Chapter 6.2 - Kitopakhyana—The argument between Vyasa and a worm

Kitopakhyana (kita-upakhyana)^[1] is seen in the Sub Canto of the Danadharma Canto of the Anushasanaparva. Many warriors have died in the battle in two ways, willingly and unwillingly. Yudhishthira asks Bhishma what their fate will be. Then Bhishma says that insects came to this world in imperfection and perfection, inauspiciously and auspiciously. Regarding this there was an argument between Vyasa and a worm.^[2]

Once Vyasa saw a worm running away to avoid an oncoming bullock cart. Vyasa then asked the worm why it was running. The worm said that it has the capacity to hear the noise of the cart and the cart driver. But many other worms do not have that capacity. It said it was trying to get that fear off its mind. For the insects death is a sad affair. Their life is very little and weak. That is why it was running away. It did not want to get sorrow leaving out the joy.

Vyasa then told the worm that for it death is more joyful than living. You were born in a crooked womb and so you don't know the pleasures of noise, touch, taste and smell.^[3] The worm then says that a creature, what might be its surroundings, lives in conformity and communion with its dwelling place. Therefore it likes living where it was born. It wants to live. Whatever its body needs for life, it is present in it. What should be understood is that creatures born from permanent things and people have different types of pleasures.^[4]

The worm continued:

“I was a human being in the previous life. But I was hated by others because I was cruel. I used to steal the property of others and I mistreated my guests. I was also a glutton. I never gave rice for the rituals for the deities and my ancestors. I did not give alms to the poor. I did not offer shelter to refugees. When I saw the prosperity of others, I used to be filled with jealousy. I wished to see their ruin and see them begging in the streets. I did what all I could to make them suffer. Although I did some good things they were not effective. I revered my old mother and I honoured the Brahmin. Once I treated my guest well. So I remembered my previous birth. I am trying to do good things so that I can again get a good life.”^[5]

Vyasa then tells the worm that it became a worm because of its gross sins. The deities and angels enjoy the result of their deeds on earth. In people all their desires are the results of their karma.

The worm was willing to do anything to get divinity. Therefore the worm stood where it was standing without moving away even when a big cart came hurriedly. The worm was quashed under the wheels of the cart and it died. Because of the power of the Muni, the worm took many births later. It became a porcupine, a mongoose, an animal, a bird, a Pariah, a Shudra, a Vaishya, a Kshatriya and so on. In all these births it had reminiscences of its past life. It met the Muni again and fell at his feet and sought his blessings.

The Kshatriya then said to Vyasa,

“I was once a mere worm. In this birth I have become a Kshatriya, a Rajaputra. The sin I committed earlier won't be completely forgotten.”

Vyasa then blessed him saying that one day he would become a Brahmin.^[6]

According to the counsel of Vyasa, he looked after the subject according to the dharma. In the next birth he was born as a Brahmin.

When Vyasa met Vipra, he said to him,

“Never deviate from the right path. If you do well, you will get a virtuous birth. If you sin, you will be born into a sinful womb. Depending on the intensity of the sin, the birth also would be hard. You were a worm before and now you don’t have to worry about death. You should be worried about the breach of dharma. Therefore, perform the ideal dharma.”^[7]

The worm said,

“It is because of you I got joy. Because of dharma and received grace and I have been liberated from my sins.”

According to the counsel of Vyasa, the worm achieved state of being a Brahmin. It was possible because it lived following the path of dharma.^[8] Bhishma told Yudhishthira that all those who died heroically in battle have achieved salvation.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Mahabharata . Anushasana 117.

[2]:

V. Mahabharata , Anushanaparvum, 117

[3]:

Ibid., p. 865

[4]:

Idem

[5]:

Ibid., p. 866

[6]:

Ibid., p. 868

[7]:

Ibid., p. 869

[8]:

Idem