Brahmin Gautama turns out to be a bandit and commits sins
After Yudhisthira was crowned as King of Hastinapur, Lord Krishna freed great Bhishma from all of his sufferings before his death and requested him to alleviate Yudhisthira from mourning over the lifeless Kshatriyas thru the manner of advising him on Dharma. Yudhisthira asked Bhishma to define the traitors and ungrateful ones among the friends. Bhishma told him about the incident which was earlier mentioned to him by Narada of a selfish brahmin named Gautama from the Northside of the Mlechha country. Let us know about it.
Once a Brahmin from Madhyadesh, who had not read the Vedas at all, seeing a rich village, went to beg there. His name was Gautama. There lived a wealthy robber in that village, who was knowledgeable of all the specialities. He had devotion towards Brahmins in his heart. He was honest and charitable. The Brahmin went to his house and begged for alms. That robber gave the Brahmin a house to stay in, arranged for alms for the whole year, gave suitable new clothes and also gave a younger maidservant in his service, who was devoid of husband at that time. The brahmin became very glad after receiving all these things from the dacoit and began living thankfully with the maidservant in that beautiful residence. He also started doing some help for the maid's family. The brahmin resided in that wealthy building of Bhil for many years and practised archery there. Gautama additionally roamed everywhere in the forest each day like a bandit. Then he began hunting for swans. He became violent and cruel. He was usually seeking to kill the living beings. By being in touch with the bandits, Gautama additionally came to be a complete dacoit.
Then one day another brahmin came to the village, who was having dreadlocks on his head and wearing deerskin. He constantly practised self-study of Vedas and was pious, humble, eating according to the guidelines, a devotee of Brahmins. That celibate brahmin was a resident of Gautama’s very own village and his dear friend too. He reached the same village of bandits roaming where Gautam lived. He did not consume meals of Shudra; that's why at the same time as searching out the Brahmin's house, he roamed around and went to the house of the best Brahmin Gautama. Within the identical time, Gautama also came there after coming back from the hunt. The brahmin saw, on Gautama’s shoulder, the corpse of a slain swan, a bow and arrow in his hand, his entire body was covered with blood. Gautama appeared like a demon and had been corrupted by Brahminism. Seeing him at home in this state, the Brahmin recognized him and stated to him, “What are you doing out of desire? You have been a well-known and lordly Brahmin of Madhyadesh. How come you have turned out to be a bandit! Don't forget your gracious ancestors? They used to be a scholar well versed in the Vedas and you irrespective of being born in their lineage and have ended up worthless! Know yourself now! You're a Dvija. Therefore, remembering the sattva, modesty, knowledge of scriptures, restraint and compassion, depart this abode of yours!” Gautama after making a few determination in his thoughts, said, “excellent Dvija! I am poor and do not even know the Vedas. So consider the fact that I am right here to earn money. I am thankful for your darshan today, Now stay here all night, tomorrow morning we will walk together.” The brahmin was kind. At Gautama’s request, he stayed with him, however, did not touch anything. Even though he was hungry, he did not accept to take meals too.
In the morning the great Brahmin left, then Gautama also left the residence and went in the direction of the ocean. On the way, he noticed that a few Vaishya merchants residing near the sea. Gautama joined that group and headed closer to the ocean. At the time they were camping in a mountain cave, a drunken elephant attacked. Most of the people of that group were killed by him. Gautama somehow got rid of that fear; however, in that panic, he could not decide wherein path he should go? To save his life, he ran closer to the north and reached a divine forest that seemed as beautiful as Nandanvan land served by yakshas and eunuchs. Gautama went ahead and saw a very lovely banyan tree, which was spread in circles all around. Because of its many stunning branches, the tree gave the look of a superb umbrella. Gautama took a rest there below its shadow. Thereafter, after the sunset, a top-notch bird came there from the Brahmaloka. That tree was his abode. He was the son of Maharishi Kashyapa and a dear friend of Lord Brahma. His name was Nadijungha. He was the king of herons and very shrewd, that unique bird was famous on this earth as Rajadharma. Being born from a Devkanya, the radiance of his body was like that of a deity. He was a great scholar and regarded to be endowed with divine effulgence. Gautama was astonished to see that bird coming. At that point, he was not only hungry and thirsty but also was exhausted. So he thought of killing the bird.
Gautama then reached a city known as Meruvraj. Thereupon the king was informed of his arrival. There the demon king duly worshipped him and offered him a seat. King Virupaksha then asked Gautama about his gotra, linage and self-study of Vedas carried out through the following celibacy, but he did not tell anything other than caste. Then the king asked the Brahmin his abode, which gotra's daughter was his spouse. Gautama said, “Demonking! I was born in Madhyadesh, however, I stay in a Bhil’s house. My wife is of Shudra caste and has been the wife of another before me. I tell you this truth.” Listening to this, the demon king started thinking in his mind that how should he work now to get virtue? Then he thought that even though Gautama was only a brahmin by birth; however was a friend of Rajadharma and because of the reality that Kashyapakumar was like a brother and a dearest pal o the king had sent the brahmin to him, he decided to please the brahmin.
It was the full moon day of Kartik. On that day thousands of brahmins used to eat food at King’s palace. He decided to serve Gautama together with all those Brahmins. After that, during the meal, lots of learned Brahmins came there wearing silk clothes and embellishes. Virupaksha welcomed them. At the orders of the demon king, the servants laid stunning seats for them on the floor. Whilst those great Brahmins honoured by the king became seated on those rugs. Virupaksha worshipped them in a beautiful way with sesame seeds, kush and water. Feeling Vishwedeva, Pitras and Agnidev in them put Chandan, garlanded them with flowers. Thereafter, he served sweet dishes made of ghee in clean beautiful gold plates studded with diamonds and placed them in front of the brahmins. Then Virupaksha offered many golds, silver, gems, pearls, precious diamonds, vaidurya mani, and lots of heaps of gemstones, at the side of utensils in which they had eaten and asked all of them to take according to their desire and enthusiasm. All of the Brahmins were pleased. The demon king Virupaksha stopped the demons from committing violence against those Brahmins by assuring them safe for one day and requested them to return to their desired places immediately. Listening to this, all of the brahmins ran away.
