Vulture and Jackal tricks with the relatives on leaving or not a dead child
After Yudhisthira was crowned King of Hastinapur, Lord Krishna freed magnificent Bhishma from all of his sufferings prior to his death and requested him to alleviate Yudhisthira from mourning over the dead Kshatriyas thru the way of advising him on Dharma. Yudhishthira asked Bhishma Pitamaha whether or not he had seen or heard a lifeless individual being alive again. Bhishma then referred to the dialogue among a vulture and a jackal that was held within the Naimisha battlefield in ancient times. Let us understand it in short.
Once a brahmin had had a son with great trouble. That stunning boy with pretty eyes suffered from Balagraha and passed away in childhood. That boy who had not yet entered teenagers and who meant everything to his clan, seeing him lifeless a number of his sad relatives started mourning with grief. Taking that lifeless baby in their arms, headed toward the crematorium. Reaching there, they began crying. They grieved by remembering his earlier words again and again. Consequently, they were not able to put the dead child inside the cremation ground and go back.
Persuaded by their crying, a vulture got there and said, “humans! leave your only son here in this world and return, do not delay. Lots of women and men have been brought right here through Kala. All of them are left behind by their relatives. This complete world is filled with happiness and sorrow, right here all people continue to attain union and separations in turn. Those who take their deceased relatives to the crematorium and those who do not, all living beings at the end of their age, leave this world. This terrible crematorium, there is full of vultures and jackals and there are innumerable human skeletons. Here you should now not stay. Be it your devotee or your hater, in any period dead human beings have by no means been resurrected. All creatures have an equal ending. Whoever is born on this mortal world, one or the other day have to die. death is the course made by way of Kala. Who will be capable of reviving the lifeless creature? The sun is setting down, all of the human beings of the world after completing the daily work, now getting away from it. You guys too now leave your son's affection and return home.” Then after listening to the vulture, whilst crying out loud, left the son on the ground and began to return. They came to the realization that now the child was died; so it was disappointing for them to have his vision. When they were certain that it was now not possible, then they stood at the way to leave the kid there.
A black jackal got here out of its den and said to those relatives, “guys! you are so merciless! It's not even sundown yet. So do not worry. Pamper the child. variety of time keeps coming. It is possible that in some auspicious time this child may additionally get up. How can you be cruel? Through leaving the affection of the son, you all brought this child to the cremation floor and thrown right here. It appears you all haven't any affection in any respect for your sweet-spoken little boy. This is the same infant whose sweet voice filled all your heart with joy. Animals and birds also have the same affection for their children. Although animals, birds and insects, and many others enamoured in affection, on nurturing their children even in the afterlife, they do not get any fruit much like that of the sages who get in the next world through their Yajna acts. Because for the animals and so on who have affection in their sons, there is no advantage in bringing up kids in this world and the afterlife as well. Still, they protect their children. Although their children after being grown up, do not take care of their parents, nevertheless their mother and father grief when they in no way find them. But where is love in humans, for which they'll mourn for the kids? This is your descendant. Where will you go without him? For this loved child, shed tears and look at it with affectionate eyes for a long time, because it's far very tough to leave dear children. Who has emaciated from the body, on which there's no financial reputation, and one who is going in the direction of the crematorium, On such events only his relatives would stand by way of him? Nobody else supports there. Everyone loves their existence and all get affection from others. Look at this child's lotus-like large eyes and Its body which is embellished with flowers after bath seems like a groom who has come after a new marriage. How could you get up to leave the adorable baby?” After listening to the Jackal lamenting compassionately, all those men came back to take care of the body of that lifeless infant.
Then the vulture said, “How come you all return after being attentive to that stupid and merciless jackal. people! you are patientless. This infant's body has turned out to be dry after being given up from the five senses lying in front of you like wood. Why do you grieve for this? In the future you may additionally have the equal condition, then why don't you weep for yourself? Now you do intense penance, you will get rid of sins. Everything can be performed with the aid of penance. What will this lament do to you? ? Destiny manifests itself with the body and its bad outcomes additionally come fore with this, due to which this toddler gives you eternal mourning. Wealth, cow, gold, jewels, gems, and sons - all of these are the root purpose of penance. His achievement only occurs via the practice of penance. Jiva receives pleasure and aches according to the deeds of his preceding birth. Happiness in all beings and the enjoyment of sorrow is obtained only in keeping with karma. There is no connection between the son from his father's deeds and to the father from his son's. Jeeva undergoes distinctive routes in line with the karma bound in the bondage of their sins and virtues.
You practice righteousness diligently and in no way involved in unrighteousness. Serve to gods and brahmins in time. End mourning and take away your thoughts from the affection of the son. Leave this child in this abandoned place and go back. Whatever precise or terrible deed a creature does, only the doer suffers its result. What is in it for its relatives? Family after leaving behind their dear brothers do not stay right here. Whether learned or foolish, rich or poor, as according to their good or inauspicious creatures comes below Kala. Will you provide him life by way of mourning? Kala is the ruler and master of young, child, old and pregnant, child and all, religion has an identical vision.”
On listening to this Jackal said, “Has this retard vulture assisted you to all loosened your affection? You all have been overwhelmed by grief for the kid. After being influenced via the statements of this Vulture that seems Justified and faithful you all are leaving after relinquishing affection, it is a surprise! What an exceptional sorrow these humans have who suffered the separation in their son and weeping with incredible grief in this dead place like cows without calves. I experienced today how much sadness is there inside the hearts of the inhabitants? Tears come from my eyes too. keep striving for the fulfilment of your desires, then only via the grace of deities one gets his accomplishment. Deities and Purushartha, both are effectuated via Kala. By no means let regret and procrastination be in your thoughts. How can you get happiness when you are apologetic? The desired meaning is accomplished only by way of effort. Where are you going ruthlessly leaving the effort to defend this toddler? This child is made of your blood and flesh, is like half the body. Just do one thing, be here till the evening; then take this son with you or wait right here.”
