|| Om Namo Bhagavathey Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 118- The legend of Surya dynasty -2

Mandhatha ruled the Kingdom of the Ikshvaku dynasty for several years, he had fifty children.  Maharishi Saubhari was born in the clan of King Shashabindhu, whose son was illustrious Emperor Muchukundha.  Maharishi Saubhari underwent extreme penance in the underwaters of river Yamuna, intending to withdraw from all the worldly attractions.  His body started deteriorating, the water animals started to consume the body parts; he was least bothered to notice them.  Once, he witnessed the physical relationship between the male and female fish, it stirred emotions in him, he desired to have the pleasure of physical relationship.  Further, he could not continue austerities after witnessing the pleasure of physical relationships.  He got out of the water and decided to get married to put off the fire in him, thus he arrived in the Kingdom of Mandhatha who had fifty girl children. 

Maharishi Saubhari met King Mandhatha and revealed his desire to marry his daughter.  Mandhatha became anxious to see the physique of the Maharishi whose muscles were already lost in the water and had a murky appearance, he had nothing left in his body other than a few bones.  Mandhatha does not want to put off the spirit of Maharishi, with the hope that none of the girls are going to fall for the Maharishi who is least impressive.   King advised him to conduct a visit to his palace and meet the girls, if any of the girls interested in him, would marry off to him.  Immediately, Maharishi Saubhari assumed a marvelous form that excels the beauty of Lord Kamadheva and entered the palace.  He approached the daughters of King Mandhatha, the moment they witnessed the handsome Maharishi, revealed their willingness to marry him, seeing his exquisite physique and appearance they started to fight each other for winning him as their husband.  Finally, Maharishi Shaubhari enquired the girls who are willing to marry him and proceed with him.  Surprisingly all the daughters were prepared to marry him. Thus, Maharishi Shaubhari married all the daughters of Mandhatha and lived a joyous life. 

Years have passed, Maharishi Shaubhari started feeling guilty of his act “ I am hopeless, I have changed my mind by witnessing the physical relationship between the fishes, I have fooled myself thinking that the physical relationship is inevitable in human life, I have completely drenched in worldly matters and bondage, even though I had the capabilities to elevate my soul to supreme Lord, I have heaved myself into worldly matters.” Maharishi Saubhari decided to leave the worldly matters and bondage, and remain in the association of saintly people.  He narrated about the impermanent nature of worldly matters and bondage to his wives.  The soul has to leave the body one day; therefore the excessive attachment to the body would cause a painful death.  The soul has to separate itself from the body deliberately, which results in repeated births as well. The renounced souls will not give importance to the perishable body; instead, they constantly contemplate upon the imperishable supreme soul and leave the body effortlessly as attire.  Thus, Maharishi Shaubhari and his fifty wives went to woods and underwent extreme penance, eventually attained the abode of Lord.