Jajali considers himself great for the birth and growth of birds on his head and Tuladhara teaches him true religion
After Yudhisthira was crowned as King of Hastinapur, Lord Krishna freed amazing Bhishma from all of his sufferings before his death and asked him to relieve Yudhisthira from mourning over the dead Kshatriyas by the way of advising him on Dharma. Yudhishthira asked his Pitamaha about wonderful ascetic Jajali and by way of which he attained the supreme siddhi. Bhishma in response instructed him to a conversation between great sage Jajali and Tuladhara Vaishya concerning true religion. Allow us to know approximately it in brief.
In ancient times, there has been a Brahmin well-known by the name Jajali, who used to live and roam in the forest. That great ascetic went to the shore of the ocean and did awesome penance. He lived in line with the rules, had ordinary food, and used to put on vulkal, deerskin, and had dreadlocks. He stood for many years wearing dirt and dust on his body. At some point in time, he started out to move as fast as their minds to see all of the worlds. He used to do agnihotra ritually each night and early morning after bathing and doing Sandhyapasana and was willing to self-study the Vedas. He was the only one to recognize and observe the regulation of Vanaprastha's dharma, which he was igniting with his effulgence. while dwelling within the wooded area, he did not disregard his religion. On the rainy days, he used to sleep beneath the open sky, and at some point in the early winter season, he used to sit underwater. Within the same manner, in the hot summer season months, he used to go through the sun; but he did no longer realize the true religion. He would roam around on earth and sleep in various ways in this sort of way that only experienced more sorrow and suffering. Thereafter, in some unspecified time in the future, while the rainy season came, the sage stood beneath the open sky and began to undergo the blow of the torrential rain from the sky again and again on his head, because of the consistent wetness of his head, his hair got tangled and became matted hair. Due to usually roaming inside the woodland, the dust had gathered on his body; however, his conscience was pure.
Once, the great ascetic stood like wood even as ingesting air, being helpless, at that point there was no anxiety in his mind, he was never disturbed even for a moment and he appeared like a stumpy tree. At that time a couple of sparrow birds made a nest on his head for their living. The sage was very kind, so he overlooked them. Even after seeing the two birds nesting in his hairs with straws, made no effort to get rid of or blow them away. While those excellent ascetics did no longer move at all, then both the birds started out residing there very happily because of their faith.
At one time, those birds did no longer come again after a month, then Jajali Muni left from there. He was very surprised whilst those birds disappeared, started believing in himself that he was best, then ego came in him. That potential soul sage, who observed fasting according to the guidelines, became very satisfied to see those birds going like this and considering his accomplishment. Then going to the bank of the river, he took bath, and after the evening Tarpana, after gratifying the fireplace god with the aid of Agnihotra, he offered the rising sun. Remembering the things of birth and growth of birds he whilst considering himself as top-notch Dharmatma, announced that he had acquired Dharma. Then the voice from the sky was heard. It said “Jajali! You aren't like Tuladhara in religion. In Kashipuri there is a well-known Tuladhara Vaishya. Even he cannot say the sort of thing as you are announcing.”
After listening to this, he started wandering on the earth to see Tuladhara. After a long time, he reached Varanasi Puri, wherein he saw the Tuladhara selling the groceries. Even the Tuladhara, who made his living through buying for and selling various things, without delay got upon seeing the Brahmin coming and with brilliant pleasure welcomed him. Tuladhara already knew about Jajali and the birds and the voice of the sky so he defined those to the sage from his side and asked him how could he help?
The one who is kind to all living beings and is constantly
engaged within the welfare of all my mind, speech, and motion, he is aware of
Dharma. I neither request nor oppose and I do not have any hatred, nor do
I want something from anyone. I have equanimity towards all beings. That is my Vrat and law, My scales are the same for all humans - it weighs similarly for all.
Vipravar! Seeing the strangeness of the actions of the world, being as
independent as the sky, I neither praise nor criticize the actions of others.
