“O Grandisre Bhishma! what would be the behaviour of a person to attain Parama Pada. After leaving the body, which follows him?” asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmanandana! what you have asked are sacred. Only Brahaspati is eligible to teach about them. He is right now coming here. You can clear off all your doubts” said Bhishma.
Meanwhile, Brihaspati arrived there. Dharmaja along with his brothers, received him with due honours. Dharmaja asked the same which he earlier asked Bhishma. Brihaspati told thus:
“O Dharmanandana! During birth and death, either in Punya Loka or Naraka Loka, Jeeva shall exist. In this material world, father, mother, wife, sons, daughters, relatives accompany the dead body upto burial ground. But the dharma which he followed during his life time, follows him even after death. Therefore, even during the life time, one has to perform virtuous deeds, failing which, he goes to hell.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! After leaving the body, how dharma accompanies Jeevatma.”asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmaja! five elements, their attributes, intellect and dharma accompany jeevatma.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! how does sperm form?” asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmaja! The body of human being forms out of five elements. Food gives strength to body. Lust and Passions created in body generate sperm. When female joins male, sperm enters into the body of female, and female becomes pregnant. After nine months, human body comes out. If that human does Punya, he enjoys pleasures. If that human was sinful, he spends sorrowful and miserable life. All the virtuous deeds performed in previous birth cause pleasure and happiness in the present birth. Therefore, one has to perform virtuous deeds always, and keep himself away from sinful acts. As a result of sinful acts committed in previous birth, one takes the birth of beasts, birds,insects etc. It itself is hell and there is no other hell.
Now I tell you about Karma and its results. One who worships father, mother and teacher, he enjoys pleasures. If they are put to trouble, he undergoes sorrowful life. One who commits theft of food grains takes the birth as rat. One who lusts for others’ wives takes birth as eagle or jackal or monkey. He may take the birth of insect also. One who consumes food without offering to divine bodies and Pitaras, takes the birth of a crow. One who abuses his own brother takes the birth of a bird.
If intercourse with others wife he takes birth as an insect. One who kills a person for profit gets the birth of a donkey or bird. One who kills a lady goes to hell. One who steals cooked rice and milk, he takes birth like an insect in rice and milk.
One who steals fruits, iron, silver and gold, takes birth as monkey, crow, bird, insect etc. One who steals others’ clothes takes birth as rabbit. One who commits breach of trust takes birth as fish.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! is there no way to get rid of the above sins?” asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmaja! generally all sins vanish by performing charities. Of all Danas, Annadaana is best. If one performs Annadaana with the money he legally earned, all his sins vanish. One who performs annadaana even by begging, he attains Punya Lokas.
Brahmin by studying Vedas and teaching Vedas to others; Kshatriya by looking after the needs of Brahmins attain higher regions. By performing Annadaana with legally earned money, human beings attain Punya Lokas. Sudra attains Punya Lokas by performing Annadaana with his hardearned money. To whichever caste he belongs, one who serves food to others before he eats, he gets Punya Lokas.
Therefore, Dharmanandana! Annadaana is best of all by peforming which all sins vanish.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! meditation, control of sense organs, serving teachers with devotion; ahimsa, daily worship of God, Tapas.... of these, which is best ....kindly tell me.” asked Dharmajua.
“O Dharmanandana! all the above are good. But Ahimsa (non violence) is best of all.” said Brihaspati and went away.
“O Dharmanandana! what you have asked are sacred. Only Brahaspati is eligible to teach about them. He is right now coming here. You can clear off all your doubts” said Bhishma.
Meanwhile, Brihaspati arrived there. Dharmaja along with his brothers, received him with due honours. Dharmaja asked the same which he earlier asked Bhishma. Brihaspati told thus:
“O Dharmanandana! During birth and death, either in Punya Loka or Naraka Loka, Jeeva shall exist. In this material world, father, mother, wife, sons, daughters, relatives accompany the dead body upto burial ground. But the dharma which he followed during his life time, follows him even after death. Therefore, even during the life time, one has to perform virtuous deeds, failing which, he goes to hell.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! After leaving the body, how dharma accompanies Jeevatma.”asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmaja! five elements, their attributes, intellect and dharma accompany jeevatma.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! how does sperm form?” asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmaja! The body of human being forms out of five elements. Food gives strength to body. Lust and Passions created in body generate sperm. When female joins male, sperm enters into the body of female, and female becomes pregnant. After nine months, human body comes out. If that human does Punya, he enjoys pleasures. If that human was sinful, he spends sorrowful and miserable life. All the virtuous deeds performed in previous birth cause pleasure and happiness in the present birth. Therefore, one has to perform virtuous deeds always, and keep himself away from sinful acts. As a result of sinful acts committed in previous birth, one takes the birth of beasts, birds,insects etc. It itself is hell and there is no other hell.
Now I tell you about Karma and its results. One who worships father, mother and teacher, he enjoys pleasures. If they are put to trouble, he undergoes sorrowful life. One who commits theft of food grains takes the birth as rat. One who lusts for others’ wives takes birth as eagle or jackal or monkey. He may take the birth of insect also. One who consumes food without offering to divine bodies and Pitaras, takes the birth of a crow. One who abuses his own brother takes the birth of a bird.
If intercourse with others wife he takes birth as an insect. One who kills a person for profit gets the birth of a donkey or bird. One who kills a lady goes to hell. One who steals cooked rice and milk, he takes birth like an insect in rice and milk.
One who steals fruits, iron, silver and gold, takes birth as monkey, crow, bird, insect etc. One who steals others’ clothes takes birth as rabbit. One who commits breach of trust takes birth as fish.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! is there no way to get rid of the above sins?” asked Dharmaja.
“O Dharmaja! generally all sins vanish by performing charities. Of all Danas, Annadaana is best. If one performs Annadaana with the money he legally earned, all his sins vanish. One who performs annadaana even by begging, he attains Punya Lokas.
Brahmin by studying Vedas and teaching Vedas to others; Kshatriya by looking after the needs of Brahmins attain higher regions. By performing Annadaana with legally earned money, human beings attain Punya Lokas. Sudra attains Punya Lokas by performing Annadaana with his hardearned money. To whichever caste he belongs, one who serves food to others before he eats, he gets Punya Lokas.
Therefore, Dharmanandana! Annadaana is best of all by peforming which all sins vanish.” said Brihaspati.
“O Brihaspati! meditation, control of sense organs, serving teachers with devotion; ahimsa, daily worship of God, Tapas.... of these, which is best ....kindly tell me.” asked Dharmajua.
“O Dharmanandana! all the above are good. But Ahimsa (non violence) is best of all.” said Brihaspati and went away.
