31 Moral and Ethical Stories in Puranas

Rani Sadasiva Murty

MORAL AND ETHICAL STORIES IN PURANAS

Introduction

Puranas are treasure house of many moral illustrations. There are several stories of kings illustrative of different qualities. The Moral and Ethical standards of our nation are preserved, propagated and promoted through the stories of various kings and even common men. Necessity of morals and ethics in human life has all time demand in the human world. The following are a few stories of some noble kings to illustrate from the volumes of Puranas of India as the icons of various ethical standards.

HARISHCANDRA – TRUTH

For the sake of protecting the truth the king faced all the tests of FATE. He left the kingdom, wife and even his own son. He became the caretaker of a burial ground.

His story runs like this. Harishchandra, was an ancestor of Rama. He ruled over Ayodhya with his wife Chandramati and son Rohitashwa. He was a just and noble king, and his subjects led a happy and peaceful life during his reign.

Harishchandra having learnt the value of truth took a vow to never tell a lie, or go back on his word. In time, he gained fame for his truthfulness, honesty and integrity. This fame reached the heaven, and the gods wanted to test him. They chose the sage Vishwamitra and sent him to test the king, and accordingly he set out his plans.

Seeking to accomplish his task, Vishwamitra tried many things to get Harishchandra to lie or to renege on a promise, but all his efforts went in vain, for Harishchandra was as committed to his values as had been heard by the gods.

Finally, Vishwamitra manipulated circumstances into a situation where Harishchandra was obliged to give up his kingdom and all his possessions to the sage. Even when thus tricked, Harishchandra gave up his kingdom with a smile, and with his wife and son, wearing only rags and barks of trees, set out for the forest. Stunned by such generosity, and in a last attempt at provoking the king, Vishwamitra asked him for the donation which is given to a sage after charity – the Dakshina. As the king had no money on him to pay the Dakshina to the sage he asked him to give a month’s time to arrange for the payment.

Nowhere he could find any source to earn. He reached the holy city of Kashi. He could not get even his livelihood there. By the advice of his wife he sold her in the slave’s market to an old brahmin and gave the money to the sage Vishwamitra.

To pay the sage further he joined in the service of Chandala to assist him in the cremation grounds for which he was paid some money. The king gave that money was freed from the debts of the sage Vishwamitra. The king learnt all the toughest deeds of the cremation ground under the training of the Chandala and the later was using him as an utter slave.

One day Chandramathi who was serving as a slave in the house of the old brahmin had to brought the body of Rohitaswa who was sanke bitten and died to the burial ground for cremation. As she was in her veil Harischandra could not identify her and asks her to pay him the charge of cremation. She told that she had no money with her as she was leading her life as a slave. Then he demanded her to offer her ‘golden Mangalasutra’. She was stunned. Her mangala sutra has a rare power that it could be seen only by her husband. So she could notice that he was none else than her husband.

She wept and told him the happenings. Harishchandra recognized her, and wept for his dear son, as well as their condition, but yet he demanded for money to cremate her son. The she request him to accept half of her cloths which she put on and to cremate her son. Harischandra agreed. She was tearing her clothes. Gods wanted to put an end to their test. Gods in appreciation of his great commitment to the vow of speaking TRUTH showered flowers on the couple. The gods and the sage Vishwamitra appeared before him and blessed him to get back his son alive. Yama who was in the form of Chandala also relived the king from his slavery having appeared before him in His true form of Yama. All of them permitted the king to go back to his kingdom to rule it as its king and to reach heaven after his mortal life.

Harischandra along with his wife and son reached Ayodhya ruled it justly and in his old age having made Rohitashwa the king of it reached heaven. Thus he became a synonym of Truthfulness.

NALA – THE KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The King Nala is an icon of Dharma. He prepared himself to loose his love for Damayanti for the sake of the word he gave to the Dikpalakas. When he knew that he is about to become a dwarf person he left his wife with a thought that at least she would be safer and led an insignificant life in the kingdom of Rtuparna with a name Bahuka.

The details of the story are as follows:

King Veerasena of Ayodhya had two sons Nala and Pushkara. Nala wanted to marry Damayanti, the beautiful daughter of king Bhima. Damayanti did not know him, so Nala sent his swan to her. The swan flew to Damayanti’s palace and finding her alone in the garden, sang praises of Nala. Meanwhile, King Bhima arranged for her swayamvara, where many princes gathered from whom Damayanti could chose her husband. Damayanthi chose Nala and they got married in spite of the Gods’ play (Dikpalakas’ trick) to test the committed love of both of them.

