Yudhishtra answers his brothers and explains the
reasons for his dilemma. He says that the Vedas and the Scriptures are
confusing. The Vedas emphasize a path of action (karma marga) and a path of knowledge (gnana marga). Scriptures are
confusing because they are based on reason and there are different ways of
reasoning leading to different points of view. He addresses Arjuna and says: " You are knowledgeable in the intricacies of the battle-field, but
not on the paths of dharma (virtues)".
Yudhisthtra goes on to say that one can attain Moksha
(liberation) through penance (tapas),
renunciation (sannyasa) or through
knowledge of Brahman (brahmagnana).
Of these, the third is superior to the second and the second superior to the
first. Least important is wealth (in the form of land and possessions).
Yudhishtra says that his brothers were wrongly focused on wealth (the land) in
their arguments.
He further states that the way to Brahmangnana is through
the path of Yoga, reflecting on the words of the scriptures and understanding
the difference between the real and the unreal. "Due to ignorance we misidentify
the Atman with this physical body. Due to the ignorance we get reborn and
suffer the cycle of samsara. Once we realize the true Atman as free from the
attributes of the body, we can attain realization and get free of the cycle of
birth and rebirth".
A rishi by name Devasthana, who is in the assembly takes up
Arjuna’s argument that wealth (artha, includes land and wealth in the sense of
gold, money etc) is important to perform one’s duties. He tells Yudhishtra that
having won the kingdom, he should not leave it without a good reason. He says
that the Vedas talk about four stages of life (ashrama – brahmacharya,
grahstashrama, vanaprastha and sannyasa) and that one should go through them in that order. Rishi Devasthana locates Yudhishtra’s status in grahasthashrama in which he has to perform sacrifices and give profuse presents to others. The rishi refers to a system of agama called Vaikanasa (which preaches that one should
not seek wealth) and rejects it immediately. (Vaikanasa is one two Vaishnava
agamas. The other is Pancaratra). He says: "The Supreme Ordainer
(meaning? ) created wealth for use in
sacrifice and also created men to take care of that wealth and use it for
sacrifices". He then gives the example of Indra and Sarva, who became glorious by
using wealth to perform sacrifices.
Devasthana follows up with a talk on contentment. (I do not
see the immediate connection, although accumulating wealth often needs to lack
of contentment.) He says that contentment is bliss and that one should withdraw one’s desires like a
tortoise draws in all its limbs under the shell. Devasthana says: “It is said
that a person who has seen his own soul is one who has conquered his desires
and aversions. When one is not afraid of any creature and no creature is afraid
of him, he is said to have attained Brahman. Such a person does not cause
injury to anyone in thoughts, words or deeds”.
He continues: “There are different schools of thought on how
to practice religion and virtue. Some emphasize peacefulness; some praise
action (karma) and some contemplation (dhyana); others praise sacrifice (yagna)
and some others praise renunciation (sannyasa) or gifts (dana) or silent
meditation (Samadhi). The righteous elders tell us that non-injury (ahimsa),
truthfulness (satya), justice, compassion and self-restraint, modesty and
patience are the best practice of a religious person He then adds: “Manu
agrees”, suggesting that this part of Maha Bharatha was written after Manu’s
Dharma Shastra. Devasthana asks Yudhishtra to take up his duty assigned to him
at this stage in life, carry out his duties impartially without attachment to wealth and
attain glory and liberation.
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