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5- Story of Upamanyu
There was a Rishi
named Dhaumya who had three disciples in his Gurukul - Upamanyu, Aaruni from
Paanchaal country, and Ved. Once Guru Jee called Upamanyu and assigned him
some cows to take care of. He started taking them to graze in the
morning and bring them back in the evening. After a while, Muni asked -
"How do you support yourself? You look quite healthy." Upamanyu
said politely - "Guru Jee, I live upon the milk of these cows."
Guru Jee said - "Son, It is not appropriate to drink milk of these cows without my
permission." "Yes Guru Jee." and he went away to tend the cows.
After a while, Guru Jee again called him and when he came
back and stood before his Guru Jee, Guru Jee observed that he was still
healthy. He again asked him - "Upamanyu, You don't eat anything from
alms, nor you go for alms second time, nor you are drinking milk of these
cows, still you are healthy. How do you support yourself now?" Upamanyu
said - "I sip the froth these calves throw out of their mouth while
sucking their mother's teats." Guru Jee said - "These calves must
be throwing much froth out of generosity for you. Don't you think that by doing this
you should be sharing their full meal? It is unlawful for you to drink the
froth like this." And Upamanyu accepting his mistake again went away to
tend the cows.
Now he
didn't have anything to eat - no alms, no milk, no froth. Once, out of
the hunger, Upamanyu ate Aak leaves (by eating these leaves one becomes
blind) and became blind. As he was walking around, he fell into a pit, thus
could not return home that evening. When Guru Jee did not see him in the
evening, he got worried about him. He had restrained him from eating
everything, so he didn't know how he would be. Thinking thus, he himself went in search of
him. He called in the forest - "O Upamanyu, Where are you?"
Upamanyu replied - "I am here in this well. I ate Aak leaves, so I
became blind and have fallen in this well." Guru Jee said - "Pray
Ashwinee Kumaar, they will restore your sight."
And
Upamanyu prayed them. Ashwinee Kumaar
appeared before him and gave him a cake to eat. Upamanyu said - "You
have said correctly, but I cannot take this cake without first offering to
my Guru." Ashwinee Kumaar said to him - "Once before your Guru
invoked us and we gave a cake to him too, but he had eaten it without offering
to his Guru. You also do the same what your Guru did." Upamanyu said -
"I beg your pardon, but I cannot take this cake without offering to
him." Ashwinee Kumaar got very pleased with him and said to him -
"We are very pleased with you. Your Guru's teeth are of black iron, but your
teeth will be of gold. Your eyes will be all right and you will have good
fortune." He got his sight back, came out of the well, and greeted Guru Jee. Guru Jee also blessed him with the knowledge of Ved and all Dharm
Shaastra.
[From Mahaabhaarat, Aadi
Parv-4. This is
an
example of great obedience towards one's Guru or teacher or elder.]
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