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Chapter 2: Collection of Examples
145
9. The story of Madhudeva and Pippalada, as shown in the commentary of Shri Aavashyakaharibhadriya, on the subject of hatred.
There were two wandering nuns named Sulasa and Subhadra. Sulasa was very knowledgeable in many scriptures. Meanwhile, a wandering monk named Yajnavalkya announced, "Whoever defeats me in debate, I will be his disciple." He then offered a bet. Sulasa defeated him, and he became her disciple. Due to their close association, they engaged in improper conduct, and Sulasa became pregnant. When Subhadra found out, she harshly rebuked him. He concealed the truth and, on another day, gave birth to a son at night. Subhadra was unaware of this. The wandering monk abandoned the child under a Pippala tree and left with her in the night. In the morning, Subhadra followed his footsteps and saw the child. The child was hungry and, out of fear, had put a Pippala fruit in his mouth and tasted it. Thus, he was named Pippalada. He grew up, and Subhadra taught him. He became very eloquent. He learned about his parents and developed hatred towards both his mother and father. He embraced the unrighteous Vedas and propagated them. He taught them this: "Kings should perform sacrifices with animals, horses, elephants, humans, etc., for the sake of peace and to attain heaven." He had a friend named Parvata, who was famous for the story of "Aliehi Ya Vasuraaya." Parvata told him, "It is mentioned in the Vedas that sacrifices should be performed with non-living things. You have presented a good argument."
Furthermore, a prince named Madhu was humiliated by all the kings gathered at a marriage pavilion. He developed hatred towards them and died. He was reborn in another realm. He thought, "This is a brilliant plan devised by the son of the wandering monk. If these kings follow this, they will all go to hell. My hatred will be fulfilled." Thinking this, he approached Pippalada and said, "Propagate this in the world. I will help you." He then caused diseases everywhere. The wandering monk told the kings, "If you perform sacrifices with animals, everything will be cured. These animals will be killed in the sacrifice and will go to heaven. There is no fault in this." The kings followed his instructions. To give the impression of going to heaven, they placed the bodies of the animals killed in the sacrifice on a chariot and sent it into the sky. Madhudeva appeared to the people and cured all the diseases. Thus, the people believed in this. Then, Pippalada, while propagating this, took his parents from the king's palace, saying that they would attain liberation. He killed them in the sacrifice, claiming that the sacrifice was the ultimate goal. From that time onwards, the unrighteous Vedas were practiced. This is a summary.
9. The story of hatred, a section from the Dharma Ruchi, a part of the Aakhyanaka Manikosa.
A boat named Nanda, carrying a multitude of people, crossed the Ganges, which was full of living beings and flocks of birds.
1.
A man named Dharma Ruchi, who was wealthy and possessed various virtues, was crossing the Ganges on that boat.
2.
As the boat was about to reach the other side, a storm arose. The boat was tossed about by the strong waves.
3.
A group of six thousand people perished in the storm.
4.
A crow, born from the dead, was a wicked creature. Dharma Ruchi also perished and was reborn as a crow.