The vulture said, “humans! I was born more than 1000 years have passed, but I have in no way seen any man or woman Or the impotent come back to life after death. Some die in their womb, some simply after they're born, a few die after being capable of movement, and some humans simplest in their youth. The fate of animals and birds in this global is also perpetual. Age is the reality inside the life of the living being. Many are saddened by means of the separation of the beloved spouse and the bereavement of the son, return to their places. Depart this lifeless toddler. Its soul is hooked up to some other body. This dead body of this lifeless boy has come to be like wood. Your love is futile and even this labour has no fruit. Neither he sees with his eyes nor hears along with his ears. These words of mine seem very cruel, but useful and are related to salvation-dharma. I've given you a sense. Now you go back. Seeing the dead body of dead relatives and remembering his efforts causes double grief.”
Hearing this from the vulture, all those guys back to the residence. Then the jackal got here straight away to that sleeping toddler and said, “brothers! look, How the colour of this child is shining like gold? How does he look adorned with embellishes? How can you go away this son of yours who is meant to offer Pind to ancestors? Through leaving this dead infant neither there can be no scarcity to your affection and nor in your crying and moaning. Your agony will increase. It is heard that once a Shudra named Shambuka died by the mighty Lord Rama, with the impact of the identical religion a brahmin boy came to life. In addition, Rajarishu Shveta’s toddler additionally died but his devotion had revived him. similarly, it's far possible that you could find a best sage or deity here who would display mercy on you all.” On saying this by way of the jackal, they returned there, took the boy's head in their lap, and started out crying loudly.
listening to their cry, the vulture got here near and said, “for whom you are shedding your tears has entered into eternal sleep at the behest of Dharmaraja. The extraordinary ascetics, the rich, and the clever are all here subjected to death. it's an area of the lifeless. there may be no benefit from bearing the burden of mourning through returning again and again out of oblivion and there's no hope of him living again. How can he be regained consciousness here today? the person who once left his frame and died, it is not possible for him to return to this body again. despite the fact that hundreds of jackals sacrifice their bodies, this boy cannot be revived. If Lord Shiva, Kumar Kartikeya, Lord Brahma, and Lord Vishnu offer him a boon, then this baby can live. Neither by way of shedding tears and nor through taking lengthy breaths, he can be able to live once more. Everyone is on our very own path here in regards to religion and unrighteousness. A wise man needs to avoid unsightly conduct, harsh words, treason with others, interest in some other woman, iniquity, and untruth-speech. All of you ought to follow religion, truth, scripture, wonderful mercy on all beings, the absence of wickedness and the Renunciation of devotion. For those who do not care for their parents, loved ones, and brothers, their dharma is at a loss. A person who neither sees with his eyes nor makes any effort with the body, when his life is over, now what you men will do even as mourning.” Having positioned that they all left the child to sleep on earth and returned to their home.
Then the jackal said, “this world of mortals is very sad. Here all beings are destroyed. The ache of separation additionally continues. Life right here is very little. The whole thing in this world is false and very distasteful. There are many human beings talking nonsense here, however, those who speak dear are rare. Here attachments grow sorrow and mournings. Seeing this I do not sense reasonable for these human beings. Shame on you all. You listened to this idiot vulture and became devoid of affection towards your son, how can you all be loveless? After happiness comes sorrow and after sorrow comes happiness. This handsome boy is supposed to beautify your circle of relatives. He's glorifying thru his looks and allure. Putting this son on earth where will you go? I simply keep seeing this child alive with my mind, there is absolute confidence about it. He will not die, you will sincerely be happy. You have been mourning via the bereavement of your son. So it is not fair in order to go back like this. By expecting happiness from this infant and holding a strong hope, where will you all go now by abandoning him?”
(That Jackal used to reside in the cremation ground and make his work at some point of the night; with the aid of speaking false, contrary to religion and nectar-like words, he let those relatives stuck in the middle. They couldn't leave or stay, in the end, they had to be there.)
Then the vulture said, “Humans! This region is full of many yakshas, ghosts, and demons. Many owls, hawks, lions are making horrible noises. All of the trees right here have been painted through the black smoke of the pyre. Here in the crematorium, the ghosts-vampires and so on are roaring. All the residing beings living in this terrible area are formidable. These kinds of flesh eaters and deformed animals will eat you. This part of the wooded area is complete of ferocious creatures. Now you'll face great fear here. This kid is now dead like wood. Don't be tempted via jackal’s talk. In case you keep listening to useless things of him, then you all will be destroyed.” The jackal said, “Wait, stay until the sunset and fearlessly keep loving your infant and mourn with all your heart. Even though this vicinity is horrible yet here you'll have no worry. Due to Being the abode of ancestors, even though it is a cremation ground, it is gracious. If you will be fascinated by this carnivorous vulture then, you will lose your child forever.”
(If a person does not fall into anxiety however with a firm and strong dedication keep trying, then he'll get the blessings and desired outcomes from Devadhideva Mahadeva. The union with the Lord and the willpower of those relatives- due to which the tears of those people were wiped off in time. Through the grace of Lord Shankar, those sad people got happy.)
Death is inevitable and in the Kali era, we can get the blessings of the Lord only by our wholehearted devotion in the direction of him and by way of doing righteous Karma. So keep on Chanting and do the right thing always.
Om Namah Shivay. (I bow down to Lord Shiva.)
Ref: Mahabharata book Shanti Parva
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