The story of Dharmavyadha
This story is a sub-story that comes in the Great epic of India, The Mahabharatha. Pandavas lost the game of dice to Kauravas and had to go to live in the forest, leaving behind their kingdom and wealth. Yudhishtira is doubtful of his decision-making abilities and blames himself for the difficulties he has put his family through.
To get clarity in his thoughts, he starts discussing his doubts with well-learned and wise sages. One such day the great Rishi Markandeya comes along their forest residence and meets Yudhistira.
While clearing the confusion of Yudhishthira, Rishi Markandeya narrates this story of a butcher called Dharmavyadha.
Summary
This story is a sub-story that comes in the Great epic of India, The Mahabharatha. Pandavas lost the game of dice to Kauravas and had to go to live in the forest, leaving behind their kingdom and wealth. Yudhishtira is doubtful of his decision-making abilities and blames himself for the difficulties he has put his family through.
To get clarity in his thoughts, he starts discussing his doubts with well learned and wise sages. One such day the great Rishi Markandeya comes along their forest residence and meets Yudhistira.
While clearing the confusions of Yudhishthira, Rishi Markandeya narrates this story of a butcher called Dharmavyadha.
Once upon a time, there lived a man called Kaushika. He was a scholar in Veda and Shastras. He wished to learn more than everyone, so he went to the forest to concentrate on his studies.
One day, while studying, he was disturbed by the loud twittering of a crane sitting on the nearest branch of the tree.
Kaushika glared at the bird with angry eyes, and the bird was burnt and got reduced to ashes.
Kaushika was sorry for killing the bird but felt proud of his ascetic power.
Then he went to a town nearby to get food by begging.
His mind was still thinking of the incident of the bird.
He stood in front of a house and begged for alms, crying aloud, Bhavathi bhikshan dehi.
The mistress of the house was attending to her husband, who had just come home.
So she took some time to bring the alms.
Not liking the wait, Kaushika glared at her.
The humble lady said smilingly, Kaushika, I am not a crane to burn from your glare.
Kaushika felt shocked by her words.
He wondered, How did this lady know that I killed the crane?
The woman understood his confusion and said, “You may have mastered the Vedic lore. But you don’t know the mysteries of Dharma. You should meet Dharmavyadha. He lives in the city of Mithila. You can learn the mysteries of Dharma from him”.
Curious, Kaushika walked towards Mithila.
In Mithila, he made his way to Dharmavyadha’s shop. It was a meat shop. The vyadha welcomed Kaushika warmly and said, Come in, come in. That good woman sent you, didn’t she?
The words of Dharmavyadha stunned Kaushika.
Kaushika had thought that he is the only well-learned man.
But now he realized that that’s not true.
That morning referred to his killing of the bird. And now this butcher selling meat was telling him that the lady had sent him.
So, he felt, all these are great people.
With folded hands, he requested Dharmavyadha, “sir, teach me the mysteries of Dharma.”
Dharmavyadha replied, “Sir, You are an expert in Vedas and shastras. What else can I teach you? I can tell you about the path I follow. To perform our duty, to be honest, to be patient and kind, not to overjoy in happiness or go sad in difficulties. To do prayer and meditation, to appreciate the good qualities in other people.
Not to be too proud, to have a bath in sacred rivers, to visit holy places, and to serve our parents, and the guru who has bestowed knowledge on us.
This is Dharma; these are the secrets of Dharma.”
“I follow our family profession of selling meat, but I don’t hurt any animals. I do not cheat in business. I don’t lie and have no enemies. More than all these, I serve my aged parents with care and love. Their blessings are the shield that saves me from all bad things.”
He then took Kaushika home and showed him his parents, and prostrated before them.
Kaushika also bowed to the aged couple. Then he bowed to Dharmavyadha and said, “Sir, my arrogance evaporated today. I was proud that I am the most educated, well-learned person. I have abandoned my aged parents and caused them grief. My eyes are open now. I shall join them and make them happy. I will try to cultivate the good-values you taught me about.”
Then he returned home to his parents, took good care of them. He also spent his days in teaching others the learnings of Vedas he has mastered.
After narrating this story, Sage Markandeya said, ‘Yudhistira, in every division of people, there are enlightened souls who have understood the true values of life and world. They can guide even scholars and masters of Vedic teachings”.
Exercise
I. Answer each of the following in a sentence or two:
1.Why was Kaushika very angry with the bird?
Answer: Kaushika was very angry with the bird because it with its loud twitter disturbed his Vedic studies.
