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).

Subject Matter

The brahmana as perceived by Prahlada.

• endowed with a firm mind, devoid of sorrow, intelligent.
• healthy, strong, soft, self-controlled, detached from the cycle of karmas, unbattered by the faults in others, endowed with beautiful and sweet speech, fearless, genius, wise and knowledgeable, yet moving about like a child.
• neither wishing for a gain nor mourning loss, always satisfied and not labelling things as favourite and otherwise.
• indifferent to the world that flows with desires, anger, etc. and unshaken by the acts of dharma, artha and kama.
• neither observing the acts related to dharma and artha nor indulging one's desires, unattached to the objects of the sense organs and conducting oneself like a witness free from bondages.

Prahlada's Questions

• What kind of wisdom, shastra or conduct makes one's life like that of the brahmana ?
• What is the pathway to shreyas in this world ?

The reasoning of the brahmana

• The creation, growth, decline and destruction of the living beings in this world happens from the causeless paramatma's sat-svarupa. Therefore, there is no reason to express joy or sorrow towards them.
• The tendency of living beings is determined by their nature that is a result of their previous karmas. Therefore, the entire mankind is devoted to their nature and have no other resort. Having understood this secret knowledge, one should never be contented in any situation.
• All relations terminate in separation while all accumulations end in their destruction. Having seen this, one should never take anything upon oneself.
• There is no task left on this earth for the one who sees the elements endowed with qualities as prone to destruction and understands the essence of creation and destruction.
• All beings be they big or small aquatic creatures, movable or immovable being on the land, strong birds flying in the sky or even lustrous stars in the sky, all of them see a fall and are tied by the fetters of death. Therefore, knowing the essence of life, being grateful and perceiving them all equally one should sleep happily.