How Shounaka's advice to Yudhisthira in his darkest hour still resonates
- nasturtus
- Mar 2
- 5 min read
As the Pandavas left Hastinapura after the calamitous game of dice, several Brahmanas followed. Yudhisthira, ever the king, carried the burden of his responsibilities even into exile. The thought of providing for the Brahmanas who followed him became an unbearable strain.
Stripped of his kingdom, he was stripped of the very means to fulfill his royal and householder duties. His lament, "Shame on the evil sons of Dhritarashtra!" wasn't just anger; it was a cry of despair, a recognition of the profound disruption of dharma.
He was a king without a kingdom, a provider without resources, and a righteous man facing an impossible situation. This despondency was not merely about material loss. It was a crisis of identity and purpose, a deep questioning of his ability to uphold his dharma.
Shounaka's Profound Wisdom: The Art of Detachment
In Yudhisthira’s darkest hour, Shounaka, a learned Brahmana versed in Samkhya Yoga, offered counsel that went beyond mere consolation. He delved into the very nature of suffering, revealing its roots in attachment and delusion.
Shaunaka advised Yudhishthira on overcoming grief and fear through wisdom and detachment. He emphasized that while ordinary people are easily troubled by misfortune, the learned remain steady. Knowledge, especially the eightfold wisdom, is the highest virtue and protects one from distress.
He explains that suffering arises from both physical and mental sources. Physical pain stems from disease, painful contact, labor, and separation from loved ones. Mental anguish, however, is rooted in attachment. He advises that suffering can be alleviated either through direct treatment or by not dwelling on it. Since mental distress affects the body, calming the mind also soothes physical suffering.
Shaunaka highlights that attachment is the root of all sorrow and fear. Desire for material possessions binds individuals to suffering and leads to insatiable craving. This "thirst" is a perpetual force that disrupts inner peace and drives people toward sin. Just as a fire consumes the tree from within, attachment destroys righteousness (dharma) and prosperity (artha). True detachment does not mean renouncing the world physically but recognizing its impermanence and avoiding emotional entanglement.
He warns that wealth brings anxiety, fear, and conflicts. Those obsessed with riches suffer at every stage—earning, preserving, and losing them. Despite the misery associated with wealth, people remain enslaved by it. In contrast, the wise, who embrace contentment, experience true happiness. Contentment is the highest form of joy, while greed is endless and destructive.
Finally, Shaunaka urges Yudhishthira to seek inner peace through knowledge and detachment. Recognizing the fleeting nature of youth, beauty, wealth, and relationships allows one to live free from unnecessary sorrow. True wisdom lies in valuing what is eternal over what is temporary.
Shaunaka's Timeless Advice: Ancient and Modern
Shounaka's profound advice to Yudhisthira resonates with insights found across diverse philosophical traditions and modern studies.
When Shounaka states, "There are a thousand reasons for grief and a hundred reasons for fear that delude people every day," he echoes the sentiment of Mark Twain's famous observation, "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened." Both recognize the human tendency to be consumed by anxieties, often for events that are merely potential, not actual.
Similarly, Shounaka's assertion that "When calamities arise...learned ones don’t become miserable because of physical or mental sorrow" aligns with Epictetus's core Stoic principle: "People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them." This highlights the importance of internal control and the power of perception in managing suffering.
Finally, Shounaka's analogy of the hot iron ball affecting water and knowledge quenching mental ailments, "Just as a hot iron ball affects the water in a pot, mental pain affects the body. Just as water quenches fire, knowledge quenches mental ailments. When the mind is pacified, the body is also pacified," anticipates modern studies on the mind-body connection.
Contemporary research consistently demonstrates the reciprocal influence of mental and physical states, showing how stress and emotional distress can manifest as physical symptoms, while mental clarity and peace can promote physical well-being.
He ended by telling Yudhisthira that his desire to provide for the Brahmanas was noble, but that he had to achieve the ability to do so through austerity, and through control of his desires.
Seeking Guidance: Yudhisthira Consulted Dhaumya
Yudhishthira then approached Dhaumya—the Pandavas' head priest and said, “These Brahmanas are well-versed in the Vedas. They chose to follow me when I departed. I am burdened by immense hardships and lack the means to support them. I cannot forsake them, yet I also lack the resources to provide for them. O wise one, please tell me what is the right course of action?”
Drawing upon ancient wisdom, Dhaumya advised Yudhisthira to seek the blessings of Surya, the Sun God, the source of all sustenance. He recounted the creation myth, emphasizing Surya's role in providing food for all beings.
Dhaumya's counsel was not merely a suggestion for divine intervention; it was a call to action. He reminded Yudhisthira of the great kings of the past who had saved their subjects through austerities, yoga, and meditation. He urged Yudhisthira to emulate their example, to purify himself through penance and seek Surya's grace.
Yudhisthira's Austerities: A Path of Self-Discipline
Heeding Dhaumya's advice, Yudhisthira embarked on a rigorous regimen of austerities. He controlled his senses, lived on air, and worshipped Surya with offerings of flowers and fireless oblations. This act of self-discipline and devotion reflected his unwavering commitment to dharma and his determination to overcome his limitations.
The recitation of Surya's 108 names, as instructed by Dhaumya, was a crucial part of this penance. This act not only demonstrated Yudhisthira's devotion but also served as a means of invoking Surya's divine grace.
Surya's Blessings: A Divine Intervention
Surya, pleased with Yudhishthira's devotion, appeared before him in his true radiant form, shining like fire. He assured the king, "You shall receive all that you desire. For the next twelve years, I will ensure that your kitchen never lacks food. The four kinds of sustenance—fruits, roots, meat, and vegetables—will always be available in abundance, along with great wealth." Having granted this boon, Surya disappeared.
Blessed with this divine gift, Yudhisthira emerged from the water. The immortal one bowed at Dhaumya’s feet and embraced his brothers before meeting Draupadi. In her presence, the Pandava king prepared the food in the kitchen. However, once cooked, the forest fare miraculously multiplied and became inexhaustible. He then served the brahmanas first, ensuring they were well-fed. Only after his younger brothers had eaten did Yudhishthira partake of the remaining food, a practice that came to be known as vighasa. After him, Draupadi consumed what was left.
Glowing with the brilliance of Surya himself, Yudhishthira, having received this divine blessing, generously provided for the brahmanas. On sacred days, aligned with the appointed lunar phases and constellations, he performed rituals and sacrifices with his priest leading the ceremonies, following the prescribed mantras and traditions. With the rites completed and the blessings of the brahmanas, the Pandavas, accompanied by Dhaumya and surrounded by a multitude of brahmanas, departed for the Kamyaka forest.
Surya’s boon not only solved Yudhisthira's immediate problem but also reinforced the power of dharma. By upholding his duties and seeking divine intervention, Yudhisthira restored his ability and self-confidence to provide for those in his care.
Note: As per Bibek Debroy's 10-volume Mahabharata, which is the basis for this blog post, the critical edition of The Mahabharata (aka Poona edition) omits certain shlokas from this section. In the missing verses, the sun-god gifts Draupadi a copper vessel with a unique property—it remains full until she has eaten, allowing others to be fed. However, once she has taken her meal, the vessel becomes empty.
Quiz
Who advised Yudhistra to pray to Surya?
Shounaka
Vyasa
Draupadi
Dhaumya
Answer
What was Shounaka an expert in?
Mimamsa
Samkhya
Tantra
Yoga sutras
Answer
At the end, to which forest did the Pandavas depart along with the Brahmanas?
Dwaita
Kamyaka
Naimisha
Khandava
Answer
