अष्टावक्र की कथा

The Legend of Ashtavakra.

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Ashtavakra was born of Kahor (कहोळ) and Sujata (सुजाता). While Ashtavakra was still in his mother's womb, Kahor (कहोळ), sitting beside his wife, reciting the Vedas (वेद), -to their great surprise, the child in the womb suddenly cried out:

"Father!

Even lying in my mother's womb, I have already learnt all the Vedas (वेद) through your grace. But I regret that you often make mistakes in your recitation."

Kahor (कहोळ) took this as a grave insult, and cursed him that he would be born with eight parts of his body deformed. 

Accordingly in course of time the child was born and was named Ashtavakra (अष्टावक्र -one, who has eight limbs of his body curved). In the meanwhile, Kahor (कहोळ) went to the court of Janaka to beg money from the king. The king had at that time in his court a great scholar called Vandi (वन्दी -Vandin - वन्दिन्), son of king Varuna (वरुण). He was profoundly versed in the Vedas. Kahor (कहोळ) was called to a debate by him, was defeated and thrown into the sea where he had to be engaged as a priest in a sacrifice performed by Varuna.

When Ashtavakra (अष्टावक्र) grew to be a lad of twelve and heard of the sad plight of his father, he repaired to the court of the king Janaka (राजा जनक), - in company with his maternal uncle (मातुलः / मामा) - Svetaketu (श्वेतकेतु). Being a mere boy he was not first allowed entrance into the court, but when he gave proof of his extra ordinary learning in the Sastras (शास्त्र), he was cordially welcomed. He at once sought out his father's opponent Vandi (वन्दी / वन्दिन्) and entered into a debate with him. A wonderful controversy ensued, and the boy of twelve defeated the foremost veteran scholar of the court of Janaka (राजा जनक). He rescued his father from the grip of Varuna (वरुण) . Kahor was highly satisfied with his son, and asked him to bathe in the river samanga  (समाङ्ग), and lo! he came out of the waters with all his limbs made straight. But his name continued the same for ever.

~~ Mahabharata ~~ महाभारत ~~

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Courtesy:

।।अष्टावक्र गीता।।

~~Ashtavakra Gita~~

(published by : Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai, 2001 Edition.)

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Cross-References :

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Kahor (कहोळ) : ऋषि जाबाल / जाबालि, सिद्धार्थ, अष्टावक्र के पिता, सुजाता के पति, 

Varuna (वरुण) : समुद्र, 

Ashtavakra (अष्टावक्र) : सनातन-धर्म, 

King Janaka (राजा जनक) : राजनीति, 

Sujata (सुजाता) : वनदेवी जिसने निरञ्जना नदी के तट पर तपस्या से कृशकाय हुए तपस्वी सिद्धार्थ को एक कटोरा में खीर प्रदान की थी। यही पूर्व जन्म में अष्टावक्र की माता थी, जबकि सिद्धार्थ ऋषि जाबाल / जाबालि थे। 

इसका प्रमाण वाल्मीकि रामायण से भी प्राप्त होता है:

 अयोध्याकाण्ड सर्ग १०८ ---

आश्वासयन्तं भरतं जाबालिर्रब्राह्मणोत्तमम्।।

उवाच रामं धर्मज्ञं धर्मापेतमिदं वचः।।१।।

साधु राघव मा भूत् ते बुद्धिरेव निरर्थिका।।

प्राकृतस्य नरस्येव ह्यार्यबुद्धेस्तपस्विनः।।२।।

कः कस्य पुरुषो बन्धुः  किमाप्यं कस्य केनचित्।।

एको हि जायते जन्तुरेक एव विनश्यति।।३।।

तस्मान्माता पिता चेति राम सज्जेत यो नरः।।

उन्मत्त इव स ज्ञेयो नास्ति कश्चिद्धि कस्यचित्।।४।।

यथा ग्रामान्तरं गच्छन् नरः कश्चिद् बहिर्वसेत्।।

उत्सृज्य च तमावासं प्रतिष्ठेतापरेऽहनि।।५।।

एवमेव मनुष्याणां पिता माता गृहं वसु।।

आवासमात्रं काकुत्स्थ सज्जन्ते नात्र सज्जनाः।।६।।

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सर्ग १०९,

जाबालेस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा रामः सत्यपराक्रमः।।

उवाच परया सूक्त्या बुद्ध्याविप्रतिपन्नया।।१।।

भवान् मे प्रियकामार्थं वचनं यदिहोक्तवान्।।

अकार्यं कार्यसङ्काशमपथ्यं पथ्यसंनिभम्।।२।।

निर्मर्यादस्तु पुरुषः पापाचारसमन्वितम्।।

मानं न लभते सत्सु भिन्नचारित्रदर्शनः।।३।।

कुलीनमकुलीनं वा वीर पुरुषमानिनम्।।

चारित्रमेव व्याख्याति शुचिं वा यदि वाशुचिम्।।४।।

अनार्यस्त्वार्य संस्थानः शौचाद्धीनस्तथा शुचिः।।

लक्षण्यवदलक्षण्यो दुःशीलः शीलवानविव।।५।।

यहाँ केवल सन्दर्भ दिया जा रहा है। वाल्मीकि रामायण अयोध्याकाण्ड के १०८ तथा १०९ इन दोनों सर्गों में संपूर्ण नास्तिक, चार्वाक, और बौद्ध धर्म के उन सिद्धान्तों का उल्लेख किया गया है जो सनातन-धर्म से विपरीत हैं।

ऋषि जाबालि यद्यपि ऋषि हैं, फिर भी प्रारब्धवश प्राप्त हुए कर्मों का आचरण कर रहे हैं।

ऋषि जाबालि ही भावी गैब्रियल हैं और उन्होंने ही सिद्धार्थ के रूप में जन्म लिया। इस विषय में अपने दूसरे ब्लॉग्स में विस्तार से लिख चुका हूँ। ऋषि जाबालि ही वे इंजील / फ़रिश्तः / पार्षद हैं, जिन्होंने तीनों प्रमुख

अब्राह्मिक / Abrahamic religion

के प्रोफेट्स (Prophets) को मार्गदर्शन दिया।

इसीलिए यह पोस्ट मेरे लिए अब तक का सर्वाधिक महत्वपूर्ण, और प्रामाणिक अनुसंधान-कार्य है निष्कर्ष (conclusion) भी है। 

Conclusion :

In this post, I have tried to connect all the references that are relevant to the history of all major religions of the day.

Sastras (शास्त्र) : लिपिबद्ध वैदिक ज्ञान,

Veda (वेद) : ऋषियों को श्रवण के माध्यम से हुआ वेदमंत्रों का ज्ञान - अक्षर समाम्नाय,

Scriptures (शास्त्र) : लिपिबद्ध वेद,

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