FOUR TYPES OF PEOPLE – WITH A STORY!
King Janaka assembled a group of Rishis and Wise men and performed a big yaga for the welfare of the world.
Thousand cows had been tied at the spot of Yaga.
At the end of the yaga, Janaka, called the rishis and announced:
“If any Brahma Gnani (A Person who know Brahmam) is here, let him come. I will present him with these thousand cows.”
No rishi dared to come forward to prove and take the cows.
A great sage named “Yagnavalkya” asked his disciples to take away all the cows to his ashram.
Then Ashvala, the Chief Guru of the yaga, interrupted and said:
“Yagnavalkya ji, Only after you prove yourself as Brahma Gnani, you can receive these cows as gift.”
Subsequently, there was a debate about the philosophical interpretations of Brahma Gnana mentioned in the Vedas.
No one could properly answer Yagnavalkya’s questions.
But, Yagnavalkia answered all the questions asked by the rishis in detail.
Subsequently, all the rishis unanimously recognized Yajnavalkya as “Brahma Gnani”.
Janaka honored him by giving him all the thousand cows.
Then, Karki, a then popular woman scholar asked Yajnavalkya:
“How many kinds of people are there in this world?”
The explanation given by Yajnavalkya was:
“In the world, there are four types of people:
(1) GODLY MEN:
He who realized the knowledge of Brahman and that Divinity is present in everything and everyone.
(2) MANLY MEN:
One who never abandons truth and dharma, engages in dharmic activities and loves everyone with kindness.
(3) DEMONIC MEN:
Selfish, Addicted to liquor, completely forgetful of his true condition, without self-control, gossiping and harassing others.
(4) ANIMAL-LIKE MEN:
Those who do not perform their duties but always engaged in sense gratification, who do not know what is right and what is wrong, but always involved in eating, drinking, sleeping, etc.
Those who are in the other three stages should try to become a Godly man.
This is the essence of the teachings of the Vedas.
(Love cultivates Athma – Story! READ HERE!)