8-Consciousness
A
man 's consciousness is everything
As
Vikramaaditya was walking fast toward cremation ground, Vaitaal spoke again
- "Vikram, What is in a man which makes him different from other
living beings and he is regarded the highest among brave people?"
Vikram didn't say a word, he continued to move on silently. Vaitaal
continued - "OK, Then I tell you a story in this regard.
There was a king in
Magadh Desh. His name was Shoorsen. He was a very good king. Many kings
came in his court just only to see him. People said that his palace was more beautiful than
Indra's court.
Once
he went for hunting and went far in search of the hunt. He was following a
deer. He was a very good horse rider. He had come very far, his people
were left far behind. He was alone. Suddenly his deer disappeared. Now he had
the chance to look around. It was a very dense lonely forest. He started
thinking that in which direction he should go, he couldn't make out so he
just started moving in one direction. But the day was getting over, and he was still in the
forest. He was hungry and thirsty also. There were many wild animals
around him, but he was not afraid of them, the problem was only of his
hunger and thirst.
The
night had fallen by now, he could not move more, so he loosened his horse, tied
him with a tree and lay down on the ground. He kept his sword near him. He
was worried, he was hungry, and he could not sleep. At about midnight he heard
the sound of two lions fighting together for a lioness. He got up, picked his sword and
started seeing their fight. A lioness was standing nearby. Suddenly the
lioness ran away, so both lions also ran away after her, and the whole
atmosphere became quiet again.
The
king again lay down and waited for the morning. But in the meantime he
heard a sound and he again got up taking his sword. His pearl necklace and
diamond and pearl studded sword were shining. He heard a voice - "Who
are you?" The king got very happy to hear a man's voice, so he very
softly asked him - "First you tell me, who are you?" The man
replied - "I am a traveler, but who are you? You look like a king.
How have you come here?" "How did you know that I am a
king?" "Your shining gems are telling this."
Then
Shoorsen introduced himself, that man also came near him and said to him -
"I know the way, I can take you out of this forest. I have something
to eat, you may satisfy yourself." He gave a couple of Chapaatee and
some vegetable to him. King ate them, they were like Amrit to him. The man
said - "Now you take some rest. I will keep watch." Then the man
told him that his name was Gunaadhip and he was an orphan. His elder
brother had brought him up. His sister-in-law had expelled him saying that
he was a loafer. Now he was traveling on foot and was looking for a job.
Shoorsen didn't say anything, he slept comfortably.
In the
morning he made the traveler sit on his horse and they came to his capital
after mid-day. He made a comfortable arrangement for Gunaadhip to stay. He
appointed him as his counselor and made the arrangement of palace,
servants and maids etc for him. Gunaadhip felt lucky."
After
a little pause, Vaitaal continued - "One day, Gunaadhip went to the
city and saw a beautiful woman taking bath in a pond. He fell in love with
her, she also liked him. She asked him - "Do you like me?"
"Yes" The woman whispered - "Then come tomorrow at this
time." He came back and told everything to the king.
Shoorsen said - "I will also go with you tomorrow." Gunaadhip
came back to his palace, he could not sleep the whole night.
Next
day both went to the same place, she was taking bath in the pond like
yesterday. Seeing Gunaadhip coming she came to him and asked about
Shoorsen. Gunaadhip told her that he was the king. Hearing this she said -
"I will marry Shoorsen." Shoorsen got stunned hearing this, even
Gunaadhip couldn't digest this. Both looked at each other. Then Gunaadhip
said to the king - "O King, You marry her." Shoorsen got silent
for a moment then said - "No, Gunaadhip, You marry her." But the
woman refused to marry Gunaadhip.
King
asked her - "But you have already agreed yesterday?" "Yes"
"Then why did you change your decision today?" "Because I
want to live in a palace." Shoorsen said - "Don't worry, you will live in
palace because I have given him a palace to live." Now she agreed to marry to
Gunaadhip and they were married. Now tell, O Vikram, whose consciousness is
purer? Gunaadhip's, who got ready to give up that beautiful woman for whom
he himself wanted to marry; or Shoorsen who was also attracted to the
beauty of the woman but still left her for Gunaadhip?
Vikram
first kept silence. Vaitaal said - "Speak, Vikram. If you will not
reply me in spite of knowing the answer, your head will split into pieces.
He
knew that he had to reply, so he said - "You asked me a question,
that "what is in a man which makes man higher than other
beings?" This is the answer of the same question. You remember you
told that two lions were fighting for a lioness. This is the point where
man differs from animals, and its reason is his consciousness. Only the
consciousness makes him higher than other beings."
As Vikram
broke his silence, Vaitaal said laughing - "You
are right Vikram." and saying this he again ran away
from the king's
shoulder. Although the king was attentive still the king took time to
capture him, but he captured him almost immediately and started walking
fast again towards the cremation ground.
After
a while Vaitaal said - "Why
are you so much in hurry? Trust me we will be there in time." Vikram
said - "Already two Prahar night has passed and I have to reach there
before the end of the third Prahar." Vaitaal said - "You will
reach there Vikram, don't worry, just listen to the story." Vikram
did not speak.
Vaitaal
said - There was a Tapaswee Muni in Avanteepur. His name was Shankhdhar.
Once he saw a beautiful woman in his Aashram, and got attracted to her.
The woman also blinked at Muni. But Muni remembered his Tapasyaa, so he
gave her Shaap, "You become an old woman." That woman became an old
woman. She said crying, "Hey Muni, What was my fault? Why did you give
me such Shaap?" Muni said "You came to break my Tapasyaa."
"Then why did you take my youth, why didn't you control
yourself?" Muni didn't say anything and went away from there. Now
tell me, was it appropriate for the Muni to give such a Shaap to that
woman?
Vikram
said - "Yes, It was appropriate. If that woman had not blinked at him
then the Muni was at fault; but since she blinked at him, she was at
fault. She had no right to blink at the Muni. If Muni was attracted only
toward her beauty, then Muni was at fault, but in this case he was not at
fault. That is why she was punished."
This
time Vaitaal didn't run away, so Vikram continued moving.
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