Jajali - AncientVoice

Mbh.12.260.15723	SECTION CCLXI Bhishma said, In this connection is cited the old narrative of the conversation of Tuladhara with Jajali on the topic of righteousness.
Mbh.12.260.15724	There was once a Brahmana of the name of Jajali who lived in a certain forest, practising the ways of a forest-recluse
Mbh.12.260.15733	Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali of austere penances replied unto them, saying, I shall see that famous Tuladhara who is possessed of such wisdom'
Mbh.12.260.15735	Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali proceeded onwards with a cheerless heart.
Mbh.12.260.15737	Yudhishthira said, What, O sire, are those difficult feats that Jajali had performed before in consequence of which he had acquired such high success?
Mbh.12.260.15739	Bhishma said, Jajali had become engaged in penances of the severest austerities.
Mbh.12.260.15742	Well-conversant with the duties laid down for forest recluses, Jajali in consequence of his practices seemed to blaze with effulgence
Mbh.12.260.15761	Knowing what the birds had done, Jajali moved not.
Mbh.12.260.15764	When in the progress 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.
Mbh.12.260.15770	The learned Jajali saw that when the young birds became equipped with wings they took to the air every evening and returned to his head without having proceeded far.
Mbh.12.260.15773	Jajali still moved not.
Mbh.12.260.15776	Jajali still moved not.
Mbh.12.260.15779	Then, O king, Jajali left that spot.
Mbh.12.260.15780	When they had thus gone away for good, Jajali wondered much, and thought that he had achieved ascetic success.
Mbh.12.260.15783	He, then, bathed in a stream and poured libations on the sacred fire, and paid his adorations to the rising Sun indeed, having thus caused those chataka birds to grow on his head, Jajali, that foremost of ascetics, began to slap his armpits and proclaim loudly through the sky, I have won great merit'
Mbh.12.260.15784	Then an invisible voice arose in the sky and Jajali heard these words, Thou art not equal, O Jajali, to Tuladhara in point of righteousness.
Mbh.12.260.15787	Hearing these words, Jajali became filled with wrath, and desirous of meeting Tuladhara, O monarch, began to roam over the whole earth, observing the vow of silence and passing the night at that spot where evening overtook him
Mbh.12.261.15800	SECTION CCLXII Bhishma said, Thus addressed by the intelligent Tuladhara on that occasion, Jajali of great intelligence, that foremost of ascetics, said these words unto him'
Mbh.12.261.15801	Jajali said, Thou sellest all kinds of juices and scents, O son of a trader, as also barks and leaves of large trees and herbs and their fruits and roots.
Mbh.12.261.15805	Bhishma continued, Thus addressed by that Brahmana possessed of I great fame, Tuladhara of the Vaisya order, well-acquainted with the truths touching the interpretations of morality and contented with knowledge, discoursed to Jajali who had undergone severe penances, upon the ways of morality
Mbh.12.261.15806	Tuladhara said, O Jajali, I know morality, which is eternal, with all its mysteries.
Mbh.12.261.15809	I live according to that mode, O Jajali!
Mbh.12.261.15812	He, O Jajali, is said to know what morality or righteousness is, who is always the friend of all creatures and who is always engaged in the good of all creatures, in thought, word, and deed.
Mbh.12.261.15817	Behold, O Jajali, this is my vow!
Mbh.12.261.15818	My scales are perfectly even, O Jajali, with respect to all creatures
Mbh.12.261.15820	Know, O Jajali, that I cast equal eye upon all creatures.
Mbh.12.261.15833	That wise man who, having restrained his senses, practiseth, with a heart cleansed from all desire of injuring others, the conduct that is followed by those called good, is sure, O Jajali, to acquire the merit of righteousness and Emancipation which is its fruits.
Mbh.12.261.15853	I tell thee truly, believe me, O Jajali!
Mbh.12.261.15856	There is no duty, O Jajali, that is not prompted by some motive of happiness.
Mbh.12.261.15883	Cast thy eyes, O Jajali, on those bullocks yoked to the plough.
Mbh.12.261.15890	Thus, O Jajali, did those highly-blessed Rishis cast that sin on all living creatures, and addressing Nahusha who had been guilty of foeticide, said, We shall not be able to pour libations in thy sacrifice'
Mbh.12.261.15892	These, O Jajali, are some of the wicked and dreadful practices that are current in this world.
Mbh.12.261.15895	Listen now, O Jajali, as to what my behaviour is towards him that injures and him that praises me.
Mbh.12.262.15901	SECTION CCLXIII Jajali said, This course of duty that thou, O holder of scales, preachest, closes the door of heaven against all creatures and puts a stop to the very means of their subsistence.
Mbh.12.262.15918	The consequence, however, of all this, O Jajali, is that theft and many evil acts spring up
Mbh.12.262.15943	When, therefore, such a man eats and is gratified, all the deities, O Jajali, become gratified and are contented
Mbh.12.262.15957	Looking at both these kinds of behaviour, O Jajali, I have abstained from injuring any creature in the world and have come to regard all creatures with an equal heart
Mbh.12.262.15962	Although both classes of sacrificers, O Jajali, proceed along the path trodden by the deities in consequence of the sacrifices they perform, yet such is the difference between their ultimate ends
Mbh.12.262.15969	What, O Jajali, will be the end of him who doth not recite the Vedas, unto others, who doth not perform Sacrifices properly, who doth not make gifts unto deserving Brahmanas, and who followeth an avocation in which every kind of desire is indulged?
Mbh.12.262.15971	Jajali said, We had never before, O son of a trader, heard of these recondite doctrines of ascetics that perform only mental Sacrifices.
Mbh.12.262.15988	O Jajali, the Soul is itself a Tirtha.
Mbh.12.263.15992	SECTION CCLXIV Tuladhara said, See with thy own eyes, O Jajali, who, viz, those that are good or those that are otherwise, have adopted this path of duty that I have spoken of.
Mbh.12.263.15999	Without doubt, thou art their father, O Jajali!
Mbh.12.263.16001	Bhishma continued, Then those birds, summoned by Jajali, made answer agreeably to the dictates of that religion which is not fraught with injury to any creature
Mbh.12.263.16033	O Jajali, he who adheres to his own path under the influence of Faith is certainly a superior person'
Mbh.12.263.16034	Bhishma continued, After a short while, Tuladhara and Jajali, both of whom had been endued with great wisdom, ascended to heaven and sported there in great happiness having reached their respective places earned by their respective acts.
Mbh.12.263.16038	The regenerate Jajali, O son of Kunti, having heard these words of celebrated energy, betook himself to tranquillity.

Jijith Nadumuri Ravi
Research data published for the interest of people researching on Mahabharata.
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Reference:- Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli; Source of Plain Text: www.sacred-texts.com; Wikified at AncientVoice.

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