॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Tuesday, 7 March 2023 - IX.06 - A narrative of several kings like Ikshwaku, Mandhata and Kakutstha (ancestor of Sri Rama). The story of Sage Saubhari.
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Amabarisha's lineage stalled a few generations later until Sage Angiras interceded like Sage Vyasa did in the Mahabharata and gave them children.
The son of Manu was Ikshwaku. He was succeeded by his son Vikukshi who had in fact been banished by the father for a misdemeanour but was anointed later as his successor. Sage Vyasa says Ikshwakus ruled large parts of Bharata Desha. King Ikshwaku himself was blessed by his Guru Sage Vasishtha and attained liberation.
Vikukshi's son was Kakutstha, who was hailed for his assistance to Indra in fighting Asuras. Down the lineage was Dhundhumara, who vanquished an asura called Dhudhu.
Born in the Ikshwaku line was king Sravasta, who created Sravasti Puri.
Mandhata was another descendant of the Ikshwakus, born strangely, who had to be fed by Indra himself as no one was around to breastfeed him. Indra simply nourished him with nectar by putting his finger in the baby's mouth.
Sage Shuka then narrated the history of Sage Saubhari, whose excessive carnal desires were aroused when he saw fish mating in the waters. By using his Tapas power to become young and attractive, he became most desirable and was wedded by all of Mandhata's fifty daughters. Later on, after a prolonged life of pleasure and comfort in the palace, Saubhari became a true renunciate.
एवं वसन् गृहे कालं विरक्तो न्यासमास्थितः । वनं जगामानुययुस्तत्पत्न्यः पतिदेवताः ॥
तत्र तप्त्वा तपस्तीक्ष्णमात्मदर्शनमात्मवान् । सहैवाग्निभिरात्मानं युयोज परमात्मनि ॥
ताः स्वपत्युर्महाराज निरीक्ष्याध्यात्मिकीं गतिम् । अन्वीयुस्तत्प्रभावेण अग्निं शान्तमिवार्चिषः ॥
T: Sage Saubhari, who had fallen into a life of domestic pleasures, later became disinterested. He went to the forest, but his loyal retinue of wives followed him. He realised the Self by performing severe Tapas there. He ended his mortal existence allowing the homa fire itself to unite him with Paramatma. His wives were inspired by his emancipation to follow suit, in a way that Sage Vyasa describes as the way the tongues of flame in a Yajna fire seem to dissolve into it as it quietens down.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
