Moudgalya Rejects Heaven and Attains Salvation
Having heard the messenger describe heaven's taints — the inevitable fall, the regret, the fading garlands — Moudgalya makes a decision that shocks the gods. He sends the messenger back alone. He wants nothing to do with a happiness that ends.
Moudgalya heard the messenger’s words and reflected on them in his mind. He thought about everything he had been told — the splendors of the celestial worlds, the bliss of the Ribhus, the worlds beyond worlds. And then he thought about the taints: the fall at the end, the regret, the fading garlands, the fear that descends on those who are dislodged.
He gave his answer.
“O messenger of the gods,” he said. “I bow down before you. O father, please go, according to your wishes. If there are such great taints, I have nothing to do with heaven or happiness. There will be great unhappiness at the time of the fall for those who have enjoyed heaven. There will be extremely terrible regret. Therefore, I do not desire heaven. I will only look for the infinite region where there is no sorrow, unhappiness or dislodging, once one has traversed the path and has reached there.”
He gave the messenger permission to leave.
Then Moudgalya returned to his simple life — collecting rice, living as he had always lived. But something had changed. He achieved supreme serenity. He looked on praise and blame equally. A brick, a stone and a piece of gold were the same to him. Through the yoga of knowledge, he was always engaged in meditation. Having obtained strength through the yoga of meditation, he obtained supreme wisdom.
He attained the eternal and supreme success — the marks of supreme salvation.
Vyasa, who had been telling this story to Yudhishthira, paused and looked at the exiled king.
“O Kounteya,” he said, “therefore, you should not sorrow. You have been dislodged from a prosperous kingdom. But you will regain it through your austerities. Happiness follows unhappiness and unhappiness follows happiness in circles around a man, like the rim of a wheel. You have infinite valour and you will obtain the kingdom of your fathers and grandfathers, once the thirteen years have passed. You should discard the fever in your mind.” Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 544