मोक्षधर्म पर्व — समृद्धि में उत्पन्न राजा किस बुद्धि का आश्रय लेकर पृथ्वी पर रहे

Yudhisthira said Tell me, O grandfather, by adopting what sort of intelligence may a king, who has been divested of prosperity and crushed by Time's heavy bludgeon, still live on this Earth.

Regarding it is cited the old discourse between Vasava and Virochana's son Vali.

After having defeated all the Assuras, one day Vasava went to the Grandfather and joining his hands bowed to him and enquired after the whereabouts of Vali.

Tell me, O Brahman, where may I now find that Vali whose wealth continued undiminished even though he used to distribute it as largely as he wished.

He was the god of wind. He was Varuna. He was Surya. He was Soma. He was Agni that used to warm all creatures. He became water. I do not find where he now is. Indeed, O Brahmana, tell me where I may find Vali now.

Formerly, it was he who used to light up all the cardinal points and to set. Shaking off idieness, it was he who used to pour rain upon all creatures at the proper season. I do not now see that Vali. Indeed, tell me, O Brahman, where I may find that king of the Asuras now.

Brahman said You should not, O Maghavat, thus enquire after Vali now! One should not, however, speak a falsehood when he is questioned by another. I shall tell you the whereabouts of Vali.

O husband of Sachi, Vali may now have taken his birth among camels or bulls or asses or horses, and having become the foremost of his species may now be living in an empty room.

Shakra said 'If, O Brahman, I happen to meet with Vali in an empty room, shall I kill him or spare him? Tell me how I shall act!'

Brahma said 'Do not, O Shakra, injure Vali! Vali does not deserve death. You should, on the other hand, O Vasava, seek instruction from him about morality, O Shakra, as you wish,'

‘Thus addressed by the divine Creator, Indra travelled over the Earth, seated on Airavata in great splendour.

He succeeded in meeting with Vali, who, as the Creator had said, was living in an empty room, clothed in the form of an ass.

'You are now, O Danava, born as an ass living on chaff. This your birth is certainly a low one. Do you or do you not grieve for it?

I see what I had never seen before, viz., yourself brought under the control of your enemies, divested of prosperity and friends, and shorn of energy and prowess.

Formerly you used to march through the words, with your train consisting of thousands of carriages and thousands of kinsmen, and to move along, burning, everybody with your splendour and disregarding us all.

Considering you as their protector the Daityas lived under your sway! Through your power, the Earth used to yield crops without waiting for tillage. To-day, however, I behold you overtaken by this dire calamity! Do you or do you not grieve for this.

When formerly you used with pride beaming on your face, to divide on the eastern shores of the ocean your vast wealth among thy kinsmen, what then was the state of your mind?

Formerly, for many years, when shining with splendour, you used to sport, thousands of celestial damsels used to dance before you.

All of them were decorated with garlands of lotuses and all had companions bright as gold. What, O king of Danavas, was the state of your mind then and what is it now.

You had a very large golden umbrella set with jewels and gems. Fully forty-two thousand Gandharvas used in those days to dance before you.

In your sacrifices you had a very large stake made entirely of gold. On such occasions you used to give away millions and millions of kine. What, O Ditya, was the state of your mind then?

Formerly, engaged in sacrifice, you had gone round the whole Earth, following the rule of the hurling of the Shamya. What was the state of your mind then?

I do not now see that golden jar of yours, nor that umbrella of yours, nor those fans. I behold not also, O king of the Asuras, that garland which was given given to you by Grandfather.'

Bali said. 'You do not behold now, O Vasava, my jar and umbrella and fans. You do not see also my garland, that was given by the Grandfather.

Those valuable possessions of mine about which you ask are now buried in the darkness of a cave. When my time comes again, you will, forsooth, behold them again.

This conduct of yours, however, does not become your fame or birth. Yourself enjoying prosperity, you wish to mock me that am sunk in adversity.

They who acquired wisdom, and have won contentment therefrom, they who are of tranquil should, who are virtuous and good among creatures, never grieve in misery nor rejoice in happiness.

Guided, however, by a vulgar intelligence, you are bragging, O Purandara. When you will become like me you will not then give vent to speeches like these.'

Guided, however, by a vulgar intelligence, you are bragging, O Purandara. When you will become like me you will not then give vent to speeches like these.'