मोक्षधर्म पर्व — तुलाधार र जाजलिको कथा

Regarding it is cited the old conversation of Tuladhara with Jajali on the subject of virtue. There was once a Brahmana named Jajali who lived in a certain forest, like a forest-recluse.

Practising austere penances, he proceeded at a certain time towards the sea-shore, and arrived there began to practise the most austere penances.

Observing many vows and restraints his food restricted by fast, his body clad in rags and skins, bearing matted locks on his head, his entire body smeared with filth and clay, the intelligent Brahmana passed many years there, speechless.

Highly energetic that regenerate ascetic, O king, while living within the waters, travelled through all the worlds with the speed of the mind, desirous of seeing all things.

Having seen the whole Earth bounded by the ocean and adorned with rivers and lakes and forests, the ascetic one day, while sitting under the water, began to think thus:न मया सदृशोऽस्तीह लोके स्थावरजङ्गमे।

In this world of mobile and immobile creatures there is none who can equal me! Who can travel with me among the stars and planets in the sky and live again within the waters!

Unseen by the Rakshasas while he said this to himself, the Pishachas said to him,-You should not say so!

There is a man named Tuladhara highly illustrious and doing the business of buying and selling, Even he, O best of twice-born ones, is not worthy of saying such words as you say!

Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali of austere penances replied to them, saying,-I shall see that famous Tuladhara who is endued with such wisdom!

When the Rishi said this, those superhuman beings raised him from the sea, and said to him,-best of twice-born one, go along this road!

Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali went onwards with a depressed heart. Arrived at Baranasi he met Tuladhara whom he addressed thus.

Yudhisthira said What, O sire, are those difficult feats which Jajali had performed before for which he had acquired such great success? You should describe them to me.

Bhishma said Jajali had practised penances of the severest austerities. He used to perform ablutions morning and cvening.

Carefully serving his fires, he was given to the study of the Vedas. Well conversant with the duties laid down for hermits, Jajali, seemed to shine with effulgence.

He continued to live in the forest, performing penances, But he never took himself for one who had acquired any merit by his acts. During the rains he slept under the open sky. In auturnn he sat in water.

In summer he exposed himself to the sun and the wind. Still he never took himself for one who had acquired any merit by such acts. He used to sleep on various sorts of painful beds and also on the naked earth.

On one occasion that ascetic, while standing under the sky during the rainy season, received on his head repeated showers froin the clouds.

He had to pass through the forests again and again. Partly with exposure to the rains and partly with the filth they caught, the locks of that pure Rishi became entangled and intertwined with one another.

At one time abstaining entirely from food and living upon air alone, that great ascetic, stood in the forest like a wooden post Unmoved at heart, he stood there, without once moving an inch.

While he stood there unmoved like a wooden post, О Bharata, a pair of Kulinga birds, O king, built their nest on his head.

Filled with pity, the great Rishis allowed those birds in building their nest among his matted locks with pieces of grass.

And as the ascetic stood there like a wooden post, the two birds lived on his head happily and confidingly.

The rainy season passed away and autumn set in. Actuated by desire, the couple approached each other according to the law of the Creator, and with perfect confidence laid their eggs, O king, on the head of that Rishi.

Of rigid vows and endued with energy, the ascetic knew it. Knowing even what the birds had done, Jajali did not move. Bent strongly upon acquiring merit, no act involving the slightest injury to others could meet with his approval.

Going away and returning every day from, and to his head, the birds happily and trustfully lived there, O powerful king.

When in the course of time the eggs became mature and young ones came out, they began to grow up in that nest, for Jajali moved not in the least.

Firmly observing his vows, the righteous Rishi continued to hold and protect those eggs by standing on that very spot perfectly motionless and immersed in Yoga meditation.

In course of time the young ones grew and became endued with wings. The Muni knew that the young Kulingas had grown up so.

That foremost of intelligent men, of austere VOWS, one day saw those young ones and became filled with pleasure.

Seeing their young ones endued with wings, the parent birds became very happy and continued to live in the Rishi's head with them in perfect confidence.

The learned Jajali saw that when the young birds had wings they flew to the air every evening and came back to his head without having gone far. He still stood motionless there.

Sometime after he saw that, left by their parents, they went out alone and came back again alone, Jajali did not still move.

Sometime after, the young birds going away in the morning spent the whole day out of his sight but returned in the evening for living in the nest.

Sometime after, leaving their nest for five days at a time, they returned on the sixth day. Jajali still did not move.

Subsequently, when they gained their full strength, they left him and did not return at all even after many days.

At last, at another time, leaving him, they did not come even after a month. Then, O king, Jajali left that place.

When they had thus gone away for ever, Jajali wondered much and thought that he had gained ascetic success. Then pride entered his heart.

Ever observing vows, the great ascetic, seeing the birds thus leave him. After having been brought up on his head, thought highly of himself, and became filled with joy.

He then bathed in a river and poured libations on the sacred fire, and worshipped the rising Sun.

Having thus made those chataka birds, grow on his head, Jajali that foremost of ascetics, began to strike his armpits and cry loudly through the sky, I have acquired great merit.

Then an unseen voice arose in the sky and Jajali heard these words:-You are not equal, O Jajali, to Tuladhara in righteousness.

Highly wise, that Tuladhara lives at Baranasi. Even he is not competent to say what you say, O twice-born one!

Hearing these words, Jajali became possessed by anger and desirous of meeting with Tuladhara, O king, began to roam over the whole Earth, observing the vow of silence and passing the night where he met with evening.

After a long time he reached the city of Baranasi, and saw Tuladhara engaged in selling miscellaneous articles.

As soon as the shop-keeper Tuladhara saw the Brahmana arrived at his place, he cheerfully stood up and adored the guest with proper salutations.

Tuladhara said For tsooth, O Brahmana, I know that you have come to me. Listen, however, Oforemost of twice-born ones, to what I say!

Living on a low land near the sea-shore you had practised very hard penancces. But you had no consciousness of having acquired religious merit.

When you had at last acquired ascetic success, certain birds were born on your head. You took great care of the little creatures:

When at last those birds came winged and when they began to leave your head for going here and there in search of food, it was then that, for your having thus assisted at the birth of those Chatakas, you began to feel pride, O Brahmana, thinking you had acquired great merit.

Then, O foremost of twice-born ones, you heard in the sky a voice that spoke of me. The words you had heard filled you with anger and for that you have come here! Tell me, what wish of yours shall I fulfil, O best of Brahmanas.