Glory of the Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita

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Glory of the Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita

AATMAVAT SARVA BHUTESHU

The kingdom of Prathishtana by the banks of the river Godavari was

ruled by Maharaja Jaanashruthi. The kingdom was a perfect welfare

state under the prosperous rule of the noble king. The king while

taking care of the welfare of the subjects also took a deep interest

in performing poojas and yajnas for the well being of the state.

The gods and mother nature were ever ready with their blessings and

provided whatever is required for the well being of the people.

 

One day Jaanashruthi was taking a stroll in the palace garden by

twilight. The sky was lit by the full moon and a pleasant breeze was

blowing. A noise caught the attention of the king, it was a flock

of swans flying towards the palace. The king was adept in

understanding the language of the birds and he soon overheard a swan

talking to others in the flock – " Don't make noise, this is the

palace of the King Jaanashruthi. This place is radiant because of

the greatness of the king. Moreover the luminance of the Brahma

Thejas in his face may blind our vision and we may find it difficult

to fly " .

 

The other swans retorted – " The Brahma Thejas of Jaanashruthi ! It

is nothing compared to the Brahma Thejas of Rwaika "

 

The king was stunned and upset hearing this. His face became pale

and his eyes were filled with tears. He thought he was the

personification of all human virtues and a treasure house of

goodness. Is there somebody who is more noble than me ? The question

tormented the king. However the king never felt an iota of jealousy

in his mind, instead he was filled with the desire to meet that

noble soul.

 

He soon ordered his minister to find Rwaika, the great man who had

realized Brahman. The minister sent Maha, a charioteer who was

adept in finding persons based on limited information. He had been

given a brief description of the features and characteristics of

Rwaika by the king based on the conversation of the swans. Maha

roamed in different places – Kasi, Gaya, Kurukshetra,

Thryambakeshwar, but was unable to track Rwaika. Finally he reached

the temple of Manikyeshwar in Kashmir.

 

He spotted a person who almost fitted to the description of Rwaika

as given by the king. The person was sitting on the ground besides

a bullock cart scratching his body. He went to the person and asked

him – " Noble one, are you not Rwaika, please come and be seated in

my chariot, why are you sitting here ? "

 

Rwaika replied with an innocent smile – " Yes I am Rwaika !, but I

have lot of work to do. Some sacks are being loaded into this cart,

and the bulls are pretty old. I might be required to render a

helping hand in pushing the cart in the steep path over there "

 

" Please come to our palace "

 

Rwaika said – " There is no greater palace than the place I live, I

will not come "

 

The charioteer went back to the king and told him all that happened.

 

The king set out to meet the holy man with several chariots filled

with valuable gifts. Finally he reached Manikyeshwar. He met Rwaika

and prostrated before him.

 

" Holy one, please accept my gifts and come to my palace and honour

my kingdom "

 

Rwaika retorted – " Throw away all this gifts in the pyre burning

over there. I have to pull the cart here, I have not time for

anything else ! "

 

The king pleaded – " Great one, don't get angry, I brought all these

just for you, please accept my humble gifts "

 

" I don't need anything, throw them away "

 

" Great one, I am afraid to even look at your face which is so

luminous with Brahma Thejas. How have you attained such radiance "

 

" Oh King ! see all the beings in this universe as you see yourself,

then you also will attain such Brahma Thejas "

 

" Great one, I am not able to understand what you tell, is this

possible for a king ? "

 

" Great King ! I read the Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita every

day, that is what which imparts me such Sattvic nature and radiance

which is even the envy of Gods "

 

The king told him – " Please accept me as your disciple, I'll start

reading the Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita from today onwards "

 

The great Rwaika was happy and said to the king – " That is enough.

If you do that you'll reach a stage " Atmavat Sarva Bhuteshu " where

you regard every being like your own self. Then your Brahma Thejas

will multiply many fold " .

 

" A million thanks for your great advice, Guruji ! "

 

Rwaika smiled innocently at the king.