Simply as the blind, deaf and mad man, whose eyes, ears, etc. have been closed
for all time by way of the deities, constantly only breathes, I do not see even
by seeing, even after listening to, I do no longer listen and do not take my
thoughts towards the objects, I keep on doing the mere act of respiratory and
exhalation, looking simplest as a witness. As the old, sick and
weak human beings aren't interested in the pleasures of objects, within the
equal manner the desire for wealth and cloth pleasures has gone away from my
thoughts. Whilst someone is not frightened of others, whilst different beings
are also no longer terrified of him, and whilst he neither dreams nor has any
hatred towards anyone, then he attains Brahmabhava. When bad feelings aren't
created inside the mind, through speech and movement toward all beings, then the guy attains to Brahmabhava. One who has no work in the past or future and for whom
there's no religion left to do, gives safety to all bhutas, attains
fearlessness. Simply as all people are afraid to face demise, so whose
remembrance everyone gets worried and person who speaks harsh words and is
tough in punishing, such a person has to face great fear. Those who are old,
have sons and grandsons, behave well consistent with the scriptures, and do not
do violence to any living being, I also comply with the behaviour of those
Mahatmas. Sanatana Dharma gets destroyed by way of incest. A learned man, an
ascetic, and a strong man who conquers lust and anger also fall in it.
The man of the senses, who, without retaining hatred for
others in his thoughts, consequently brings into his behaviour the morals
followed by the best guys, soon learns the secret of Dharma by way of following
the learned virtues of the Vedas. Sage! by which no creature is ever disturbed
in any manner, he continually attains whole fearlessness. The only one in whom all
are afraid, he also gets all of the fear of the creatures. In this manner, this
fearlessness ethic has seemed, that is attainable in all manner. He who
practices this, is considered beneficial, material, fortunate and best.
Consequently, those who are able to give fearlessness, wise men describe them
as the best among the scriptures. those who, being extroverted, have a desire
for fleeting pleasures in their hearts, they observe a vow of fearlessness
simplest for the sake of fame and honour; however, those who are virtuous or
skilled men, take shelter of this fast only for the attainment of
Parabrahma in full shape. Whatever fruit a man obtains here through penance,
sacrifice, charity, and teachings related to knowledge, all that involves him
simplest by way of the mercy of fearlessness. He who gives the Dakshina of
fearlessness to all beings in the world, as if he has achieved all the sacrifices
and additionally Abhay-daan is received by way of him from all sides. There is
no greater religion than the one which is accomplished by not inflicting
violence on living beings. By which no creature is ever disturbed in any way,
he also attains fearlessness from all beings. Just like the snake residing in
the residence, the man whom everyone is frightened of, he in no way gets the
fruits of dharma even in this and the afterlife. One that has turned out to be
the soul of all beings and sees all bhutas as separate from himself does not
gain any special region. He turns into Brahmaswaroop. Even the deities who look
for the footsteps followed the direction of that wise man, in no way finds it.
Giving safety to living beings is said to be better than all
donations. Those who do righteous deeds by wishing for heaven are referred to
as fortunate upon getting the fruits of heaven, then after they fall from
heaven after being virtuous, they're unluckily considered corrupt, hence seeing
the destruction of deeds, wise men continually condemn fruitful actions. No
religion is purposeless or fruitless, its nature could be very subtle, Dharma
has been defined right here most effective for the attainment of heaven or
Brahman. Because the nature of Dharma is very subtle, it can't be understood by
every person, due to the fact many things are hiding their nature.
Intermittently, by observing the conduct of numerous virtuous men, one acquires
the knowledge of actual dharma. Individuals who castrate and tie oxen, carry
heavy masses from them and suppress them and drive them to work, who kill and
eat such a lot of creatures. As an individual, you make men slaves and enjoy the
fruits of their labour, why don't you condemn them? Those who know how much
ache they suffer in the event of slaughter and captivity, yet with the aid of
putting others in the pain of slaughter, captivity, and imprisonment, they day
by day work at night time.
Sun, Moon, Vayu, Brahma, Prana, Yajna, and Yamaraja are the
abode of all the gods in all beings with the five senses, those who trade them
whilst they live and earn their living, get unrighteousness. Then what to say
about those who sell dead creatures? Goat is the shape of Agni, Sheep of
Varuna, Horse is the form of Surya and Earth in the form of Virata and Cow and
calf are a form of Moon, selling them does not convey welfare. But Brahman!
what is the harm in selling oil, ghee, honey and medicines, Many humans, even
knowing that the animals born and brought up happily in a country free from
bites and mosquitoes, that they are very dear to their mothers and that their
separation will cause them superb pain, forcefully attack and take them to
countries wherein bites, mosquitoes and sludge abound? Irrespective of how many
load-carrying animals be afflicted by heavy loads, they're unjustifiably
tortured by the people.