Gautama too, carrying a heavy load of gold with great difficulty, walked hurriedly and came close to the banyan. As quickly as he reached there, he sat down tired. He was suffering from starvation. Thereafter, Rajadharma greeted Gautama with a warm welcome and again took away his tiredness by way of blowing air with his wings. Then worshipped him and arranged meals for him. After taking a rest, Gautama driven by greed and attachment thought that there would be nothing to devour on the way while he had to go far carrying the great burden of stunning gold. After that, seeing no meals for his journey, he decided to kill the king of herons to take his huge pile of meat with him. To defend Gautama, a fire was already lit at a distance from him. Rajadharma additionally had faith in the friend, so he slept close to him at that point. Gautama got up and killed sleeping Rajdharma with burning wood. He was very glad after killing him, he did no longer look at the sin he inflicted on killing his friend. He took off the feathers and hair of the dead bird and cooked it within the fire. After taking the meat with him, carrying the load of gold, the brahmin left there with great speed.
On that day Rajadharma couldn't go to Virupaksha's place. due to this Virupaksha began worrying for him with a heart. the second day also passed, Virupaksha stated to his son, “Son! I am no longer seeing Rajadharma these days. That bird used to go every morning to worship Lord Brahma and on his return by no means went to his home without meeting me. evenings have passed, however, he did not come to my residence, you find my friend. That lowly brahmin Gautam was without Svadhyaya, was devoid of Brahmateja and appeared to be violent. may he not kill my friend. He appeared more wicked, cruel, evil bandit. Gautama returned from here and went to Rajadharma’s abode again. that's why there is a doubt in my heart. You go from here to Rajadharma's house and discover whether the pure soul Rajadharma is alive or not.” On receiving such orders from his father, he without delay went to that banyan tree with the demons. There he noticed the skeleton of Rajadharma. Seeing this condition, the son of the wise demon king grieved and as soon as possible attempted to catch Gautama with all his might. After going some distance away, the demons caught Gautama. along with this they also discovered the dead body of Rajdharmaka without wings, legs and bones.
those demons quickly went to Meruvraj with Gautama. There he showed the lifeless frame of Rajdharma to the king. Seeing his friend on this condition, the ministers, priests, King Virupaksha began crying badly. everyone mourned for Rajadharma within the palace. Then the king commanded him to kill Gautama. despite such orders from the demon king, the terrifying powerful demons did no longer even wish to consume him because he was a sinner. The demons said to the demon king to offer the flesh of this sinner to the bandits and not to them. The demon king agreed. The demons killed the sinner Gautama into pieces and handed him over to the bandits. those bandits also did now not desire to consume the flesh of that wrongdoer. Even non-vegetarian animals do not eat the meat of ungrateful ones. there's a provision of atonement in Scriptures for Brahmana killers, drunkards, thieves and for breaking fasts. (however, there is no way to save the ungrateful traitors, dastardly, ruthless and selfish. Even carnivorous animals and insects do not eat the flesh of such humans.)
Thereafter Virupaksha organized a pyre for Rajadharma. It was embellished with many gemstones, fragrant sandalwood and clothes. After that, placing the dead frame on it, the majestic demon king set a hearth to it and systematically finished the cremation of his friend. At that very moment, the divine Dhenu Daksha daughter Surabhi Devi got here there and stood right on the pyre in the sky. The milk-mixed froth that fell from his mouth fell on that pyre of Rajadharma. At that time Rajadharma woke up and he flew away to meet with Virupaksha. At the same time Deity king Indra came to Virupaksha's city and said to Virupaksha that It was an outstanding fortune that Rajadharma got life through the king.
Indra then narrated a historic incident to Virupaksha, according to which Lord Brahma had first cursed Rajadharma. ‘Once when Rajadharma could not reach the meeting of Lord Brahma, then filled with great fury, cursed him by announcing, that foolish and lowly heron did not come to my meeting so he would suffer the death. With that saying of Brahma, Gautama killed the heron and it was Brahma who once more sprinkled nectar and gave life to Rajadharma. After hearing that, the king worshipped Indra and requested him to bring Gautama back to life. Indra dev additionally gave life to Gautama through sprinkling nectar. Having found the dear friend Gautama along with utensils and gold and many others, Rajadharma hugged him with great love and sent off that sinner with money. Thereafter Rajadharma appropriately went to the meeting of Lord Brahma and Lord Brahma welcomed him. On the other side, Gautama started out residing inside the same village of Bhils. There he produced many sinful sons from the Shudra caste woman. Then the deities gave a great curse to Gautama by saying that the sinner and ungrateful Brahmin had had children from a Shudra caste girl who accepted him as another husband, subsequently, he would go to hell.
(For the salvation of the ungrateful, no atonement has been mentioned within the scriptures, one should pay special attention to avoid the sin of betrayal. A mischievous man falls into hell for eternity. One should constantly be grateful toward a friend. Because everything comes from a friend. With the assist of a friend, respect is continually attained, pleasures also are achieved and thru a friend one gets rid of grievances, therefore, a wise guy must worship a friend with appropriate hospitality. One who is sinner, ungrateful, shameless, unfaithful, dishonest and sinful, the sort of wicked guy must usually be abandoned by a learned guy.)
Ref: Mahabharata book Shanti Parva
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