What NOT to Do, From a Sage Who Could Hold His Breath FOREVER!

We often hear stories of spiritual ascetics, but what happens when one of them strays into the realm of worldly attachments? The tale of Sage Saubhari offers a captivating and cautionary exploration of the dangers of losing sight of one's spiritual path.

The Sage's Prowess

Sage Saubhari was no ordinary individual. He was a master of yog, capable of holding his breath for extended periods and meditating underwater in the Yamuna River. His life was devoted to spiritual contemplation, seeking a connection with the divine.

As we begin, you find yourself underwater in the serene Yamuna River, where Sage Saubhari is deep in meditation. Imagine yourself in this peaceful setting. What do you think the sage might feel as he meditates?

Take a moment to picture the surroundings - the gentle flow of blue water and vibrant fish swimming by. 

A Shift In Perspective

During one of his underwater meditations, Sage Saubhari observes a family of fish enjoying each other's company, he begins to contemplate, “Why am I depriving myself of such pleasures?"

He questioned his solitary path and thought, why am I depriving myself of marriage and family life?

Constant contemplation on these thoughts marked the beginning of his departure from his spiritual path., Sage Saubhari approached King Maandhata, who ruled over the land.

The King's Dilemma

King Maandhata was sitting on his throne, his fifty beautiful daughters gathered around him, whispering amongst themselves. The atmosphere is tense as the legendary sage, Saubhari, approaches.

King Maandhata: “O great Sage Saubhari! We are honoured by your presence. You have expressed a desire to marry one of my daughters, and it brings joy to my heart.”

Saubhari: With a wise smile, “Indeed, O King! It would bring me great happiness to find a suitable companion among your lovely daughters.”

The King, aware of Saubhari's age, was reluctant to give any of his daughters in marriage to this sage, but also feared the sage's powers, so he devised a plan.

King Maandhata: “As much as I would like to decide, I believe the choice should belong to my daughters. It would only be fair."

He turns to his daughters. "Who amongst you would choose the sage as her husband? Remember, whoever puts a garland around his neck shall become his wife.”

The King asked Saubhari to return the next day so that his daughters had time to think it over. Deep down, he knew that none of his beautiful daughters would put a garland around this old Sage. 

Transformation and Temptation

Saubhari understood the King’s intentions and transformed himself into a very handsome young man using his powers of yog. The next day, he approached the royal palace. 

As he entered, the princesses were captivated by his irresistible, attractive appearance. One by one, each princess placed a garland around his neck, eager to make him her husband. A fight broke out between all the sisters as each one felt that only she should get married to him. Saubhari put an end to this problem by marrying all fifty of them.

The Trap of Domestic Life

Using his powers once again, the Sage constructed fifty magnificent palaces for all his wives. Even King Maandhata was amazed. His pride as emperor of the world was shattered. 

Saubhari took fifty forms, started living with his fifty wives and had one hundred children with each one of them. Years passed, and with time, Saubhari became deeply attached to his wives, children and grandchildren.  He started suffering from worldly attachments, worries and anxieties about wives, children and wealth. 

Redemption and Return

One day, when he was by himself, Saubhari reflected on what had become of him. He had been so advanced in his spiritual practice that he could meditate underwater. Now, he was not thinking about God at all and was totally absorbed in family life.

He thought, “I was all by myself. Now I have fifty wives and 5,000 children.”

He cried out, “O my fellow humans! Look at me. Look at how I have destroyed myself. Do not follow the path I have taken!”

Once this realisation set in, Saubhari retired to the forest and once again started on his spiritual journey towards God. He meditated sincerely and eventually reached his goal of God-realization.

Summary

Sage Saubhari, a yogi with extraordinary abilities, abandons his spiritual practice after seeing a family of fish, marries fifty princesses, and raises thousands of children. He ultimately realises the pitfalls of worldly attachments, causing him to regret his choices and return to his spiritual journey. The story highlights the dangers of sensory indulgence leading to wrong thoughts and the need to remain focused on a higher purpose.

Morals

The allure of worldly attachments: It’s easy to get obsessed with family life, relationships, and material possessions, even for those with advanced spiritual capabilities.

The importance of maintaining focus: A single moment of weakness can lead to a significant deviation from one's core purpose, as evidenced by Saubhari's story.

The path of redemption: Despite his mistakes, Saubhari's journey shows that it is possible to correct one's course and return to one's original goals with sincere effort.

Let's Reflect

Have you done anything in your life that you truly regret that changed the course of your life?