Post No. 14,995
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Heated argument between Sulabha, a Sanyasini and Janaka , King of Mithila is in Shanti parva chapter 320 of Mahabharata.
When Miss Sulabha came to the assembly of King Janaka, he asked her Who are you? Where are you coming from? Where are you going from here?
First Janaka introduced himself saying,
“I am a disciple of that great sage Panchashikha, of whom there is no equal in knowledge of the philosophies of Sankhya and Yoga and Moksha ;it is from that Guru of mine who happened to pass this way and spent with me for the four months of the rainy season (It is called Chatur Masya period) that I received the enlightenment of true knowledge, and all my doubts have been resolved”
“In my sight a lump of earth, a piece of iron, and a piece of gold, all are alike, of the same value; I am a king but without any attachment. With the sword of detachment sharpened further on the flint of the philosophy of moksha, I have cut the binding cords of glory and power of being king and those of worldly affection and love. I am a jivan mukta”.
Then Janaka asked her awkward questions and Sulabha attacked him with suitable reply. Here are some excerpts:
“In this world, the renouncers are sustained by the households. Renouncing family, the renouncers depend for their sustenance upon families, nevertheless. It is from there they arise, and it is from them that they receive recognition and respect”.
Next, she played on two similar sounding words.
“If passions, kashaaya are not removed from one’s heart, then wearing the ochre robe kaashaaya , should be regarded as nothing more than a means of selfish ends. In my opinion it is another profession adopted by those shaven heads waving the flag of dharma but insincerely.
“To wear the ochre robe, to shave one’s head; to carry a trident and a begging bowl—these are mere outward signs of renunciation; in themselves they do not lead to moksha.
“No one is a monk merely because he has renounced and he begs. He alone is a genuine monk who has naturally risen above petty self -interests and is not attached to pleasures”.
When jJnaka attacked her more implying that she is not a true Sanyasini Miss Sulabha continued and said,
“What I will say will be productive, meaningful, fair and just. I shall not speak out of anger, or from fear, or from some greed.
The form of a child has at the time of his or her birth changes progressively- childhood to youth then to old age. Likewise, the different characteristics each individual has, which distinguish him or her from others, also keep changing; but those changes, as in the flame of a lamp, are so subtle that they are mostly imperceptible.
“Just as a running horse is one moment here and in next moment not seen, this world, too, is moving very swiftly from one state to another. Therefore, it is impossible to say,
From where does one come from or from where one does not?
To whom one does belong, or to one whom does not?
If you have a sense of unity with the other, seeing your own self in the other, then why do you keep asking me: who are you? Who do you belong to?
I am not a Brahmani, neither a Vaishya, nor a Shudra; by birth I am like you a Kshatriya. I was born in a royal family. You may have heard King Pradhana; I was born in that great family. My name is Sulabha.
Because I did not find a man worthy of me, I did not marry, and took the path of renunciation. Living the disciplined life of a renouncer, a Muni, I live alone and travel around alone”.
She concluded by saying,
“If despite all that flourishing your royal umbrella and royal silver mace still you think that you are a liberated man, a jivan muktha, then it may be your delusion.
Pursuit of dharma, ordering of life, and of Artha, material property and of Kama, sexual fulfilment or fulfilment of desires generally are described as tri varga , the three ends of life, which express themselves in seven forms. Where is the sign of liberation in the one perpetuality involved in those three?
“King! I don’t think you are liberated; you have only the wrong impression. I don’t think you have benefited much from the teachings of your Guru Panchasikha.
I am not saying anything with partiality, but sincerely for your good. Just as a Sanyasi dwell for a night in an empty house in a town, I will spend the night in the emptiness of your inner being, and shall happily leave tomorrow morning. You have given me much respect and hospitality”.
Having heard Miss Sulabha say this, King Janaka said nothing more- Anusashana Parva 320-193
***
Mahabharata has more interesting stories of Suvarchala and Shwetaketu, Madhavi, Draupadi etc where power of women is glorified.
All Hindus, particularly, women must read the following book:
The Women of the Mahabharata, The Question of Truth, Chaturvedi Badrinath, Orient Longman Publication, 2008 (Pages 276) Rs.395 .
—subham—
Tags-Who is a good wife, part 10, Sulabha, Janaka.
Tamil and Vedas 