Another story relates about King Dharmadhvaja who had two sons, Amitadhvaja and kretadhvaja. Kesidhvaja and Khandikya were the sons Kretadhvaja and Amitadhvaja respectively. Khandikya was an intellectual of Karmakanda. He was defeated once by Kesidhvaja brought the country under his charge. Therefore Khandikya with his followers went to forest. Kesidhvaja performed many sacrifices. Once, a tiger killed his sacrificial cow. He approached his guru Kaseru, and as per his advice, went to Kunaka, looking for guidance for a proper prayaschitta or repentance. He performed a suitable prayaschitta, went again to Khandikya and offered a gift to him. He also instructed him Paramatman to Khandikya at his request. The third philosophical story in Narada Purana deals with King Bharata. He handed over his kingdom to his sons and stayed at Salagrama Mahaksetra worshipping Vishnu. One day, he while taking bath in the Ganga river saw a young deer caught in the current, when its mother, jumped on to the bank of the river hearing the roar of a lion, and died on the spot after delivery. He brought up the young deer with love. After some time Bharata passed away with his eyes on the deer and, recalling the actions of his previous birth, went to Salagrama and led the rest of his life there. By his good deeds in the previous birth, he was next born as a Brahmin. He was not liked by any body which led to him wandering in a forest. King Sauvira happened to pass by the forest, who on seeing Bharata employed him as one of the carrier of palanquin. Bharata was slow in moving it; the king enquired him of this. He replied that he was not strong and he was not moving a palanquin. Bowing at his feet the king requested him to reveal his identity. Bharata explained to him and remembering his earlier actions he attained salvation. Bharata also told the king a story. Many years ago Brahma had a son called Ribhu. He was well read and his disciple was Nidagha, son of Pulastya. Both Ribhu and Nidagha lived in the banks of river Devika near the city called Viranagara. One day, Ribhu paid a visit to Nidagha. He had offered his preceptor food. After taking the food Nidagha asked him whether he was satisfied with the food. Ribhu replied that there was no matter of satisfaction or dissatisfaction in eating the food, because, he does not distinguish anything. He told him that as per advaitta’s principle atman is everywhere so no use asking such baseless questions. Nidagha thereafter said that his illusions have been cleared. Except this atman there is nothing in this world and all of us are parts of the same atman. Gulika, a hunter, was leading a corrupt life. Once he entered a Vishnu temple in the city of king Sauvira in order to rob the temple of all the gold. He attempted to kill Uttanka, a Brahmana worshipping Vishnu, but he could not hurt Uttanka. On the contrary, Gulika was reformed by Uttanka's advice, and repentant for his actions, he died suddenly. Uttanka sprinkled on him some holy water used for bathing Vishnu by whose merit Gulika attained salvation. |