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Asides on Dharma

CHENNAI: The Mahabharata is a veritable encyclopaedia on subjects ranging from Dharma and spirituality to worldly affairs like administration. These are related at appropriate places in the storyline in the form of legends, parables and standalone treatises. A section of the epic which offers a lot of scope for such asides is the sojourn of the Pandavas in the forest when their flagging spirits received a boost from such stories.

In his discourse, Sri B.Sundar Kumar said Sage Lomasa visited the Pandavas when they were feeling despondent due to separation from Arjuna. Lomasa took them on a pilgrimage to sacred spots along the mighty rivers tarrying at the hermitages of sages, and recounted the sanctity associated with them. An inspiring story about the importance of worshipping one’s forefathers is how the Ganga descended from the heavens to the Earth and flowed to the netherworld due to Bhagiratha’s stupendous effort to release his ancestors, who were burnt to ashes for offending a sage when they followed a sacrificial horse. Lomasa then related the greatness of Rishyasringa when they reached the banks of the Kausiki river where Sage Viswamitra’s hermitage was located to drive home the point that rulers should adhere to Dharma, as the transgressions of kings caused immense suffering to their subjects in the form of natural calamities.

King Lomapada was a virtuous king of Angadesa whose kingdom suffered drought for several years. The epic cautions that it was alleged that he had committed an offence. His ministers counselled him to bring Rishyasringa, who was believed to be the epitome of virtues then (he had not seen anyone except his father Sage Vibhandaka since birth), to the kingdom as atonement for scriptures stated that rains would be bountiful where Dharma prevailed. But the sage guarded his son fiercely.

The epic relates that the maidens entrusted with the task converted a boat into a floating hermitage and used all their guiles to abduct him when he was alone. As predicted it rained when Rishyasringa set foot in Angadesa and Lomapada in gratitude gave his foster daughter Santa (daughter of Dasaratha) in marriage to him.

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