In the Puranas
The eighteen Puranas of which the author is said to be Veda Vyasa, also certain references
to the great ideals of love, service and charity. There is the story of King Vipaschit in
the Markandeya Purana. It is said that he was a King who strictly and faithfully followed
the precepts of the Smrities and used to perform daily the five-maha yajnas. He was remiss
in observing the minor precept of the smrities. Therefore, the story goes, that on his
death, the Lord allotted to him a brief stay in hell, for this minor omissio and a
fairly long stay in the heavens for the merit he had acquired by reason of the performance
of religious duties strictly. When he was offered
the choice to begin with a brief stay in hell or a fairly long stay in the heavens, the
king preferred to start with hell. Soon after admission into hell, the many souls that
were condemned to stay in it for their sins, were greatly consoled by the very presence of
the king in there midst. So great was the punya acquired by him that he emitted a
fragrance around the place and all the other souls in hell were greatly attracted towards
him.
As soon as his stay in hell come to end, the messengers from
the heavens came there ready to take him to the celestial regions. At that time, the
other people in hell feelingly implored King Vipaschit to stay for some more time with
them as they found in his company great solace amidst their torments in hell, But the
messengers from the heavens were very insistent upon the king going with them. |
