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The Story of Brahmadatta Chakri
The two brothers played music that was sweeter than the verses of the Yogashastra's second chapter. They outperformed even Narada in playing the tambura and veena. When they played the veena with the seven clear notes mentioned in the musical compositions, even the Kinnaras (celestial musicians) appeared insignificant before them. And when the two with deep voices played the mridanga, it evoked the memory of Krishna carrying the bone-cage-like instrument of the demon Mura.
The dramas they enacted were such that even Mahadeva (Shiva), Urvashi, Rambha, Muni, Keshi, Tilottama and others were unaware of. It seemed as if these two were the embodiment of the entire Gandharva-vidya (the art of music) and the second avatars of Vishwakarma.
Indeed, their music, which was so vividly expressed, how could it not captivate the minds of all?
Once, during a festival of love in the city, the skilled musical groups of the city passed by the abodes of Chitra and Sambhuti. Many citizens, men and women, attracted by their songs, gathered around them in herds like deer. Seeing this, some citizens went to the king and complained, "Two Matangas (outcasts) have come to the city. By singing and playing beautiful songs, they are attracting people towards themselves and corrupting everyone."
Hearing this, the king immediately summoned the chief of police and ordered, "Beware! These two should never be allowed in the city." Due to this royal decree, the two then started residing in Varanasi.
One day, there was a festival in the city. On that day, these two restless Matanga brothers violated the king's order and entered the city, roaming around like elephants in the city square. Wearing burqas and disguised as thieves, the two Matanga sons were secretly watching the festival in the city. Just as one jackal calls out on hearing the voice of another jackal, these two also started singing sweetly on hearing the voices of the city's musicians.
Hearing their melodious songs that were pleasing to the ears, the young men of the city started circling around them like bees around a beehive. People tried to find out who they were and pulled off their burqas. Seeing them, the people exclaimed, "Ah, these are the same two Chandala (outcasts)! Villains, stand still!" Saying this, the people pounced on them. Many beat them with sticks, stones, etc. and severely humiliated them.
Bowing their heads in shame, the two silently left the city, just as dogs slink away with their tails between their legs. A large crowd of people followed them. At that time, they appeared as if the entire army had pounced on a small rabbit.
Stumbling at every step and running with great difficulty, they finally reached the garden called Gambhira. There, the two brothers contemplated, "Just as milk contaminated by a snake becomes impure, similarly, our skills, beauty, etc. have become accursed due to being tainted by the Chandala caste. Not only have our merits not been appreciated, but we have also been subjected to calamity. Therefore, to bear such cowardice would only lead to further misery. Since art, charm, and beauty are associated with the body, and the body has now become a home of misfortune, it should be discarded quickly like a straw."
Resolving thus, the two were prepared to give up their lives. At that time, they were walking towards the south, as if going to confront death. As they walked on, they saw a mountain. Climbing up, they looked down and saw something the size of a baby elephant or boar. Therefore, they decided to jump off this mountain to commit suicide by falling (Bhrigupath).
However, as they were climbing the mountain, they encountered a great sage who was like a mobile mountain of virtues. Seeing the sage on the mountain peak, like clouds in the rainy season, the two were freed from their sorrow and anguish. Tears of joy gushed from their eyes, as if they were renouncing their past sorrows.
They fell at the lotus feet of the revered sage. The sage, after deep contemplation, asked them, "My children, who are you? How and why have you come here?"
They narrated their entire story. The sage said to them, "My children, while the destruction of the body can certainly be achieved through Bhrigupath, the elimination of the inauspicious karmas accumulated over hundreds of births cannot be accomplished that way. If you wish to renounce this body, then attain the fruit of the body and worship the great causes of liberation and heaven, i.e., austerities. That alone will purify you both physically and spiritually."