In my Court some lawyers pretended to be very learned, though they were not. I used to tell these lawyers that they were Ashtaavakra gyanis. At this they were baffled, and asked me who was Ashtaavakra ?
I would then tell them the story about Ashtaavakra.
When Ashtaavakra was still in his mother's womb, his father, Kahod, was performing a yagya. From inside his mother's womb Ashtaavakra pointed out to his father some mistakes he was making in performing the yagya. This made his father very angry, as he thought this boy has not even been born, and he is trying to teach me. So he cursed his son that when he will be born he will have 8 physical defects.
When Ashtaavakra was born he had 8 physical defects, his head was bent to one side, his legs and arms were twisted, etc ( in Sanskrit the word 'ashta' means eight, and the word 'vakra' means twisted ). However he became a very learned scholar.
Once it so happened that Raja Janak ( the father of Sitaji ) held a sabha in which he announced that whoever can tell him a method of getting moksha immediately will get half his kingdom.
Many learned scholars assembled there addressed the king. One said that to get moksha you have to stand on your head for 20 years, another said that you can get moksha by standing on one foot for 20 years with your hands clasped above you, yet another that you have to say "Shiva, shiva" for 20 years etc However, the king said that he was not prepared to wait for 20 years, and wanted moksha immediately.
Ashtaavakra, who was then only 14 years old, had also come to this sabha. He had been stopped at the palace gate by the kings' guards,who at first refused to let him in, saying that he was only a boy, and so was unfit to attend such a sabha where very leaned pandits had come.
Ashtaavakra told them that there was a difference between a vayovriddha ( one who was only physically old ), and a manovriddha ( one who was mentally developed). The guards then let him in.
Coming into the sabha, and seeing that all the pandits assembled there had failed, Ashtaavakra then approached Raja Janak and told him that he could give him moksha immediately.
The king wondered how a mere boy could give him moksha immediately when all the learned scholars had failed. However, he told Ashtaavakra to go ahead and tell him the method of getting moksha immediately.
Ashtaavakra asked the king whether the necklace of gems and gold which the king was wearing belonged to him. Raja Janak replied that it belonged to the state.
Ashtaavakra then asked Raja Janak whether the palace with so much gold and so many jewels embedded in it belonged to him. The king replied that it belonged to the state and not him.
Then Ashtaavakra asked the king whether the 10,000 cows near his palace belonged to the king. The king replied that they belonged to the state.
In this way Ashtaavakra kept asking the king whether such and such thing belonged to him, and to every question the reply was that it belonged to the state.
Ultimately Ashtaavakra asked the king " O king does anything in the world belong to you ? ". On hearing this question Raja Janak fell into a swoon, and collapsed on the ground.
When he got up, he said "Nothing belongs to me"
Ashtaavakra then said " O king, you have attained moksha"
I would then tell them the story about Ashtaavakra.
When Ashtaavakra was still in his mother's womb, his father, Kahod, was performing a yagya. From inside his mother's womb Ashtaavakra pointed out to his father some mistakes he was making in performing the yagya. This made his father very angry, as he thought this boy has not even been born, and he is trying to teach me. So he cursed his son that when he will be born he will have 8 physical defects.
When Ashtaavakra was born he had 8 physical defects, his head was bent to one side, his legs and arms were twisted, etc ( in Sanskrit the word 'ashta' means eight, and the word 'vakra' means twisted ). However he became a very learned scholar.
Once it so happened that Raja Janak ( the father of Sitaji ) held a sabha in which he announced that whoever can tell him a method of getting moksha immediately will get half his kingdom.
Many learned scholars assembled there addressed the king. One said that to get moksha you have to stand on your head for 20 years, another said that you can get moksha by standing on one foot for 20 years with your hands clasped above you, yet another that you have to say "Shiva, shiva" for 20 years etc However, the king said that he was not prepared to wait for 20 years, and wanted moksha immediately.
Ashtaavakra, who was then only 14 years old, had also come to this sabha. He had been stopped at the palace gate by the kings' guards,who at first refused to let him in, saying that he was only a boy, and so was unfit to attend such a sabha where very leaned pandits had come.
Ashtaavakra told them that there was a difference between a vayovriddha ( one who was only physically old ), and a manovriddha ( one who was mentally developed). The guards then let him in.
Coming into the sabha, and seeing that all the pandits assembled there had failed, Ashtaavakra then approached Raja Janak and told him that he could give him moksha immediately.
The king wondered how a mere boy could give him moksha immediately when all the learned scholars had failed. However, he told Ashtaavakra to go ahead and tell him the method of getting moksha immediately.
Ashtaavakra asked the king whether the necklace of gems and gold which the king was wearing belonged to him. Raja Janak replied that it belonged to the state.
Ashtaavakra then asked Raja Janak whether the palace with so much gold and so many jewels embedded in it belonged to him. The king replied that it belonged to the state and not him.
Then Ashtaavakra asked the king whether the 10,000 cows near his palace belonged to the king. The king replied that they belonged to the state.
In this way Ashtaavakra kept asking the king whether such and such thing belonged to him, and to every question the reply was that it belonged to the state.
Ultimately Ashtaavakra asked the king " O king does anything in the world belong to you ? ". On hearing this question Raja Janak fell into a swoon, and collapsed on the ground.
When he got up, he said "Nothing belongs to me"
Ashtaavakra then said " O king, you have attained moksha"
When the courtiers in the Sabha saw Ashtavakra walking in, they laughed seeing a man walk, bent at eight places. Ashtavakra stopped and asked the king," Why have you collected a set of cobblers here?" King wondered, "A set of cobblers?"
ReplyDelete"Only cobblers know differentiation of various leathers (skins), and judge a person by the skin", O Janaka!
Sir, In this age, it gives a sense of hope and optimism in that such brave people like you still exist and world could probably get better. I salute you for the courage you have shown and it does not matter what the dirty and self-centered critics say. I only hope more of your type come-up in your esteemed profession to help this country restore her ancient glory.
ReplyDeleteWhist you follow SATYAM BRUYAT, your collegium seems to have taken up the easier and later part of 'PRIYAM BRUYAT NA BRUYAT SATYAMAPRIYAM' to ensure that they survive in this world. Though they are supposed to be the safe-keepers of 'SATYAM BRUYAT' and be a model for the society.
ReplyDeleteSir, I am impressed by your comments on the sufferings of Kashmiri Pandits.I wonder if your comments have appeared in any news paper.That would have been appropriate.Being a Kashmiri myself, I have always been hurt, when insensitive people
ReplyDeletesay that Kashmiri Hindus left at the instance of Jagmohan.Your taking up the cause of Ahmadiyas in Pakistan, has further increased my respect for you.Is not it unbelievable to see what is happening in the name of faith, in West Asia including Pakistan, in 21st century.Lastly do not you think that the world can be a better place to live, if we had no religions.Faithful are more dangerous than faithless.