राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — वसुहोमको कथा

Bhishma said “Regarding it is cited the following old story. There was among the Angas a highly effulgent king called Vasuhoma.

That king was always engaged in acts of piety, and accompanied by his wife he always practised the austerest penances. He went to the spot called Munjaprishtha highly respected by the Pitris and the celestial Rishis.

There, on that peak of Himavat, near the golden mountain of Meru. Rama, sitting under the shade of a well-known banian, had tied his matted locks together.

From that time, O king, the spot, which is a favourite resort of Rudra, passed by the naine of Munjaprishtha among Rishis of rigid vows.

Living there, king Vasuhoma acquired many pious attributes and, having gained the regard of the Brahmanas, came to be regarded as a celestial Rishi in holiness.

One day, that grinder of enemies, that friend of Shakra, viz., king Mandhata of great soul, came to Vasuhoma on his mountain retreat.

Arrived there, and seeing king Vasuhoma of austere penances, stood humbly before the latter.

Vasuhoma offered his guest water to wash his feet, and the Arghya consisting of the usual articles, and enquired of him about the wellbeing or otherwise of his kingdom consisting of seven limbs.

After this, Vasuhoma addressed his royal guest who strictly followed the conduct of the righteous men of old, saying,-What, О king, shall I do for you.

Thus addressed, O delighter of the Kurus, Mandhatri, that best of kings, highly pleased, answered the greatly wise Vasuhoma seated at his ease, in the following words.

Mandhatri said You have, O king, studied all the doctrines of Brihaspati! O best of men, you know also the doctrines laid down by Ushanas.

I wish to know what is the origin of Punishment? What also is said to be its end?

How Came Punishment to depend upon the Kshatriya? Tell me all this, O you of great wisdom. I approach you as a disciple ready to give you the tuition fee.

Vasuhoma said Listen, O king, as to how Punishment, that upholder of the world, sprang up. It is the soul of righteousness, and eternal, and was created for preserving the proper government of all creatures.

We have heard that once upon a time, the Grandfather of all the worlds, viz., the divine Brahmana, desiring to celebrate a sacrifice, could not find a priest equally qualified like himself.

Therefore, he once conceived in his brain and held the foetus there for many long years. After a thousand years, the great god sneezed. In that act, the foetus dropped from his head.

The divine being, O chastiser of foes, who was thus born from Brahman passed by the name of Kshupa. Highly powerful be became a lord of creatures. That Kshupa officiated as priest, O king, in the sacrifice of the highsouled Grandfather.

Upon the commencement of that sacrifice, of Brahman, O best of kings, punishment disappeared on account of the visible form that the Grandfather was then obliged to assume.

Punishment having disappeared, a great confusion arose among all creatures. There was no longer any distinction between what should be done and what should not. All difference, again, between clean and unclean food disappeared.

Men could not distinguish between what drink was allowable and what drink was not. All creatures began to injure one another. There were no restraints about the union of the sexes. All idea of property disappeared.

All creatures began to rob, snatching meat from one another. The strong began to kill the weak. Nobody cared the least for his neighbour.

Then, having adored the divine and eternal Vishnu, the grandfather addressed that great boon-giving god, saying,-You should, O Keshava, show mercy on the present occasion. Let it be so ordained by you that the confusion that has already set in may disappear.

Thus addressed, that foremost of gods, armed with an enormous Shula, thinking for some time, converted his ownself into the form of Punishment.

From that form, having Righteousness for its legs, the goddess Sarasvati created Dandaniti (Science of Punishment) which very soon became celebrated all over the world.

Thereafter the great god armed with a huge Shula, having again reflected for sometime, appointed a few among the gods as the rulers of their respective classes.

It was then that he made the divine Indra of a thousand eyes the king of gods. Yama the son of Vivasvat was made the lord of the departed manes.

Kubera was made the lord of riches and of all the Rakshasas. Meru was made the king of the mountains, and Oceans was made the lord of the rivers.

