Pandavas were
in forest after getting lost in the game of dice. Roaming around the
Gandhamadana mountain, Yudhistira found that Bhima, his younger brother missing.
After a frantic search he was unable to locate him, till he saw him encircled
by a huge python. The ferocious reptile spoke to him in a human voice: ‘ Oh
King, know me as king Nahusha, reduced to this form, cursed by sage Agastya,
because of my arrogance and disrespect shown to the great Rishi and other wise
men.
Yudhistira, eldest among Pandavas replied: ‘ Oh
respected king, I feel sad to know this, how can I help you?” The Python replied:
‘ my dear Yudhistira, I have some questions to ask you, of course I do not know
righteous answer to them, will you answer and help me to get relieved out of
this form of a creature?” Yudhistira agreed.
The Python ( Ajagara) asked him: ‘ Who is a real
Brahmana?”
Yudhistira said, ‘ One who by nature Truthful,
generous, patient, good charactered, peace-loving, corteous and kind to all is
a genuine Brahmana’.
Ajagara: Yes Sir, I know, but even a lowly born might
have this.
Yudhistira: If a low born has them, certainly he
deserves to be called a Brahmana, but a Brahmana, without such qualities is not’.
Ajagara: How can such a person be recognized? By virtute
of birth or behaviour?”
Yudhistira: As
we all know, it is very difficult to decide this on the basis of one’s birth
alone, since all Varnas are mixed now in one way or another’. A Brahmana cannot
be decided only on the basis of birth or caste’. Unless a brahmana does not get initiated into Gayatri,
the most sacred Mantra to meditate on, he cannot be regarded so. Gayatri is
like his second mother. Till then he is as good as a Shudra.
Python: I feel
and believe that gifting away to a deserved one, kind and sweet talk,
truthfulness, non-violence lead one to great spiritual heights of Sadgati and
Moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death’.
Yudhistira: Respected Sir, which among these is greatest
according you?
Python: Dana, giving away to the deserving is greater
than being truthful, sometimes Truthfulness excels Dana, uttering sweet words is
greater than that, Ahimsa, non-violence excels this at times. Therefore, to sum
up, Satya, truthfulness, Dama, self control, Tapas- meditation and spiritually
oriented focus, Yoga-excellence in whatever we perform, Ahimsa, not causing
pain to others, Daana, giving away happily to those who deserve it, are basic
qualities and eligbility towards Moksha or eternal bliss, and not Caste of birth and Kula, family of birth’.
So saying, the Python got back his previous form of
King Nahusha, and journeyed towards his ultimate destination of Moksha, blessing
Yudhistira.
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