a war?”

The great king said, “O sage, give gifts to brahmins and perform acts of charity toward people, who live without livelihood or do not earn anything under certain inescapable circumstances. A man should guard people afraid of identified or unknown enemy, and at last, O sage, one should fight against one’s enemy.”

The sage said, “O king, if you are a real king and understand the dharma of a king, then, you offer dakshina to a brahmin, who nurses desires for a devotedly offered dana.”

When the king understood the desires of the sage, he was extremely happy. He felt and thought that the lord had blessed him with new life. Therefore, he said happily, “O lord, what should I give you? Please ask anything you love most without doubt or reservation. If it is the most difficult thing to give even then, you should consider it as if given.”

Sage Vishvamitra looked at the king and said, “O brave king, I know your generosity, glory and dharma. If you wish to give something worthwhile and sensible, then you give the sea, the mountains, the villages and the entire earth with all the cities to me. You should also give me chariots, horses, elephants, treasury and the entire kingdom.” If the sage appeared to repeat certain things, he wanted to make everything clear to the king so that the king performed well and offered dana - act of charity/offering, without any doubt.

The sage asked further, “O king, you offer whatever you own, and keep nothing with you. You can keep your wife, son and body with you. In addition, you may keep dharma with you because dharma keeps the company of a man who reveres it. After you leave the world, it goes with you. Dharma alone goes with the man after death to the other world.”

The king folded hands in reverence and said, ‘It will be so, O great sage’ and folding hands, he obeyed the commands of the sage. At that time, no wrinkles of shock or worries appeared on the face to disturb the king. He surrendered everything to the sage, and the feelings of dana and renunciation filled him with happiness.

Vishvamitra said to the king, “O great king, if you surrender the kingdom, earth, army and wealth, and in fact, everything you enjoy, then, whose writ would prevail while I am present and who would wield authority in the kingdom?”

The king said, “O brahmin, at the time of gifting away the earth, you became swamy. Then, the question is meaningless.”

The wise king accepted the sovereignty of the sage everywhere. Vishvamitra smiled, looked at him and said, “O king, if you surrendered and gave the entire land and prithvi to me, then listen carefully. What else you still hold?  Then, wherever I exert control and authority, you depart from that place. You leave ornaments and valuables and with a batkala - a piece of cloth around the body you should leave the place with son and wife.” Thus, the king of dharma gave everything to the sage and he realized he was an ordinary man.

~*~

Not happy with what the king offered, the sage wanted something in the shape of fee after the completion of a great yajna, the king performs.

The king agreed to the words and commands of the sage and was ready to go away along with wife Shaivya and son Rohitasva. At that time, sage Vishvamitra stopped and said, “O king, where are you going away from here without giving dakshina -offering or fee after a ceremony regarding the great rajsuya yajna?”

Harishchandra said calmly, “O sage, I offered you a problem-free kingdom. Now, I am left with three bodies.”

Vishvamitra said, “Even then, you ought to give dakshina. Specially, when you promise a brahmin to give something and then, refuse for certain reasons. It is violation of the terms of pledge or word on oath. Flouting of promise is enough to destroy a man. It is a grave sin if you do not offer dakshina due to a brahmin. O king, after the completion of the rajsuya yajna, if you offer wealth as dakshina that satisfies a brahmin, it should be considered enough. If you give less than satisfying a brahmin, then, it is a sin.  You promised through an announcement to give... You told that one should fight against people, who terrorize or are enemies of the people. You also emphasized that one should protect the suffering people.”

The king said humbly, “O sage, at this moment, I have nothing to give you. I surrendered everything to you. O noble soul, when I am capable of giving something to you, I shall definitely give. You know I have nothing, not a penny. Everything I owned now belongs to you.”

The king told him of miserable pecuniary situation. Now, he had nothing to offer, and therefore, the sage must free him from the debt of dakshina the king probably wanted to hint at…! At the same time, he thought within that if he could earn something in future, he would positively offer dakshina.

The sage was not going to relent. He wanted dakshina. After a thought, he said, “O king, please tell immediately. How much I am to wait for dakshina?”

The king said, “O greatest among the sages, I shall give you the requisite dakshina within one month. At the moment, I have no money, and therefore, permit me to go.”

After sage Vishvamitra heard words of reassurance, he said, “O greatest among the kings, you can go and follow the principles of dharma. God bless you.” Thus, the king promised to offer dakshina to the sage. The sage, on the other hand, never wanted to violate dharma of a king.

