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The Story of Sudarshan
Chapter Two of Yoga Shastra, Verse 101
He uttered the words and flew up into the sky like the sun. Hearing this, Subhag thought, "This is surely the knowledge of the celestial beings." With this thought, he held the first part of the salutation mantra in his heart. Therefore, whether sleeping, waking, rising, sitting, walking, moving, day or night, at home or outside, even with soiled clothes, body, or unclean hands, he began to utter the words "Namo Arihantanam." It is true that by focusing on something, one becomes absorbed in it. One day, the Seth heard these words from his mouth and asked, "Bhadral, where did you get this one part of the five-great-ones mantra, which is so powerful and excellent in the world?" Subhag told him everything. "Very good!" said the Seth, explaining to him, "This is not only celestial knowledge, but it also leads to heaven and liberation (moksha). Whatever is the best, beautiful, or rare in the three worlds, all of it is obtained effortlessly through its influence. Just as one cannot measure the quantity of seawater, so too, one cannot measure the glory of the five-great-ones salutation mantra. You are very fortunate to have obtained such a rare mantra through your virtuous karma. But when your clothes or body are dirty, or your mouth and hands are unclean, you should never utter this guru mantra." To this, Subhag said to the Seth, "Just as an addict cannot give up his addiction, so too, I cannot give up this mantra." The Seth said with pleasure, "Good, my son! You learn this entire salutation mantra, so that you may be blessed in this world and the next." Therefore, Subhag learned the entire salutation mantra. As if he had found a wonderful treasure, he began to constantly remember (chant) that mantra with great devotion. Through the influence of this mantra, the animal herder Subhag no longer felt any pain from hunger or thirst. In this way, he became addicted to the five-great-ones mantra. It became a part of his life, that great mantra.
Thus, a considerable amount of time passed. Once, during the rainy season, the sky was continuously covered with dark clouds. Subhag went out from home with his animals to graze in the forest. While returning, there was such a torrential downpour, as if a series of arrows of water had bound the sky and the earth. While returning home, Subhag had to cross a small river, which was also flooded today. Seeing the overflowing river, full of water, Subhag stopped for a while on this bank and thought. His animals had crossed the river and reached the other side. With firm faith, Subhag chanted the great mantra Navkar, considering it celestial knowledge, and tried to jump and fly up, but he fell into the river. Due to the sudden fall, where he stopped in the mud, there was a sharp stake of wood, as strong as Yama's teeth, which pierced his stomach. He felt unbearable pain from the piercing of the stake, yet he continued to chant the five-great-ones mantra. The stake had pierced his vital spot like a sharp nail, and so he died immediately. Upon dying, he was immediately born in the womb of the Seth's wife, Arhdasi. It is certain that those who are absorbed in the salutation mantra attain a good destiny. After three months, the Seth's wife gave birth to a son. She told her husband, "I have a desire to be bathed with fragrant water, anointed, and worshipped with flowers in front of the statue of Jinendra. I also have a desire to donate clothes and other things to the monks, to worship the holy community, and to give charity to the poor and suffering." Hearing this, the Seth was very happy and fulfilled his wife's desires as if they were a wish-fulfilling gem. After that, when nine months and seven and a half days were completed, the Seth's wife gave birth to a healthy and beautiful son with auspicious signs. The Seth celebrated the birth of his son with great joy, seeing the auspicious day, and named him Sudarshan, which is truly befitting his qualities. With the best wishes of his parents, Sudarshan gradually grew up. When he reached the appropriate age, he learned all the arts. When he became an adult, the Seth married him to a beautiful girl named Manorama, who was as beautiful as Lakshmi herself. Sudarshan's gentle appearance pleased not only his parents, but also the king and all the other people, as it was as delightful and pleasing as the moon.
In the same city, there lived a royal priest named Kapil, who was a scholar of the ocean of knowledge. He also held a prominent place in the king's heart. Just as there is an inseparable friendship between Kamadeva and the spring season, so too, there was a permanent and inseparable friendship between Kapil and Sudarshan.