The powerful Varuna was made the lord of the waters and of the Asuras. Death was made the lord of life and of all living creatures, and Fire was made the chief of all things possessed of energy.

The powerful Ishana the great and eternal Mahadeva, of three eyes, was made the king of the Rudras.

Vashishtha was made the king of the Brahmanas, and Jatavedas was made the chief of the Vasus. Surya was made the lord of all luminous bodies and Chandramas was made the lord of Stars and constellations,

Anshumat was made the chief of all herbs, and the powerful and foremost of deities, viz., Kumara or Skanda, having twelve arms, was made the lord of all the spirits and ghosts.

Time, containing the seeds of both origin and destruction was made the lord of all creatures, as also of the four parts of Death viz., weapons, diseases, Yama, and acts, and, lastly of grief and joy.

The Shrutis say that the great god Mahadeva, the lord of lords, O king, armed with Shula, is the lord of the Rudras.

The rod of punishment was given to Brahmana's latest-born son, viz., Kshupa, the lord of all creatures and the foremost of the virtuous.

Upon the completion of that sacrifice according to due rites, Mahadeva after making proper reverence handed over Punishment, that protector of Righteousness, to Vishnu.

Vishnu gave it to Angiras, and Angiras, that foremost of ascetics, handed it over to Indra and Marichi. Marichi gave it to Bhrigu.

Bhrigu gave that rod intended for the protection of righteousness to all the Rishis. The Rishis gave it to the Regents of the quarters, and the Regents made it over again to Kshupa.

Kshupa then handed it over to Manu the son of Surya. The god of Shraddhas (viz., Manu), gave it to his sons for the sake of true righteousness and riches.

Punishment should be meted out with discrimination, guided by righteousness and not by caprice. It is intended for checking the wicked. Fines and confiscation are intended for creating terror, and not for replenishing the king's treasury.

The wounding of one's body or the infliction of death should not be made for trivial causes. The infliction of physical pain by various means, hurling from tops of mountains, and punishment also, should not be guided by similar causes.

Surya's son Manu gave the rod of punishment, (to his sons) for the protection of the world. Punishment in the hands of successive holders, remains awake, protecting all creatures.

At the top of the ladder, the divine Indra is awake; after him, Agni of burning flames; after him, Varuna; after Varuna; Prajapati; after Prajapati, Righteousness whose essence is restraint; after Righteousness, the son of Brahman, viz., the eternal Law; after Law; Energy is awake, employed in the act of protection; after Energy, the herbs; after the herbs, the mountains; after the mountains, all kinds of juices and their attributes; after these the goddess Nirriti; after Nirriti, the planets and the luminous bodies in heaven; after these, the Vedas; after the Vedas, the powerful form of the Vishnu with the horse head; after him the almighty and eternal grandfather, viz., Brahma; after the grandfather, the divine and blessed Mahadeva; after Mahadeva, the Vishvedevas; after them, the great Rishis; after the Rishis, the divine Soma; after soma; the eternal duties; after the gods, the Brahmanas are awake.

After the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas are piously protecting all creatures. The universe, consisting of mobile and immobile creatures, is kept awake by the Kshatriyas.

Creatures are kept awake in this world, and Punishment is awake is among them. Effulgent like the Grandfather himself, Punishment keeps together and maintains everything.

Time, O Bharata, is always awake, in the beginning, the middle, and the end. The lord of all the worlds, the lord of all creatures, the powerful and blessed Mahadeva, the god of gods, is always awake, He passes also by the names Kapardin, Shankara, Rudra, Bhava, Sthanu, and the lord of Uma.

Thus Punishment also keeps awake in the beginning, the middle and the end. A virtuous king should duly rule, guided by Punishment.

The person who listens to this teaching of Vasuhoma, and having listened to it behaves according to its trend, is sure to acquire the fruition of all his desires.

I have now, O foremost of men, told you everything as to who punishment is, that restrainer of the universe which is governed by righteousness.