How could Vishnu go astray?

 

 

 

 Narad was in the association of Lord Brahma in Brahmalok. His benign father was narrating to him various tales of past to which he had been a witness. While discussing the queer vicissitude of time and law of karma, father explained to the son that time can invariably turn all the tables in any direction. When Narad learnt that lord Vishnu gladly accepted invitation to a function organized by king Daksh in which lord Shiv was not invited, he could not believe this. Lord Brahma had told him that King Daksh had deliberately not invited lord Shiv with the sole intention to hurt and humiliate lord Shiv.  He divulged to Narad that once it so happened that in a conference where all celestial beings were present when king Daksh entered, lord Shiv being in meditation, remained seated and did not rise up from his seat to salute his father- in-law Daksh. Proud king could not bear with this and took it to his heart as a delinquent gesture of his vagabond son-in-law. He looked for an opportunity to humiliate lord Shiv as day and night he had been searing in the fire of anger and jealousy to lord Shiv. To settle score with lord Shiv he organized a great function and sent royal invitation to all celestial beings but for lord Shiv.

     When Narad learnt that the inseparable ally of lord Shiv, Lord Vishnu had consented to join the function where Lord Shiv was to be disgraced, he got confused about such a strange and unbelievable attitude of lord Vishnu. He asked Lord Brahma,-“Father! Why did lord Vishnu attend this function where his favourite lord Shiv was intentionally let down by his father in law? Not only did he attend the function but I have heard that he even fought on behalf of king Daksh against lord Shiv. How could he do so?”

Lord Brahma got pensive and said,-“Son! There is a cause behind every effect. In good olden days there was a king named Kshuv. He was very close to muni Dadhichi. Both were great souls. However with the passage of time jealousy crept in between them. Muni believed in superiority of Brahmans while the king believed in superiority of kshatriyas. Once they got into a heated argument over this issue. King blatantly said,-“King is superior to all, by all means.” Enraged muni boxed at the forehead of the king to proclaim superiority of Brahmans. King Kshuv applied his celestial weapon Vajra and axed down Dadhichi. Guru Shukracharya resurrected Dadhichi somehow. Shukracharya then gave a mantra to Dadhichi to please lord Shiv. The muni began to chant mahamrityunjay mantra to win favours from Lord Shiv. In due course, lord Shiv appeared before muni. “ seek any thing. I am pleased with you.” Offered lord Shiv.

“Lord! I am deeply obliged to you for this grace. Please make by bones as strong as Vajra. Make me so strong that no one could kill me and may I become so energized that before none should I feel low and weak.” Lord Shiv said,-“Be it so. You will receive all this.” Thus he blessed the muni and disappeared. Dadhichi was filled with pride and he straight away reached in the court of king Kshuv and kicked him at his head in front of all. Kshuv was also equally enraged that he applied his vajra on muni which however, could not harm even a bit the strong skeleton of muni. King was shocked to see the strength of muni. Realizing the potential of his enemy he retreated and went to forest to gain strength. He began to perform penance to please lord Vishnu. When lord Vishnu appeared before him he said,-“Lord! Muni Dadhich has become too arrogant. So much so that he kicked my head in front of my courtiers. What makes him so powerful?” Lord Vishnu replied,-“King! Devotees of lord Shiv become fearless. If I dare harm Dadhichi then I shall invite wrath of lord Shiv which I can by no means dare do. So I can not accompany you in the fray to defeat Dadhichi. Rather I shall find some way to teach Dadhichi a lesson all alone.” Assuring his devotee so, lord Vishnu disappeared.

To keep his words, Lord Vishnu disguised as a Brahman and appeared before muni Dadhichi. The Brahman exhorted,-“O great devotee of lord Vishnu! Heard from wise men that you are a great devotee of lord Shiv who never goes back on his word and never refuses anything to mendicants have I reached here. I intend to beg something. Please show your magnanimity and give me what I seek.”

 Dadhichi asked,-“Brahman! I very well know what you are going to ask for. I also know that you are only Vishnu in disguise who has reached here to help your devotee Kshuv. Lord Shiv has made me all knowing and fearless from all. Now give up this drama and better worship lord Shiv.”

 Lord Vishnu replied back,-“Dadhichi! Blessed by lord Shiv you have become so fearless. But please for my sake go to king Kshuv and just tell him,-‘I am afraid of you’.”

 Even though lord Vishnu implored so Dadhichi showed no sign of yielding and replied,-“Lord Vishnu! Blessed by lord Shiv I need not fear anyone. I therefore, can not do what you say.” Thus lord Vishnu applied various tactics to bring muni to do what he wished for but the adamant muni yielded not a bit. Vishnu then applied his illusory power Maya seeing so muni retorted,-“O large armed Vishnu! Give up your illusory power. I have attained supreme status in spiritual spheres. See the entire cosmos within me and the entire folk of deities too. Whatever you wish to see you can see floating within me. I give you the ability to see all in me.’ As he said so the entire folk of celestial beings rushed to see the charisma of spiritual power of muni Dadhichi.  Vishnu felt enraged and wished to curse muni but Lord Brahma appeared and calmed down lord Vishnu. Vishnu accompanied by all deities found the entire cosmos with innumerable beings floating in muni. All worshipped and saluted muni Dadhichi. King Kshuv was also a witness to the lofty heights attained by his former friend turned enemy. He saluted muni with folded hands and accepted his supremacy wholeheartedly. Kshuv was overwhelmed and said,-“O best of all devotees of lord Shiv! Be pleased with me. Bless me please. I salute you all the way.” Dadhichi was pleased with Kshuv and blessed him generously.

 Dadhich could however not accept please of Vishnu and still felt enraged to him. He therefore said in front of all,-“O you all Gods! Listen carefully. Cursed by me now, all of you including lord Vishnu shall face defeat from my lord Shiv and his ganas in the battlefield.” Saying so, he convinced Kshuv that the supreme consciousness or Brahm is hidden in all and can be realized by self effort. The place where muni Dadhichi had shown divine vision to lord Vishnu and other gods is known as Sthaneshwar or Thanesar as is known now a days.

Narad was amazed to hear from Lord Brahma such history and then realized why lord Vishnu and other deities fought with lord Shiv and his ganas in the function of king Daksh after goddess sati gave up her body there and faced humiliating defeat from Lord Shiv. How great is the power of penance that can enable a mortal to curse even god he learnt.