Day 247 - The Story of Bhagiratha

Day 247 -  The Story of Bhagiratha

Vasistha narrates:

Once upon a time, there was a noble king named Bhagiratha. He was deeply devoted to dharma (righteousness) and was known for his generosity towards the pious and his efforts to punish wrongdoers. Bhagiratha worked tirelessly to eliminate the roots of poverty and found great joy in the company of holy men, where his heart overflowed with devotion.

Bhagiratha is famous for bringing the holy river Ganga down from the heavens to the earth, a task that required him to overcome immense difficulties and seek the blessings of the gods Brahma, Siva, and the sage Jahnu. Despite facing many setbacks and frustrations, he remained determined.

From a young age, Bhagiratha was wise and dispassionate. One day, reflecting on the futility of worldly life, he thought, "This life is meaningless and repetitive. Day and night pass endlessly, with people engaged in the same pointless activities. True action is that which leads to the highest goal, beyond which nothing remains to be achieved." Seeking guidance, he approached his guru, Tritala, and asked, "How can one escape the cycle of sorrow, aging, death, and delusion that leads to endless rebirth?"

Tritala’s Wisdom:

Tritala replied, "Sorrow ends, and all doubts vanish when one is firmly established in self-equanimity for a long time, when the sense of separation ceases, and when one experiences the fullness of knowledge. What must be known is the self, which is pure consciousness, omnipresent, and eternal."

Bhagiratha’s Doubt:

Bhagiratha responded, "I understand that the self alone is real and that the body and other things are not. But why is this not perfectly clear to me?"

Tritala’s Insight:

Tritala explained, "Mere intellectual understanding is not true knowledge. True knowledge arises from detachment from worldly attachments like family and possessions, equanimity in pleasure and pain, love for solitude, and being deeply rooted in self-knowledge. Only when the ego is diminished does true self-knowledge arise."

Bhagiratha’s Question:

Bhagiratha then asked, "Since the ego is so deeply rooted in the body, how can it be uprooted?"

Tritala’s Guidance:

Tritala advised, "Through self-effort, resolute detachment from the pursuit of pleasure, and by breaking down the false sense of dignity and other mental prisons. If you abandon these and remain firm, the ego will dissolve, and you will realize your true nature as the supreme being."

Bhagiratha’s Renunciation and Enlightenment

Vasistha continues:

After hearing Tritala’s teachings, Bhagiratha decided to renounce the world. Within three days, he gave away all his possessions to priests and relatives, even handing over his kingdom to his enemies. Clad in a simple loincloth, he left his kingdom and wandered through unknown lands and forests.

Soon, Bhagiratha attained supreme inner peace. By chance, he returned to his former kingdom, where the people recognized him and begged him to resume his role as king. He accepted only food from them and soon left the kingdom again.

Bhagiratha reunited with his guru, and they wandered together, engaging in spiritual discussions. They questioned the need to carry the physical body but decided to let it be as long as it lasted. They were free from sorrow and joy and were indifferent to wealth and psychic powers, even when offered by gods and sages.

In another kingdom where the king had died without an heir, the ministers sought a new ruler. They found Bhagiratha, still clad in his loincloth, and decided he was the right person to be their king. Bhagiratha was crowned and soon after, the people of his previous kingdom also requested him to rule them. Thus, Bhagiratha became the emperor of the whole world, ruling with inner peace, a silent mind, free from desires and jealousy, and performing appropriate actions as circumstances arose.

Bhagiratha’s Divine Task

During his reign, Bhagiratha learned that the only way to honor his ancestors was by offering libations with the waters of the Ganga. To accomplish this, he retreated to the forest, entrusting his empire to his ministers. There, through severe austerities, he pleased the gods and sages and succeeded in the nearly impossible task of bringing the Ganga down to earth. From that time on, the sacred Ganga, which adorned Lord Siva’s head, began to flow on earth, allowing people for generations to offer libations to their ancestors.