When King Veerasena died, Nala became king. He conquered many other kingdoms and became famous. This made his brother Pushkara jealous. He knew gambling was Nala’s weakness. Pushkara challenged Nala to a game of dice in which Nala lost everything. Pushkara became the king and banished Nala from his kingdom.

This is all due to the wicked trick of Kali Purusha who has been awaiting a chance to deviate the king Nala from the path of Dharma as he challenged the gods that he would force Nala to deviate from the path of Dharma.

Nala went to the forest and Damayanti, who loved him very much followed him. As they walked in the forest, Damayanti injured her feet. Nala did not want the delicate Damayanti to go through hardships with him, so when she was sleeping he left her and went ahead. Further into the forest, he found a snake on the top of a tree that had caught fire from below. As he tried to bring it down, the snake bit him and Nala turned dark and developed a hunchback. Nala asked the snake, “Why did you bite me? I was trying to save your life.” The snake said, “I am your father Nisadh. The Next twelve years will be full of difficulties for you. So I have changed your form to protect from your enemies. Whenever you want to get back your original form you put on this ornament. You will attain your original form.’’ He said these words gave the ornament and disappeared.

Nala proceeded to another kingdom. Meanwhile, when Damayanti woke up she found a note from Nala asking her to go to her parents. As she moved ahead, she met a demon that threatened to eat her. Impressed with her fearlessness he came into his real form. He was actually a god, who told her that she would unite with her husband after twelve years. Damayanti proceeded to Achalpura kingdom where she became the queen’s maid. Nala went to the kingdome of Rtuparna and became a servant o fthe king. Many years passed.

One day, King Bhima’s men found Damayanti in Achalpura and brought her back to her father. King Bhima tried to find Nala but failed, so he made a plan. He arranged the swayamvaar of Damayanti knowing that when Nala came to know about the second marriage of his wife, he would certainly come to her. King Bhima was right. Nala came with his master, the king of Samsumara. A day before the swayamvara Damayanti saw the dark hunch back servant. She immediately recognised him. Nala also put on the ornament given by his father and regained his original looks. But the swayamvara had been arranged to Damayanti asked him to be present there. But the swayamvara had been arranged to Damayanti asked him to be present there.

On the day of swayamvara she put the garland around Nala’s neck and they were united. The twelve-year period was also over. With the help of King Bhima’s army, Nala won his kingdom back and again became the king of Ayodhya.

Eventually, Nala and Damayanti had a son. After making him th king, they renounced the world in search of spiritual enlightment. This story presents Nala as an icon of Righteousness.

KARTAVIRYARJUNA – VALOR

He was the disciple of Dattatreya. He was a mark of valor and conquered even Ravana.During his rule his subjects were very happy. With his yogic powers he used to settle in the minds of those who had a thought of committing a mistake.

RANTI DEVA – KINDNESS AND CONCERN FOR WRETCHED

न  त्वहंकामयेराज्यंन स्वर्गंनापुनर्भवम्। कामयेदु:खतप्तानांप्राणिनामार्तभनाशनम्॥

I don’t want the kingdom. I don’t even want either the heaven or Moksha. I want only one thing that no one in my kingdom should cry for his lives. With this great motive Ranti Deva led a great ideal life.

The kindness of Ranti Deva is such that even at the time of dying he wanted to save the lives of others. He prepared to offer food to needy.

BALI – GENEROSITY

The generosity of Bali finds no bounds. Even after knowing the intention of the seeker he didn’t hesitate to offer a place on his head to be measured with the third foot of Vamana.

SIBI – EPITOME OF HELPING AND SAVING OTHERS

Sibi Chakravarthi is an epitome of Saving the refugees. His magnanimity is proved through his preparedness to offer his lives for the sake of protecting a dove from a Merlin.

Sibi story

Shibi chakravati was the son of Ushiinara maharaja. Shibi was a maha-daata and his his virtue of chairty was praised by many in the 14 bhuvanas. Devendra and Agnideva once wanted to test the greatness of Shibi’s virtue of charity. Agnideva took the form of a Kapotam (dove). Devendra took that of a Syena (merlin).

The Kapotam, which was chased by the Syena, came to Shibi chakravarti’s royal court and pleaded “Help! Help! O King!”. Seeing this, a Raja-purohita said “Maharaja! With a fear for life this dove came to you. Every being has fear of death. Also there is no greater deed than protecting others. However we know that giving shelter to a dove is a and indication of one’s own death. Hence we may have to perform some compensatory ritual which will be necessary”.

Dove replied “Maharaja! Afraid of the Syena I have asked you to save me. Actually I am a great sage, now in this form. Vedas say that a king must protect the wretched and helpless”. The Syena, which reached the royal court by then, said “Maharaja! Every being takes many forms. This creature came to you seeking your help in the form of this dove. Dont forget that dove is food for a Syena. Please leave this dove, which is my food, and save my life”.

Shibi chakravarti thought “In a country ruled by a king who does not give assurance from fear to a refugee who has fear for life there will be no rains, no crops and it will be the nilayam for Kshaama-devata. Also the people will have to face many difficulties and finally such king will reach narakam.

However, the Syena is with hunger and has put in a lot of effort chasing its prey. Taking away food from its mouth is also a sin. Now what should I do?”.

Shibi: O Syena! I will give you a better, tastier food than this. Please leave this dove.

Syena: Maharaja! No other thing can be tastier than this flesh. It was decided by Brahmadeva that doves are food for us.

Shibi: O Syena! I cannot leave this dove that is in my shelter and cannot cross the limits of righteousness. I am also ready to leave my life to save that of the dove. All worlds also know this. You ask me whatever you want except this.

Syena: Maharaja! If you are really such a kind one, give me the flesh from your right thigh which is equal in weight to that of the dove.

Immediately Shibi chakravarti got a balance and kept the Kapotam on one side and started to cut his thigh and weigh it. How much ever he cut it was not enough. He tried cutting flesh from his right thigh, then he himself sat on the balance. Syena said “enough. I am going” and went away. Seeing this the king Shibi asked “O dove! who are you? What is your story?”

“Maharaja! I am Agnihotra. This Syena is Devendra, We came to test your kindness to the beings who seek your shelter and your virtue of charity. You qualified it. Your fame will spread to all the worlds. Your son will also keep your name” said and both the Fire God and Indra appeared before him in their real forms and bestowed up on him many boons.

PURURAVAS – VALOR

The king Pururavas who was other wise popular as Vikram is known for his valor in helping Indra and also for his love for Urvasi.

Vikram used to go directly to the royal court of Indra where he used to be honored by the offering of the half-throne of the King of the Gods. It was because of the dauntless heroism of Pururavas in killing all the demons. He equally loved Urvasi as more than his own life.

GARUDA – MATRUBHAKTI

Garuda is a treasure of all virtues. His strength is peerless. He is a mighty personality.

Besides all these qualities his devotion to his mother is unique.

Garuda is the son of Kashyap, a great sage, and Vinata, a daughter of Daksha, a famous king. Garuda was born with a great hatred for the evil and he is supposed to roam about the universe devouring the bad, and also well-known for his aversion to snakes, a dislike he had acquired from his mother, Vinata.

Kashyap, Garuda’s father, had two wives: Kadru, the elder, and Vinata, Garuda’s mother, the younger. There was great rivalry between the two wives. Once, they had an argument over the color of the horse Uchchaisravas, produced during the Churning of the Ocean just after the time of creation. Each chose a color and laid a wager on her own choice. The one who lost would become the other’s slave. Kadru proved to be right by cheating Vinatha with the help of her sons Nagas who by the word of their mother entwined to the tail of the horse creating an illusion from a distance that the tail part of the horse was black. and, as part of the agreement, imprisoned Vinata in the nether regions, Patala, where she was guarded by serpents, the sons of Kadru herself.

Garuda, on hearing of his mother’s imprisonment, descended to Patala and asked the serpents to release Vinata. They agreed to do so and demanded as ransom a cup of amrita (ambrosia). So Garuda set off for the celestial mountain where the amrita was kept. Before he could get to the amrita he had to overcome three hazards set up by the gods to guard the celestial drink. He had a great fight with them all and defeated them. Indra, king of the gods, struck him with his thunderbolt but Garuda proved a superior warrior and defeated the gods and continued unscathed on his journey to Patala.

When the serpents got the amrita they were overjoyed and released Vinata. Garuda got his mother back but he became an inveterate enemy of the serpents, the sons of his mother’s rival Kadru. Also the serpents, the Nagas, symbolized evil and that automatically invoked Garuda’s hatred. This is an instance of the staunch devotion of Garuda towards his mother.

After saving his own mother Garuda took back Amrita and handed over it to Indra. In that process some drops of Amrita fell on the Darbha grass which were licked by the snakes and as a result their tongues were forked into two due to the sharpness of the Darbha Grass. Ever since all the snakes became double tongued.

DHARMA VYADHA – DUTIFULNESS

The story of Dharma vyadha supports the Pauranic principle that it is acceptable even if a Dharma practically followed by a person is imparted by that person irrespective of all differences.

This story was narrated by Markandeya to Yudhisthira. Once there was a Brahmana named Kaushika who was was a highly principled celibate. He did a very sincere penance. He studied all the Vedas and Vedangas very keenly.

Once he was sitting under a tree reciting vedas. A crane sitting on the tree left excreta on him from above the tree.

Kaushika became very angry and looked at the crane. Due to his serious and angry looks the crance fell down dead.

Thereafter another time Kaushika went to beg alms. He stood in front of a house. The housewife was busy in cleaning the utensils. Then her husband arrived. She served him sincerely, washing and drying his feet and then feeding him. After that she came out with alms to the mendicant Kaushika and said, “Sorry, pardon me for waiting”.

Kaushika looked at her very angrily for keeping the brahmana in waiting. But she said, “Be not angry with me and remember that I kept you waiting only because I was dutifully serving my husband. I am no crane that perched on the tree, to be killed by a violent thought and your rage can do no harm to a woman who devotes herself to the service of her husband. O Great one! You do not know the secret of duty, and you are also not aware that anger is the great enemy that dwells in man. Forgive the delay in attending to you. Go to Mithila and be instructed in the secret of good life by Dharmavyadha living in that city.” The Brahmana was apologetic and he thanked the lady and went to Mithila to meet Dharmavyadha.

He thought he is searching for some lonely hermitage. Instead he finally reached a butcher’s shop, in which was a man selling meat. He was astonished when he learnt that this man was Dharmavyadha.

The Brahmana was shocked beyond measure and stood at a distance in disgust. The butcher suddenly rose from his seat, came to the Brahmana and inquired, “Revered sir! Are you well ? Did that chaste Brahmana lady send you to me ?” Kaushika was stunned to receive that question from him. This is a second surprising thing to him to be received from him. The Butcher said, “Let us go to my home”. The Brahmana saw there a happy family and greatly struck by the devotion with which he served his parents. He took his lessons from that butcher on dharma, man’s calling and duty.

Afterwards Kaushika returned to his house and began to tend his parent’s duty which he had rather neglected before. Thus this story narrates how the duty-mindedness of a person even a person like butcher makes him successful and acceptable to be a preacher to others like the celibate Kaushika.

DADHICHI – OFFERING EVERYTHING

नास्त्यदेयंमहात्मनाम्।Nothing is not difficult to be offered to others by great people.

Dadhichi was a sage who offered his own back bone in the gesture of charity. His backbone became the mighty weapon Vajrayudha of Indra with the help of which Indra killed the demon Vrtra.

RAMA – ALL VIRTUES

क्षणियै: धायभतेचाप: नातभशब्दोर्वेददणत।The rulers of royal class hold a bow in their hands just to protect the helpless people. Hence Rama held the bow and was called Kodanda Rama. Rama stands as a human manifestation of Dharma. Hence he is said to have been the representative of Dharma. ( रामो णवग्रहवान्धमभ:। ) He has all the noble qualities of an ideal human being.

SUMMARY

शरीरस्य र्गुिानांच दूरमत्यन्तमन्तरम्। शरीरंक्षिणवध्वंणिकल्पान्तस्थाणयनो र्गुिा:॥

There is a great gap between the body and virtues of every man. The body is perishable where as the virtues stay even after the lapse of the great length of time Kalpa.

Thus Puranas suggest everyone to give utmost preference to developing a good character and noble qualities for the welfare of society and individuals.

Bibliography

• Padma Purana, Gita Press, Goarakhpur
• Vishnu Purana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur
• Bhagavatha Purana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur
• Hindu Samskritio Visehsa Anka, Gita Press, Gorakhpur
• Sanskritasahityetihasa, Acarya Ramachandra Misra, Chowkhamba, Varanasi, 2003