~~ Ashtavakra-2. अष्टावक्र - 2. ~~

~~~~~~~~ASHTAVAKRA - 2.~~~~~~~~~
_____________अष्टावक्र - 2. ______________

    Lightening Upadesha to one on a stirrup.
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         Once upon a time King Janaka was listening  to a
Philosophical Treatise being read out to him by the State 
Pundit. He came across a passage which said that when 
a man had placed one foot upon the stirrup and before he
lifted himself to place the other foot on the other stirrup, 
realization would be complete. This means that realisation 
is so sudden and quick. Then Janaka desired his Pundit to 
stop and asked him if a horse might be brought in, to prove 
the statement. The Pundit admitted his inability to impart the
practical wisdom. The king suggested that the text is either 
false or exaggerated. The Pundit would not admit it.Though 
himself not able to impart practical wisdom, the text could 
not be false or exaggerated, because the words were those 
of the wise sages of the past. Janaka was irritated and had 
him imprisoned. He further similarly challenged every-one 
who passed for a wise man and imprisoned them all. About
this time there lived a sage by name Ashtavakra (a man of 8 
bodily deformities). He was young and was roaming about in
the country. He happened to be in Janaka's territory  and  
there two men passed him on the way. He enquired of  them 
whose country it was and what the king did. They were some 
of those, who were terribly afraid of Janaka's challenge and 
imprisonment, and in their despair told him that Janaka was 
the king of the country, and he was rather irritated and harsh 
upon those Pundits who could not explain to him a scriptural 
text. Ashtavakra immediately offered to explain the text and 
release the Pundits. They were impressed by his assurance 
and took him in a palanquin to the palace. The king was in the
Court Hall and at the sight of the sage he stood up and saluted
him with great reverence. Ashtavakra asked the king why he 
should imprison the Pundits ? King Janaka told him the reason.
Ashtavakra said : "Release them all".
Janaka thought that this suggestion could only proceed from 
one who would be able to clear his doubts.So he ordered to 
release all those imprisoned Pundits immediately, and asked 
Ashtavakra if now he might have a horse brought, then and 
there, and might be imparted the realisation, as is mentioned 
in the scripture. 
The sage warned the king not to be hasty. Brahma-Jnana 
should be imparted only in solitude and not in a Court Hall.
Janaka offered to go into solitude with him. Then a Palanquin 
was brought for Ashtavakra and Janaka rode beside him with 
a retinue following them. When they reached the outskirts of a 
forest the sage asked that the King should order the retinue go 
back and that they must be left alone. So was it done. Again, 
Janaka requested Brahma-Jnana, put one foot on the stirrup 
and was anxiously praying his Master.The sage told him : "Wait, 
in the same scripture you should have known that Brahma-Jnana 
is imparted by a Guru to his shishya (disciple).Are we in such a 
relationship ?" asked Ashtavakra. Janaka then made obeisance 
to him and submitted to become his disciple and prayed to be 
taught. Ashtavakra then told him that a proper disciple should 
surrender himself, his possessions and all, to his Master, 
before being taught Brahma Jnana. Janaka surrendered all; then 
Ashtavakra said :"Well".
Janaka became dazed.
Ashtavakra disappeared from the scene.
Janaka was standing there statue-like, where he was. 
Time passed-by. It was getting dusk; the citizens were awaiting  
the return of Janaka but found no sign of his approach. They 
grew anxious and began to search for him.They came to the 
place where Janaka was still standing. He was unaware of their
presence and would not answer any of their enquiries. They were
sorry to find the King in that condition. The ministers looked out 
for Janaka's companion, Ashtavakra, but could not find him.They
thought he must be a charlatan who has worked some spell upon
their king. They vowed vengeance on him.They were, however, 
concerned with the king's condition and they wanted to minister 
to their king.They placed him on a palanquin and returned to the 
city. The  king continued to be in the same condition. He was 
later placed on a bed and many were anxiously waiting on him 
the whole night.Finding him continue in the same dazed state, the
ministers sent out search parties for bringing Ashtavakra to the 
palace in order that he might be induced to remove the spell from
the king. Ashtavakra was brought to the palace, by night-fall, by 
one of the search parties. The minister was wild at his sight but 
still suppressed his anger and requested the sage to bring back 
the King Janaka to his normal condition.
At the same time the minister charged the sage with responsibility
for the present state of the king. Ashtavakra simply smiled at all 
this harangue and told the minister to ask the king himself. The 
minister professed his inability to make the king respond.
Ashtavakra said :
"Is that so ? Let me see". Saying so he called out ;
"Janaka !"
Immediately Janaka saluted him and replied :
"Lord !" The ministers were surprised.
Ashtavakra said :
"Look, Janaka ! I am being charged by the people here as having
brought you to this sad plight. Tell them if it is so."
Janaka was furious and asked in a rage :
"Who was it that said so ?"
The ministers began to tremble but still continued to request the 
sage to bring the king back to the normal condition. The sage told 
them to retire and leave him alone with the king. They did so.
The sage told the king :
" Now Janaka ! Why are you like this ? You must be as others are
and should not behave differently from the normal condition."
Janaka said : "I am yours Oh Lord ! 
I can act up only to your orders."
Ashtavakra continued : 
"Brahma Jnana can be taught to competent persons only. I have 
been all along testing your competence.Take your food first and 
then we will continue the discussion."
Janaka finished his meal and then prayed :
"How can I realise Brahman and be liberated?"


Ashtavakra said :
"Brahman is not new or apart from you. No particular time or 
place is needed to realise Brahman. 
That Thou art. That is the Self, eternal and infinite."


In this way the whole night passed when the sage was elucidating
'Ashtavakra Gita'.


The next morning when the ministers came on a visit to the king, 
they found him quite all right, and were happy. They thanked the
sage.The king called the assembly and was at his work as usual. 
He performed his functions normally. 


In the assembled court Ashtavakra said to the king :


"O King, formerly you had some doubt if Brahma Jnana could 
be had as suddenly and quickly as mentioned in the scriptures 
and you wondered if the text was correct. Now tell your men 
how you feel.


Bring the horse here and demonstrate the truth of it."


The King was all humility now and said :


"Oh Lord, I was mistaken then. I have myself to blame. Because 
of  my immaturity I doubted the correctness of the scriptural text.


O ! every letter of it is true !".
                               
                                   ||      OM TAT SAT      ||
                                       ॥   ॐ तत् सत्   ॥ 

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