Ajagara Gita (अजगरगीता)

Ajagara Gita (Samskrit: अजगरगीता) refers to the advice given to Raja Prahlada by an ascetic one who has renounced all worldly attachments and conections. It appears in the Shantiparva of the Mahabharata as part of the Bhishma-Yudhishthira Samvada. The Gita inspires one to maintain equanimity during abundance as well as inadequacy. Thus, it is useful not only to renunciates but also to old people who, after fulfilling their familial responsibilities, wish to lead a life of happiness and peace.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

As mentioned, the Ajagara Gita appears in the Shantiparva of the Mahabharata as part of a conversation between Bhishma and Yudhisthira. It is one of the many Gitas that are recounted by Bhishma in his answers to Yudhisthira's questions in the Mokshadharma Upaparva.

When Yudhisthira asks Bhishma,

• Adopting what kind of conduct or practice can one live sorrow-free in this world ?

• What kind of karma bestows one with the best state (gati) ?

Bhishma answers with the example of the conversation between Prahlada and a muni practicing the Ajagara mode of life.

It is interesting to note here that a similar Prahlada-Muni Samvada is quoted as an example in the Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 13) in the context of Shri Shuka enumerating a dialogue between Maharshi Narada and Maharaja Yudhisthira to Raja Parikshit where Narada Muni explains the regulative principles to be followed by sannyasis by recounting the conversation between Raja Prahlada and a sage who had adopted the mode of life of a python (or ajagara).