Mokshadharma Parva — History of Suka

Bhishma said “Thinking of Liberation, Shuka approached his father, and possessed as he was of humility and desirous of acquiring his highest good, he saluted his great preceptor and said,-You are well-versed in the Religion of Liberation. Do you, O illustrious one, describe it to me, so that I may enjoy supreme tranquillity of mind, O powerful one.

Hearing these words of his son, the great Rishi said to him,-Do you study, O son, the Religion' of Liberation and all the various duties of life.

At the command of his father, Shuka, that foremost of all righteous men, mastered all the books on Yoga, O Bharata, as also the Science of Kapila.

When Vyasa saw his son to be endued with the resplendence of the Vedas, and the energy of Brahman, and fully conversant with the Religion of Liberation, he addressed him, saying,-Go you to Janaka the king of Mithila. The king of Mithila will tell you everything for your Liberation.

Bearing the command of his father, O king, Shuka, proceeded to Mithila for enquiring of its king about the truth of duties and the Refuge of Liberation.

Before he started, his father further told him,-Do you go there be that path which ordinary human beings follow. Do not have recourses to your Yoga-power for proceeding through the skies. At this Shuka was not at all surprised.

He was further told that he should proceed there with simplicity and not from desire of pleasure.-Along your way do not seek for friends and wives, since friends and wives are causes of attachment to the world.

Although the king of Mithila is one in whose sacrifices we officiate, still you should not indulge in any feeling of superiority while living with him. You should live under his direction and in obedience to him. He will remove your doubts.

That king is well versed in all duties and well acquainted with the Scriptures on Liberation. He is one for whom I officiate in sacrifices. You should, unhesitatingly, do what he orders.

Thus instructed, the pious Shuka proceeded to Mithila on foot although he was able to go through the skies over the whole Earth with her seas.

Crossing many hills and mountains, many rivers, many waters and lakes, and many woods and forests full of beasts of prey and other animals, crossing the two insular continents of Meru and Hari successively and next the continent of Himavat, he came at last to the continent known by the name of Bharata.

Having seen many countries inhabited by Chins and Huns, the great ascetic at last reached Aryavarta.

In obedience to the commands of his father and bearing them constantly in his mind, he gradually passed along his way on the Earth like a bird passing through the air.

Passing through many charming towns and populous cities, he saw various kinds of wealth without waiting to observe them.

On his way he passed through many charming gardens and planes and many sacred waters.

Before much time had passed he reached the country of the Videhas that was protected by the virtuous and great Janaka.

There he saw many populous villages, and many kinds of food and drink and viands and houses of cowherds swelling with men and inany herbs of cattle.

He saw many fields abounding with paddy and barley and other grain, and many lakes and waters inhabited by swans and cranes and adorned with beautiful lotuses.

Passing through the Videha country full of rich people, he arrived at the delightful gardens of Mithila rich with many sorts to trees.

Abounding with elephants and horses and cars, and peopled by men and women, he passed through them without caring to see the things that were presented to his eye.

Bearing that caution in his mind and continually thinking of it, Shuka of cheerful soul and taking delight in internal survey only, reached Mithila at last.

Arrived at the gate, he sent word through the guards, he reached the king's palace and entered it without any-hesitation. The gatekeepers prevented him with harsh words.

Thereat, Shuka, without any anger, stopped and waited. Neither the sun nor the long distance he had walked had tried him in the least. Neither hunger, nor thirst, nor the exertion he had made, had weakened him. The heat of the Sun had not scorched or pained or distressed him in any way.

Among those porters there was one who felt mercy for him, seeing him staying there like the midday Sun in his effulgence.

Adoring him in due form and saluting him properly, with joined hands he conducted him to the first chamber of the palace.

Seated there, Shuka, O son, began to think of Liberation only. Gifted with equality he considered impartially a shaded spot and one exposed to the Sun's rays.

Soon after, the king's minister, coming to that place with joined hands, conducted him to the second chamber of the palace.

That chamber led to a spacious garden which formed a part of the inner apartments of the palace. It looked like a second Chaitraratha. Beautiful pools of water were here and there at regular intervals. Delightful trees, all of which were in their flowering season, were in that garden.

Bevies of damsels, of celestial beauty, were in attendance. The minister led Suka from the second chamber to that charming spot. commanding those ladies to give the ascetic a seat, the minister left him there.

Those well-dressed well-dressed damels were of beautiful features, possessed to excellent hips, young in years, clad in red dresses of fine texture, and decked with many ornaments of burnished gold.

They well-skilled in sweet conversation and maddening revelry, and consummate mistresses of the arts of dancing and singing. Always opening their lips with smiles, they were like the very Apsaras in beauty.

Well-skilled in all the acts of dalliance, capable of reading the thoughts of men upon whom they wait, endued with every accomplishment, fifty damsels, of a very high order and of east virtue, surrounded the ascetic.

Presenting him with water for washing his feet, and adoring him respectfully with the were offer of usual articles, they pleased him with excellent viands agreeable to the season.

After he had eaten, those damsels then, one after another, singly conducted him through the grounds, showing him every objection of interest, O Bharata.

Sporting and laughing and singing, those ladies conversant with the thoughts of all men, entertained that ascetic of noble soul.

The pure-souled ascetic born in the firesticks, performing all his duties unhesitatingly, having all his senses under complete control, and a thorough master of his anger, was neither pleased nor angered at all this.

Then those foremost of beautiful women offered him an excellent seat. Washing his feet and other limbs, Shuka said his evening prayers, sat on that excellent seat, and began to think of the object for which he had come there.

In the first part of the night, he gave himself of Yoga. The powerful ascetic, passed the middle part of the night in sleep.

Very soon waking up from his sleep, he performed the necessary rites of cleansing his body, and though surrounded by those beautiful ladies, he once again devoted himself to Yoga.

It was in this way, O Bharata, that the son of the Island-born Krishna passed the latter part of that day and the whole of that night in the mansion of king Janaka.