Vedanam 2023

  In one of the previous stories, we had read about the curse of King Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. He had been cursed that he would die of snakebite. The king who was also spiritually inclined decided to spend the last week of his life, listening to the Srimad Bhagavatham recited by none other than Rishi Shuka, the revered son of Rishi Vyasa. After one particular recital, the king enquired of the sage, “You have told me stories of the kings and their lineage of the sun and the moon. You have told me about the Yadava clan which was chosen by Lord Narayana for His incarnation. I wish to hear more about this avatar of the Lord, an avatar which is said to be poorna (complete).” The king continued, “People like you who have conquered all their desires sing praises of Krishna eternally. It is said that listening to the leelas of Krishna can rid people of the eternal and terrible cycle of birth and death. I have a special interest in learning about Krishna because, during the g...

  (Image credited to the respective owner) There was a king named Nahusha who was a just and kind ruler. He took good care of his kingdom and his people. He performed several yajnas and lived a pious life. Naturally, when Indra had to leave his heavenly kingdom to atone for the sin of Brahmahatya that he had incurred by killing Vritrasura, the son of a Brahmin, the devas considered Nahusha as the best person to take up the place of Indra in the celestial world. Considering this as a great honour, Nahusha readily agreed. However, position, power and riches can corrupt even the gentlest of minds. Over a period of time, Nahusha grew arrogant. All the wealth that he had amassed himself, the power that he now had over the world, the pride of having performed several yajnas and most of all, having been chosen by the devas themselves to replace none other than Indra, Nahusha’s pride knew no bounds. Indra had a special honour. His palanquin was borne by the sapta-rishis. This was a mar...

  (Image credited to the respective owner) Devahuti’s days passed by in the Ashram, with the young Kapila taking care of her. “I am tired of this life that has been spent in satisfying the senses." She told her son one day. "You are the sun that has come to dispel the darkness of ignorance from human minds. I am asking you to help me. teach me the path of peace, of mukti. Help me to find freedom from the bondage of birth and death.” Kapila was only too eager to share his knowledge with his mother. “I will share with you, mother, the knowledge of the only yoga that can help to destroy the cycle of pain and pleasure. I have shared this knowledge with the ancient sages, and today I am sharing it with you.” “Mother, it is our own mind which is the cause of bondage and freedom as well. The mind turns away from the inner self and runs after the objects that the senses perceive. It seeks happiness and pleasure from external objects and keeps running after them. This same mind,...

  (Image credited to respective owner) One of Brahma’s sons was Kardama, a pious devotee of Lord Narayana. He had been advised by his father to create lineage and progenies in his family line. On the banks of the Saraswati river, Kardama performed Tapas for several years. Lord Narayana, pleased with his devotion, appeared before him. “I am indeed fortunate that You have appeared before me!” Kardama said to the Lord, prostrating at His feet. “You are the ultimate knowledge, and to realise You, people perform penance. One vision of You puts an end to every little desire in the human mind. Yet, I have been commanded by my father to assist in the task of creation, and I have to ask you for a suitable mate for me. Although I ask a worldly desire from You, I request you to grant me dispassion and non-attachment to perform my duties and also abandon the world for Your sake when it is time for me to do so. Kindly grant me this boon!” “I know your mind, and I know that you live in thi...

  After some more Tapas, Kaushika had earned the title of ‘Rishi” from Lord Brahma. But he wasn’t satisfied, because it was still below the title and position of a Brahmarishi. He started his penance again, and every time, he started with more passion and more intensity. The always-insecure Indra was now beginning to worry about the powers that Rishi Kaushika was accumulating through his penance. He summoned the celestial apsara Menaka who was endowed with divine beauty. “Go down to the earth,” Indra told her, “and disrupt this sage’s intense penance.” Menaka agreed, although half-heartedly, for all the worlds knew the power of the Rishi’s infamous temper and Tapas. Unfortunately for Kaushika, one look at Menaka distorted his senses and he fell for her like an ordinary mortal. The penance and struggle to become a Brahmarishi lay forgotten. But only for the time-being. When ten years had passed with Menaka, Kaushika woke up suddenly one day, as if from a dream. He understood...

  In the solar dynasty was born a king named Trishanku. He was taken over by a bizarre desire – to reach the heavens alive. This desire made him lose his peace of mind, forcing him to seek its fulfilment. He approached Rishi Vashishta and informed him of his desire. The sage was aghast. “This is something that has never happened in the history of mortals.” The sage said firmly. “I cannot help you in this. For your own good, I forbid you to pursue this madness of yours.” The disappointed king left his kingdom in search of someone who could help him reach the heavens. He came across the sons of Rishi Vashishta and requested them for their assistance. The sons of the sage were highly acclaimed sages themselves. They were angered by the king’s request. “Our father, who is your kula-guru, has himself refused to grant this favor and yet you had the courage to go behind his back and seek us to do something that our father is against! You are a Guru-drohi. We won’t help you.” K...

  There once lived a king named Kaushika who was a just ruler and was loved and respected throughout his kingdom. One day, while roaming around with his army, he came across a beautiful Ashram where lived Sage Vashishta. As it was considered disrespectful for a Kshatriya to just pass by the Ashram of a Rishi without paying him his due respects, Kaushika entered the Ashram and prostrated before Rishi Vashishta who welcomed him warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, the sage requested the king to have a meal in the Ashram, along with his entire army. Kaushika was worried that the sage might not have enough to feed the entire group, so he politely declined. However, the sage insisted, and the king finally agreed. Rishi Vashishta called out, ‘Shabale! Please come here.” To the king’s amazement, a beautiful cow walked up to them. The cow was none other than Kaamadhenu, the giving cow that could present anything that was asked of her. “Shabale, this king and his army will be having...

  (Image credited to the respective owner) One of the kings in the Ikshvaku dynasty was Sharyati who had a daughter named Sukanya. Blessed with beauty and innocence, she was loved by one and all in the kingdom. Once Sukanya accompanied her father to the forest. The king and his retinue came to the ashram of Chyavana Rishi, a prominent sage of those times. The sage had been in a state of meditation for so long that a hill had formed around him, enclosing him completely except for the part of his eyes. Sukanya saw the eyes as two glowing points of light and in a playful mood, she took a piece of dried grass and poked the eyes of the sage. Not only was the sage hurt but his meditation had also been disturbed. His silent anger led to mass paralysis among the entire army of the king. The king was baffled and could not decipher what had happened all of a sudden. Sukanya sheepishly admitted to her innocent mistake. The horrified king rushed to the sage and pleaded for forgiveness. He ...