The Vishnu Purana Book VI- Chapter -VI-Attaining Liberation
Mar 29, 2015 13:51:01 GMT 1
Post by Anne Terri on Mar 29, 2015 13:51:01 GMT 1
p. 645
HE, Purushottama, is also known by holy study and devout meditation; and either, as the cause of attaining him, is entitled Brahma. From study let a man proceed to meditation, and from meditation to study 1; by perfection in both supreme spirit becomes manifest. Study is one eye wherewith to behold it, and meditation is the other: he who is one with Brahma sees not with the eye of flesh.
MAITREYA.--Reverend teacher, I am desirous of being informed what is meant by the term meditation (Yoga), by understanding which I may behold the supreme being, the upholder of the universe.
PARÁ?ARA.--I will repeat to you, Maitreya, the explanation formerly given by Ke?idhwaja to the magnanimous Khán?d?ikya, also called Janaka.
MAITREYA.--Tell me first, Brahman, who Khán?d?ikya was, and who was Ke?idhwaja; and how it happened that a conversation relating to the practice of Yoga occurred between them.
PARÁ?ARA.--There was Janaka, named Dharmadhwaja, who had two sons, Amitadhwaja and Kritadhwaja; and the latter was a king ever intent upon existent supreme spirit: his son was the celebrated Ke?idhwaja. The son of Amitadhwaja was Janaka, called Khán?d?ikya 2.
p. 646
[paragraph continues] Khán?d?ikya was diligent in the way of works, and was renowned on earth for religious rites. Ke?idhwaja, on the other hand, was endowed with spiritual knowledge. These two were engaged in hostilities, and Khán?d?ikya was driven from his principality by Ke?idhwaja. Expelled from his dominions, he wandered with a few followers, his priest and his counsellors, amidst woods and mountains, where, destitute of true wisdom, he performed many sacrifices, expecting thereby to obtain divine truth, and to escape from death by ignorance 3.
Once whilst the best of those who are skilled in devotion, Ke?idhwaja, was engaged in devout exercises, a fierce tiger slew his milch cow 4 in the lonely forest. When the Rájá heard that the cow had been killed, he asked the ministering priests what form of penance would expiate the crime. They replied that they did not know, and referred him to Ka?eru. Ka?eru, when the Rája consulted him, told him that he knew not, but that Sunaka would be able to tell him. Accordingly the Rája went to Sunaka; but he replied, "I am as unable, great king, to answer your question as Ka?eru has been; and there is no one now upon earth who can give you the information except your enemy Khán?d?ikya, whom you have conquered."
Upon receiving this answer, Ke?idhwaja said, "I will go, then, and pay a visit to my foe: if he kill me, no matter, for then I shall obtain the reward that attends being killed in a holy cause: if, on the contrary, he tell me what penance to perform, then my sacrifice will be unimpaired in efficacy." Accordingly he ascended his car, having clothed himself in the deer skin (of the religious student), and went to the forest where the wise Khán?d?ikya resided. When Khán?d?ikya beheld him approach, his eyes reddened with rage, and he took up his bow, and said to him, "You have armed yourself with the deer skin to accomplish my
p. 647
destruction, imagining that in such an attire you will be safe from me; but, fool, the deer, upon whose backs this skin is seen, are slain by you and me with sharp arrows: so will I slay you; you shall not go free whilst I am living. You are an unprincipled felon, who have robbed me of my kingdom, and are deserving of death." To this Ke?idhwaja answered, "I have come hither, Khán?d?ikya, to ask you to solve my doubts, and not with any hostile intention: lay aside therefore both your arrow and your anger." Thus spoken to, Khán?d?ikya retired a while with his counsellors and his priest, and consulted with them what course to pursue. They strongly urged him to slay Ke?idhwaja, who was now in his power, and by whose death he would again become the monarch of the whole earth. Khán?d?ikya replied to them, "It is no doubt true that by such an act I should become the monarch of the whole earth: he, however, would thereby conquer the world to come; whilst the earth would be mine. Now if I do not kill him, I shall subdue the next world, and leave him this earth. It seems to me that this world is not of more value than the next; for the subjugation of the next world endures for ever; the conquest over this is but for a brief season. I will therefore not kill him, but tell him what he wishes to know."
