The Story Of Tuladhara And Jajali!

(Moksha Dharma Parva of Vyasa Mahabharata)

Being questioned by King Yudhishthira regarding virtue and righteousness, Pitamaha Bhishma narrated a story. The story was based on the discussion between a rigid vowed Brahmana and a simple trader- Tuladhara. Bhishma began the story:———————-

There was a Brahmana named Jajali, lived in a forest like a forest-recluse. He devoted his time in severe penances. Practicing austere penances, he roamed the forest with matted locks. His body was covered with old, torn clothes, and he had taken the vows of silence. He could travel, in his mind, to all the stars and planets in the sky and back to the water. He exposed himself into the rain under the open sky as well as enduring the scorching heat in the summer. The rigid vowed Brahmana followed all the hard austerities! Conversant with the duties laid down in the Vedas for hermits, he accepted no one equal to him! But, he felt as if enduring so much difficulties, he didn't achieve any religious merit for himself! He was not satiated with his own acts.

He went on moving around forest to forest for gaining ascetic merits. Once, Jajali abstaining from food, stood in the forest like a wooden post! He remained in that posture for a long time without moving an inch. In the meanwhile, a pair of Kulinga birds (small sparrows) mistook his matted lock as their perfect shelter. They built their nest on Jajali’s matted lock and lived there comfortably. In due course of time, the birds laid their eggs on the head of that ascetic. Time passed and the eggs hatched. And the young ones came out. They began to grow up in the nest. Jajali remained standstill not to give any injury to the little birds! He allowed them to stay on his head as long as they wish.

Possessed with compassion, the Brahmana allowed the baby birds to grow up. He was bent upon obtaining religious merit by doing this service and not injuring anyone! The little birds happily spent their time on his head. In the morning they used to fly away and again come back to their nest in the evening. In one such time, the birds flew away but never came back again leaving behind the ascetic all alone! After their final departure, rishi Jajali’s heart filled with pride. 

He thought that he achieved the religious merit by his noble deed of nurturing the young birds on his head which nobody did ever before! Assuming himself adorned with ascetic merits, Jajali that foremost of rishis came to a river. He took his bath, offered water to the sun god, then struck his armpit saying loudly, “No one can be equal with me!” I have acquired the best of the merits!’

At that very time, an unseen voice (Pisachas or Rakshasas) retorted, ‘O Brahmana! You deserve not to say this! Even a trader named Tuladhara in Varanasi who is highly illustrious would not worthy of uttering these words what you say!’ The voice declared firmly that he was no better in respect of virtue and righteousness than Tuladhara, a trader in Varanasi!’

Hearing the unseen voice, Jajali overwhelmed with grief and anger, decided to meet that trader- Tuladhara in Varanasi! At last, directed by the Rakshasas, Jajali came to Varanasi and met the illustrious trader- Tuladhara. When he arrived, he noticed Tuladhara was busy selling the products to his customers. All the products were derived from the trees, herbs and shrubs. However, the very moment, Tuladhara saw the twice-born Brahmana- Jajali. He paid his obeisance to him and briefly told him how and why he was guided by the Rakshasas to come to him.

Jajali was spellbound at first seeing the spiritual power of Tuladhara! He was curious to know how Tuladhara got such wisdom! He asked, ‘O son of trader! How did you gain the power of understanding, and the power of knowledge? O wise man, explain it to me fully!’ 

Tuladhara, the Vaishya well acquainted with the truths of morality and contented with knowledge joyously explained his own principles and motives. He said that he followed the best principle morality which is eternal and based on- friendliness and beneficial to all creatures. The highest form of morality was harmlessness towards every single creature, irrespective of size, shape, rich and poor!

Once again, Tuladhara addressed to Jajali, said, ‘O twice born rishi! Without cheating anyone, I follow the fair means to get my earning. O Jajali! Righteousness or morality should be judged, if a person who is always engaged for the benefit of all creatures in thought, word and deed, not by mere words!   

