The kingdom of Pratishtaana lay on the banks of the river Godavari. It was ruled by King Jaanasruti, who was the embodiment of righteousness. The country reverberated with the sacred hymns sung in praise of the Lord. The denizens of heavens returned the love and respect showed to them by the people through timely rains and all round prosperity.
The king was strolling one evening in his garden. It was a very pleasant evening, with the crescent of the moon beginning to shine in the western sky, and the cool breeze singing lullaby to the flowers which were gently closing their eyes for the night.
Suddenly, a burst of fluttering sound attracted the king's attention. A flock of swans inflight! They were talking noisily to each other in their flight. The king looked at the crowd above.
"Sshh! Slowly! Slowly! Don't make noise!" said two birds to those flying in front.
"Sshh....!"said another pair to those in front. "Fly slowly over this place. Do you know which is this place?"
"What is the speciality of this place?" asked the frontliners.
"You should know that we are flying over the palace of King Jaanasruti. Can't you see how this place shines brilliantly due to the glory of the king? If we do not respect the king by flying slowly, we may even lose our eyesights! That is why we should not make any noise or fly arrogantly over this area.
"Glory of Jaanasruti, you said?" retorted the birds in front. That is nothing compared to Raikwa's glory. You can't even compare the two."
The king was amazed. He listened to the birds more intently to gather more information about Raikwa, whose glory they were talking about.
The king never felt jealous of Raikwa. On the other hand he wanted to meet him and pay his respects to him.
He called the minister and asked him to search out Raikwa and bring him to the palace. The minister entrusted the job to Mahat, the royal charioteer. Mahat was an adept in searching out strangers. He started off in the royal chariot and searched a number of places— Kasi, Gaya, the pilgrimage centres of Himalayas, Ganda, Avanti, Kolhapur, Rudragaya, Panch-Nadi, Somnath, Amalagiri, Brahmagiri, Vilweswaram, Tryambakeswar, Govardhan, Kurukshetra and Manikyeswar of Kashmir.
Near a temple at Manikyeswar, he came upon an old man sitting in the shadow of a bullock cart and scratching his body. Mahat was shrewd enough to recognise the person he wanted.
"Are you not Raikwa, the great Mahatma?" asked charioteer humbly, approaching the old man.
The old man looked at Mahat approvingly."Please get into this chariot. Our King has sent me to take you to the palace."
Raikwa responded wfth a broad captivating smile. Mahat had never seen or experienced such a smile before.
"I have tremendous amount of work here", said Raikwa. "Look, people are loading this bullock cart. But the fellows who have to pull the cart are these two old bulls. And there is a stiff climb which they have to negotiate farther down the road. I have to push the cart till the climb is over."
"Please come to our palace'.
"Is there a bigger palace than this for me? I am not coming with you."
"Alright then, I will bring the King here," said the charioteer and he withdrew.
Raikwa gave him his usual broad captivating smile.
Mahat conveyed to the King all that had happened. The King collected precious gifts to present to Raikwa-pearl necklaces, ornamented umbrellas, silk, herds of milching cows and so on - and then started off to Manikyeswar. He offered all these at the feet of Raikwa, prostrated to him and stood in front of him with folded hands.
Raikwa acknowledged the greetings with his usual captivating smile.
"Please accept all these that I have brought for you, and come with me to the palace", said the King.
"You better take all these things to the cremation ground and burn them. Here I have my job to do—to push the bullock cart," said Raikwa.
O please don't be angry with me, pleaded the King 'I brought all these for you only."
"I don't want them. Give them all unto the fire!"
"O best among Yogins! Please forgive me. I cannot look into your face glowing with Brahma Tejas. Pray, tell me, how did you acquire such brilliance?"
"Listen O King, I perceive my own Self in all beings".
"I don't understand. Is it possible for a king like me to do so?"
"Son, I read regularly and practise the sixth chapter of the Bhagawad Geeta. That is the secret of my brilliance, by which even the gods are dazzled."
"Thou art my preceptor. I have also decided to read and practise the sixth chapter of the Geeta."
"That is sufficient. Gradually you will reach the state where you will perceive your own Self in all beings. At that time your Satwa Guna would increase to immeasurable heights and you will glow with the splendour of Brahman."
"My heartfelt gratitude for your kind instructions."
Raikwa replied with his invincible smile.
Recitation of the sixth chapter of Geeta, endows on one liberation. (from the Samsaar)
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