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3-Vishnu Puraan - 2-Dwiteeya Ansh

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8-Jadbharat (2) - Ribhu and Nidaagh
3-Vishnu Puraan, 2-Dwiteeya Ansh, p 154-161
see also   5Bhaagvat, 5/3

Sermon of Ribhu to Nidaagh About A-Dwait

Paraashar said - "Seeing king silent on this issue, Braahman again spoke "Now listen to whatever Ribhu told Nidaagh. In earlier times, Brahmaa Jee had a son name Ribhu. He already knew Paramaarth Tattwa. Maharshi Pulastya's son Nidaagh was his disciple. Ribhu delivered all knowledge of Tattwa of him happily, but he noticed that in spite of having full knowledge, Nidaagh didn't believe in A-Dwait.

At that time there was a city named Veer Nagar inhabited by Pulastya Jee on the banks of Devikaa River. Nidaagh lived in its forests. After 1,000 Divine years (360,000 human years) Ribhu came there to see his disciple. Nidaagh took him inside the house and welcomed him. He offered him food. Ribhu said - "What will I have to eat here because I do not like bad food." Nidaagh said - "I have Sattoo (flour of roasted grains), barley Lapasee (solution of roasted barley flour and milk), roots, fruits, and Pooaa (fried balls of wheat flour and sugar paste). Whatever you like to eat, you may eat." Ribhu said - "These are all bad foods. Give me Halavaa (Indian sweets), Kheer (rice cooked in milk), Matthaa (buttermilk), and sweets." Nidaagh asked his wife to cook good food for him.

When Ribhu had finished his food, Nidaagh asked - "Hey Braahman, Are you satisfied with this food? Where do you live, where are you coming from and where are you going to?" Ribhu said - "Only he is satisfied who is hungry. I never felt hungry, so why do you ask me about satisfaction? The fire of stomach burns the power in body that is why one feels hungry; and when the water content of body becomes low then one feels thirsty. And hunger and thirst are the nature of this physical body, not of mine, that is why I am always satisfied. Both being healthy and satisfied are by heart, therefore they are the nature of heart, again not of mine. They are not related to Purush (soul or Aatmaa), therefore you ask him only whose Dharm they are.

And you asked "Where do you live , where are you coming from and where are you going to?"; so listen to their answer also. Soul is everywhere, therefore all these questions have no meaning. I neither go anywhere, nor I am coming from anywhere, nor I stay at any one place. In reality, you are not you, and I am not I.

In fact, that "tasty" is alsonot tasty. When I asked you "tasty" food, I wanted to see what do you say. Who wants to eat food, What is tasty and what is not tasty or him? Because Tasty food also becomes bad after some time. In the same way sometimes not tasty food becomes tasty. Which is that food which is tasty from the beginning though middle to the end? As a mud house becomes strong by smearing mud on it, in the same way this perishable body becomes stronger by eating only perishable food. All eatables are perishable Paramaanu (the smallest particle). Therefore knowing thus, one should be Samdarshee (see all things alike) because that is the only way to Moksh."

Braahman said - "Prabhu, Tell me who are you who have come here to do good to me? Hearing you my all confusions are gone." Ribhu said - "I am your Guru Ribhu and I have come here to give you good wisdom. By pondering on this Paramaarth Tattwa, you should take this whole world as the form of Vaasudev. You should not discrimination among anyone." And Ribhu went away.

Nidaagh Returns Home

After 1,000 Divine years, Ribhu went again to that city to preach his disciple. There he saw the king of that city entering the city with his army, and Nidaagh standing at a little distance, hungry and thirsty, carrying Kush and Samidhaa (wood sticks for Yagya) in his hands. Ribhu asked - "Hey Braahman, Why are you standing here?" Nidaagh said - "Today the king wants to go in this city so there is a lot of crowd on this road that is why I am standing here." Ribhu said - "It seems you everything about here, therefore tell me who is the king and who are the other people?" Nidaagh said - "He who is sitting on the huge elephant, he is the king and other people are his subjects."

Ribhu said - "You showed me both, the king and the elephant together, but you didn't tell me their individual characteristics. Tell me what are their special characteristics I wish to know that who is the king and who is the elephant." Nidaagh said - "Who is below, he is the elephant, and who is above him is the king. Both have rider and ride relationship. Who doesn't know this?" Ribhu said - "Explain me the meaning of below and above." Suddenly Nidaagh climbed up Ribhu and said - "What you asked, now I tell you. At this moment, I am above like king, and you are below like elephant. I showed this only to explain you the meaning of below and above."

Ribhu said - "Hey Braahman, If you are like king and I am like elephant, then tell me who are you and who am I?" Hearing this Braahman fell on his feet and said - "Certainly you are Maharshi Ribhu. Nobody else's heart is like our Aachaarya's (Guru) heart which has A-Dwait Sanskaar. That is why I am certain that you are our Guru." Ribhu said - "Before you honored me by your good sincere services, that is why I have come here again to preach you. Keeping the A-Dwait mind in all matters is the key of Paramaarth. And this is my preaching in brief."

Braahman (Jadbharat) further said - "Hey Raajan, After having said this Ribhu went away and Nidaagh also started seeing everybody  like himself. So as that Braahman got Moksh by following Paramaarth, you also get it by following Paramaarth - seeing everybody alike whether he is friend or foe, soul or body or just anything."

Paraashar Jee said - "Hearing this Sauveer king abandoned his discriminatory feelings and that Braahman (Jadbharat) also got Mukti in the same life."

END OF VISHNU PURAAN - DWITEEYA ANSH

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