Ashṭaka son of Viśvāmitra
Ashṭaka was a famous king and the son of the great ṛshi (seer) Viśvāmitra. The Mahābhārata, in the Vana Parva (Chapter 198), names him as one of four great kings who rose to svarga (heaven) in their chariots after completing great yajñas (fire rituals). The other three are Prātardana, Vasumanas and Śibi.
On the way, the devarshi Nārada joined their chariot. He told them that Ashṭaka would be the first of the four to return to earth. The reason was a small flaw: Ashṭaka had spoken proudly of his own gifts, and this reduced his puṇya (merit).
Family and kingship
Ashṭaka was the son of Viśvāmitra, one of the most powerful ṛshis of the Vedic world. Viśvāmitra reached the rank of brahmarshi (the highest kind of ṛshi) through tapas (austerity) alone. Ashṭaka was born of this great tapas, yet he lived in the world of kings and was himself a king of great power and dharmic virtue.
The tradition also calls him a king who performed a great Aśvamedha (the horse yajña), which was the highest expression of a kshatriya‘s power and generosity. He is counted among the foremost givers of his time.
The ascent to svarga
Ashṭaka performed his yajñas and gained great puṇya through gifts and yajñas. He then rose toward svarga in his divine chariot. Three other kings travelled with him: Prātardana, Vasumanas and Śibi Cakravartin. These four were among the most righteous and generous rulers of their age.
On the journey Nārada the devarshi appeared and accepted their invitation to ride with them. As they talked, the kings asked him which of them would be the first to come back from svarga to the human world. They knew that a stay in svarga lasts only as long as the puṇya that earned it.
The flaw that reduced his puṇya
Nārada said that Ashṭaka would be the first of the four to come down from svarga. When Ashṭaka made his great gifts (dāna) and performed his yajñas, he spoke of his generosity with some pride. He boasted, even if gently, about what he had given. This small self-praise put a stain on his giving and lessened the purity of the act.
The Mārkaṇḍeya Samāsyā Parva teaches that the best giving is done without hope of return, without self-praise, and without even the thought of being a great giver. Ashṭaka had not committed any serious pāpa (sin). His fault was only the faint stain of pride in his own giving. Small as it was, it shortened his stay in svarga compared with the others.
Ashṭaka and Śibi
Ashṭaka was truly great. He was the son of Viśvāmitra, a performer of the Aśvamedha, and a king worthy of svarga beside the matchless Śibi. Śibi was asked why he gave even his son’s life. He answered that he did not give for fame, for wealth or for personal enjoyment (bhoga), but simply because giving was right. This complete selflessness is what set Śibi apart, even from the worthy Ashṭaka.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 198
- Mahābhārata, Mārkaṇḍeya Samāsyā Parva (teaching on dāna, no chapter given)