The Santhi Parva of the great epic, Mahabharatha is a compendium of political sagacity and various other aspects of Dharma which humanity has to follow! The grand old man Bhishma counsels the eldest of the Pandavas, Dharmaraja on how a king should conduct himself and rule the kingdom. Dharmaraja raises innumerable doubts and patiently Bhisma answers and clears every one of his doubts. There are many acts one has to do after obtaining permission from elders but at the same time some mandates, because of their cruel nature, have to be disobeyed! Bhishma has been the ideal guru and guide to the Pandavas in such critical and difficult situations. Dharmaraja asks Bhisma as to how he should decide whether the task is to be done or neglected and given up. Should the given task be executed immediately or delayed? Pleased with the genuine doubts of the eldest of the Pandavas, Bhishma narrates, as illustration, the story of Chirakari, of the clan of the great sage Angirasa.
Sage Gautama had a number of children and the youngest was called Chirakari. He was very clever and never committed mistakes. He was also highly intelligent. Whenever a task was given he would deliberate for long before he began the work. He would contemplate well on the task and then only start his work. He would sleep for long some times and also remain wakeful for many hours. He takes a long time in finishing his work. It is mainly because of this quality that he was named Chirakari! But others mistook his delay, procrastination and sluggishness and thought he was lazy and evil minded! On one occasion, when sage Gautama was away, Indra, king of Gods, fascinated by the celestial beauty of Gautama’s wife Ahalya, outraged her modesty! Gautama was infuriated at this mean and bestial act of indra. He was furious with his wife Ahalya. He came to Chirakari and in a fit of uncontrollable anger said, “ Kill your mother” and immediately left for the forest!
Chirakari was in a dilemma and in a very tight corner too! To satisfy his father he said yes but as it was his nature he began to discuss within himself the pros and cons of the mandate of his revered father. He wondered how he could carry out his father’s order and at the same time not kill his other. Father should be implicitly obeyed and it is the Dharma! But he has to save his mother! How can he be free from sin? Killing not only a woman but the mother can never bring him good! Parents are the source of this physical body. Father is considered as Guru! “ Pitru Devo bhava” says the Veda. He has to be obeyed according to the Veda! Father brings up the son and looks after all his needs. It is said that if the father is pleased, the Gods too will be pleased. Father should be very happy about his son and his actions. That is the atonement for all the sin of the son! Chirakari thus thought about his father and his greatness and his duty to his father.
Then he began contemplating on the significance of the mother. She is the repository of happiness for all who suffer. She is first God for every creature. The Vedas declare her as the first God! “Matru devo bhava”. Whatever may be the age and condition of the son, he is a child for the mother and she protects him. The loss of the mother is irreparable and the world becomes empty for him. There is nothing equal to mother’s love. She is called ‘dhatri’ as she bears him and ‘ janani’ as she delivers him! She is also called ‘amba’ as she is responsible for the growth of his body! She is the other body of her son! She always prefers a son to a daughter! She is very happy at the mere thought of conceiving a child! The husband is called ‘bharta’ because he bears the burden of family life! Husband is as sacred as God for the wife. It is her duty to please him for ever! By constantly doing so she becomes a ‘pativrata’! In contemplating the importance of his parents and their merits, Chirakari spent a lot of time but could not come to a definite conclusion regarding the order of his father!
Meanwhile Sage Gautama felt ashamed of his instant anger and felt distressed and depressed at the order he gave his son Chirakari. He thought that Chirakari would have killed his mother as he was an obedient son. His tapas and knowledge of Dharma made him repent for his action and he broke into uncontrollable tears! He strongly felt that Chirakari should not kill his mother!
He felt again and again that Chirakari should save him from terrible sin by his delay in committing the act! He blessed his son Chirakari in the hope that he would not have killed his mother. In fact Chirikari had not decided whether he should kill his mother or not! She was alive when Sage Gautama returned overwhelmed with grief! Chirakari fell at the feet of his father and tried to pacify him! Sage Gautama saw his wife Ahalya with her bent head and full of modesty! He lifted his son Chirakari and hugged him closely! He wished Chirakari long life and prosperity! But Sage Gautama did not accept and receive his wife Ahalya! What lesson should we learn from this story? We should deliberate deeply before we make friends. Before leaving our friends we should again think deeply! Friends made in such a way shall last for long. In loving others, being proud, treachery, sin and other evil things delay is the best! It is of paramount importance for man to think deeply before he takes any action!
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