The colloquy between Baka and Indra

Vaishampayana said : The Rishis, the Brahmanas and Yudhishthira then asked Markandeya how the Rishi Baka was (so) long-lived. Markandeya thus spoke to them all.

“The greatly ascetic royal sage Baka was long-lived; you need not enquire of its reason."

O descendant of Bharata, having heard this, the son of Kunti Dharmaraja Yudhishthira with his brothers thus again asked Markandeya.

“We have heard that both the high-souled Baka and Dalbha were immortal; and these (two) Rishis, held in universal reverence, were the friends of the lord of the celestial (Indra).

O exalted one, I desire to hear the account of the meetings of Indra and Baka which is both full of joy as well as grief. Tell me all this in detail.

Markandeya said : O king, when the fearful war between the Devas and the Asuras was over, Indra became the lord of all the worlds.

The clouds copiously rained and people had an abundance of harvests. They had no malice or ill will, they were devoted to the duties of their own order. They were all devoted to virtue.

Adhering to the duties of their own order, people became very happy. Having seen all people happy, the slayer of Bala,

O king, the lord of the celestials Indra himself became very happy. Seated on his (elephant) Airavata, he saw his happy subjects.

(He also saw) various hermitages and many auspicious rivers, prosperous towns, villages and rural regions, all enjoying plenty in everything.

(He also saw) kings devoted to virtue and skillful in protecting their subjects; also tanks and reservoirs, wells and lakes and small ponds all full of water and adorned with the foremost of Brahmanas engaged in the observance of various excellent O king, then descending on the charming earth, Shatakratu (Indra). VOWS.

When, O king, towards a blessed country abounding in numerous trees and situated in the region of the east near the sea.

It was a charming hermitage frequented by beasts and birds. The king of the celestials saw in that charming hermitage Baka.

Baka also seeing the chief of the celestials became exceedingly happy. He received him with the offer of Argha and water to wash his feet and also fruits and roots.

Having comfortably seated himself, the boon-giving, slayer of Bala, the king of the heaven, asked Baka the following questions.

Indra said: O Rishi, O sinless one, you have lived for one hundred thousand years. O Brahmana, tell me what are the sorrows of those who live forever.

Baka said : To live with persons who are disagreeable, to be separated with persons that are agreeable and beloved, to associate with the wicked, these are the evils which they that are immortal have to bear.

What could be greater evil than (to witness) that death of sons and wives, of kinsmen and friends and than the pain of dependence on others.

I believe there is no more pitiable sight in the world than that of men destitute of wealth being insulted by others (who possess wealth).

The acquisition of family dignity by those who do not possess it and the loss of family dignity by those who possess it, unions and disunion's, these are to be witnessed by one who lives forever.

O deity Shatakratu, those that have no family dignity gain wealth, what could be greater reverses of family dignity than this? All this you are to see happening before yours eyes (if your live forever).

What can be a greater sorrow than to witness) the reverses of the celestials, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, men, the Nagas and the Rakshasas?

They that are nobly born suffer affliction by coming under the subjection of low-born men; the poor are insulted by the rich, what can be a greater sorrow than (all) this?

Innumerable instances of such contradictory dispensations are seen in the world (by one who lives forever). The foolish and the ignorant are happy while the learned and the wise are miserable. Many instances of misery are seen among men in this world.

Indra said: O greatly exalted one, tell me what are the joys of those that live forever, joys adored by the celestials and the Rishis?

Baka said: He who cooks even leaves at the eighth and twentieth part of the day.

And he who has no wicked friend, who is happier than he? He in whose case the day is not counted is not called voracious.

O Maghavan, even he is happy who cooks only little leaves (for his food). Earned by his own efforts, he who eats even fruits and leaves in his own house deserves to be respected. He, who eats in another's house the food given to him in contempt, even if that food be rich and palatable, does a thing which is hateful. Therefore the wise cry "fie" on the food that a mean wretch like a dog or a Rakshasa eats at another's house. If after feeding the guests and the servants and offering food to the Pitris, an excellent Brahmana.

Eats what remains, there can be none happier than he. O Shatakratu, there is nothing sweeter or holier.

Than that food which such a person takes after having fed the guests with its first portion. Each mouthful that the Brahmana eats after having fed the guests produces the fruit of giving away one thousand kine. Whatever sins might have been committed by him in his childhood are all destroyed.

If the water that is in the hands of a Brahmana who has been fed and honoured with Dakshina be sprinkled (on the feeder), then all his sins are instantly destroyed.

Markandeya said : Having talked over this and various other auspicious things with Baka, the chief of the celestial went to heaven.