The Story of Kaushika

BY: ISVARA DASA

Dec 05, 2013 — INDIA (SUN) — Adapted from the Mahabharat retold by Purnaprajna dasa.

"This is an intriguing story of how a brahmana receives spiritual instructions from the most unusual sources"

There was once a brahm¬ana named Kaushika, who was very devoted to the study of the Vedas. One day, as he was reciting the Vedas while seated beneath a tree, a female crane passed stool on his head. This made the rishi very angry and with a desire to retaliate, he looked up at the crane with eyes that were red with rage. Immedi¬ately, the crane fell down dead onto the ground. Upon seeing the result of his anger, Kaushika became very sorry. With great remorse, he lamented again and again for having acted so maliciously.

Some time thereafter, Kaushika went to a nearby village to beg for some alms. While going door to door, he came to a certain house, and as usual, he asked the housewife to give him something in charity. The lady of the house replied, "O brahm¬ana, just wait a bit" and after saying this, she went inside. Then, as the woman was cleaning the bowl that was used for giving alms, her husband suddenly arrived, very tired and hungry. Because of this, the chaste wife forgot all about the brahm¬ana and quickly went to tend to all of her husband's needs. She gave her husband a comfortable seat, and water for washing his feet. She then placed before him cool drinks and a sumptuous feast after thus fulfilling all of her husband's needs, she stood respectfully by his side, awaiting his orders.

This chaste woman always ate her husband's remnants, she performed all of her household duties very expertly, and she treated her husband and his relatives with very great respect. Then, the woman suddenly remembered that she had asked the brahm-ana, Kaushika, to wait. Feeling ashamed of her negligence, she quickly took some alms and came before him. Kaushika was very angry by this time, and when he saw the woman finally arrive, he fumed, "I am very surprised that you would dare to make me wait like this!"

The woman tried to pacify Kaushika by explaining, "O brahm¬ana, my husband is my lord, and therefore I always serve him first."

Kaushika challenged, "Foolish woman, do you really think that your husband is more worthy of respect than brahm¬anas, before whom even Indra bows down his head? Don't you know that a brahm¬ana's wrath can destroy the entire Earth?"

At this, the woman exclaimed, "O rishi, I am no she-crane! Therefore, you had better give up your anger, for it will never be able to harm me! I certainly have great respect for brahm¬anas, and I know that it is because of their wrath that the ocean has become salty, and thus undrinkable. I also know how you had killed a she-crane with your angry glance. However, you should know that one is really a brahm¬ana when he has conquered his lust and anger, and is therefore forgiving. Only then do the demigods regard him as a true brahm¬ana. Therefore, you should forgive my small fault."

"I know that you have studied the Vedas very minutely and yet, despite this, I can see that you do not actually understand the true meaning of virtue. You should go to the city of Mithila and learn the essence of morality from a certain butcher who lives there. This meat seller is perfectly truthful, a master of the senses, very devoted to his parents, and is capable of teaching the real meaning of righteousness. Now, please forgive me, if my words have offended you. After all, virtuous persons never think of punishing women."

After hearing the woman's remarkable speech, the brahm¬ana humbly said, "Your words of wisdom have given me great pleasure, and my anger has subsided. I honestly feel that your chastisement was meant for my benefit. I will go to Mithila, as you have suggested, so that I can learn the true meaning of virtue."

Kaushika left that woman's house and while going along the road, he bitterly reproached himself for his uncontrolled anger, born of false pride. Even after returning home, Kaushika could not forget the woman's wonderful speech. Because he felt very ashamed of his crude behavior, he decided to set out at once for Mithila so that he could learn the truth about morality. Because the woman had mysteriously known that he had killed a crane, Kaushika had faith in her words, and thus he set off on his long, arduous journey.

Finally, after traversing many forests while passing through many kingdoms, Kaushika arrived at the splendid capital that was ruled by King Janaka. After entering the beautifully decorated city, Kaushika saw that all of the citizens were very healthy and happy, and that they were always engaged in either arranging for or celebrating some festival or other.

Kaushika inquired from the local brahm¬anas, and thus he was directed to the butcher's house. There, he saw the man who the woman had instructed him to meet, sitting in the front yard selling some deer and buffalo meat. Because of the crowd, Kaushika stood at some distance. However, understanding Kaushika's arrival the butcher quickly got up from his seat and went to the secluded place where he was standing.

