Page 55 - Courage Redifined

hearted saint named Vishwabhuti in one of his previous births.
In spite of his strict penance and non -attachment he lost his
temper on hearing the taunting words of his cousin brother.
He could not suppress his pride (Kashaya). His determination
was so much so that he not only flung a cow high in the air
but after keeping it safely on the ground, he did a Niyanu*
for his Bala (strength)

Loss of determination on mind getting disturbed:
Vishwabhooti’s Niyanu :

Saint Vishwabhuti’s ego got hurt on being insulted by his
brother because of which he ended up doing a Niyanu that,
“May I possess abundant strength in the next birth as a
result of my penance and worldly renunciation in this birth.”
Didn’t he realize at that time that, “I have done this penance
and renounced the world to attain salvation. Then how can
I desire for this in return ?” No but he could not think on
those lines because his mind had lost its capacity to think
rationally due to the taunting words spoken by his brother.
He thought, “I do not desire anything like salvation. If my
penance and renounciation are really fruitful, may I get my
desired strength from it.” As a result, he became the powerful
TriprushthaVasudev who possessed abundant strength but
eventually he was sent to the seventh hell in the next birth.
Can you imagine the terrible outcome of the mind getting
disturbed ? As his ego got hurt, he flung the innocent cow
high in the air and due to this hurt ego, he forgot salvation
and desired worldly strength. This gave him such abundant
strength which made him the Triprushtha Vasudev but later
sent him to the dungeons of seventh hell. This needs to be
noted that, the mind that gets distributed in some meagre

* Niyanu - Asking for strength, wealth, beauty, power etc. in return of
penance
Keep the Mind Undisturbed... 45