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    Sudheekshnan asks Agastya whether one needs karma (action) or gnyana (knowledge) alone to attain moksha (liberation). Agastya responds that one needs both, like a bird needs two wings to fly. He tells the story of Karunyan to illustrate his point. Karunyan abandons his duties after learning that some scriptures say renunciation alone leads to moksha, while others say duties are needed. His father tells him a story to resolve his doubt.

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    Sudheekshnan asks Agastya whether one needs karma (action) or gnyana (knowledge) alone to attain moksha (liberation). Agastya responds that one needs both, like a bird needs two wings to fly. He tells the story of Karunyan to illustrate his point. Karunyan abandons his duties after learning that some scriptures say renunciation alone leads to moksha, while others say duties are needed. His father tells him a story to resolve his doubt.

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    10 views1 page

    Yoga Vasishtam

    Uploaded by

    yamuna harshavardhana
    Sudheekshnan asks Agastya whether one needs karma (action) or gnyana (knowledge) alone to attain moksha (liberation). Agastya responds that one needs both, like a bird needs two wings to fly. He tells the story of Karunyan to illustrate his point. Karunyan abandons his duties after learning that some scriptures say renunciation alone leads to moksha, while others say duties are needed. His father tells him a story to resolve his doubt.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    1.

    Sudheekshnan’s doubt

    Sudheekshnan has a doubt. In order to clear it he goes to a rishi named Agastya and asks, “ IN order
    to attain moksha, must we do sadhana using karma or gnyana?”

    The rishi responded, “Just as a bird needs both wings to fly, we need both karma and Gnyana to
    attain moksha. Listen to this story.”

    2. Story of Karunyan

    Rishi Agnivesi had a son named Karunyan. In order to have him educated, the father had him sent to
    a Gurukulam where the boy, in due time, learnt everything and returned home. Despite having
    learnt all the duties, he abandoned all of them and began to while away his time. The father was
    unable to understand the reason for this. So he called his son one day and asked, “what be the
    reason for abandoning all duties?” The son replied, “Father, when I explored the Smrutis and Shrutis,
    I found in some places stated that one must perform one’s duties to attain heaven upon death and
    in others stated that abandoning all duties and embracing merely gnyanamarga will alone lead one
    to moksha. Hence I found both advices. Unsure of which path to take, I abandoned all duties.” The
    father, considering the need to release the boy from the dangerous path taken, told him that he
    would tell him a small story and after understanding it, can follow whatever path he chose to. He
    then narrated the following story.

    3. Story of Suruchi and Devadhoota

    An apsara named Suruchi was enjoying herself in the snowclad mountains when she saw a
    Devadhoota flying past. Curious to know the reason, she made herself visible to him and signalled
    him to come down. Bowing down to him as he descended, she asked, “It is rare for one to take this
    path, what be the reason for you to be going this way?” Yielding to her request, the Devadhoota told
    her the reason.

    4. Story of Arishtanemi

    A Rajarshi named Arishtanemi, tired of the duties of the kingdom, abdicated the throne and handed
    over the kingdom to his son and went to a forest on the Gandhamaadhanam hill where he
    undertook severe penance. I was sent by Devendra to go and see him. I am not returning from there,
    said the Devadhoota.

    The apsara who listened to this asked him to share the details of his visit.

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