Kaushik: A king who became a saint

Sometimes hearing stories is so very interesting specially when it starts with Once upon A Time.....

It never crosses our mind whether we are old or young just the starting ... "Once Upon A Time...."

So,

Once upon a time there was a King named 'Koushik' who ruled north India. After few years of ruling, he decided and became a saint leaving the nation to rule by another territorial king. 'Koushik' got more supernatural powers because of his vigorous yoga and was called by name 'Viswamithra'.

Viswamithra' visited 'Vasishta's' place with prior information. Before 'Viswamithra's' visit, Vasishta constructed a hut with a low front entrance. When 'Viswamithra' came, Vasishta invited him to come inside his hut. Viswamithra saw the low entrance and understood Vasishta's plan. Now, Viswamithra folded his legs without bending his head and entered the hut. Such was Viswamithra's ego.

Viswamithra was having superiority complex Since he was a king earlier and it developed as an ego within himself. Vasishta conducted a test and found Viswamithra's ego.

Viswamithra very often was loosing his divine power by wasting for silly matters. Again he will go and get powers through yoga.



While Viswamithra was in deep yoga, a divine dancing girl (Menaka) came and seduced him. Viswamithra lost his control and because of that he got a female child. Viswamithra understood his weakness and left both mother and child for continuing yoga again.


The dancer left the child with another yogi and went to her divine world. The female child, named 'Sakuntala' grown as a beautiful girl. One day she met a prince of nearby area 'Dushyanthan' and loved him. They became intimate and got a male child by name 'Barath'.



Then, 'Dushyantha' lost his memory because of 'Vasishta's' plan and refuse to accept 'Sakuntala' as his wife and his son 'Barath'.
After few years of this incidence, one day Viswamithra came on the way and met 'Barath' first and then 'Sakuntala'. Viswamithra learned through them about their story and whom they are. With great fury, Viswamithra took his daughter and grandson to the royal court of 'Dushyanthan' to unite them.



Vasishta was also sitting there in the court keeping quite. Viswamithra was fighting with Dushyanthan by words but he could not succeed in uniting them. If Viswamithra did anything harmful to Dushyantha, it will affect her daughter also. So, he was helpless. Vasishta or anybody in the court did not come for help. There is no other way. Viswamithra bend his head requesting Dushyantha to accept his daughter as his wife.



Vasishta was expecting this occasion. He cleared Dhushyantha's mental block and he got back his memory. Vasishta now called Viswamithra "Now only you are a 'Brahma Rishi'"



Viswamithra was glad. 'Sakuntala' and 'Barath' joined with 'Dushyanthan' and lead a good family.

And please do let me know how did you like the story?