The butcher welcomed Kaushika and said, "O brahm¬ana, I know about how the chaste woman spoke to you, so that you have come here."

Hearing this, Kaushika was astonished. As he continued to marvel at this, the meat seller invited Kaushika to sit in front of his house. After being offered water for washing his feet, as Kaushika was seated at his ease, he remarked, "O meat seller, your cruel profession does not seem to be appropriate for someone with such a gentle and cultured nature!"

The hunter replied, "My dear brahm¬ana, this has been my family occupation for many generations, and thus I am simply performing the duty that has been ordained for me by the Supreme Lord. Because this is my destiny, I know that there is nothing to lament. In spite of my lowly profession, I always serve my superiors- I ever speak the truth- I only eat what is left over after offering all of my food to God, my dependents, and guests- and I am never envious of others. I sell the meat of pigs and buffalo, but I never kill the animals myself, nor do I eat meat. Indeed, I fast during the entire day and then have my meal at night. As far as sexual enjoyment is concerned, I only approach my wife at the proper time for conception. O brahm¬ana, even if one is engaged in an abominable profession, he can still develop all good qualities."

The butcher knew that Kaushika had come to his house to take instruction on the subject of morality, and so he discoursed at length on such topics. In the course of his speech, the butcher said, "Due to the pious rule of Maha¬raja Janaka, all of the subjects are properly engaged in their occupational duties, and no sinful act goes unpunished."

"When a king deviates from the execution of his duties according to religious principles, then virtue declines within the kingdom and sin flourishes. Indeed, it is due to such sinfulness on the part of the King that dwarves, hunchbacks, as well as those who are dear, dumb and impotent, take birth within his realm."

"My dear brahm¬ana, a person who acts sinfully is actually killing his own self. On the other hand, even if one is devoid of bodily beauty, he can display a sublime inner beauty by never speaking ill of others and avoiding praise of himself. Sinful men sometimes clothe themselves with an external show of virtue, but by doing so, they become just like a dark well covered by grass. Outwardly, such persons seem to possess self-control and godliness, and indeed, they often preach the path of virtue. However, if one gets a chance to witness such persons' conduct, it is seen to be just the opposite. One whose heart is naturally inclined toward truthfulness, charity, and nonviolence, is actually a virtuous person."

"O brahm¬ana, my present low position is certainly the result of my past bad karma. And yet, because I know that the Supreme Lord is the ultimate controller of everyone's destinies, I consider Him to be the real doer, and myself to be simply His servant. The animals that I sell are always offered first to various demigods and goddesses and then fed to guests. In this way, they also receive some pious credit. King Rantideva used to sacrifice 2000 animals daily, and by distributing this food to all who were hungry, he attained great fame."

"It is always better to stick to one's occupation, even though faulty, than to accept the duties that have been ordained for another. One must accept the results of his previous acts, while at the same time endeavoring to atone for his sins and not commit any more that will result in future suffering."

"It is a fact that every occupation involves some kind of violence and sinful activity. Even in agriculture, so many tiny living beings are killed when one plows the fields. Indeed, the entire material universe is maintained on the principle that one living being subsists upon another. There are living entities everywhere, and so even by walking one is unconsciously committing so much violence. Because of this, there is no such thing as genuine nonviolence."

"The ways of understanding morality are very subtle. For example, truthfulness is certainly one of the highest virtues and yet, it may be forsaken to save a life, or at the time of marriage. Therefore, one must judge a thing by its results. That which leads to the greatest good is actually moral."

"It is a fact that one is forced to accept so many conditions as a result of his past karma. Thus, a person must learn to tolerate all these conditions while trying to lead a virtuous life. Someone may argue that we are free to do as we like. However, it can be counter-argued that if we were actually independent, no one would ever grow old or die. In the great race of life, where everyone tries to outdistance all others, no one would fail to obtain the objects of his desires. However, it is practically seen that people are almost always baffled in the endeavor to fulfill their aspirations. Therefore, what is the question of independence?"

