The Emperor Beggar (Bhagiratha)

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

"In spite of doing many Yogas and practicing many Yogas, Bhagiratha (an emperor)

could not attain the bliss of the Self. He made a self-inquiry, a

self-introspection to find the reason of his defect or lacuna. He could realize

that the reason was his egoism caused by the effect of the deeds of his previous

birth. He decided 'I must give up my egoism that I am an emperor. For that, I

must relinquish the positions and come down.' He sent word to a neighboring

king and said, 'Take my kingdom. Please save me.' The king was afraid of doing

so. Bhagiratha convinced him somehow. He dressed himself as a beggar and

begged at night. His egoism prevented him from begging during day time. His

crazy feeling that he was an emporor vanished. After some more time, he begged

even in Ayodhya, his captial during day time. The king came to know of this and

asked Bhagiratha to take over the rulership. Bhagiratha replied, 'I came to beg

for food. I don't want the empire,' and went away.

 

Some time later, the king died. The people searched and located Bhagiratha and

said, 'Oh! Lord we are orphans. You are born in the famous solar dynasty.

Please accept the rulership and protect us.' Bhagiratha obliged them and got

himself coronated. He attained the mental state of unattachment,

attributelessness and steadiness. He retained the state of desirelessness of

his beggar's life, even after becomeing an emperor. As a beggar, he wore torn

clothes and ate whatever people gave and slept anywhere. Even as an emperor, he

had no infatuation for royal pleasures. He meditated on the Ganga and Shiva

brought the Ganga to earth.

 

Shall we also obtain the bliss of the Self?"

 

Sri Swamiji

Katha Saagar p.148

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

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