Returning then to Ke?idhwaja, Khán?d?ikya desired him to propose his question, which he promised to answer; and Ke?idhwaja related to him what had happened, the death of the cow, and demanded to know what penance he should perform. Khán?d?ikya, in reply, explained to him fully the expiation that was suited to the occasion; and Ke?idhwaja then, with his permission, returned to the place of sacrifice, and regularly fulfilled every necessary act. Having completed the ceremony, with its supplementary rites, Ke?idhwaja accomplished all his objects: but he then reflected thus: "The priests whom I invited to attend have all been duly honoured; all those who had any request to make have been gratified by compliance with their desires; all that is proper for this world has been effected by me: why then should my mind feel as if my duty had been unfulfilled?" So meditating, he remembered that he had not presented to Khán?d?ikya the gift that it is becoming to offer to a spiritual preceptor, and, mounting his chariot, he immediately set off to
p. 648
the thick forest where that sage abode. Khán?d?ikya, upon his reappearance, assumed his weapons to kill him; but Ke?idhwaja exclaimed, "Forbear, venerable sage. I am not here to injure you, Khán?d?ikya: dismiss your wrath, and know that I have come hither to offer you that remuneration which is due to you as my instructor. Through your lessons I have fully completed my sacrifice, and I am therefore desirous to give you a gift. Demand what it shall be."
Khán?d?ikya having once more communed with his counsellors, told them the purpose of his rival's visit, and asked them what he should demand. His friends recommended him to require his whole kingdom back again, as kingdoms are obtained by prudent men without conflicting hosts. The reflecting king Khán?d?ikya laughed, and replied to them, "Why should a person such as I be desirous of a temporary earthly kingdom? Of a truth you are able counsellors in the concerns of this life, but of those of the life to cone you are assuredly ignorant." So speaking, he went back to Ke?idhwaja, and said to him, "Is it true that you wish to make me a gift, as to your preceptor?" "Indeed I do," answered Ke?idhwaja. "Then," rejoined Khán?d?ikya, "as it is known that you are learned in the spiritual learning that teaches the doctrine of the soul, if you will communicate that knowledge to me, you will have discharged your debt to your instructor. Declare to me what acts are efficacious for the alleviation of human affliction."
645:1 Both study of the Vedas (Swádhyáya) and abstraction (Yoga) are to be practised: when a man is weary of one, he may apply to the other. The Yoga, however, limits the practical part to silent prayer. 'Wearied of meditation, let him pray inaudibly: weary of prayer, let him repeat meditation.' 'By the union of prayer and meditation let him behold soul in himself.'
645:2 No such names occur amongst the Maithila kings of the Vishn?u Purán?a (see p. 390); but, as there noticed (note 6), the Bhágavata inserts them. Janaka is used as a title. Kritadhwaja, in some of the copies, is read Ritadhwaja.
646:3 The performance of rites as a means of salvation is called ignorance in the Vedas (see p. 642, n. 7). Works are recommended as introductory to the acquirement of knowledge: it is ignorance to consider them as finite.
646:4 Tasya-dhenum. One copy has Homa-dhenu, 'cow of sacrifice;' another, Dharma-dhenu, 'cow of righteousness.' The commentator explains the terms as importing the same thing, a cow yielding milk for holy purposes, or for the butter which is poured in oblations upon the sacrificial fire.
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The Vishnu Purana Book VI- Chapter -VII
CHAP. VI.
Means of attaining liberation. Anecdotes of Khán?d?ikya and Ke?idhwaja. The former instructs the latter how to atone for permitting the death of a cow. Ke?idhwaja offers him a requital, and he desires to be instructed in spiritual knowledge.
