Vinayam (obedience)

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

Vinayam gives Vruddhi while Ahankar Destroys

 

The story of Nahusha, the son of Aayu and father of the Yayaati, clearly shows

us what un-attainable high positions one can achieve as long as he has vinayam

(obedience) and what drastic downfall can happen if one has ahankaar (egotism)

 

Nahusha was raised in his childhood by the great Brahmarshi Vasishta. Since he

was unaffected by happiness or sorrow and did not feel the slightest ahankaar,

when once Devatas praised him in his childhood, he was named Nahusha. He learnt

all shaastras and after his education became the King. Due to his great

qualities his fame spread quickly to all directions. Everyone was in praise of

him, to such an extent that even Vedas praised him. He performed 100 Ashwamedha

Yaagas and hence deserved the position of Indra.

 

Once, Indra killed an asura by name Vrutrasura. Though Vrutra was an asura, he

was a Brahman and hence Indra had to suffer brahmahatyaa-paatakam and Nahusha

was offered the position of Indra. Nahusha continued to be good, until one day

he realised that he was the ruler, king of all the 14-lokas! He suddenly became

very proud and once a person has Ahankaar, he does not think, he assumes he is

the greatest and that he can never be wrong. Such was the power of being the

king for the Devatas and all the worlds! He sends a message to Sachi-devi, the

great Pativrata and wife of Indra (the previous Indra, the eldest brother of

Devatas) that she must serve him as he is the Indra now. The very moment he

wanted a Pativrata, all his good qualities, tapas-shakti everything were lost

and his end was destined.

 

Sachi-devi tells Nahusha " O great Indra! You are the God of the Gods. You are

very great, please come to my house. But you being so great deserve to be

carried by none other than Saptarishis. So please come in a pallaki bared by

them " . Nahusha really feels that what Sachi-devi said is true (did not realise

that she was a pativrata and hence the real meaning behind her words) and

immediately ordered the Saptarishis to do so. Obviously the Saptarishis have

conquered anger and ahankaar so they carry him. Nahusha sits in the pallaki

bared by them and in the height of his pride says " Sarpa Sarpa " (go fast) to

Agasthya muni, since he was very short and was taking small steps. Agasthya

muni, in order to teach Nahusha a lesson said " sarpobhava " . And immediately from

the high position of Indra, he falls as an Ajagaram (huge Python) in some deep

forest.

 

He spends thousand and thousands of years repenting for his mistake. Once when

Pandavas were in the ashramam of Vrushaparva, Bhima goes to the forest and sees

Nahusha who was in the form of an incredibly huge Ajagaram. Bhima gets surprised

by the amazing strength of it and asks it who it was. Nahusha tells his

unfortunate story and says only the great Yudhishtira, who never deviates from

the path of truth, can save him from this form. Meanwhile, Yudhishtira searching

for Bhima reaches that place. Yudhishtira on knowing that the ajagaram is his

ancestor Nahusha, he prostrates to him and takes his blessings. Later he answers

all the questions of Nahusha and Nahusha gets freed from the terrible form,

takes the form of a divya-purusha and goes to urdhva lokas in a divya vimaana.

 

Spiritual Commentary.

 

As long as Nahusha had Vinayam he was respected by everybody. Once taken over by

Ahankaar, he committed great mistakes and later had to experience the result.

Even for a great person like Nahusha, the power of simhasanam (Throne) made him

bad. One must be more and more careful to be good and humble as his power in the

society grows.

Yudhishtira showed the way elders must be respected. One must never evaluate an

elder for respecting them. According to our culture they always must be

respected.

Gnaanam, knowledge of shaastra helped Yudhishtira answer the questions of

Nahusha. One must always give utmost importance to gnaanam and vigaanam — using

them one can achieve great wonders and help others.

Pativratas power is greater than anyone. One must never want a para-kaanta

Instead obtain blessings from them.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry