Sacrifice!


As one of 2 remaining brothers asked: Between us, who’ll be next to fall from heaven, Sage Nārada said: Vasumāna will be 3rd to fall. Reason: Once I came to Vasumāna’s palace & he was performing a religious rite called Swastivācana for his desire to receive a celestial chariot made of flowers. It so happened that after priests finished rituals, such a chariot appeared before the king


I praised celestial flower airship & when king heard this, he said: O sage! The chariot actually belongs to you & I’m just a caretaker. Later when I needed that chariot, I asked king to let me use it & he happily complied. Sometime later, I once again met king as he was engaged to show the chariot to some Brāhmanā. I praised the chariot as before but this time king was annoyed with me. He said: Nārada, you’ve praised my chariot sufficiently & didn’t even offer it for my use


It’s for this reason Vasumāna will be next to fall


Then one of the 4 brothers inquired: O sage! Between you & Sibi, who’ll be first to fall from heaven?


Sage said: I’ll fall before Sibi

Reason: I’m not as exalted as King Sibi. One day a Brāhmanā came to him & begged for some food. When Sibi asked what sort of food he desired, he said: O King! Pls kill your son, Brhadgarbha & cook him for me to eat. Sibi unhesitatingly decided to fulfill the request. He killed his son, cooked the flesh & brought the pot of food on his head


Upon his return, Sibi found that Brāhmanā was gone & so he began to search for him. At last, he came out of city. At that time, he was approached by someone who said: The Brāhmanā you’re looking for is angrily setting fire to your palace, arsenal & stables. Hearing this Sibi didn’t feel slightest agitation & simply went to Brāhmanā & said: Dear Sir! Your food is ready


The Brāhmanā didn’t reply but when Sibi once again invited him to eat, he said: I want you to eat the food instead of me. Sibi cheerfully agreed & took the pot down from his head. Then, when Sibi prepared to eat his son’s cooked flesh, Brāhmanā grabbed his hand & declared: You’ve truly conquered anger! I can understand that there is nothing you’re unwilling to give to Brāhmanā


As he was glorified, King Sibi suddenly saw his son Brhadgarbha standing with his body transformed like that of a demigod. The Brāhmanā then revealed his identity saying: I’m Vidhātri & I came to test your exalted character


Sibi ministers asked: Why were you willing to endure so much pain to please that Brāhmana?

Sibi said: I never do anything to achieve fame, wealth etc. What I do is because my heart is naturally inclined towards path of virtue


Krsna says

aphalākāṅkṣibhir yajño vidhi-diṣṭo ya ijyate

yaṣṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ


Sacrifice performed according to the directions of scripture, as a matter of duty, by those who desire no reward, is of the nature of goodness. General tendency is to offer sacrifice with some purpose in mind, but it should be performed without any such desire


Thoughts? #gameoflife

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