Association!

 

Lomasa Rsi encouraged Yudhisthira as they went along forest path. He concluded by saying-Just like demons, sons of Dhritrāshtra have become slaves of evil & ignorance. Hence, you can be rest assured that in near future, they’ll meet with destruction

 

Pāndavās visited many places of pilgrimage. At each holy place, they bathed ceremoniously & gave profuse charity to Brāhmanās. After visiting Naimisa, Prayāga & many others, they arrived at Brahmasāra, where they resided for 4 months following regulations of caturmāsya

 

At Brahmasāra, sage Samantha described about great sacrifice King Gaya performed. It was distinguished by mountains of food distributed. There were hills of cooked rice by 1000’s, lakes of ghee & rivers of yogurt. All kinds of delicacies were prepared every day & distributed. Even up to this day there are 25 mountains of food remaining & all who witnessed great sacrifice have not felt desire to eat ever since

 

They then travelled to Duryaja, abode of sage Agastya, situated on the shore of Gangā. Rsi related how Agastya had formerly killed demon Vatāpi. Next, they arrived at Bhrgu-tirtha on river Vadhusāra, where Parasurāma had bathed after being defeated by Lord Rām. Rsi Lomasa then narrated several ancient histories such as how Agastya Rsi dried up ocean to kill the demons

 

When Pāndavās came to Rsabha hill, they witnessed many unusual occurrences. As soon as someone spoke, volleys of stones rained from hill. Everywhere recitation of Vedas could be heard, although no one was present. Just by being there, everyone became depressed & physically ill. To explain this Rsi Lomasa said-There is a sage named Rsabha living here dedicated to meditation. He used to become very angry when someone would disturb him. At last, he ordered the hill to shower stones & direct a fierce wind at anyone who made noise. Let us restrain our speech as long as we are here

 

They then arrived at river Kausiki, where everyone bathed. Rsi pointed out the ashrama of Rsyashringā and told the story of his birth. He narrated how Sage Kasyap’s son Vibhāndaka got a son who had a deer horn on his head. How the child was raised in complete isolation & never saw a third person. Anga King Rompāda, good friend of Maharāj Dasharatha was advised if he could bring Rsyasrnga from forest then rains would fall on his drought ridden kingdom

 

By sending beautiful girls who lured Rsyasringa to Anga, Rompāda brought prosperity to his kingdom & gave his daughter Santā as

Rsi’s wife. Vibhāndaka was very angry knowing this but when he saw his son happy, he was pacified

 

Pāndavās then travelled to Mahendra hill & met sage Akrtavrana, great devotee of Lord Parasurāma. Yudhisthira humbly asked if they can have audience of Jamdāgni’s son at this holy place

 

When we visit any holy place, our intent should be to associate with pure souls who inhabit the place and listen to the pastimes of the Supreme Lord & his pure devotees. Places of pilgrimage are not only for sight seeing but to assimilate the positive energy of the place. We should utilize its potency to raise our human consciousness and elevate ourselves by its transformatory process

 

This also applies to all our associations. A man is known by the company he keeps!

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife