There was a Sage named Shukdev. He was son of Shri Vedvyas. One day he went to King Janak in Mithila City with the aim of taking initiation. King Janak said, “Shukdev, I will initiate you tomorrow morning.” He made arrangements for his stay in a separate building. King Janak sent a beautiful young woman to the sage in his service with the aim of testing him.
The young woman sat on Shukdev’s bed at the foot end. The sage bent his legs and retracted them further. When the woman got nearer to the sage, he stood up. He said, “O Sister! You seem to be a daughter of a good family. Please go outside the room; otherwise, I will go.” The woman went away. She told King Janak that the sage is a chaste person, and told everything that happened. In the morning, King Janak asked Sage Shukdev that – “A lady had come to meet you. By not having intercourse with her, you have showed good self-restraint. You are an abstemious person. Blessed are your parents.”
The viewpoints of Supreme God Kabir are even superior to and excellent than these. He says that even Sage Shukdev was not Aatmgyaani (knowledge of the soul) because when the young woman sat on Shukdev’s bed, he considered her a woman and did not let her touch his body, and standing up got ready to exit the room. It is clear from this that Shukdev did not have Aatm Gyaan. Just think, what would have Shukdev done had a young man instead of the young woman sat on the bed? He would have asked his well-being and would not have got up from the bed. He would have said, “Brother! There is only one bed. You may rest on the bed. I will make my bed on the floor. If the young man had been decent, he would have said, “No, Sage! You lie down on the bed. I will rest on the floor.” But because of her being a young woman, Sage Shukdev got scared due to the defect of lust.
Supreme God Kabir has explained that male and female are two clothes on the soul. Like, it is mentioned in Gita Chapter 2 Verse 22 that – “Arjun! A soul on relinquishing a body acquires a new body. This is called death. This is like; man relinquishing old clothes wears new clothes. Therefore, become aware of Aatm Tatv.
Example: - A drama troupe came to a village. They performed drama shows for many days. In olden days, men only used to play the role of women in a play in drama shows. A boy had gone for the first time with his friend to watch a play. In the play, a boy was wearing the clothes of a girl. Even the breast was like that of a young girl. The boy who had gone for the first time said to his friend (who had seen plays many times), “Look! How beautiful that girl is!” His friend said, “This is not a girl, but a boy.” But the boy, who had gone for the first time, was not ready to accept it. He did not believe his friend’s statements. After the completion of the play, the actors went to that place where they were staying. The two boys also went there with them. That boy who had disguised as a girl took all his girl-clothes and hung them on the hook. Taking off the artificial breast off his chest, he put it in his bag. He went to take a shower only in his underwear. On seeing this, the new spectator believed that actually he is a boy. The next day, the spectator boy did not develop any malicious feelings as for a girl on seeing that boy in the attire of a girl. He was appearing as a boy to him. Similarly, if Sage Shukdev had Aatm Gyaan from spiritual discrimination, then considering her a man in the soul-form instead of a woman, he would have said that – “You may lie down on the bed. I will rest on the floor.” Sages, saints and fakirs lead their lives with this viewpoint. They attain salvation by doing worship.
FAQs about "Story of a Virtuous Person"
Q.1 What is a virtuous person?
A virtuous person is characterized by their good moral character, self-discipline, honesty, and a virtuous approach to all aspects of life. They engage in heartfelt worship of God and apply genuine spiritual knowledge to avoid sin, thereby progressing on the path to salvation.
Q.2 What test did King Janak subject Sage Shukdev to?
King Janak tested Sage Shukdev's chastity by sending a beautiful young woman to his room, aiming to tempt him.
Q. 3 How did Sage Shukdev react to this test?
Sage Shukdev displayed remarkable self-control and immediately asked the woman to leave his room, resisting the temptation posed by her beauty.
Q.4 What was King Janak's response to Sage Shukdev's success in the test?
King Janak praised Sage Shukdev for his exceptional self-restraint and chastity, considering him a blessed individual.
Q.5 What does Supreme God Kabir say about Sage Shukdev?
Supreme God Kabir criticizes Sage Shukdev for not possessing true knowledge of the soul (Aatmgyaani) because he viewed the woman as a woman. Supreme God Kabir emphasizes that genuine chastity involves recognizing the soul within every individual, irrespective of their gender.
Q.6 Can a person be born virtuous?
No, inherent virtue is not possible. To become virtuous, one must engage in good deeds, uphold strong moral character, worship Almighty God, and earnestly follow His path.
Q.7 What is a truly virtuous person?
A genuinely virtuous person is someone who receives initiation from a complete spiritual saint and wholeheartedly follows their guidance, engaging in sincere worship of Almighty God to attain complete salvation.
Recent Comments
Latest Comments by users
If you have any query regarding the above content, please email us at [email protected], we will try to solve it with proof.
Neelkamal Sharma
I found the article to be truly amazing and helpful. The knowledge presented within it has provided me with valuable insights. As a human, I often struggle with various vices that trouble me. Among these, I have noticed that lust dominates my thoughts and causes significant issues for me. I even experience difficulty sitting near women and engaging with them directly. This situation has strained my relationships with my female colleagues at the office, as I find it challenging to communicate effectively due to the overwhelming influence of lust. Despite having read spiritual books and exploring positive thoughts from various sources, I haven't been able to find a solution to overcome this challenge.
Satlok Ashram
Dear reader, we are delighted to know that our article has been of help to you. The struggles with human vices are universal and can often lead to uncomfortable situations. Such vices can hinder personal growth and diminish confidence. The path to addressing these vices lies in spiritual knowledge and genuine worship practices. We recommend that you listen to the spiritual discourses of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj and read the book "Jeene Ki Rah." These resources are likely to provide insights that will help alleviate your life problems and create a smoother path forward.