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The Story of Muladeva
Chapter Two of the Yoga Shastra, Verse 72: "Those who use the Bakula tree for their Parana (fast-breaking) are virtuous." Filled with joy at Muladeva's devotion, a god spoke from the sky, "O Blessed One! Compose half a verse and ask for whatever you desire." Muladeva composed the following half-verse and prayed to the god, "May I have a kingdom with a thousand elephants and the courtesan Devadatta." The god said, "So be it." Muladeva then bowed to the muni and went to the village, collected alms, and ate. Continuing his journey, he reached the banks of the river Vena. He stayed at a Dharmasala (rest house) there. Due to fatigue, he fell into a deep sleep. In the last watch of the night, while sleeping in blissful slumber, he had a dream: "The full moon entered my mouth." The same dream was also experienced by another traveler at the Dharmasala. He woke up upon seeing the dream and told it to the other travelers. One of the travelers, after considering the dream according to the science of dreams, said to him, "You will soon receive kheer (rice pudding) and ghee-soaked malpuas (sweet pancakes)." Hearing this, the traveler was delighted and said, "So be it." Indeed, even a jackal rejoices as if it were a festival when it finds berries. Dhoortaraj had also heard the interpretation of the dream, so he did not tell anyone about his dream. He thought, "If I tell people about the jewels in my mouth, they will only call them pebbles and stones." The traveler received malpuas to eat on the day of the Grihaachhadana festival. The fruits of dreams often manifest according to one's thoughts. Dhoortaraj also went to a garden early in the morning. There, he began helping a gardener who was weaving garlands of flowers. The gardener was pleased by this. Such acts are always pleasing to people. Taking flowers and fruits from the gardener, Dhoortaraj purified himself by bathing, etc., and went to the house of the dream-interpreter Pandit. Muladeva greeted the dream-interpreter Pandit and offered him flowers and fruits, then told him about his dream. The dream-interpreter, pleased, said, "My son! I will tell you the fruit of your dream at an auspicious time. Be my guest today." Saying this, he seated Muladeva with honor and provided him with food at the appropriate time. Afterward, the Pandit presented his daughter to Muladeva for marriage. Seeing this, Muladeva said, "Father! You are not familiar with my lineage, caste, etc., so why don't you consider these things before giving me your daughter?" The Upadhyaya said, "My son! Your lineage and qualities are evident from your appearance. Therefore, accept my daughter without delay." At the insistence of the Upadhyaya, Muladeva married his daughter. It was as if the main door to future success had opened. Then the Upadhyaya told him the fruit of his dream, saying, "You will become the king of this city seven days from today." Delighted, Muladeva stayed there. On the fifth day, he went outside the city and fell asleep under a champaka tree. Just as a tree without roots perishes, so too did the king of that city suddenly die without a son. Therefore, a search began for a new king. For this purpose, a horse, an elephant, an umbrella, a chamara (fly whisk), and a kalash (pot) were enchanted and paraded throughout the city by the king's servants, but no one worthy of being king was found. Truly, individuals possessing royal qualities are rare. Then, while parading outside the city, they reached the champaka tree where Muladeva was sleeping. Upon seeing Muladeva, the horse neighed, and the elephant trumpeted loudly. Understanding the significance, the royal servants immediately went to Muladeva, woke him up, adorned him with royal garments, and performed his coronation right there with the kalash. They then seated him on the back of the Jayakunjara elephant. Two golden fly whisks, like lightning bolts, were waved over Muladeva, creating a breeze. A brilliant white umbrella, like the clouds of autumn, adorned his head. The people rejoiced at the arrival of a new king, shouting cheers. Musical instruments resounded in all ten directions. Thus, Muladeva entered the city with great pomp and ceremony. As he dismounted from the elephant, the royal servants took him to the royal palace. They seated him on the throne kept there. At that moment, a divine voice was heard from the heavens: "This new king, named Vikram, endowed with divine grace and a repository of arts, has ascended the throne. Whoever does not obey this king will be punished as a mountain is shattered by a thunderbolt." Hearing this divine voice, all the people and ministers were stunned, amazed, and terrified. Just as the senses of a muni are subdued, so too were all the ministers forever under his control. Thus, slowly...