2.Why did the housewife delay in giving alms to Kaushika?
Answer: The housewife was serving her husband who had just come therefore she delayed in giving alms to Kaushika.
3.Who did she advise Kaushika to meet?
Answer: She advised Kaushika to meet Dharmavyadha in Mithila.
4.Why did Kaushika feel stunned at the words of Dharmavyadha?
Answer: Kaushika was stunned because Dharmavyadha knew who had sent him though he had not told him.
5.What did Kaushika do after his visit to Dharmavyadha?
Answer: Kaushika spent his days in the service of his parents and in teaching the Vedas to others.
6.What did Sage Markandeya tell Yudhishtira in the end?
Answer:Sage Markandeya told Yudhishtira that in every division of people, there are enlightened souls who can guide even scholars and masters of Vedic teachings.
II. Answer each of the following in a paragraph.
1.Narrate how Kaushika felt on listening to the lady.
Answer: When Kaushika came and begged for alms, the mistress of the house was little late to bring the alms. Kaushika was displeased with this and glared at her. The religious lady said smilingly that she was not a crane for his glare to bum. So he wondered how could she know that incident, really he could not believe his ears.
2.What are the essentials of Dharma, according to Dharmavyadha?
Answer: According to Dharmavyadha, one should be truthful, patient, merciful and should not get elated in happiness and depressed in difficulties. One should do his primary duty. One should appreciate the good qualities in others, and should not boast. He should pray and take bath in sacred rivers and visit holy places. One should continue his family profession. One should not lie, cheat, or kill. One should respect and serve his teacher and parents.
3.What can we learn from the story of Dharmavyadha?
Answer:We can learn that we should not be arrogant and misuse our energy to destroy others. It is our prime or inherent duty to serve our parents with love and affection.
Multiple Choice Questions
Four alternatives are given for each of the following questions/ incomplete statements. Choose the most appropriate one.
1.The Story of Dharmavyadha’ is taken from the
A) Ramayana
B) Vedas
C) Mahabharatha
D) Panchatantra
Answer:C) Mahabharatha.
2.Kaushika went to the forest to
A) pursue his studies and surpass everyone in learning
B) sit under a tree
C) forsake his parents and home
D) study the vedas
Answer: A) pursue his studies and surpass everyone in learning.
3.Kaushika felt proud at the death of the crane because
A) its loud twittering had disturbed him
B) it had perched on a branch over his head
C) it was reduced to ashes
D) he realised his ascetic power
Answer: D) he realised his ascetic power
4.Dharmavyadha lived in the city, of
A) Kashi
B) Mathura
C) Mithila
D) Ayodhya
Answer: C) Mithila
5.Dharmavyadha was a
A) meat-seller
B) saint
C) teacher
D) vedic scholar
Answer: A) meat-seller
6.Kaushika requested Dharmavyadha to reveal the mysteries of
A) meat-selling
B) dharma
C) vedic learning
D) ascetic power
Answer: B) dharma
7.The story of Dharmavyadha was narrated by
A) Markandeya
B) Yudhishtira
C) Kaushika
D) the lady
Answer:A) Markandeya
8.The story of Dharmavyadha was narrated by Markandeya to
A) Kaushika
B) Kaushika’s parents
C) Yudhishtira
D) the lady
Answer: C) Yudhishtira
9.Kaushika realised that his Dharma is to serve
A) his parents
B) his teacher
C) the sage
D) Yudhishtira
Answer: A) his parents
10.He was proficient in the Veda lore. Here, the word ‘proficient’ means
A) educated
B) trained
C) knowledgeable
D) learned
Answer:D) learned
11.Kaushika was very angry with the bird because
A) it had disturbed him with its loud twittering
B) it had perched on a branch overhead-
C) it did not listen to him
D) it did not allow him to sit under the tree
Answer: A) it had disturbed him with its loud twittering.
12.The housewife delayed in giving alms to Kaushika because
A) she was busy with the household work
B) she had nothing at home to give him
C) she was busy attending to her husband
D) she was not interested in giving him alms
Answer: C) she was busy attending to her husband
13.Who did the mistress advise Kaushika to meet?
A) Yudhistira
B) Markandeya
C) Dharmavyadha
D) the crane
Answer: C) Dharmavyadha
14.What did Kaushika do after his visit to Dharmavyadha? He
A) surpassed everyone in learning
B) started begging for alms
C) forsook his parents
D) spent his days in the service of his parents
Answer: D) spent his days in the service of his parents.
