King Janaka and sage Ashtavakra English Story

English Story

Although Raja English Story Janaka was a king, he was not attached to royal glory. He always stayed away from greed. Modesty was in his nature. So they used to try to remove their faults. He was always trying to find himself.

Once he was sitting alone on the bank of a river chanting 'Sosham'. He was chanting loudly. At that time Ashtavakra Rishi was walking from there. Being highly enlightened, he heard the chanting of King Janaka and stopped on the spot and stood at a distance with a stick in one hand. Then they too began to say in a loud voice, "I have Kamandalu in my hand and I have a cane in my hand." The sound of the sage's words reached King Janaka's ears but he continued his chanting. Ashtavakra also continued to speak loudly. At last Janaka stopped chanting and asked, "Munivar, what are you saying so loudly?" Ashtavakra smiled at Janaka and said, "I have a water kamandalu in my hand, I have a cane in my hand" King Janaka was surprised and asked, "Hey majesty, I can see that you have cane and kamandaloo but why are you shouting English Story loudly while seeing this." Ashtavakra then explained to Janaka Raja, "Rajana, chanting even when I have the kamandalu and cane in sight is just as foolish as chanting your Sosham in a loud voice. Chanting a mantra brings no fruit. The mantra bears fruit only when it is assimilated or connected to the inner consciousness."

Meaning :- One should try to assimilate any knowledge rather than acquiring it by rote. A dry transition is of no use.