Story 2=
Once, while on a hunting
expedition, King Harischandra heard the cries of a woman asking for help. Armed
with a bow and arrow, he went in the direction of the sound. The sound was an
illusion created by Vighnaraja, the lord of the obstacles. Vighnaraja was
trying to disturb the tapasya (meditation) of the sage Biswamitra.
When he saw Harischandra, he entered the king's body and started
abusing Biswamitra. This disturbed Biswamitra’s tapasya, and
destroyed all the knowledge that the sage had acquired during this tapasya.
When
Harischandra came to his senses and remembered everything, he realized that the
sage was extremely angry with him, and apologized. He promised to fulfill any
of the sage's desires to get rid of his guilt. The sage Biswamitra demanded dakshina
(dakshina means donation) for his Havan. He wants to do a havan for the
Earth. The king asked him what he wanted in payment. Biswamitra said,
"Give me all that your properties, kingdom." Harischandra said, “O
sage, As your wish.” And
as the king left the palace with his
family
and abandoned the kingdom, Biswamitra
demanded another donation. Harischandra said that he did not have any
possession left, but promised to make another donation within a month. Then the sage
said, “ So how do you will make your promise true, now you are not a king, so
from where you will get that much amount of money..?” The king said with respect, “ That’s not your
problem ,I will give you your money so don’t worry..” Then the sage said, “ I
have not so much time, remember only one month.” Nakhyatra was also leave the
kingdom with them and followed them.Nearly
a month after leaving his kingdom, Harischandra arrived in the holy city Kashi
, only to see Biswamitra already present there. The sage demanded the donation
that the king had promised him. Harischandra pointed out that there was still
some time left in completion of one month. The sage agreed with him to come
back at the next sunset and departed. As his hungry prince Rohitshawa cried for
food, His wife queen Taramati suggested that he sell her to get some money
because she don’t want to make her husband a nontruthful man. Harischandra said “No I can’t do this.., How a
husband can do this” . But his wife Taramati forced him so after some
hesitation Harischandra accepted the proposal and sold her as a servant to a Brahmin
old man. Their child would not let go of his mother, so it was decided that he
would accompany his mother and an extra payment was made.
Soon after, Biswamitra appeared again and demanded the donation.
Harischandra gave him all the money he had received from the sale of his wife
and son. However, Biswamitra was unhappy with the donation, and demanded more.
Harischandra then decided to sell himself.
He went to that market and tell everyone about the payment and asked everyone
to buy him but no one can buy because the amount of payment was too high. But a
group of Chandala people, they lived in cemeteries and drank a lot of taadi/toddy (a type of country liquor that
smells very bad), came and said that we will buy him, but Nakhyatra said, “but
do you know about the price?”, then the leader Birbahu said, “Yes I know , come
and take the price..”.Then they gives a new name to the king and the name was
Birdas.... and said now you are my servant. Then the king said, “ yes sir now I
am the servant you are my lord..”, then Nakhyatra fell on their feet and
started asking for forgive and said, 'This is the order of the sage, that's why
please forgive me, So Harischandra smiling said that no matter what , not your
fault. After that Harischandra started working in the cremation ground.
Taramati worked as a servant in Brahmin’s house, the wife of the
Brahmin was so rude sometimes she did not gives food to Taramati and her son.
Each time she beat them and torture them a lot. Brahmin was not so rude so
sometimes he helps them. And there Harischandra(Birdas) used to worked as a
servant for the chaldal Birbahu in cremation ground. He used to took care of
the graveyard as security guard. He used to took tax from them who bring dead
body to the graveyard and to cremated of them. a part
of the tax would go to the chandala, a part would be given to the
local king, and the rest would be Harischandra's remuneration.
He was a best servant of the chandala
Birbahu, Birbahu always happy of him.
a part would be given to the local king, and the rest would be Harischandra's
remuneration. Harischandra started living and working at the cremation ground.
One day, he dreamed about his past lives, and realized that his current
condition was a result of his past sins. During this nightmare, he also saw his
queen crying before him. When he woke up, he saw his queen actually crying
before him. She held the dead body of their son, who had died of a snake bite.
Thinking of his misfortune, Harischandra thought of committing suicide, but
then realized that he would have to continue paying for his sins in his next
life.
Meanwhile,
the queen readied to cremate the dead body of their son. But, Harischandra told
her that he would not let her do so without paying the fee. At that time, all
the deities appeared led by the deity of Dharma and accompanied by Biswamitra.
They praised Harischandra for his good qualities, and invited him to heaven.
But
Harischandra refused to go to heaven without his public who have lamented over
his departure from his kingdom. He believes that they are the equal sharer in
his merits and that he will only go heaven when
his people also accompany him. He requested the king of devas, Indra to allow
his people to go to heaven at least for a single day. Indra accepts his
request, and he along with his people ascend to the heaven.
So what did we
learn from this?
1)
Make yourself a truthful man.
2)
If you are a leader then “There is everything equal for everyone.” Follow this rule everyone will
respect you and follow you.