"Some people think that astrological conditions are the predominating determining factor in one's life. However, it is practically seen that even though many persons are born under the influence of the same stars and planets, there is a great diversity in the results that they achieve throughout their lives. Therefore, we must conclude that it is one's past acts that fructify to become the conditions of our present life."

Kaushika wanted to hear more about how karma takes one through the cycle of repeated birth and death. The butcher said, "My dear brahm¬ana, pious acts carry us to the heavenly planets, where we can enjoy the life of a demigod. Sinful and sensual life leads downward to animal existence or hellish torments. A mixture of pious and sinful life awards one a human birth. However, one can free himself from the effects of past karma by performing austerities and living a life of piety. Indeed, when one renounces temporary material enjoyment altogether, he can attain salvation from the vicious cycle of repeated birth and death."

"The ultimate goal of virtue and study of the Vedas is to factually detach oneself from this materialistic life of personal and extended sense gratification. This is not only the goal of life for those who have been born in brahm¬ana families. Even if one is born in a shudra family, but somehow cultivates the mode of goodness, and thus develops virtuous qualities, he must be accepted as a genuine brahm¬ana."

After hearing all this, Kaushika said, "My dear sir, I feel very fortunate to have met you. Your words have given me great satisfaction." The butcher requested, "Please enter my house, so that you can see my sole claim to virtue- my old mother and father."

Kaushika went into the butcher's house and saw it was a gorgeously decorated and furnished mansion. He saw the butcher's mother and father, dressed in white robes and sitting at ease after having finished their meal. The butcher fell to the ground to offer obeisances to his parents and then touched his head to their feet. Both mother and father picked up their beloved son and praised him for regarding them as his chief deity.

The butcher introduced Kaushika to his parents and in turn, the brahm¬ana inquired about their welfare. The butcher then said, "Kaushika, I worship my mother and father just as one is supposed to worship the thirty-three principal demigods. My whole life is dedicated to their service, and thus I always do exactly what is most agreeable to them, and I wash their feet with my own hands."

Kaushika was very astonished to see the butcher's piety, and so he praised him highly as being the perfectly virtuous person. The butcher then said, "My dear brahm-ana, you have wronged your mother and father by leaving home without their permission, for the purpose of studying the Vedas. Now, they are very old and invalid and blind as well. In your absence, they have become very aggrieved. You should return home and console them. In fact, because of this single fault, all of your religious practices have been rendered useless."

Kaushika could understand that there must be some mystery as to how such a great soul could have been born into a low family. With this in mind, he said, "My dear butcher, it has been my great fortune to have met you, and thus learned so much about morality. Indeed, you have saved me from traversing the path to hell, and so I am eternally indebted to you. Now, kindly disclose the actual secret of your low birth, if you think that I am worthy of hearing about it."

The butcher said, "Kaushika, in my last life I was born as the son of a very respectable brahm¬ana. Naturally, I became very learned in the Vedas, and because I was a close friend of the King, I also became highly skilled with the bow. One day, I accompanied the king to the forest when he went hunting, along with his ministers and military commanders."

"The King proceeded to kill a large number of deer and at that time, I also released an arrow, desiring to test my skill. I was sure that I had aimed at a deer, but it so happened that my arrow pierced a rishi who resided there. As the brahm¬ana lay on the ground, crying out in great pain, I approached him and pleaded, 'O sage, be merciful and pardon me, for it was by accident that I pierced you with my arrow.' The rishi was overwhelmed by anger and grief, however, and so he could not be pacified. Before breathing his last, he cursed me, saying, 'So that you pay for this sin, in your next life, you will be born in a family of butchers!' "

"Again and again, I piteously begged for the rishi's forgiveness. At last, he compassionately said, 'My curse cannot be nullified. But, as a concession, I shall grant that, despite your low birth, you will be able to remember the events of you past life and thus always remain fixed in righteousness. By rigidly serving your parents, you will become purified. When the duration of my curse expires, you will once again be born as a brahm¬ana and thereafter attain heaven.' "

Kaushika circumambulated the butcher while praising him highly. After receiving his permission, he departed for home. Kaushika returned to his aged parents, and as advised by the butcher from Mithila, he became very attentive in the matter of serving them.


Mahabharat is available from Touchstonemedia.com.


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