I keep in mind that there's no extra sin of feticide than
that merciless act. A few humans consider agriculture to be desirable, however, that mindset is also very harsh. On whose face the plough is attached, that
plough inflicts pain on the planet and also kills the living beings within it,
and take a look at the plight of the bulls which are ploughed in it. The cows
have been referred to as Agnya (Avadhya) in Shruti, then who could think of
killing them? A person who kills a cow and a bull commits a notable sin. Once
upon a time, the sages and yogis went to King Nahusha and asked that you have
killed mother Cow and Prajapati Vrishabha. They stated that due to this
unpardonable sin carried out by Nahusha all of them were suffering a lot.
Having said this, those remarkable sages who were admired by way of Nahusha,
after converting sins into one hundred and one diseases, cast them on all beings,
referred to as King Nahusha feticide, and clearly said that they would no longer
offer Havisham in his sacrifice. Later All those sages and yeti became pacified after
understanding through their penance that Nahusha was harmless, who had sinned
by unawareness of having sinned. Such inauspicious and terrible practices are
prevalent in lots of in this world; merely due to the fact a certain action has
been executed through the ancestors, even though you're clever, you do not be
aware of its evil. What is the motive of this motion? Only after considering
this, do you have to accept any religion. Because people have accomplished or are
doing, they should not be blindly imitated.
Sage! the one who kills me and the one who praises me, each
is identical to me. None of them is dear or unpleasant to me; scholars reward
such Dharma and Dharmatma observe this.”
Jajali said, “Vanik! With the dharma that you preach whilst
weighing the goods with a scale for your hand, you only close the door of
heaven and create obstacles in the livelihood of living beings. Vaishyaputra!
You need to understand that food is produced from agriculture, from which you
also are living. Man's subsistence is from food and animals. The yajna is
completed by way of them. You even express about atheism. While thinking
after taking care of the suffering of animals, if farming etc. is deserted,
then the life of this world will end.”
Tuladhara said, “Muni! I will inform you of a livelihood other than violence. Brahmadeva! I am not an atheist Nor do I condemn the yajna itself, however, a person who is aware of the proper nature of yajna is very rare. The Yajna for which there is a regulation for brahmins, I salute him and bow my head even at the feet of those who recognize that yajna well, but I feel sorry, right now brahmins are renouncing their yajna and getting concerned in the rituals of Kshatriyachit yajnas. Many greedy and atheist men, who are trying to earn money, have propagated the truth-seeming misconceptions of the Vedic phrases. It has been stated in the Shrutis and Smritis that this Dakshina has to be given for such a work, in keeping with that this yajna is considered superior; in any other case, if the doer shows greed, he incurs the sin of stealing and contrary to the work. The deities are satisfied by way of the homa of the evil which is collected by good deeds. In line with the scriptures, through Namaskar, self-study, ghee, and food all of the deities can be worshipped. Individuals who, underneath the influence of desire, carry out yajnas, get ponds dug or set up gardens, provide birth to kids without virtues like them. Greed men give birth to covetous, and sympathetic men give birth to a virtuous. The way the Yajamana and the Ritvija are like themselves, so are their human beings.
Simply as natural water rains from the sky, in an equal manner, a yajna performed with a pure soul gives birth to worthy human beings. The Ahuti cast in the fire is acquired by the solar, water rains from the sun, meals are produced in the rain, and from the food, the whole human beings take birth and life. The people of the past used to interact in yajna with reverence considering their responsibility, and through that yajna, all their wishes had been automatically fulfilled. Plenty of food would have been created from the earth without ploughing and sowing, and for the good of the world, trees and vines used to bear fruit only because of their auspicious resolution. They did not look closer to any fruit for themselves within the yajnas. Individuals who bask in yajnas in such a way with doubts of their mind whether they get any fruit from the sacrifice or not, they're grasping, cunning and depraved, looking for wealth. The man who proves the actual Vedas to be inauspicious by means of his fake misogyny, his intellect isn't natural, his thoughts are always here engaged in sins, and because of his inauspicious deeds, he goes to hell. One who considers the work to be achieved as his obligation and if it isn't observed, he feels worried, in whose eyes everything is Brahman (Ritvik, Havishya, Mantra and Agni, etc.) He by no means accepts any activity as his own, if it is being done with a selfless purpose, then he's the actual Brahmin.
If there is any mistake in any motion which makes it meritless, like, due to the contact by unholy animals like dogs, etc then additionally it turns into fortunate and great in case that the act has been carried out while not having any desire. There must be abstinence and regulations over inclined for fruits of any works. Brahman of ancient times used to carry out the rituals of truth speech and sense control yajna. He used to have greed for the supreme Purushartha (Moksha), he was not thirsty for worldly wealth, he became constantly glad about that side. All of them were renouncers of what they were given and were free from jealousy. He knew the precept of Kshetra (body) and Kshetragya (soul) and became self-sacrificing. He was equipped to study the Upanishads and persuaded himself and gave gratification to others also. Brahman is omnipresent, all deities are his form, and Brahmaveta is living within Brahman. When it is pleased, all of the gods are happy. Just as a person who's happy with all kinds of tastes does not greet any taste, similarly one who's happy with the bliss of knowledge, there is constant gratification that gives him inexhaustible happiness. There are a lot of us, whose religion is the purpose, who remember the happiness in religion and who've determined to do all the obligations and non-obligations. However, the truth is, a much greater and pervasive God than Him is omnipresent everywhere - such a wise man observes. Only some knowledgeable Mahatma Purush, who has the desire to cross the ocean of the universe, attains the most pious and virtuous Brahma Loka served via virtuous souls.
Wherever they move, they neither grieve, nor fall from there, nor do they sense any kind of distress in their thoughts. Those Sattvik high-quality men attain best in that abode of Brahma, they have no desire for heaven, they do no longer carry out yajnas for fame and wealth, they comply with the direction of true men and perform rituals of yajnas without violence. They consider vegetation, food, fruits, and roots as the Havisham, the greedy Ritvijas, who are desirous of wealth, do no longer make their yajnas. The wise brahmins have performed the ritual of intellectual yajnas, considering themselves as the means of the Yajnas. They have finished the ritual of intellectual yajnas for the welfare of the people. The greedy Ritvij performs yajnas only for such people, who are inauspicious (without desire for salvation), the sensible men, at the same time as practising their self-righteousness, take the people to heaven. thinking this, my intellect also continues the same sentiment anywhere. One who's connected to desires, the same individual is reborn on this world. A wise guy is not born right here again. Even though both go to the virtuous worlds by the divine path, their Avrutti and Anavrutti are due to determination and difference. As soon as the wise Mahatmas wished, in step with the accomplishments of their intellectual dedication, the bulls themselves start carrying their rides, cows provide milk of all sorts of desires. The Yajnayupas are created through themselves before yogis and with those, they perform yajna with enough Dakshina. Dakshina becomes present close to their Ritvijas. Whose conscience has emerged as extra perfect in this manner, only he can provide rise to the earth. Brahman! that is why those yogic Siddhas can perform yajnas with potions, food, and so forth. those who are idiots as mentioned earlier, can not carry out that sort of yajna. Such is a notable class of the Mahatmas who have renounced the fruits of action, that is why I'm telling you such a factor retaining renunciation ahead. He who has no choice in his mind, who does now not initiate movements with the desire of any fruit, stays aloof from salutations and praises, whose dharma has not weakened, the bond of action has weakened, the same individual is taken into consideration by the deities to be brahmin. The brahmin who does not do the virtuous deeds like the study of Vedas, yajan and giving charity to brahmins and maintains craving for pleasant indulgences, he attains the pathetic movement. But a person who makes selfless religion as adoration as a deity attains the true fruit of yajna and salvation.” Jajali asked, “Vaishyapravar! I've by no means heard of the Tattva propounded by you in the presence of the Atmayaji sages. Perhaps it's also difficult to understand because the ancient Maharishis have not given special consideration to it. Those who have ideas, despite the fact that they are good, have no longer established this religion inside the world, so I ask you simplest.
