CHAPTER 39: Maharishi Ananya

Being the Rajguru, at times the sage had to be present in the court of the King for some administrative affairs. 

At that time, Rajaveera asked him about the progress of his son in his education.  The sage misleadingly told him that although he was trying his best, Mrutyunjay was not as talented and brilliant as expected. 

“Everyone has some limitations which we have to accept gracefully.  You will appreciate the fact that I can only offer him that much education that he can imbibe.”  The sage specifically did this to douse the King’s enthusiasm of relying too much on his son to win Devaloka.

Rajaveera was very disappointed to learn this.  He urged the sage to continue making untiring efforts in invigorating his son to do his best. 

Sometimes, the King felt like asking his spies to keep a tab on his son’s studies but he decided against it.  He feared that should the sage realize it, he might feel offended.  If the King was wary about anything it was the ire of sages for their anger often resulted in them spurting out curses like Brihaspati had done!

 Later, the sage informed his student about the conversation with the King.  The Prince felt sad that the truth had to be concealed from his father.  However, realizing that the sage had done this for his sake, he appreciated his move. 

Years rolled by and now, the time was nearing for the completion of Mrutyunjay’s education.  One day the sage conversed with him, “Years ago there was a ruler Ananya who governed the province of Kanaka.  He was a just King and the subjects were happy under his rule.  His three younger brothers always cast an evil eye on his position. 

Hatching a conspiracy, in a bloodless coup they dethroned him and banished him away from the kingdom. 

Humiliated, the King went to a forest where he sat in deep meditation to please Lord Brahma.  Months later, his severe penance pleased the Lord and he appeared before him granting some divine powers, which is unknown till today.   

Thereafter, Ananya returned to his kingdom where wary about his newly acquired powers, his siblings welcomed him to the palace and made him sit on the throne.  They then began to serve him day and night and sing his glories.  Ananya could easily see through the mendaciousness of this sudden spurt in his brothers’ affection towards him. 

Besides, he was not enjoying his current stint as ruler, for the unmitigated level of purity of mind he had gained during his period of penance, was now being marred by worldly pleasures and Kingly desires. 

Finally, in a striking act he gave away his kingdom to his brethren and yet again retired to the forests for leading the life of a hermit!   The severe austerity and meditation that he adhered to in the forest ultimately gave him the title of a ‘Maharishi’.  Once he saved the life of a rishi’s daughter from the clutches of a snake by picking it up and laying it down on some other direction thereby altering its course. 

Her grateful father asked Ananya to seek any boon from him.  Ananya did not ask for anything but gained the power to grant this boon to someone else in the future.  This great sage is now going to attain Samadhi, O Mrutyunjay!”  Thereafter, Prathameshwar apprised the Prince of what King Ravichandran later told him as Aryaman.  Then he continued,  “Your father wants you to seek a boon of becoming the greatest warrior in the three worlds! 

He wants you to go to the sage immediately.”

“Guruji, should I get such a boon then father will ask me to utilize it for vanquishing the Devas!”  Mrutyunjay pointed out with concern.

“You are right, my child!  We would have no option but to tell him that by the time you reached Ananya, he had already granted the boon to someone else! 

Personally, I would be happy if you get that boon!  You can always use it sometime in the future for the benefit of others!”