Swami Pushkarini - Dharmagupta getting relieved of his sin

(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya - 13)

Sr Venkateswara

• About king Dharmagupta: There was a king by name Nanda born in the Lunar race who ruled his kingdom righteously. He had a son named Dharmagupta. During his old age Nanda entrusted his kingdom to Dharmagupta and went to perform penance. Dharmagupta was a very righteous king and a skilled statesman. During his reign the people were devoted to dharma and there were no thieves.

• Dharmagupta going for hunting in the forest and evening setting in: Once Dharmagupta went to a forest for hunting. The forest was filled with lions, tigers and other wild animals. While he was roaming in the forest evening set in and darkness enveloped everywhere. The king performed the evening Sandhya and repeated the Gayatri mantra. Then he climbed a tree to spend the night there.

• Dharmagupta meeting a bear in the forest: A certain bear who was chased by a lion also climbed that tree. The lion waited at the base of that tree. The bear told the king that they should sleep on the tree by taking turns. The bear will protect the king while the king was asleep and the king will protect the bear while the bear was asleep. The king agreed.

• The bear following the path of dharma and protecting the king: The king slept on the tree during the first half of the night. The lion told the bear to give him the king, but the bear said that treachery to a friend is the worst sin which cannot be destroyed even by thousands of yagnas. The bear protected the king all through his sleep.

• The king committing an act of treachery against the bear: During the second half of the night the bear slept putting his head on the lap of the king. When the lion told Dharmagupta to give away the bear, he unhesitatingly pushed down the bear. Fortunately the bear did not fall on the ground but supported himself holding the tree.

• The bear revealing his true identity (of Dhyanakashta) and curses the king: Then the bear revealed his true identity to the king. He said that he is Dhyanakastha, a scion of the family of Bhrigu. He can take any form. Since the king has committed an act of treachery he cursed the king to become mad.

• Dhyanakashta reminding the lion of his true identity; The lion gets released from his cursed body: Dhyanakashta then told the lion that he was actually a Yaksha, a minister of Kubera by name Bhadra. He was cursed by sage Gautama for sporting naked with maidens near the hermitage of that sage. The lion remembered the curse of sage Gautama. He also remembered that the sage told him that his curse will end when he talks with Dhyanakashta in the form of a bear. The curse of the lion ended there and then and he regained his original form of an Yaksha. He bowed to Dhyanakashta, mounted a chariot and went to Alakapuri.

• The ministers informing Nanda about the derangement of Dharmagupta: The ministers came to know of the condition of the king. They approached Nanda, the father of Dharmagupta who was performing penance.

• Nanda taking refuge of Jaimini: Nanda took his son to Jaimini and implored him to save his son. Jaimini meditated for a long time and came to know that Dharmagupta became insane due to the curse of Dhyanakashta.

• Jaimini telling Nanda to bathe his son in Swami Pushkarini: Jaimini told Nanda to take his son to Venkatadri and bathe him in Swami Pushkarini, which is the dispeller of sins.

• Dharmagupta taking bath in Swami Pushkarini and getting relieved of his sins: Nanda took his son to Swami Pushkarini in Venkatadri. He made him take bath observing all the holy rites. Dharmagupta got rid of the curse immediately and became normal again. Nanda also took his bath. Then both of them worshipped Lord Srinivasa. Thereafter king Nanda departed to the forest for penance. Dharmagupta ruled his kingdom as a very righteous king.

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