Means of attaining liberation. Anecdotes of Khán?d?ikya and Ke?idhwaja. The former instructs the latter how to atone for permitting the death of a cow. Ke?idhwaja offers him a requital, and he desires to be instructed in spiritual knowledge.
HE, Purushottama, is also known by holy study and devout meditation; and either, as the cause of attaining him, is entitled Brahma. From study let a man proceed to meditation, and from meditation to study 1; by perfection in both supreme spirit becomes manifest. Study is one eye wherewith to behold it, and meditation is the other: he who is one with Brahma sees not with the eye of flesh.
MAITREYA.--Reverend teacher, I am desirous of being informed what is meant by the term meditation (Yoga), by understanding which I may behold the supreme being, the upholder of the universe.
PARÁ?ARA.--I will repeat to you, Maitreya, the explanation formerly given by Ke?idhwaja to the magnanimous Khán?d?ikya, also called Janaka.
MAITREYA.--Tell me first, Brahman, who Khán?d?ikya was, and who was Ke?idhwaja; and how it happened that a conversation relating to the practice of Yoga occurred between them.
PARÁ?ARA.--There was Janaka, named Dharmadhwaja, who had two sons, Amitadhwaja and Kritadhwaja; and the latter was a king ever intent upon existent supreme spirit: his son was the celebrated Ke?idhwaja. The son of Amitadhwaja was Janaka, called Khán?d?ikya 2.
p. 646
[paragraph continues] Khán?d?ikya was diligent in the way of works, and was renowned on earth for religious rites. Ke?idhwaja, on the other hand, was endowed with spiritual knowledge. These two were engaged in hostilities, and Khán?d?ikya was driven from his principality by Ke?idhwaja. Expelled from his dominions, he wandered with a few followers, his priest and his counsellors, amidst woods and mountains, where, destitute of true wisdom, he performed many sacrifices, expecting thereby to obtain divine truth, and to escape from death by ignorance 3.
Once whilst the best of those who are skilled in devotion, Ke?idhwaja, was engaged in devout exercises, a fierce tiger slew his milch cow 4 in the lonely forest. When the Rájá heard that the cow had been killed, he asked the ministering priests what form of penance would expiate the crime. They replied that they did not know, and referred him to Ka?eru. Ka?eru, when the Rája consulted him, told him that he knew not, but that Sunaka would be able to tell him. Accordingly the Rája went to Sunaka; but he replied, "I am as unable, great king, to answer your question as Ka?eru has been; and there is no one now upon earth who can give you the information except your enemy Khán?d?ikya, whom you have conquered."
Upon receiving this answer, Ke?idhwaja said, "I will go, then, and pay a visit to my foe: if he kill me, no matter, for then I shall obtain the reward that attends being killed in a holy cause: if, on the contrary, he tell me what penance to perform, then my sacrifice will be unimpaired in efficacy." Accordingly he ascended his car, having clothed himself in the deer skin (of the religious student), and went to the forest where the wise Khán?d?ikya resided. When Khán?d?ikya beheld him approach, his eyes reddened with rage, and he took up his bow, and said to him, "You have armed yourself with the deer skin to accomplish my
p. 647
destruction, imagining that in such an attire you will be safe from me; but, fool, the deer, upon whose backs this skin is seen, are slain by you and me with sharp arrows: so will I slay you; you shall not go free whilst I am living. You are an unprincipled felon, who have robbed me of my kingdom, and are deserving of death." To this Ke?idhwaja answered, "I have come hither, Khán?d?ikya, to ask you to solve my doubts, and not with any hostile intention: lay aside therefore both your arrow and your anger." Thus spoken to, Khán?d?ikya retired a while with his counsellors and his priest, and consulted with them what course to pursue. They strongly urged him to slay Ke?idhwaja, who was now in his power, and by whose death he would again become the monarch of the whole earth. Khán?d?ikya replied to them, "It is no doubt true that by such an act I should become the monarch of the whole earth: he, however, would thereby conquer the world to come; whilst the earth would be mine. Now if I do not kill him, I shall subdue the next world, and leave him this earth. It seems to me that this world is not of more value than the next; for the subjugation of the next world endures for ever; the conquest over this is but for a brief season. I will therefore not kill him, but tell him what he wishes to know."