~*~

People of the kingdom are unable to bear separation of a noble king and so they pray before him…who adheres to the principles of truth

After the sage allowed him to go, the former king Harishchandra, left the city. Very tender and delicate queen Shaivya followed but was unable to walk. When the citizens of the city observed the king, queen and the prince leaving the city, they began lamenting out of grief and anguish, for they found it difficult to withstand the departure of a beloved king, queen and the prince. The wailings did not stop and it became difficult for the people to survive separation.

With folded hands, the citizens and people stood before him and said, “O king, O lord, do not abandon us. We suffer from a grave agony. O king, you are ever ready to take mercy on people, who pursue the noble path of dharma and truth.”

People continued to plead before the king, who had lost everything in fact, and now, was an ordinary man without wealth or material wellbeing. While he looked at the imploring faces of the citizens, he heard, “O king, if you think it appropriate and if dharma permits, then, allow us to go behind you. O king, please stop for a while. Please bless people with the divine glimpses of your faces. We wish to live under your benign smile. Who knows when ‘fortune and destiny’ blesses us to enjoy your heavenly glimpses in future? It is uncertain as you gave everything in charity.” People of the kingdom were extremely worried and mentally disturbed. It became difficult to bear separation. On the other hand, the king, a man of dharma and righteousness treaded an arduous path of truth and renunciation.

He heard lamentations of the people, who said, “O lord, how unfortunate we are!  Once, the people and the kings of different countries went after him wherever he moved or roamed about but today, only the queen goes after with a child and holds his frail fingers.  Even the servants of the great king travelled on the backs of elephants on a journey in the past but today, it gives pains when King Harishchandra goes without royal glory.  The royal persons walk with bare feet discarding regal comforts.   The beautiful eyebrows, soft and tender skin, and glowing faces look faded and the three royal personas are worried, agonized, pathetic and miserable within but do not display feelings of wretchedness or disillusionment. It would be difficult for them to walk on a long distance smeared with dust and severe sufferings.”

After sometime, they again said, “O the greatest among the kings, please stop. Stop here O king. If you stay, you can follow dharma. Discarding cruelty and violence is the greatest dharma, the greatest dharma for the ksatriyas especially. O swamy, women, sons, wealth, land etc will not offer happiness if you desert us. We shall leave everything and follow you like shadows. O king, O great lord, O swamy, why do you leave us. We shall stay where you prefer to live.  We have comforts of life wherever you are. In proximity, we have everything including the city and the pleasures of life. Wherever you stay O king, it is a heaven for us.”

When the king heard the wailings of citizens, grief and sorrow engulfed and so, he stopped and thought to speak to the people with love and affection. Feelings of warmth and compassion filled him and so he stayed on the way. Sage Vishvamitra observed that anguish and distress of citizens had disturbed the king. At once, he reached near the king and said irately, “Array, you are vicious, deceitful, wicked and malicious.   O king, it is a matter of disgrace and ignominy. After you gave away the kingdom, you wish to take it back.”

Harsh words of sage hurt Harishchandra.  He was nervous, and later began to tremble. He did not know what to say or do. He said ‘I go I go’, held queen’s hand, dragged as she was unable to walk and hurriedly left the place.  After walking a long distance, she felt more pain and appeared terribly exhausted, and so, out of weariness and tiredness, she failed to take a step any more. Her steps were slow and she wobbled around despite the assistance of the king, who dragged her gently. The sage in anger struck her back with a wooden stick. When the sage angrily reacted and hit the queen with a stick, the king felt distressed and agonized tremendously but was helpless. With a feeble voice, he could only say, “O lord, I go.”

It had become difficult for the king to disobey the great sage. A word once given had to be honoured. One finds nothing special about the conduct of the king, if looked into deeply. He was a man of dharma and the religious feeling inspired him to serve people detachedly. Dedication and devotion to people was his creed. The spirit of service is absent in modern rulers. It is difficult to praise modern lords and rulers, for they are greedy, unscrupulous, vicious, manipulative, corrupt, selfish, and words of mouth carry no sanctity for the contemporary men of authority including the self-styled men of intellect. They hold nothing to bequeath in terms of morality and principles. Such harsh truths are quite evident one observes painfully. The modern rulers are symbols of corruption, ravenousness, unethical practices and aggrandizement and it is precisely the heritage they pass on to future and it happens, and the truth is harsh as always.

18-Oct-2025

More by :  P C K Prem