Yudhishthirnu Manomanthan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Yudhishthirnu Manomanthan" by Bechardas Doshi, focusing on the content presented on pages 1-7:

The text describes King Yudhishthir's profound mental turmoil and grief following the devastating Mahabharata war.

Setting the Scene: After the horrific war, King Yudhishthir and his family stayed on the banks of the Ganga River for a month. Yudhishthir chose this location to escape the turbulent atmosphere created by the war's cruelty, his own inner unrest, and the chaotic circumstances. He sought a calm environment to determine his duties and responsibilities.

The Arrival of Sages and Brahmins: During this period of reflection, esteemed figures, including Mahatma, Siddha purushas, foremost Brahmarshis, and revered sages like Vaisampayana, Narada, Devala, Kanva, and Devsthana, visited Yudhishthir. They were accompanied by their many disciples, highly learned Brahmins proficient in Vedic knowledge, householders, and other scholars. Yudhishthir welcomed them all and seated them appropriately.

Narada's Counsel and Yudhishthir's Grief: Yudhishthir was deeply distressed by grief. Hundreds of thousands of Brahmins were attempting to console him. At this time, the ancient sage Narada, after consulting with sages like Krishna Dvaipayana, approached the sorrowful king. Narada addressed Yudhishthir, acknowledging his victory over the entire earth through his own might and the grace of Madhava (Shri Krishna). Narada emphasized that this victory was achieved through righteousness and that Yudhishthir was fortunate to have escaped the fearsome war. He urged Yudhishthir, as a follower of Kshatriya dharma, to rejoice, as all his enemies were vanquished. Narada concluded by stating that Yudhishthir should not be saddened by the great wealth he had acquired.

Yudhishthir's Response: The Weight of His Actions: Yudhishthir agreed with Narada's assessment of his victory but added a crucial point: his victory was also due to the grace of Brahmins and the strength of Bhima and Arjuna. However, his overwhelming sorrow stemmed from succumbing to greed and orchestrating the destruction of his own relatives, including his sons. He felt the victory was, in fact, a defeat.

His deepest regret was the killing of his elder brother, Karna, whom he had slain driven by the temptation of the kingdom. He described Karna as Kunti's eldest son and their own brother, and the thought of his death, done by his own hand out of a lust for power, burned him.

Regret Over Family Annihilation: Yudhishthir further expressed his immense suffering and regret over the annihilation of his own kin. He lamented to Arjuna that if they had begged for sustenance in Mathura, they wouldn't have had to witness the day when their own brothers and relatives were killed by their own hands. He cursed Kshatriya dharma, their strength and valor, and their anger, as these led to the self-destruction they witnessed with their own eyes. He blamed greed, delusion, arrogance, and deceit for their dire situation, stating that even the offer of the entire earth, mountains of gold, or entire herds of cattle would not have justified the killing of their own people.

Arjuna's Rebuke and Yudhishthir's Desire for Renunciation: Upon hearing Yudhishthir's profound grief and desire to abandon his kingdom, Arjuna, despite his own role in the war, chastised his elder brother. Arjuna called it weakness and a sign of being disheartened to abandon the great wealth (the kingdom) obtained after performing arduous deeds. He questioned why Yudhishthir would give up the kingdom won righteously after defeating enemies. Arjuna argued that a kingdom is not for the inactive, the indecisive, or the lazy. He questioned why Yudhishthir, driven by anger, had killed kings if his intention was to beg for alms. Arjuna pointed out that while the destitute or those without concern for well-being might have such thoughts, Yudhishthir, renowned throughout the world, blessed with sons and wealth, and possessing great strength, would face public condemnation for abandoning his prosperous kingdom to live like a common beggar. Arjuna also reminded Yudhishthir that as he was born into a royal lineage and had conquered the entire earth, abandoning dharma and artha (righteousness and prosperity) for renunciation in the forest would leave the responsibility of ruling and protecting the populace to no one.

Yudhishthir's Detailed Vision of Asceticism: Undeterred by Arjuna's harsh words, Yudhishthir presented his deeply considered response. He expressed immense disgust with his own self-interest and his lack of interest in it. He declared his intention to renounce worldly pleasures derived from the body and senses, to undertake severe penance, and to live in the forest like an animal, subsisting on fruits and roots. He detailed a life of austere practices: daily fire worship, eating sparingly, wearing matted hair and animal skins, enduring the cold of the Himalayas and the scorching heat, and tolerating hunger, thirst, and all other hardships. He spoke of finding solace in the sweet sounds of forest creatures, inhaling the fragrant blossoms, and observing the beautiful abodes of forest dwellers and ascetics. He vowed to act in ways that would not displease anyone, to eat whatever he found, ripe or unripe, and to offer forest fruits and water to the ancestors and deities. He intended to await death, performing one day's sustenance with each different forest plant. He planned to beg for alms like a sage, unconcerned about dirt on his body, living in desolate houses, free from sorrow, joy, fear of criticism, or pride in praise. He wished to live detached, without attachment or greed, finding joy only in the self. He aimed to wander in such a way that people would consider him deaf, blind, mute, and inert, speaking minimally with others. He resolved to live without harming any living beings, mobile or immobile, and to avoid anger. He would control all his senses, maintain a cheerful countenance, and wander aimlessly, without asking for directions. His actions would be guided by destiny, not by personal initiative. He would be indifferent to the quantity or taste of food, eating only after the sounds of cooking ceased and people had finished their meals. He would beg only once a day, going to a few households and returning if unsuccessful. He would abandon worldly attachments, live with equanimity, and become a severe ascetic. He expressed no desire to live or die, finding both equally welcome. He stated that being whipped or anointed with sandalwood paste would be the same to him. He intended to wash away all his sins, become free from all attachments, and cast off the bonds of delusion. He would wander freely like the wind, independent and unburdened. He was confident that by living without passion (vitraga), he would attain eternal liberation.

Justification for Renunciation: Yudhishthir then explained to Arjuna that due to greed and ignorance, he had committed grave sins or caused others to commit them. He was now convinced that liberation was impossible without renouncing this boundless and unsettling world. He believed that by following this newfound wisdom, he would surely achieve everlasting and immutable happiness. He intended to make his body, which is surrounded by birth, old age, death, and various diseases, completely fearless and to achieve his well-being by following the path he had described.

Conclusion of the Passage: The text concludes by stating that Yudhishthir's discourse was not agreeable to Arjuna, Bhima, Draupadi, or anyone else. However, the Mahabharata author beautifully narrated Yudhishthir's inner struggle (manonmanthan) after the war. The excerpt is attributed to "Akhand Anand, August - 1951."