Once there was a king named Nanda. He was a wise and kind ruler. He followed the teachings of the Vedas and Puranas. He ruled his kingdom well and kept his people happy. When he grew old, he crowned his son Dharmagupta as his successor. Then he left his kingdom and went to the forest to live a life of meditation.

Dharmagupta followed his father's footsteps. He ruled the kingdom wisely and performed many sacrifices. He sought blessings from the gods for his people.

One day, Dharmagupta went deep into a forest. He wanted to hunt wild animals that were troubling nearby villagers. As he went far from his men, it grew late, and darkness spread around him. Tired, he rested on top of a tree.

Suddenly, a bear came running and also climbed up the tree. It was being chased by a lion. The lion reached there and waited under the tree. The bear, seeing Dharmagupta afraid, spoke in a human voice. It told him not to fear. The bear offered to watch the lion until midnight so Dharmagupta could sleep. Later, Dharmagupta would take his turn. Dharmagupta agreed and slept peacefully.

At midnight, the lion spoke to the bear. It asked the bear to push Dharmagupta down so it could eat him. The bear refused. It told the lion that betraying someone who trusted you was a great sin. The lion grew angry and waited for the bear to sleep. When the bear fell asleep, the lion tried to convince Dharmagupta to throw the bear down. The lion promised to eat the bear and leave Dharmagupta alone. But if he doesn’t do that, the lion would wait under the tree until both of them dropped down dead. Seeing the lion’s determination and convinced that there was no other way, Dharmagupta pushed the bear down.

The bear, however, held a branch and escaped. It climbed back up and scolded Dharmagupta. The bear said he had broken trust and acted unfairly. Then, the bear revealed its true identity. It was Dhyananishita, a rishi who could assume any form he wanted.  Long ago, the lion had been Bhadranaama, a minister of Yaksha King Kubera. Bhadranama once disturbed the sage Gautama during his tapas. As punishment, the sage cursed him to become a lion. The curse would end only when he met Dhyananishta.

The lion turned back into Bhadranama and after asking for forgiveness, left for the city of Kubera.

The act of deceit sealed Dharmagupta’s fate. He became mad. His men searched and brought him back to Nanda in his hermitage. Seeing his son’s condition, Nanda felt deep sorrow. He took Dharmagupta to Maharshi Jaimini and prayed for his son’s recovery. The sage advised them to visit the sacred hill Venkatachala. Bathing in the holy Pushkarini pond there would wash away all sins.

Nanda, Dharmagupta, and others traveled to Venkatachala. They bathed in the holy waters and worshiped Lord Venkateshwara. They prayed with faith and devotion. Lord Venkateshwara blessed Dharmagupta and freed him from the sin. Dharmagupta regained his mind and strength. They all thanked the Lord and returned home happily.

Lessons -

1. Breaking trust causes harm to oneself and others. Dharmagupta’s act of betrayal led to his suffering.
2. Lord Venkateshwara’s blessings can remove sins and cure all suffering when one prays with true faith and devotion.

Image courtesy: https://pin.it/7JuJUoooz

Knowledge Bank

What is Ganesh the God of?

Ganesha removes obstacles and gives success. He also gives intelligence and discretion. Mudgala Purana depicts Ganesha as Paramatma.

Who is Parashakti or Adyashakti?

Parashakti or Adyashakti as described in the Atharvashirsha Upanishad, introduces herself as the root cause of creation, identifying as the Supreme Brahman. She embodies both Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (spirit), the origin of the material and conscious worlds. This idea is further explained in the Shakta Upanishads and Atharvaguhya Upanishad, where Brahman's nature is attributed to Shakti. These texts present Brahman in a feminine form, emphasizing Shakti's spiritual and philosophical importance.