Tripura Rahasya: Secret of the Hill

Lord Dattatreya said,

Continued from here

Perfectly peaceful and cheerful in mind, he beckoned his son and said to him: 'Boy, do not repeat this fault. Wrath wrecks penance. Penance is only possible and can progress without obstruction because the king protects yogis. To interfere with a sacrifice is always reprehensible and never to be countenanced by the good. Be a good boy and return the horse and the princes immediately. Do it at once so that the sacrifice may be performed at the appointed hour.'

Directed thus, the sage's son was immediately appeased. He went into the hill, returned with the horse and the princes and released them with pleasure. Mahasena sent the princes with the horse to the town. He was surprised at what he saw and saluting the Sage asked him respectfully: 'Lord, please tell me how the horse and the princes were concealed in the hill.' 

Then the Sage replied: Listen, 'O King, I was formerly an emperor ruling the empire bounded by the seas. After a long while the grace of God descended on me and I grew disgusted with the world as being but trash in the light of consciousness within. I abdicated the kingdom in favor of my sons and retired into this forest. My wife, being dutiful, accompanied me here. Several years were passed in our penance and austerities. Once my wife embraced me and this son was born to her when I was in samadhi. She brought me to my senses, left the babe with me and died. This boy was brought up by me with love and care. When he grew up, he heard that I had once been a king. He wished to be one also and besought me to grant his prayer. I initiated him in yoga, which he practised with such success that he was able by the force of his will to create a world of his own in this hill which he is now ruling. The horse and princes were kept there. I have now told you the secret of that hill.' 

After hearing it Mahasena asked again: 'I have, with great interest, heard your wonderful account of this hill. I want to see it. Can you grant my prayer?'

Being so requested, the Sage commanded his son saying: 'Boy, Show him round the place and satisfy him.' Having said thus, the Sage again lapsed into samadhi; and his son went away with the king.

(To be continued)