________________
. [ 305 ] sons of Brahmā. These Rșis were exemplary Brahmacārins and were ideal Paramahansas being five years of age. They were ideal Brahmacāris and also ideal Paramahamsas recognized as the exemplary Ordhvaretā rșis known in history. The term Ordhvareta implies that their sexual urge was sublimated and they always lived and moved as children of five years of age. It is narrated that they once visited Vaikuntha and wanted to see Nárāyaṇa personally. Jaya and Vijaya-the doorkeepers seeing them coming in a naked form apprehended personal insult to Nárāyaṇa and prohibitted their entrance. The result was that on this insulting behaviour the Rșis were enraged and cursed them to fall down from their heavenly abode and take birth in the family of Asuras in the human world. I
• It is well known that the term of a man's life according to Indian tradition is determined by the prārabdha Karma of the person concerned. The prárabdha which determines the birth of a particular body also determines the extent of duration of that body i. e. Āyu. It is hɔwever, noticed that in special cases, the prárabdha determining the term of life may be changed. In the Mahābhārata we have the well known example of Bhīşma with Prárabdha in the form of Āyu was changed by the Divine Will as expressed through Śrīkļşņa. It is said that Srikrşņa after the Kuruksetra war went to Bhişma with Yudhisthira and asked Bhişma to give sound advice to Yudhisthira who was then greatly depressed in mind after the war in which many of relatives i. e. near and dear ones were killed. Srīkļşņa requested Bhisma then to give Yudhisthira proper instructions based upon sacred scriptures. Bhíşma was then confined to bed being smitten by arrows and was sad at heart. He said that his mind was not working well and his power of speech was gradually disappearing. He was at the point of dying and it was impossible for him to give instructions to Yudhisthira as suggested by
1. Bhagavata 3.16.
20
