Note
The two sages, Sankha and Likhita, in the last episode have earned a name through a treatise on moral codes. These are called “smriti”s. Four of the Smritis are famous, including theirs, by Manu, Yajnavalkya,( Sankha and Likhita) and ParaSara are famous. The Smritis are said to be based on the Vedas which are the revealed truths (Srutis)
Life cycle on earth (time) is divided into four epochs - Krita, Treta, Dvaapara and Kali. There is said to be a moral decay as man passes from the first through the last of the epochs. We are currently on the last. Each of the Smritis, in the order given above, is designed to suit the behaviour of mankind in each of the epochs. These were treated as the constitution of the countries in the region, because the kings judged the crimes and meted out punishments with reference to the codes set by the relevant Smriti.
The end of an epoch is supposed to be marked by a great calamity. The Mahabharata war took place at the end of the third epoch, just before the start of the Kali epoch. At the end of the four epochs there is said to be a deluge (PraLaya). Then life starts again, passing through the four epochs repeatedly. After several such cycles a great deluge takes place.
Vyasa’w words (Continued)
Veda Vyasa continued to speak addressing Yudhishthira in an attempt to console the grieving Pandava.
Vyasa said. “Son, think of your brothers who suffered with you in the forest all these years. You owe them their due along with what you owe to the gods, ancestors (by way of offerings) and to the citizen (protection)”.
“What you need to do now is to assume the role of an emperor and conduct the great horse sacrifice (Aswa Medha). Make generous gifts to all deserving which is part of the ceremony. You will attain all the merits you can ever hope to achieve as a result”.
If you collect the taxes (said to be one sixth of one’s earnings) from your subjects and do not ensure their protection, then you end up attracting one fourth of the sins committed by the erring subjects from time to time.
The story of Hayagriva
Vyasa, then, continued to describe the story of an ancient king by name Hayagriva. There are no details available about the king other than what is given here. (There was a demon by the same name who was killed by an incarnation of Vishnu as fish. That story is more famous, mentioned in many of the epics). In the few stanzas outlining the story the poet uses synonyms (of the word Hayagriva which means one with a neck resembling that of a horse) such as Vaajigriva and Aswagriva. Each stanza ends with a refrain. We have a few translated here with the refrain in the same meter (with four lines of eleven syllables each) to give a taste of the poetry.
The king died at the end of performing acts that destroyed the enemies and protected the subjects. Now, “Vaajigriva in heaven merrily lives (Vaajigrivo modate swargaloke)”.
After facing enemies he sacrificed his life when all his weapons were destroyed in the conflict. And, “Vaajigriva in heaven merrily lives”.
It was a (religious) sacrifice that Hayagriva performed with the bow (as the sacrificial post or Yoopam), arrows (as the wooden ladle offering the ghee– sruk), the chariot (as the platform for the sacrifice – vedi), the four horses (as the four Vedas), the blood that flowed (as the sacrificial ghee – aajyam) and the war itself (as the fire). At the end, “Vaajigriva in heaven merrily lives”.
The example of king Senajit
Here again, we know about the king only from the few lines mentioned in Mahabharata in this context. We do not even know to whom he spoke. Vyasa quotes the words of the king to console Yudhishhira.
“This killing when you think of it is just a name, only a way of looking at it. What is the use of mourning the death of people you care? After all, who are they and who are we? If you think of others as you think of yourself, then there is no cause for further sorrow”.
“There will be thousands of reasons for a fool to feel sorry about. Not so for a wise person. Joy and sorrow come by turn to all living beings. You must rise above all such temporary joy and sorrow to attain permanent happiness”.
“It is the duty of kings to come out of the sorrow and taken upon the task of ruling the land”.
Yudhishthira, in response, referred to the story of Yayati to point out how important it is to control desires. (This famous story appears at the beginning of our epic, given in 2-3 episodes just before the game of dice. Yayati was not satisfied with the youthful joys even at old age. He asked his sons for a temporary exchange of their youth with his old age. All except Puru refused. Yayati continued to enjoy life with the borrowed youth of his young son, Puru. Finally, he realized that yielding to passion was like pouring oil to fire. It only burns it further. One of the sons who refused was Yadu. He originated the Yadavas, the race to which
(To be continued)
