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Mahaabhaarat | Kathaa-G | 7-Post-War

14-Ashwamedh Parv, 31-34
Kathaa-G - 7-Post-War - page 14

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Krishn Discourses Arjun-8: Anugeetaa-8
Braahman's Discourse-5

The Braahman further said - "There are three enemies in the world, and they are nine-fold according to their qualities - extremely joyful, satisfaction and joy - these three qualities belong to goodness. Greed, wrath and hatred are the qualities belonging to passion. Fatigue, procrastination and delusion are the qualities belonging to darkness. Cutting them with arrows, an intelligent man, free from procrastination, possessed with tranquil soul, controlling his Indriyaan, ventures to defeat others. (The meaning here is that one should first win his internal enemies then the external ones.)

In this connection there are some verses sung by king Ambareesh who had acquired a tranquil soul - "I have subdued many faults, I have killed all enemies; but there is one, the greatest, vice which deserves to be destroyed, but has not been destroyed by me. Because of that fault, this Jeev fails to attain the freedom from desire. Afflicted by desire, one runs into ditches unknowingly. Because of that fault, one indulges in forbidden acts. So you cut off that that greed (string desire for money). From greed arise desires, from desire flows anxiety. The man who fulfills his desires, acquires many characteristics of passion which in turn leads a man to darkness (by acquiring the characteristics of darkness), and in consequence of that he repeatedly takes birth and is impelled to do actions. in consequence of birth, one has to die. Thus understanding this like this, one should win his greed by intelligence and seek for sovereignty over his soul. This is true sovereignty. The soul when properly understood is king." These were the verses sung by Ambareesh.

The Braahman said - "There is an ancient narrative in this regard between a Braahman and king Janak. Once Janak punished a Braahman who had committed some offence - "You will not live in my dominions." Braahman asked - "What are the borders of your territory, since I want to live in another king's dominion according to your orders?" In reply to this question, the king could not speak a word for a while. He then said - "Although a large piece of land is mine owned through my ancestors, but still I fail to find my borders searching through earth. When I could not find on earth, then I searched in Mithilaa. When I failed to find in Mithilaa, I tried to search among my children. When I failed to find it there, my understanding got cloudy. After my understanding got clear, my intelligence came back to me, and I thought that either I had no dominion, or everything was my dominion. At the same time, I think that it is as much mine, as it is of others that is why you may live anywhere you like."

Braahman said - "When you have so many people in your ancestral kingdom, how did you come to the idea that it belongs to others, or just simply to you? Or you don't have any dominion, or everything is yours?" Janak said - "Whatever I thought, I discarded it, so I could not think what should be called mine? Then I thought about Vaidic text in this regard (of property) but still I could not ascertain as what should I call mine. (Ved say, "Do not covet anybody's property". So Janak thought "how could it be ascertained what belongs to others". By this idea I got rid of the idea of mineness, whatever I can enjoy I do not desire it for my own self, that is why everything is mine. All the acts of mine are for Devtaa, Pitar, Bhoot and guests (I live and act for them and not for myself)."

The Braahman said - "Hey Raajan, I am Dharm who has come here to you to test you. You are the only person who can keep his wheel in motion - its circumference is of goodness, Braahman (Ved) are its hub, and the understanding is its spoke and it never turns back."

After telling this narration the Braahman said to his wife - "I do not move in this world, as you think I do. I am a Braahman, possessing of Vaidik knowledge, I am emancipated. I observe vows, I am not eht you see me acting good or bad acts. I am the destroyer of all the creatures of this world - mobile or immobile. I have sovereignty over the whole knowledge, this knowledge is my wealth. This is one path for Braahman by following this they proceed to household or live in forest or with preceptor (these are difficult modes of life). While there are many various symbols but only one knowledge is worshipped (the knowledge is one and only one, while there are many ways to reach it). To reach that knowledge only one path, of understanding, is there not of this body. Actions have both their beginning and end; and the body has actions as its bond. Hence you need not to worry about the world hereafter. It is my soul into which you will come."

Braahman's wife said - "It is little understood by a person of little intelligence, or by whom whose soul has not been cleansed. My intelligence is very little, narrow, and confused. Please tell me the means by which the knowledge you are talking about may be acquired. I wish to know the source of that knowledge from you." Braahman said - "Know that knowledge devoted to Brahm is the lower Arani; and the preceptor is upper Arani; penances, conversations, scriptures cause the friction; and this produces the fire of knowledge."

Braahman's wife asked - "About the symbol of Brahm, Kshetragya, where is its description found so that somebody can know Him?" Braahman said - "He is without symbols and without qualities. Nothing exists which may be regarded as His cause. I tell you the means by which He can be known. A good means may be  by hearing, as bee recognizes flower. That means consists of an understanding cleansed by action. The people whose understanding is not being cleansed by action, understand Him  with qualities. No rules have been laid down to attain Emancipation, that you do this, or you don't do this. To attain it only hearing and seeing are prescribed. Seeing implies "contemplation" and hearing means "receiving the instructions" from the preceptor. Then they will be able to know Him, by practicing contemplation and self control. above whom nothing exists."

Krishn said - "Then that Braahman's wife became beyond Kshetragya (Brahm), by knowing the knowledge of Kshetra (self)." Arjun asked - "Where is that Braahman's wife, and where is that Braahman himself? Tell me about them." Krishn said - "Know that Braahman is my mind, and my understanding is his wife. I am the Kshetragya, O Dhananjaya."

 

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