>From the scriptures
Paraphrased by Swami Shivananda, Rishikesh
Addressing Mudgala, Rishi Durvasa said:
You have gained great merits through your virtuous
actions and virtuous qualities such as self-restraint,
fortitude, justice, control of the senses, mercy,
generosity, kindness, truthfulness and Dharma. Even
the dwellers of heaven are proclaiming your great
deeds of charity and divine qualities. You are going
to be taken to the celestial world in this very
physical body of yours.
While Rishi Durvasa was thus speaking, a celestial
messenger arrived with a celestial car and said: O
Mudgala, O virtuous Brahmin of great asceticism! Get
into the car and come to heaven which you have
obtained as the fruit of your asceticism.
Mudgala asked the celestial messenger: What is the
nature of the inhabitants of heaven (swarga)? What is
the nature of happiness there and what are its
defects? What is the nature of their asceticism and
what is their purpose? Virtuous men say that when two
good men walk seven steps together, or when they speak
seven words to each other, they become friends. I,
therefore, take you as my friend. So I may freely put
to you these questions. Tell me the truth and that
which is good for me to know. After hearing your
answers, I will decide about my going to heaven.
The celestial messenger replied: You wish to weigh the
advantages and disadvantages of the life in heaven.
This clearly shows the superiority of your intellect.
Only those persons who have earned great merits on
earth can go to heaven. The heaven is well provided
with excellent paths. It is always frequented with
celestial cars. Atheists and untruthful persons, those
who have not performed asceticism and those who have
not performed great sacrifices cannot go there.
Only virtuous souls and those of subdued minds, those
who have controlled their senses, those who are free
from malice, those intent on the practice of charity,
and heroes and men bearing marks of battle and who
have performed the most meritorious acts attain to the
celestial regions. The celestial regions can be
attained only by virtuous acts. The celestial regions
are inhabited by pious men. They bestow every object
of desire. The Siddhas, the Vaiswas, the Gandharvas,
the Apsaras, the Yamas and the Dhamas dwell there.
There are many celestial gardens. Here sport persons
of meritorious acts. Neither hunger nor thirst, nor
heat, nor cold, neither grief nor fatigue, neither
labour nor repentance, nor fear, nor anything that is
disgusting and inauspicious; non of these is to be
found in heaven. There is no old age either.
Delightful fragrance is found everywhere. The breeze
is gentle and pleasant. The inhabitants have
resplendent bodies. Delightful sounds captivate both
the ear and the mind. These worlds are obtained by
meritorious acts and not by birth nor by the merits of
fathers and mothers.
There is neither sweat nor stench, nor excretion nor
urine. The dust does not soil one's clothes. There is
no uncleanliness of any kind. Garlands (made from
flowers) do not fade. Excellent garments full of
celestial fragrance never fade. There are countless
celestial cars that move in the air. The dwellers are
free from envy, grief, ignorance and malice. They live
very happily.
Such O Brahmana, is the bliss of heaven. Now hear
about some of its disadvantages. In the celestial
region, a person, while enjoying the fruits of acts he
had already performed, cannot perform any other new
act. He must enjoy the fruits of the former life till
they are completely exhausted. Further, he is liable
to fail after he has completely exhausted his merit.
These are the disadvantages of heaven. The
consciousness of those about to fall is stupefied. It
is also agitated by emotions. As the garlands of those
about to fall fade away, fear possesses their hearts.
Mudgala said: The disadvantages are great
(substantial) indeed. Can you tell me of any world
where there are no such disadvantages?
The celestial messenger said: Above the abode of
Brahma, there is the supreme seat of Vishnu (the
Supreme Reality) which is pure, eternal and effulgent.
It is known by the name of Para Brahman. O Brahmana,
persons who are addicted to sensual objects or those
who are subject to arrogance, covetousness, ignorance,
anger and envy cannot go to that place. Those men who
are free from conflicting emotions, who have
restrained their senses, and who are given to
meditation and Yoga can go there. O Mudgala, now
kindly come with me without any further delay.
Mudgala reflected deeply over the matter and said: O
celestial messenger! O bow to you. Sir, go back in
peace. I have nothing to do with either happiness or
heaven with such drawbacks or disadvantages. Men who
enjoy heaven suffer great misery and extreme regret in
this world. Therefore, I do not desire to go to heave.
I will try to reach that supreme abode of eternal
bliss from where there will be no fall. I will seek
that unfailing region, going to which people have not
to lament, or to be pained or to be agitated.
After sending away the celestial messenger, Mudgala
practised Jnana Yoga (Yoga of knowledge). He engaged
himself in constant meditation on Para Brahman or the
Supreme Self. He attained knowledge of the
Imperishable and obtained the supreme state of
emancipation, which is eternal. Thereafter censure and
praise became equal to him. A brick, a stone and a
piece of gold all became the same to him.
__________________________________________________________
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