Nabhaga's Inheritance

The forgotten share

Manu Śrāddhadeva had many sons — Ikṣvāku first among them. Nabhaga was the ninth: wise and self-controlled. (His grandson would be the great devotee Ambarīṣa.) While Nabhaga was living at his teacher's house studying the Vedas, his brothers divided their father's kingdom among themselves, with their father's leave, and gave him no share at all.

Nabhaga came home having mastered the Vedas and all their limbs, found the kingdom divided, and asked his brothers, affectionately, for his share. We forgot you when we divided things, they said. But we have set aside your share now — it is Father. Take him.

The father's advice

Astonished, Nabhaga went to his father. Manu comforted his truthful son. Don't believe your brothers, he said. They say this to cheat you — I am no inheritance to live on. But I will tell you how to earn your living.

Some learned brahmins of the Āṅgirasa clan are performing a sacrifice right now. On the sixth day they keep going wrong in the rites. Go there, my wise son, and teach them the two hymns to the Viśvedevas, so that the sacrifice is made whole. When the sacrifice is finished and they go to heaven, they will be pleased and give you all the wealth left over from it.

Nabhaga went. On the sixth day he recited the two hymns clearly, and the sacrifice was completed. The Āṅgirasas gave him all the wealth that remained, and rose to heaven.

The dark stranger

Just as Nabhaga went to take the wealth, a man appeared from the north — dark, handsome, magnificent. It was Śiva, in the form called Kṛṣṇadarśana, “the dark-looking one”, come to test who has the right to what is left over from a sacrifice, and to give Nabhaga both his share and true knowledge.

Who are you, man? said the stranger. Who sent you here? The wealth of this sacrificial ground is mine. Why are you taking it? Tell me the truth.

The sages gave it to me, said Nabhaga humbly. It is what was left over from the sacrifice. Why do you forbid me to take it?

Pleased by the plain truth of his answer, the stranger said: let your father settle our dispute. Go and ask him. Whatever he says will stand as the truth.

What is left over

Nabhaga went back and asked. Manu thought of Śiva's feet and understood at once. Listen, my son, he said. That dark man is Śiva himself. Everything is his — and above all, what comes from a sacrifice. What remains of a sacrifice is called Rudra's share. He is the lord of all that is left over; nothing lies beyond his will. He has come in that form out of kindness to you. Go back, please him with your truthfulness, ask his forgiveness, bow and praise him. Go quickly.

Nabhaga went back and bowed with folded hands: Lord, my father says that everything in the three worlds is yours — how much more what is left from a sacrifice. Forgive what I said in ignorance. And he praised Śiva. Manu came too, asking forgiveness, and Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra, the siddhas and sages gathered there in celebration.

The gift

Śiva looked on them all kindly and laughed. What your father said is right, he told Nabhaga, and you too told the whole truth. You are a good man. I am pleased with your truthfulness, and I will teach you the eternal Brahman. Become a knower of the highest truth, you and these brahmins with you. And take all this wealth — it is my gift. Live happily in the world, unshaken, and reach the highest goal.

Then the lover of truth vanished. The gods bowed towards that place and went home, and Manu took his son home with him.