Chapter 261

“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is cited the old narrative of theconversation of Tuladhara with Jajali on the topic of righteousness.There was once a Brahmana of the name of Jajali who lived in a certainforest, practising the ways of a forest-recluse.[1137] Of austerepenances, he proceeded on a certain occasion towards the sea-shore, andhaving arrived there began to practise the most severe penances.Observing many vows and restraints, his food regulated by many rules offast, his body clad in rags and skins, bearing matted locks on his headhis entire person smeared with filth and clay, that Brahmana possessed ofintelligence passed many years there, suspending speech (and engaged inYoga meditation). Possessed of great energy, that regenerate ascetic, Omonarch, while living within the waters (of the sea), roamed through allthe worlds with the speed of the mind, desirous of seeing allthings.[1138] Having beheld the whole earth bounded by the ocean andadorned with rivers and lakes and woods, the ascetic one day, whilesitting under the water, began to think in this strain, ‘In this world ofmobile and immobile creatures there is none equal to me. Who can roamwith me among the stars and planets in the firmament and dwell againwithin the waters.’ Unseen by the Rakshasas while he repeated this tohimself, the Pisachas said unto him, ‘It behoves thee not to say so.There is a man, named Tuladhara, possessed of great fame and engaged inthe business of buying and selling. Even he, O best of regeneratepersons, is not worthy of saying such words as thou sayest.’ Thusaddressed by those beings, Jajali of austere penances replied unto them,saying, ‘I shall see that famous Tuladhara who is possessed of suchwisdom.’ When the Rishi said those words, those superhuman beings raisedhim from the sea, and said unto him, ‘O best of regenerate persons, gothou along this road.’ Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali proceededonwards with a cheerless heart. Arrived at Varanasi he met Tuladhara whomhe addressed saying the following words.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘What, O sire, are those difficult feats that Jajalihad performed before in consequence of which he had acquired such highsuccess? It behoveth thee to describe them to me.’

“Bhishma said, ‘Jajali had become engaged in penances of the severestausterities. He used to perform ablutions morning and evening. Carefullytending his fires, he was devoted to the study of the Vedas.Well-conversant with the duties laid down for forest recluses, Jajali (inconsequence of his practices) seemed to blaze with effulgence.[1139] Hecontinued to live in the woods, engaged all the while in penances. But henever regarded himself as one that had acquired any merit by his acts. Inthe season of the rains he slept under the open sky. In autumn he sat inwater. In summer he exposed himself to the sun and the wind. Still henever regarded himself as one that had acquired any merit through suchacts. He used to sleep on diverse kinds of painful beds and also on thebare earth. Once on a time, that ascetic, while standing under the sky inthe rainy season, received on his head repeated downpours from theclouds. He had to pass through the woods repeatedly. What with exposureto the rains and what with the filth they caught, the locks of thatsinless Rishi became entangled and intertwined with one another. On oneoccasion, that great ascetic, abstaining entirely from food and livingupon air only, stood in the forest like a post of wood. Unmoved at heart,he stood there, without once stirring an inch. While he stood there likea wooden post, perfectly immovable, O Bharata, a pair of Kulinga birds, Oking, built their nest on his head. Filled with compassion, the greatRishi suffered that feathery couple in building their nest among hismatted locks with shreds of grass. And as the ascetic stood there like apost of wood, the two birds lived with confidence on his head happily.The rains passed away and autumn came. The couple, urged by desire,approached each other according to the law of the Creator, and incomplete confidence laid their eggs, O king, on the head of that Rishi.Of rigid vows and possessed of energy, the ascetic knew it. Knowing whatthe birds had done, Jajali moved not. Firmly resolved to acquire merit,no act that involved the slightest injury to others could recommenditself to him. The feathery couple going away and moving every day fromand to his head, happily and confidently lived there, O puissant king!When in the progress of time the eggs became mature and young ones cameout, they began to grow up in that nest, for Jajali moved not in theleast. Firm in the observance of his vows, the righteous-souled Rishicontinued to hold and protect those eggs by standing on that very spotperfectly motionless and rapt in Yoga meditation. In course of time theyoung ones grew and became equipped with wings. The Muni knew that theyoung Kulingas had attained to that stage of development. That foremostof intelligent men, steady in the observance of vows, one day beheldthose young ones and became filled with pleasure. The parent-birds,seeing their young ones equipped with wings, became very happy andcontinued to dwell in the Rishi’s head with them in perfect safety. Thelearned Jajali saw that when the young birds became equipped with wingsthey took to the air every evening and returned to his head withouthaving proceeded far. He still stood motionless on that spot. Sometimes,after he saw that, left by their parents, they went out by themselves andreturned again by themselves. Jajali still moved not. A little whileafter, the young birds going away in the morning passed the whole day outof his sight, but came back in the evening for dwelling in the nest.Sometimes, after that, leaving their nest for five days at a stretch,they returned on the sixth day. Jajali still moved not. Subsequently,when their strength became fully developed they left him and returned notat all even after many days. At last, on one occasion, leaving him, theycame not even after a month. Then, O king, Jajali left that spot. Whenthey had thus gone away for good, Jajali wondered much, and thought thathe had achieved ascetic success. Then pride entered his heart. Firm inthe observance of vows, the great ascetic, seeing the birds thus leavehim after having been reared on his head, thought highly of himself, andbecame filled with delight. He, then, bathed in a stream and pouredlibations on the sacred fire, and paid his adorations to the rising Sunindeed, having thus caused those chataka birds to grow on his head,Jajali, that foremost of ascetics, began to slap his armpits and proclaimloudly through the sky, ‘_I have won great merit_.’ Then an invisiblevoice arose in the sky and Jajali heard these words, ‘Thou art not equal,O Jajali, to Tuladhara in point of righteousness. Possessed of greatwisdom, that Tuladhara lives at Baranasi. Even he is not fit to say whatthou sayest, O regenerate one.’ Hearing these words, Jajali became filledwith wrath, and desirous of meeting Tuladhara, O monarch, began to roamover the whole earth, observing the vow of silence and passing the nightat that spot where evening overtook him.[1140] After a considerable timehe reached the city of Baranasi, and saw Tuladhara engaged in sellingmiscellaneous articles.[1141] As soon as the shop-keeper Tuladhara beheldthe Brahmana arrived at his place, he cheerfully stood up and worshippedthe guest with proper salutations.[1142]

“Tuladhara said, ‘Without doubt, O Brahmana, it is known to me that thouhast come to _me_. Listen, however, O foremost of regenerate persons, towhat I say. Living on a low land near the sea-shore thou underwentestvery austere penances. But thou hadst no consciousness of having achievedrighteousness or merit. When thou didst at last attain to asceticsuccess, certain birds were born on thy head. Thou tookest great care ofthe little creatures. When at last those birds became equipped with wingsand when they began to leave thy head for going hither and thither insearch of food, it was then that, in consequence of having thus assistedat the birth of those Chatakas, thou begannest to feel the impulse ofpride, O Brahmana, thinking thou hadst achieved great merit.[1143] Then,O foremost of regenerate persons, thou heardest in the sky a voice thatreferred to me. The words thou didst hear filled thee with wrath, and asthe consequence thereof thou art here. Tell me, what wish of thine Ishall accomplish, O best of Brahmanas!'”