Like a balance who never considers what are being weighed and gives equal measurement ( balanced weight) , I follow the same principle. My scales are also perfectly even for every single creatures! My perception regarding things are all equal whether the thing is a lump of gold, a piece of stone or a clod of earth! The core values of all these things are equal to me.

O Rishi! People who are deprived of some sorts of things, like a deformed person, an old man, or a person afflicted with diseases, do not appreciate any sort of enjoyment, similarly, I have no feeling or inclination for wealth, pleasure or enjoyments! 

I am never flattered by anyone's praising words or harsh words! I maintain indifference and behave equally in both the situations! I have no friends or foes!

A person attains Brahma who is not afflicted by love, hate or fear, and no desire for material wealth!  One who is gifted with knowledge, or one who restrains his senses, gains liberation by the merit of that good conduct. 

Even in farming, the innocent creatures in the soil are hurt with the bulls which are yoked to the plough. Everyone should follow the principle of harmlessness- means not giving injury to any living entity!

Restraining own senses and compassionately helping others indicate the good conduct acquiring the merit of righteousness! The thought of harmlessness leads a person to prosperity and heaven!

He who gives assurance to others to live fearlessly gains merit in this life and in the next. That practice of harmlessness is the highest duty of a person and should be observed by all.’

Again Tuladhara said, ‘O learned rishi! The subject of duties is so complicated, one can not understand it fully! A righteous person knows what his duty is! Those who always think for the benefit of others, know the duty.’

The trader- Tuladhara strongly condemned the celebration of sacrifices. Greedy priests officiate sacrifices for gaining wealth for themselves misguiding others. Thus, the sacrifices of animals should be avoided. He advocated for the inner sacrifices of a person, such as sacrifices of one’s ego, arrogance, pride, anger and other vices which cause no harm to others. Those sacrifices will enhance the spiritual wisdom of that person.

He strongly opposed the mode of animal sacrifices and rituals observed in the society in the name of getting spiritual power!

Jajali questioned him (Tuladhara) saying, ‘It is impossible to live without causing any harm to anyone.’

Tuladhara agreed to his statement and said, ‘One should understand the harm he is causing to others and try to minimise it!’

However, Tuladhara explained the concept of Brahmana who cast off all the desires, who considers everyone in equanimity, who doesn't have friends or foes, who has no grief or happiness, the person who understands the true meaning of duties, ahimsa, and Dharma that person can attain Brahma! 

He emphasised the true meaning of renunciation! It doesn't mean to roam around the jungles leaving behind his duties or detachment from the world. On the contrary, reflecting well upon duties one who performs his act perfectly well, attains Brahman easily! Neither sacrifice nor rituals will help a person to gain spiritual wisdom or achieve Moksha! At last, Tuladhara pointed the ultimate source of everything is- Faith! Atma or Soul is the Brahman and it is the most sacred one!

While Jajali believed that physical self-denial was the highest form of virtue, Tuladhara explains Dharma by adopting universal harmlessness, equanimity, and daily duty as the highest form of virtues! Tuladhara clearly mentioned that one does not need to abandon society or social duties to achieve liberation! True spirituality does not require wandering the forests! It requires an internal cleansing of greed, pride and other vices! He also mentioned that Soul itself is the ultimate sacred place!

The twice-born ascetic Jajali, eventually learnt the true meaning of renunciation and Brahman and also received spiritual guidance from a simple-hearted trader, Tuladhara.

True Dharma is not in the forest tapasya or outer show. It is in Ahimsa (Universal Harmlessness), Samata (Equanimity), and doing your daily Duty (Highest Dharma) with a clean heart! Spiritual progress does not depend on class, creed or religion! Anyone from anywhere can acquire Spiritual Knowledge through pure understanding of good qualities! Brilliant example is Tuladhara! A simple Vaishya trader imparted the Spiritual Knowledge to a rigid- vowed Brahmana rishi Jajali!