In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura calling out for Sage Sanatkumara to Hastinapura through his power of penance. Vidura calls Sage Sanatkumara as King Dhritarashtra asks some important questions pertaining to nature’s creation and some basics about the ultimate “Brahman”. As King Dhritarashtra asks these questions, Vidura feels that he is not the right person who is qualified to answer them, and hence calls for Sage Sanatkumara who is a great Maharishi himself! Thus, Vidura feels that Sage Sanatkumara is the right person to answer these questions in detail.
Moving on thus, Sage Sanatkumara arrives at Hastinapura in the form of a five-year-old boy! We’ve heard of Sage Sanaka, Sage Sanatkumara and Sage Sanat-Sujaatha, haven’t we? All these people are Bhagawan Brahma’s “Maansa-Putras” (Sons of Bhagawan Brahma). These three people keep going around the world here and there at all times and whenever someone as pious as Vidura calls out to them, they would immediately mark their presence there! Thus, as Sage Sanatkumara arrives, Vidura and King Dhritarashtra welcome him with all the due respects and provide him an “Aasana” to be seated. As Sage Sanatkumara sits down and settles, he looks at King Dhritarashtra and says thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Thank you for the wonderful hospitality. I came to know that you had some important questions to ask me. So please go ahead and ask them. I shall answer them one by one!”
As Sage Sanatkumara says thus, King Dhritarashtra asks thus, “Oh Sage Sanatkumara! I have a very important question to ask you – What is “Maranam” (Death)? Is there anything called death? If at all there is, how does it work? In the same way, what is “Amarathvam” (Devoid of death)? How does it work? It is being said that the Devas have the “Amarathvam” in them and it is because of this, they are able to be alive permanently! Is it true? If yes, how does one get to the stage of “Amarathvam”?” As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, we should understand his real intention here. He is not actually interested to spiritually know the meaning of “maranam” and everything. He is of the intention that if at all there is something called “Amarathvam”, maybe he and his son can experience it and live permanently. Through this, Duryodhana can escape being killed in the war, isn’t it? Thus, with this intention, King Dhritarashtra requests Sage Sanathkumara to explain what is “Maranam” and “Amarathvam”.
As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, Sage Sanathkumara replies thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Both are true and both exist! It is according to your will and wish as to which one you want!” As Sage Sanathkumara says thus, King Dhritarashtra’s eyes brighten up! He immediately asks back thus, “Oh Sage Sanathkumara! If that is the case, I would always like to have the “Amarathvam” in me! Is there any way that I can get there?” For this, Sage Sanathkumara smartly replies thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Only if you die, will you be able to get the “Amarathvam”! 🙂 Without death, how will you become an “Amara” (permanently living soul)?” As King Dhritarashtra listens to this, he asks back once again thus, “Oh Sage Sanatkumara! My intention is not to live permanently after death! My intention is to live with this same physical form permanently with my kingdom and my sons! I’m wanting to seek “Amarathvam” in this way! Is that possible?”
As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, Sage Sanatkumara couldn’t control his laughter! In fact, many of us might have this same doubt in us as well – Can we live in this world permanently with all the worldly luxuries that we’ve earned so far? We might even go to a temple and when we worship Bhagawan, we might be confused what to ask – Whether we have to be freed from death, or, whether we’ve to completely be freed from the entire birth-death cycle? Sage Sanatkumara is now going to give a very important answer to this in our next episode! So for today, let us understand this background discussion very clearly and let us wait till the next episode to witness Sage Sanatkumara’s answer! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 