Secondary Tales of the Two Great Epics

SR No.: 001566
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rajendra I Nanavati
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1982
Total Pages: 210
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, Mythology, & Story
File Size: 15 MB

Page 103

Secondary Tales of the two Great Epics
are mentioned, even their tales are linked together, by their preceptilineal genealogy. Thus, Ayoda Dhaumya had three pupils: Aruni, Upamanyu and Veda. The teacher instructed Aruni, "Go, build a dyke !" When the latter could not dam the breach in the dyke, he put his own body in that place. When the teacher called him, he rose, thus breaking the dyke. Hence he was called Uddalaka (from ud+dr to tear up').2 From this entire group of tales, he is the only character famous in Vedic literature, and the name 'Uddalaka' Aruni by which he is famous is obtained by him through a complete obedience to the instructions of his teacher. The etymological nature of the parable, connected to illustrate the ideal of obedience, is too obvious to need any emphasis,
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The second tale of Upamanyu4 is humorously instructive. He was asked by the teacher to look after cows. He grew fat on alms collected during this time, and used up without presenting them to the teacher. To correct his fault, the teacher forbade him to partake of alms without first presenting them to him (i.e. the teacher). The ingenious pupil took a second round of alms! Then he drank the milk of the cows, and then the foam oozing out of the mouths of calves when their mothers breasted them. Prevented by his teacher every time, the poor fellow, tormented by hunger, ate up the leaves of Arka (the plant of Calotropis Gigantea), became blind and fell in a well. The teacher then instructed him to praise Aśvina who gave him a cake.. But this time, he insisted on presenting it first to the preceptor. He had learnt. his lesson, the hard way, of course!
The third pupil Veda also was put to many severe tests. When, therefore, he became teacher, he was very lenient towards his pupils. Once in his absence, his pupil Uttanka stood firm against the advances of the teacher's wife.5 When this Uttanka was permitted to return, the teacher's the teacher's wife demanded, as guru's fee, the earrings of the queen of King Pausya within four days. Uttanka immediately set out.. On the way, he saw a large man riding a huge bull. At the rider's instance, he ate the bull's excreta. Then, only after cleaning himself properly, he obtained earrings. from the queen with a warning that Takşaka also was after them. Takşaka actually stole them in the guise of a naked ascetic and then slipped through a hole to the netherlands, where he saw two women weaving a garment with white and black warps and woofs. He also saw six boys turning a wheel. Then a man asked him to blow a horse in the hind. He did it. Flames of fire emanating from the horse's apertures filled up the netherworlds with smoke upon which Taksaka returned the earrings. Then, riding the same horse, Uttańka reached back just in time to escape
2 AdiP. 3.19-30.
3 AdiP. 3,29. yasmad bhavan kedāra-kbaṇḍam avadaryotthitas tasmad bhavan uddalaka eva nämna bhavisyatiti /
4 AdiP. 3.32-78.
5 AdiP. 3.85-91.