Miscellaneous - Religion   

Total detachment

CHENNAI: The mark of spiritual evolution is increasing detachment towards the world. Total renunciation results when the mind develops equanimity making it possible to engage in spiritual pursuit without distractions. This can be seen in the life of King Pareekshit who was fortunate to have been saved even before he was born by Lord Krishna. Though he was a devout and just king, a momentary indiscretion led to him being cursed to die of the bite of the serpent Takshaka in seven days. When he started repenting his behaviour, he learnt about the curse and without any second thought he renounced the imperial throne of Hastinapura and retired to the bank of Ganga to pursue that which was decidedly good for him.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said Sage Suka, who was all-knowing, became aware of his dispassion and came on his own to Pareekshit’s side. The sage narrated the Bhagavata Purana in seven days, hearing which his devotion grew in leaps and bounds. Pareekshit’s mind attained oneness with God (Samadhi) and he overcame his fear of death. He remained unaffected by the snakebite that took his life. But his son Janamejaya was enraged when he heard about his father’s end and resolved to kill Takshaka. He waited for an opportunity to take his revenge nursing his antipathy.

Janamejaya performed the sacrifice Satrayaga along with his three brothers for the welfare of his kingdom, during which, his brothers’ act of beating and chasing away a dog from the sacrificial hall earned them the wrath of its mother, Sarama, who was a heavenly creature. As the dog had not done any act of sacrilege like going near the sacrificial fire or looking at the offerings, Sarama cautioned the king that a great harm will happen. Janamejaya’s woes were compounded.

The Mahabharata describes in detail at the outset the length to which Janamejaya went to find a priest who would perform the sacrifice (Sarpayaga) to kill Takshaka. The epic was narrated by Sage Vaisampayana to Janamejaya at the instance of Vyasa to enlighten him about his forefathers, and the enmity which led to the great fratricidal war at Kurukshetra.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The hindu crossword 8981
Solution to puzzle 8980
Total detachment
dated August 2, 1957: Code of conduct for VCs
dated August 2, 1957: New Governor of Andhra
dated August 2, 1957: Indian in Fiji
Weather

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu