Sarbhangajataka

Sarbhangajataka

In the venerable city of Varanasi, where the Ganges flowed like a silken ribbon and the air was perfumed with the scent of jasmine and sandalwood, lived a wise ascetic named Sarbhanga. He dwelled in a humble hermitage on the outskirts of the city, his days spent in deep meditation, contemplation, and the cultivation of spiritual merit. His austerity was renowned, his wisdom sought after by all who encountered him.

The king of Varanasi, a just and virtuous ruler named Dhatarattha, held the ascetic in high esteem. He would often visit Sarbhanga, seeking guidance on matters of state and the well-being of his kingdom. The king's queen, a woman of great beauty and grace, also admired the ascetic, not with any worldly desire, but with the pure respect one offers to a spiritual master.

However, the king had a minister, a man whose heart was as twisted as a serpent's coil. His name was Pajjunna, and his mind was perpetually shrouded in suspicion and malice. He envied the king's wisdom, the queen's virtue, and the ascetic's profound influence. Pajjunna's ambition was to sow discord, to erode the foundations of the kingdom from within, and to seize power for himself.

One day, Pajjunna, driven by his insatiable envy, devised a wicked plot. He approached the king, his face a mask of feigned concern. 'Your Majesty,' he began, his voice dripping with false sincerity, 'I must impart a grave warning. I have observed the queen's visits to the ascetic Sarbhanga. While many see her devotion, I fear a more sinister undercurrent. I believe the queen harbors a secret, illicit affection for the ascetic, and her visits are a pretense for their forbidden meetings.'

King Dhatarattha, though generally wise, was momentarily swayed by the minister's cunning words. The seed of doubt, once planted, began to sprout in his mind, casting a shadow over his trust. He loved his queen dearly, and the thought of betrayal gnawed at him.

The king, troubled, decided to test the ascetic. He sent a messenger to Sarbhanga, requesting the ascetic to visit the palace. Sarbhanga, unaware of the minister's machinations, readily agreed, his heart pure and his intentions clear.

Upon Sarbhanga's arrival, the king, with a heavy heart, confronted him. 'Sarbhanga,' he said, his voice strained, 'your wisdom is known, your devotion unquestioned. But I have heard whispers that your purity is being tested. They say my queen, who visits you often, harbors an unholy affection for you. Is this true?'

Sarbhanga, upon hearing this, did not become angry or defensive. Instead, he looked at the king with a profound sadness, a sadness born of witnessing the destructive power of calumny and suspicion. He knew that to refute the accusation directly might only fuel the king's doubt.

'Your Majesty,' Sarbhanga replied calmly, 'my life is one of austerity and detachment. My purpose is to serve the Dharma and guide beings towards liberation. I have no worldly desires, and I hold the queen in the same respect as any devoted disciple. However, to address your concern, allow me to propose a test.'

The king, desperate for truth, listened intently. 'I shall return to my hermitage,' Sarbhanga continued. 'Within a short time, I will send you a message. If the message speaks of my suffering and downfall, know that the accusations were false, for the wicked cannot tolerate virtue. But if the message speaks of my continued well-being and the flourishing of my spiritual practice, then you will know that the king's trust was misplaced, and the minister's words were true.'

The king agreed, and Sarbhanga departed. He returned to his hermitage and immediately began a period of intense meditation and fasting, dedicating his spiritual energy to overcoming the 'obstacle' presented by the false accusation. He focused not on worldly matters, but on deepening his inner peace and his connection to the divine.

Meanwhile, the wicked minister Pajjunna, believing his plan was succeeding, waited for Sarbhanga's downfall. He sent his spies to observe the hermitage, eager to report any sign of the ascetic's distress.

After a few days, Sarbhanga emerged from his profound meditation. He felt a sense of clarity and inner strength. He then sent a message to King Dhatarattha. The message was simple:

“The ascetic is well. His heart is filled with peace, and his spiritual practice flourishes. The falsehoods spoken against him have only strengthened his resolve and deepened his understanding.”

When the king received the message, he was struck with immense remorse. He understood the profound truth of Sarbhanga's words. The ascetic's continued well-being, despite the false accusation, was proof of his unwavering virtue and the baselessness of Pajjunna's claims. The king realized that Pajjunna, driven by malice, had sought to tarnish the purity of the queen and the ascetic, and in doing so, had revealed his own corrupt heart.

The king summoned Pajjunna. With a stern voice, he revealed his discovery. 'Minister,' he declared, 'your words were a venomous lie. You sought to sow discord and destroy the reputation of the virtuous. Your own wickedness has been revealed by the unwavering purity of the ascetic Sarbhanga. You have proven yourself to be a traitor to this kingdom and a blight upon its honor.'

Pajjunna, exposed and shamed, was banished from the kingdom. King Dhatarattha, filled with regret, immediately went to Sarbhanga's hermitage to seek forgiveness. He offered his deepest apologies to both the ascetic and his queen, and from that day forward, their bond of trust was stronger than ever.

Sarbhanga, ever compassionate, forgave the king, understanding that even the wisest can be led astray by falsehood. He continued to guide the king and his people, his presence a constant reminder of the enduring power of truth, virtue, and unwavering inner peace in the face of malice and deception.