1. Alms for a King - Bhagiratha

 

  

 

Ramana Maharshi : 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.

2. The Fault lies in Exposure
Ramana Maharshi - Ezhuthachan, A GREAT saint and author, had a few fish concealed on him when he entered the temple.
The saint was searched and taken to the king. The king asked him, “Why did you take the fish into the temple?”
He replied, “It is not my fault. I had it concealed in my clothes. The others exposed the fish in the temple. The fault lies in exposure. Excreta within the body are not considered filthy; but when excreted, they are considered filthy. So also with this.”