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उञ्छवृत्त्युपाख्यान (uJchavRttyupAkhyAna)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Uñchavṛtty-upākhyāna(ṃ)]
(“the episode relating to the gleaner”). § 718b (Mokshadh.): Bhīshma said: M-ṛ Nārada wanders through all the worlds like Vāyu, not obstructed by anything
once he repaired to the abode of Indra, who asked him if he had perceived any wonderful incident. Nārada recited the following story (XII, 353): In the town of Mahāpadma, on the southern bank of the Gaṅgā, there lived a brahman of the Soma-lineage (Somānvaye, i.e. Atrigotre, Nīl.), endued with amiability, etc.
he was in great trouble with regard to the value of following the ordinances of the Vedas, or the [Dharma]śāstras, or the duties that eminent men of former times have performed (śishṭācīrṇa). Then there came to him a wise brahman as a guest (XII, 354)
him he asked what he, having entrusted his duties as a householder to his son, should do in order to perform the highest duty of men, as he had no respect for the religion of the Yatis, who depend upon alms. The guest said that he was himself perplexed, as heaven had many doors (examples) (XII, 355)
he told him (according to what he learnt from his preceptor) to repair to Padma, the righteous Nāga, who lived in the city called after the Nāgas in the Naimisha forest, on the banks of the Gomatī, whence, in a former creation (pūrvābhisarge) the wheel of righteousness was set in motion (dharmacakraṃ pravartitaṃ), and where all the gods had, in days of old, performed a great sacrifice, and where king Māndhātṛ neglected (atikramañ cakre) Indra (XII, 356). The host became delighted, and passed the night happily conversing with his guest about the fourth mode of life (caturthadharma) [i.e. sannyāsa, renunciation, PCR.
= mokshadharma, Nīl.]
the next morning, having dismissed his guest, he set out for the abode of the Nāga (XII, 357), was shown the way by an ascetic, and received by the beautiful wife of the Nāga
as the Nāga had gone to draw the chariot of Sūrya for a month, and would be back in seven or eight days, he passed this time on the banks of the Gomalī (XII, 358). On the 6th day the Nāgas of the city, seeing him abstaining from food and [only]
reciting mantras, came and asked him to eat
but he wanted to keep his fast for eight days
if then the Nāga-chief had not come back, he would break his fast. Then the Nāgas returned (XII, 359). When the Nāga-chief came home, he was informed by his wife about the brahman's arrival (XII, 360). The Nāga doubted whether that brahman was a human being, as the Nāgas, even by D., As., and D-ṛ, are considered to be endued with great energy
his wife told him to go and speak to the guest without the wrath which is natural to Nāgas
the Nāga himself also blamed wrath, citing Rāvaṇa (who became the rival of Śakra and was slain by Rāma) and the sons of Kārtavīrya (who were slain by Rāma Jāmadagnya) and Kārtavīrya himself (XII, 361). The Nāga met with the brahman (who characterized himself as a righteous being (dharmāraṇya = muni, Nīl.)) on the banks of the Gomatī, engaged in Yoga and reciting the Vedas in order to dispel all evil from the Nāga (XII, 362)
he asked the Nāga whether he had seen anything wonderful in those regions where he had drawn the one-wheeled chariot of Vivasvat. The Nāga described the wonders of which the Sun is the source (). The most wonderful was that one day, in former times, at the hour of noon, a being came through the sky like a second sun and entered Sūrya (XII, 363). Sūrya declared it to be a brahman, who had attained to heaven on account of his having been crowned with success (siddhaḥ) in the gleaning-vow (uñchavṛttivrate) (description), and because he had gratified Bhava (Śiva) by praising him with saṃhitāḥ, and now he “goes round the earth staying in the disc of Sūrya
neither D., nor G., As., nor Pn. are superior to those creatures that attain to this excellent end” (XII, 364). The brahman then betook himself formally to the practice of the uñcha-vow (XII, 365), and having saluted the Nāga, he went to Cyavana Bhārgava, who initiated him and recited the story of the brahman in king Janaka's palace to D-ṛ. Nārada &gt
Indra &gt
the foremost brahmans. “During my (i.e. Bhīshma's) battle with Rāma, the Vasus told it to me.” The brahman proceeded to another forest (XII, 366).