Monday, August 8, 2011

Amshavatars - 2

                                                               Chapter - 2

The Brahm Rakshas sat still for a while. His mind was pondering. He knew who Samudragupta was. The great Samudragupta was a learned man who had knowledge of all the Vedas. The great teachers from all over India paid homage to the young scholar. None among those who lived in the civilized world were ignorant of the reputation and respect that the name 'Samudragupta' had earned. Yet the crest-fallen brahmin who now stood before the Rakshas looked hardly the man of such stature.

Deeply moved by what he was witnessing, the Brahm Rakshas asked Samudragupta where he was travelling and what it that he sought. Samudragupta let out a sigh and began narrating his tale thus far. The learned brahmin had a great thirst for knowledge. He learned from many teachers and was a master in the Vedas and Puranas. Even while his fame grew far and wide, a great fire began burning inside. Although he had learned all that was there to be learned, he felt deep inside that there was yet something that he did not know. His hunt for knowledge led him from teacher to teacher, but none could provide him with more than what he had already known. Depressed by the failure he met so far, Samudragupta swore not rest until he found the knowledge that he sought so feverishly. After all his exploits turned out to be fruitless, he found himself in the dark forests near Ujjain.

After hearing the Samudragupta's tale, the Brahm Rakshas was elated. The Brahm Rakshas had taken this form because he did not perform his primary duty in his life as a brahmin, that is, to teach what he had learned to a good pupil and thus uphold the passing of knowledge to generations. If the Brahm Rakshas were to teach Samudragupta, surely he would get his moksha. For who would be a more worthy student than the great Samudragupta himself?

"Oh Samudragupta", cried the Brahm Rakshas."I possess the knowledge that you seek. I would gladly teach you what I know.  But for this you would have to stay six months without food or sleep. I will give you a special power so that you would be able to do this. But, be warned, after the six months, you shall be overcome by sleep and hungry. If you agree to this, I will teach you all the you seek to learn."

Samudragupta readily agreed. The Brahm Rakshas used his power and cast a magic spell on him. For the next six months, Samudragupta would not know what sleep or hunger was. The Brahm Rakshas would write a new slokh on a palm leaf and drop it down to Samudragupta who would learn it. After he completed one lesson and new one would be dropped down to him. And so it was for six months.

After the six months were over, Samudragupta had received the knowledge that he so passionately yearned for. He thanked the Brahm Rakshas and got up on his way. By this time, he was reduced to nothing but skin and bones. After entering the city of Ujjain, he was succumbed by hunger and slumber. The tired brahmin lay down by the road side and started sleeping as though he had never slept before.

At that time, a young hand maid called Alangara Valli was passing through the street to her home. She was tired after a hard day's work and her mind wandered as she strolled through the narrow lanes of Ujjain. Her dancing eyes stopped at the sight of the skinny Samudragupta asleep in a world of bliss. She went across and tried awakening the young brahmin. But Samudragupta was far too content in his slumber to be awakened so easily. Seeing that if she left him by himself the young brahmin would perish, Alangara Valli took him into her house and laid him on a bed.She immediately called a physician to have a look at the sleeping brahmin and cure him of his deep sleep.

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