IN VASISHTAM, THERE is a story about Bhagiratha, before
he brought the Ganges down to the earth. He was an emperor
but the empire seemed to him a great burden because of
Atmajignasa (Self-enquiry). In accordance with the advice of
his guru and on the pretext of a Yagna (sacrifice), he gave away
all his wealth and other possessions. No one would, however
take the empire. So he invited the neighbouring king who was
an enemy and who was waiting for a suitable opportunity and
gifted away the empire to him. The only thing that remained to
be done was leaving the country. He left at midnight in disguise,
lay in hiding during day time in other countries so as not to be
recognised and went about begging at night.
Ultimately he felt confident that his mind had matured
sufficiently to be free from egoism. Then he decided to go to
his native place and there went out begging in all the streets. As
he was not recognised by anyone, he went one day to the palace
itself. The watchman recognised him, made obeisance and
informed the king about it, shivering with fear. The king came
in a great hurry and requested him (Bhagiratha) to accept the
kingdom back, but Bhagiratha did not agree. “Will you give
me alms or not?”, he asked. As there was no other alternative,
they gave him alms and he went away highly pleased.
Subsequently he became the king of some other country
for some reason and when the king of his own country passed
away, he ruled that country also at the special request of the
people. That story is given in detail in Vasishtam. The kingdom
which earlier appeared to him to be a burden did not trouble
him in the least after he attained jnana.
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