Table of Contents
Introduction
Jaimini was listening about rebirths after hell. The birds continued Sumati's story. They said, "Sumati, as you can recollect, was telling about his seventh life when he was in a flaming hell with iron-beaked birds. In that hell, he had suddenly seen a king called Vipaschit. Remember that as soon as Vipaschit had come there, the souls in hell had started feeling comfortable. Vipaschit's presence was pleasing them. We will tell you, in Sumati's words, what happened there.
Souls’ Plea
Sumati said, 'The attendant of Yama asked Vipaschit to follow him. The king looked around. He had had enough of hell and was ready to leave. We saw this and spoke. The king's presence was comforting to us, and we did not want to lose that feeling. After having experienced something nice, going back to the torture of hell was something we could not think of. We said, "Please stop, Vipaschit, king of Videha. Do not leave this place. The breeze that touches you and comes to us is very soothing. After having lived in hell for long, we will not be able to go back to that life after experiencing this relief."
The Attendant Explains Vipaschit's Virtue
Vipaschit heard this and was surprised. He asked the attendant of Yama to stop and then asked him, "This is the first time I have come here. I do not know the souls that are here. So please tell, how is it that these souls feel relieved by my presence? Is there something that I did that is causing this?"
The attendant said, "You followed proper dharma. You never ate before offering food to the gods, your ancestors, your guests, animals, and your servants. You did not do it as part of your duty but actually enjoyed doing this, and your mind was devoted to these obligations. You did this not out of compulsion but out of reverence. This has left behind a karmic fragrance so powerful that even in hell, it soothes and uplifts others. The spiritual energy of your merits remains active, soothing the tormented around you. There are numerous forces here that are meant to torture the souls. There are machines, weapons, fires, and birds. According to the sins committed by the souls, they will face their punishment. Such is your energy that even the devices of torture have lost their energies and have become mild."
Vipaschit's Compassionate Resolve
Hearing this, Vipaschit said, "I have heard what you have to say, and this is what I feel. These people are getting joy due to my presence. I know that once I leave this place, you will take me to a place where I will get joy. I do not think that joy will be equal to or even greater than the joy I will get by providing relief to the souls here. So, listen to me. I have decided to be here and provide relief to the souls here. I will not leave with you."
The attendant was taken aback. He said to the king, "O king, this is a place where souls are punished. You deserve pleasures that you have earned by your good deeds. Leave this place which is full of filth and agony. Come with me, I will take you to a place you deserve. Come with me, let us go."
Vipaschit said, "I will not leave this place. I will stay here as long as the souls I see around me are suffering. I am aware that my presence is bringing them relief, and I prefer this over any heavenly rewards that are in store for me. True dharma is not in seeking my own pleasure but in extending compassion to the ones who are suffering, even if they are my enemies. If I do not respond to suffering with kindness, it is shameful. No religious practice can bring benefit if the person lacks the will to help the needy and afflicted. Outward rituals are meaningless. Anyone whose heart remains untouched by suffering has lost the very essence of being human. I know what I am saying, and I am aware of the consequences. I know that by staying here, I will have to suffer. They are intense, and I will probably lose my senses or may get destroyed completely. I will still not budge. The suffering that I will undergo here will be more pleasurable than the joys of heaven. I ask you to leave, and let me be here."
Divine Intervention: Yama and Indra Appear
The moment the king said this, the environment changed. Flowers started falling. Yama appeared there along with Indra. The attendant then said to Vipaschit, "Please leave this place. See, Yama and Indra themselves have come to accompany you and take you away. This is an honour that is reserved for a select few. Your work here is done. Please come away."
A Heavenly Debate: Vipaschit's Unwavering Compassion
Yama then said, "I am Yama. I am responsible for moral order and justice, so I am also called Dharma. You have truly pleased me, not by rituals but through your selfless action and showing compassion towards those suffering here. I have come here to personally take you away with me. A chariot will come here, and we will leave in that."
Vipaschit said to Yama, "I am honoured to see you. For my own pleasure, I am not willing to abandon the thousands of souls suffering here. They are crying out to me, asking me to stay. I will not accept your offer. I will not leave this place."
Seeing this conversation, Indra, who had come there with Yama, said, "The souls that are here deserve this fate of theirs due to past misdeeds. You have earned a place in heaven due to your actions. You have rightfully gained your reward."
Vipaschit said, "If you are truly who you claim to be, then you should be able to recognise virtue, and you will also know the scope of my virtue. So, I want to know from you."
Yama said to Vipaschit, "Your good deeds are beyond count. Your righteousness is transformative and is vast enough to cover the heavens. Your choosing to remain here in hell for the sake of the souls here has resulted in multiplying your good deeds even further. Please come and enjoy heaven. The souls here are enduring punishment for their own sins, and their pain is part of a just process. Please allow the wheel of karma to turn as it must and accept the reward you have earned."
The Ultimate Sacrifice and Liberation
Vipaschit said, "Please look around, my lord. The souls here are finding comfort by my presence; then there has to be some goodness in me that is working. If I have to leave then, please help me. Let all the merit of my past deeds be taken and divided among the souls here."
Saying this, with closed eyes and folded hands, Vipaschit bowed down.
The moment he said that, the environment changed further. The birds with iron beaks vanished. The flames died down. Indra then said, "Look around you, Vipaschit. The souls are being liberated from here. Your wish is fulfilled. You have now earned a much higher place in heaven. Come, let us go." As soon as Indra said this, a chariot came down. Indra along with Vipaschit mounted the chariot and left the place.'
The Essence of Rebirth and Karma
'Based on the fruits of our actions, we are born on earth in various forms — animal, human, or others. I have thereby told you what you wanted to know about birth, death, and hell. I told you what I saw and also the realisation that I gained from those experiences. Through these experiences, I gained true knowledge and came to understand the laws that govern life, death, karma, and rebirth. What should I tell you after this?'
Some more on this
- Vipaschit’s refusal to abandon suffering souls demonstrates dharma as active empathy and sacrifice.
- Vipaschit chooses suffering to aid others rather than seek personal heavenly pleasure.
- This aligns with the ideal of action without desire for fruits.
- Compassionate acts can multiply one’s merit, influencing order and uplifting others.
- Moral virtue is dynamic and generative, not static.
- Compassion transcends caste, status, and karmic consequences.
- Empathy and self-sacrifice are superior to ritual compliance or personal salvation.
- Yama (Dharma) and Indra’s recognition confirms that order honours moral depth.
- Divine figures embody the principle that ethics override ritual formality.
Vipaschit’s presence symbolizes hope and redemption within suffering.
Yama and Indra are personifications of justice and divine authority.
Their interaction with Vipaschit highlights harmony between human virtue and divine order.
The story is an exploration of karma, dharma, and compassion.
It challenges superficial ritualism, highlighting the power of selfless action and empathy.
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