Vanikputra! If in this way the animals i.e. ignorant people can not get the good fortune of self-sacrifice in this way of Atmatirtha, then by what action can they attain happiness? Tell me this. I have more faith in your assertion.” Tuladhara said, “Brahman! The conceited men whose yajnas aren't qualified to be called yajnas because of the faults of unbelief etc. are neither entitled to intellectual yajnas nor purposeful yajnas. Devotees complete their yajnas through ghee, milk, curd, and specifically through Purnahuti. within the case of unapt devotees, their yajnas may be holy through the touch of Cow tail hair, feet, and her Shringajal. To provide ghee, and so on to the deities, Yajnapurusha ought to make devotion as his wife and yajna as ‘worshipped as deity’ and may obtain Lord Vishnu. Purodaash is made from milk and so on. All of the animals that are sacrificed are said to be holy. All of the rivers are the form of Saraswati and all the mountains are the pious land. This soul is the main pilgrimage. Don't wander from country to country for pilgrimage. The only who practices the non-violent religions I have cited here and for unique reasons researches the religion, receive good Loka.”
Tuladhara stated, “Brahman! Do gentlemen or depraved human beings walk in the direction of religion that I've shown? First, make it obvious. then you'll realize its truth. In the sky, wherein many Sheen and birds of different species are roaming around, among them are the birds born on your head. Brahman! they're entering nests everywhere. All their hands and toes have shrunk and are attached to their bodies. Those birds have been raised and revered by way of you. In order that they appreciate you as a father. there's no question that you are their father; So call them and ask questions.” Then Jajali called those birds.
Paying attention to his righteous words, those birds came there and started speaking to him as virtually as human beings, “The actions achieved through the souls of non-violence and mercy and many others. is going to give suitable effects in this and the afterlife. Brahman! If there's a sense of violence in the thoughts, it destroys the religion. Then the destroyed religion destroys only this violent man who does the work. The ones who've equal emotions in loss and gain, are devoted, self-controllable, and pure-minded and carry out the yajna as a duty, their yajna in no way fails. Shraddha is the daughter of Surya, hence she is likewise referred to as Vaivaswati, Savitri, and Parsvishtri (Vishuddha Janmadayini). Speech and mind also are external than Shraddha. If there's an error within the pronunciation of a mantra because of a speech defect, and because of the restlessness of the mind, the work of the presiding deity cannot be completed. If there's faith, then it can protect that action by means of removing the defects of speech and mind. But if due to loss of faith, there are mistakes in motion, chanting and meditation can not guard that karma. In this regard, people who know the ancient accounts describe the message of Lord Brahma, that's as follows - earlier the deities considered the material of a devotee with or without religion, pure and without purity, to be the same for the yajna. Further, they did not consider any distinction among the miserly Vedavetta and the great doner. The deities, after much deliberation, had constant both the types of meals similarly.
Once Prajapati, seeing this, said, “Deities! you have done this unfairly, in fact, a generous's meal is taken into consideration holy because of his faith and a miserly one is considered impure because of his unbelief. The summary is that simplest the food of generosity needs to be fed on not of the miser, the Srotriya, and usurer. The only one in whom there may be no devotion, his meals should no longer be eaten by the deities. The religious men agree with so. Disbelief is the biggest sin and faith is the one to remove sin. Along with having a religion, getting rid of sins is more than all holiness. One whose faults associated with modesty have been removed, that trustworthy individual is always pure. What is he to take by penance? Which purpose is to be accomplished by conduct or self-reflection?
The true men who've found out Dharma and Artha have defined Dharma in the same way. We have obtained an understanding of that religion after expressing our curiosity from a sage named Dharmadarshana. By following it, you will acquire the preferred state. The devoted man who has faith is the embodiment of the proper Dharma. The one who's reverently situated on his dharma, he's considered to be the best.”
(Consequently, it is suitable to take the food of a devotee without holiness in preference to a faithless one. Further, among the miserly Vedavettas and the donor usurers, simplest the donor usurper's meals are honoured and appropriate. Only the usurers and only the miser's meals are discarded.)
In this way, Tuladhara made a remarkable speech. He also described Sanatana Dharma. The brahmin Jajali, after hearing those words, understood the meaning thoroughly. Jajali achieved peace. After that, within a short time, each Tuladhara and Jajali, both great wise men, went to the supreme home, after getting their respective places as a result of their auspicious deeds, started living there happily.
Ref:Mahabharata Book Shanti Parva