Returning then to Ke?idhwaja, Khán?d?ikya desired him to propose his question, which he promised to answer; and Ke?idhwaja related to him what had happened, the death of the cow, and demanded to know what penance he should perform. Khán?d?ikya, in reply, explained to him fully the expiation that was suited to the occasion; and Ke?idhwaja then, with his permission, returned to the place of sacrifice, and regularly fulfilled every necessary act. Having completed the ceremony, with its supplementary rites, Ke?idhwaja accomplished all his objects: but he then reflected thus: "The priests whom I invited to attend have all been duly honoured; all those who had any request to make have been gratified by compliance with their desires; all that is proper for this world has been effected by me: why then should my mind feel as if my duty had been unfulfilled?" So meditating, he remembered that he had not presented to Khán?d?ikya the gift that it is becoming to offer to a spiritual preceptor, and, mounting his chariot, he immediately set off to
p. 648
the thick forest where that sage abode. Khán?d?ikya, upon his reappearance, assumed his weapons to kill him; but Ke?idhwaja exclaimed, "Forbear, venerable sage. I am not here to injure you, Khán?d?ikya: dismiss your wrath, and know that I have come hither to offer you that remuneration which is due to you as my instructor. Through your lessons I have fully completed my sacrifice, and I am therefore desirous to give you a gift. Demand what it shall be."
Khán?d?ikya having once more communed with his counsellors, told them the purpose of his rival's visit, and asked them what he should demand. His friends recommended him to require his whole kingdom back again, as kingdoms are obtained by prudent men without conflicting hosts. The reflecting king Khán?d?ikya laughed, and replied to them, "Why should a person such as I be desirous of a temporary earthly kingdom? Of a truth you are able counsellors in the concerns of this life, but of those of the life to cone you are assuredly ignorant." So speaking, he went back to Ke?idhwaja, and said to him, "Is it true that you wish to make me a gift, as to your preceptor?" "Indeed I do," answered Ke?idhwaja. "Then," rejoined Khán?d?ikya, "as it is known that you are learned in the spiritual learning that teaches the doctrine of the soul, if you will communicate that knowledge to me, you will have discharged your debt to your instructor. Declare to me what acts are efficacious for the alleviation of human affliction."
Footnotes
645:1 Both study of the Vedas (Swádhyáya) and abstraction (Yoga) are to be practised: when a man is weary of one, he may apply to the other. The Yoga, however, limits the practical part to silent prayer. 'Wearied of meditation, let him pray inaudibly: weary of prayer, let him repeat meditation.' 'By the union of prayer and meditation let him behold soul in himself.'
645:2 No such names occur amongst the Maithila kings of the Vishn?u Purán?a (see p. 390); but, as there noticed (note 6), the Bhágavata inserts them. Janaka is used as a title. Kritadhwaja, in some of the copies, is read Ritadhwaja.
646:3 The performance of rites as a means of salvation is called ignorance in the Vedas (see p. 642, n. 7). Works are recommended as introductory to the acquirement of knowledge: it is ignorance to consider them as finite.
646:4 Tasya-dhenum. One copy has Homa-dhenu, 'cow of sacrifice;' another, Dharma-dhenu, 'cow of righteousness.' The commentator explains the terms as importing the same thing, a cow yielding milk for holy purposes, or for the butter which is poured in oblations upon the sacrificial fire.
NEXT
The Vishnu Purana Book VI- Chapter -VII
'The Vishnu Purana', translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, is public domain in the US because it was published prior to 1923.