12.263
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O Bhārata, the Vedas declare duty, wealth, and desire; tell me, O grandsire, whose gain among these is considered the highest.
Bhīṣma said.
Here, I will tell you the ancient story of how Kuṇḍadhāra, out of affection, once bestowed a favor upon a devotee.
A certain brāhmaṇa, lacking wealth, out of desire, sought dharma. For the sake of a sacrifice, he then, seeking wealth, undertook severe austerity.
He firmly resolved and began to worship the deities. Though he worshipped the deities with devotion, he did not obtain any wealth.
Then he again began to ponder: 'Which is that deity who, not rendered indifferent by men, would quickly be pleased with me?'
Then, with a gentle form, he saw near the divine attendant a cloud with streams, standing there.
Upon seeing that great-souled one, devotion to him arose in me. This very form will surely bring me the highest good.
He is closely associated with the god and is not surrounded by other men; this one will give me abundant wealth very quickly.
Then the Brahmin worshipped him with various incenses, fragrances, garlands, and diverse offerings.
Then, after a short time, the cloud, being pleased by his help, spoke these fixed words.
Atonement is prescribed by the virtuous for the slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, the drinker of liquor, the thief, and the breaker of a vow; but for the ungrateful one, there is no atonement.
Unrighteousness is born of hope; anger is said to be the son of envy. Greed is the offspring of deceit; the ungrateful person does not deserve to have children.
Then, in his dream, the brāhmaṇa saw, by the brilliance of Kuṇḍadhāra, all beings lying on the kuśa grass.
The Brāhmaṇa, who was pure in soul, unadorned, and endowed with tranquility, austerity, and devotion, saw a vision at night.
Yudhiṣṭhira saw Maṇibhadra, the great-souled and resplendent being among the deities, present there and giving directions.
There, the gods grant kingdoms and wealth. Those attained by auspicious actions are destroyed among inauspicious ones as well.
Then, O Bharata, as the Yakṣas looked on, the greatly radiant Kuṇḍadhāra, belonging to the gods, came out and fell to the ground.
Then, Maṇibhadra, greatly renowned, having heard the words of the gods, said: "Kuṇḍadhāra, what do you desire, having fallen on the ground?"
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
If the gods are pleased with me, this brāhmaṇa is my devotee. I wish to grant him a favor, to bring about some happiness for him.
Bhīṣma said.
Then Maṇibhadra again spoke to him: "By the command of the gods, Kuṇḍadhāra, the one of great splendor."
Arise, arise! May auspiciousness be yours. You have accomplished your task, be happy. As long as this brāhmaṇa, your friend, requests wealth, by the command of the gods, I will give this innumerable (wealth).
After reflecting, Kuṇḍadhāra realized that human life is unstable and impermanent. Therefore, the illustrious Brāhmaṇa set his mind on austerity.
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
I do not ask for wealth from the brāhmaṇa, giver of wealth. I desire something else: favor done to the devotee.
I do not wish to give the earth filled with jewels or even a great accumulation of wealth to a devotee; but let this person be righteous.
May his mind find joy in dharma, and may he live by dharma. Let him be one for whom dharma is paramount. This is the favor I consider as mine.
Maṇibhadra said.
When the kingdom and various pleasures are the fruit of dharma, let him enjoy these fruits, free from bodily suffering.
Bhīṣma said.
Then the greatly renowned Kuṇḍadhāra repeatedly practiced dharma, and as a result, the deities became pleased with him.
Maṇibhadra said.
All your deities are pleased, and likewise those of this twice-born. He will become righteous-souled, and his mind will be set in dharma.
Bhīṣma said.
Then the pleased cloud, having accomplished his task, O Yudhishthira, obtained the boon he desired in his mind, a boon very difficult for others to attain.
Then the best of the twice-born, having approached, saw fine bark garments placed at the side and thus became dispassionate.
The brāhmaṇa said.
He does not recognize a good deed; who else will know what has been done? I will go to the forest; it is better for me to live righteously.
Bhīṣma said.
Then, due to detachment and the grace of the deities, that best of the twice-born entered the forest and began intense austerities.
O great king, the twice-born, subsisting on fruits and roots left after offerings to deities and guests, developed a delight in dharma.
Having given up all roots and fruits, the Brahmin subsisted on leaves. Then, giving up leaves, the best among the Brahmins lived only on water.
He lived for many years subsisting on air; his life-breath was not diminished, and that seemed truly wonderful.
As he abided faithfully in dharma and severe austerity, over time, a divine vision arose in him.
He thought, "If I, being pleased, give great wealth to someone, let my word not be false."
Then, with a delighted face, he again undertook austerities; again, the accomplished one reflected upon that supreme state which he had attained.
If I were to grant the kingdom to anyone with whom I am truly pleased, he would quickly become king; my word would not be false.
O Bhārata, Kuṇḍadhāra directly showed him, being impelled by the Brāhmaṇa's ascetic practice and friendship.
Having assembled, he performed the worship with him as prescribed; the brāhmaṇa of Kuṇḍadhāra was astonished, O king.
Then Kuṇḍadhāra said, "I grant you the supreme divine vision. O brāhmaṇa, see the path of the kings and behold the worlds with your eye."
Then, at that time, the Brāhmaṇa saw from afar thousands of kings immersed in hell with his divinely-endowed sight.
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
If, after worshipping me with devotion, you still experience suffering, what benefit would my actions have for you? And what kind of favor would you receive from me?
Behold, behold again, how can a man desire pleasures? For the gate of heaven is indeed closed, especially among men.
Bhīṣma said.
Then he saw that desire, anger, greed, fear, pride, sleep, sloth, and laziness had enveloped the men who stood there.
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
By these, the worlds are well-blocked and the gods fear humans. Likewise, as per the word of the gods, they create obstacles in every way. (12-263-47)
No one becomes righteous without the permission of the gods. You are capable, by your austerity, of granting both the kingdom and wealth.
Bhīṣma said.
Then he bowed his head to the brāhmaṇa, the bearer of water. The righteous great one said to him, "A great favor has been done to me."
In the past, due to desire and greed, I envied you, not understanding your affection; in that matter, you ought to forgive me.
Kuṇḍadhāra said, "I have indeed forgiven you," and, embracing the best of Brāhmaṇas with his arms, vanished on the spot.
Then, by the grace of Kuṇḍadhāra and through his austerity, the Brāhmaṇa once wandered through all these worlds.
Travel by air, movement, and the realization of intended objects; through the power of dharma, as well as by yoga and similar means, one attains the highest goal.
Here, deities, Brāhmaṇas, the virtuous, Yakṣas, and human sages honor the righteous, not the wealthy or those driven by desire.
Your gods are truly pleased because your mind is devoted to dharma. There is some happiness in wealth, but the highest happiness is found in dharma.
