Slokam 1

King Indradhymna of the Pandya empire is engaged in deep meditation on the Paramathma.  He is visited by sage Agasthya. 

Agastya was a revered Vedic sage. In the Indian tradition, he is a noted recluse and an influential scholar in diverse languages of the Indian subcontinent. He and his wife Lopamudra are the celebrated authors of hymns 1.165 to 1.191 in the Sanskrit text Rigveda and other Vedic literature.^[1][2][3]

It is very important for kings to pay their honor and respects to visiting kings.   It was recognized that the power of the sages to influence events was immense.  Obtaining the blessings of visiting Sages was recognized as an esstential ingredient in sustaining a prosperous kingdom and extending its influence.

On the other hand, if the sage was not honored,  that was considered as equivalent to an insult.  There were no excuses that would be accepted,  even if the King was preoccupied. They were supposed to drop everything else, in order to honor the sage.  When the sages perceived a “dishonor” or neglect,  they unleashed the most venemous curses on the king.

Why did sages expect kings to honor them?  Sages lived in isolation after renouncing all material possessions.  They lived not for themselves,  but for the sole purpose of invoking  the supreme to endow welfare on entire humanity. So their life was sacrificial in nature.  Many sages lived with the sole intention of attaining moksham and transcending this worldly existence.  One of the requirements of attaining moksham, is  the chanting of the Vedas.  The vedas are oriented towards the welfare of all and not the welfare of one at the cost of many.  Chanting of the Vedas induces a selflessness,  which the cornerstone of attainment of moksham.

Sages practice the chanting of the vedas 24/7 and attain a state of sublime selflessness.  Their lives are expected to be devoid of any material rewards. They are not supposed to seek recognition.

Sage Agastya expected to be honored for having “supported” the king. He expects his powers to be recognized with respect. He expects to be treated the same as the Paramathma. 

This is the failing of many people of high attainment.  In their minds, the only measure of attainment is the display “honor”, respect and adulation by the people around them.  The recognition by a dignitary or  king is particularly valuable to them.

Lack of  adulation and glorification is wrongly interpreted as an insult. 



Indradyumna did not intend to show even the slightest disrespect.  Such is the sensitivity of the Sage Agastya, who by definition is required to transcend expectation and anger.