In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of the accord on the feud between Sage Vasishtaachaarya and Vishwamitra, wherein it was now the turn of Vishwamitra to avenge Sage Vasishtaachaarya with the help of King Kalmaashapaada, who had a curse from Sage Shakti that he would be consuming human flesh and meat for his survival. We had seen how Kalmaashapaada mercilessly swallowed all of Sage Vasishtaachaarya’s sons and subsequently, as Kalmaashapaada’s curse got released, he became normal and all of Sage Vasishtaachaarya’s sons including Sage Shakti were released from Kalmaashapaada’s stomach. We had also witnessed that meanwhile, Sage Paraashara took birth as Sage Shakti’s son and knowing that his father had to undergo such a severe torture in the hands of Kalmaashapada, he decided to conduct a “Raakshasa-Satra-Yaaga” to completely destroy all the Raakshasas in this world. This was in the same lines as King Janame-Jaya who had tried to perform the “Sarpa-Satra-Yaaga” to get rid of all the snakes in this world, because his father, King Parikshit was killed by a snake bite! We’ve witnessed all these incidents in our first few episodes of this “Mahabharata” project and readers might refer to them for more clarity and recollection.
However, as Sage Paraashara went ahead with the “Raakshasa-Sarpa-Yaga”, and as the entire “Raakshasa” community started trembling with fear of falling into the “Yaga” and giving up their lives, all the great sages including Sage Pulaha, Sage Pulasthya, Sage Vasishtaachaarya himself, etc. came forward and stopped the “Yaga” from continuing further. This is again in the same lines of how Sage Aasthika came and stopped King Janame-Jaya from continuing with the “Sarpa-Satra-Yaga”. Thus, the consortium of sages explain to Sage Paraashara thus, “Oh my dear son! Please do not attempt such fierce “Yagas”. This is not only bad for yourself, but also dents the balance of this world as a whole. Just as how the Devas and other Maharishis have a right to live a life in this world, the Raakshasas too have a right to live in this world, even though they might be evil by nature. If Sage Vasishtaachaarya had lost his son Shakti to a Raakshasa, it is because of his “Karma” of “Putra-Shoka” that he had to experience. If you destroy all the Raakshasas like this, the entire “Karma-cycle” would take a hit and you’re trying to alter nature’s course of “Dharma”!” in fact, Sage Vasishtaachaarya too explains to Sage Paraashara thus, “Oh Paraashara! If I myself as a father did not worry too much about the loss of my son, why do you worry about it? As sages, it is not proper for us to take revenge like this on others for the harm that they had caused to us. We should never lose or compromise our mental strength and we should be steadfast with it!”
Even as the sages including Sage Vasishtaachaarya explained thus, Sage Paraashara was not ready to relent from his attempt. He was still fuming with anger over what had happened to his father. However, the sages again intervened timely and advised Sage Paraashara to stop the “Yaga” from proceeding any further. They again explained in detail to him various examples and aspects as to how such things should not be conducted and how such “Yagas” create a huge imbalance in the world and cause dangerous aftereffects later. After all the detailed storytelling, Sage Paraashara finally relented and with this, Sage Vasishtaachaarya blesses Sage Paraashara thus, “Oh Paraashara! From today you would be the hub of all “Shaasthrava Tejas” and “Brahma-Gnyaana”! You’ll show to the world the significance of being a “Brahma-Rishi”! As Sage Paraashara received the “Anugraha” from Sage Vasishtaachaarya, he was more than happy and content.
However, as Sage Vasishtaachaarya blesses Sage Paraashara thus, he has a doubt within himself! He thinks within himself thus, “Oh no! I’ve provided this “Anugraha” to Sage Paraashara, but what would the world think of it? The world would comment tomorrow that Sage Vasishtaachaarya is providing the “Anugraha” to Sage Paraashara just because he was his grandson. Perhaps, if it was another person, he would have tested that person to the brink and would have provided the “Anugraha” only if he is really eligible! However, in the case of Sage Paraashara, he never tested whether he was eligible to receive such a great “Anugraha”!” Thinking thus, Sage Vasishtaachaarya immediately turned towards Sage Pulasthya and told thus, “Oh Sage Pulasthya! Out of an urgency and just because Sage Paraashara obeyed my words, I gave him this “Anugraha” of “Brahma-Tejas”. I did not test him whether he was really eligible for it. Tomorrow, I will be criticized by the world for showing nepotism towards my grandson. Therefore, I hereby declare that only if you approve of it. If you really think that he is eligible for obtaining the “Brahma-Gnyaana”, my “Anugraha” would work. On the other hand, if you feel that he is ineligible, you may very well take the authority to stop the “Brahma-Gnyaana” from entering into him!”
As Sage Vasishtaachaarya declares thus, Sage Pulasthya immediately replies thus, “Oh Sage Vashishta! What are you even saying? You are such a great sage and the whole world knows about who you are and your significance! Nobody will talk ill about you ever! If Sage Paraashara has come in your family lineage, there needs to be no testing for this child! He’s born great and I approve of your “Anugraha” straightaway without a question!” Saying thus, Sage Pulasthya also provides his “Anugraha” to Sage Paraashara and it is only with this “Brahma-Gnyaana” and the “Shaastrava-Tejas”, he composed the famous “Shri Vishnu Puraana” text, which we had witnessed in our previous project fully! So for today, let us understand until this point and let us continue this discussion in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 