"Vaishampaayana said, ‘Thus asked, the tiger
among Munis (Maandavya) then answered those Rishis of wealth of Tapas, ‘Whom shall I blame for
this? In fact, none else (than my own self) has offended against me!’ O monarch (Janamejaya), after this the officers of justice,
seeing him alive, informed the king of it. The latter (the king) hearing what they said, consulted with his
advisers, and came to the place and began to pacify the Rishi fixed on the
stake. The king said, ‘O you best of Rishis (Maandavya), I have offended against you in ignorance. I beg you to forgive me for
the same. It is your duty not to be angry with me.’
“Thus addressed by the king, the Muni (Mandavya) was pacified.
Looking him free from anger, the king took him up with the stake and tried to
extract it from his body. But not succeeding therein, he (the king) cut it (the stake) off at the point just outside the body. The Muni, with a portion of
the stake within his body, walked about, and in that state practised the
severest of penances and conquered numberless regions unattainable by others.
“For the circumstances of a part of the stake being
within his body, he came to be known in the three worlds by the name of
Aani-Maandavya (Maandavya with the stake within). One day that Brahmana (Aani-Maandavya), familiar with the highest truth of Dharma
went to the abode of Dharmadeva. Looking the Deva there seated on his throne,
the Rishi criticised him and said, ‘Pray, what is that sinful act committed by
me unconsciously, for which I am bearing this punishment? O, tell me soon, and
witness the power of my Tapas.’
“The Dharmadeva, thus questioned, replied, ‘O you of
wealth of Tapas (Rishi Aani-Maandavya), a little insect was once pierced by you
on a blade of grass. You now bear the consequence of the act. O Rishi, as a charity, however small, multiplies in respect of its
merits of Dharma, so a sinful act multiplies in respect of the sadness it
brings in its train.’
“On hearing this, Aani-Maandavya asked, ‘O tell me
truly when this act was committed by me.’
“Told in reply by the Dharmadeva that he had committed
it, when he was a child. The Rishi said, ‘That shall
not be a sin which may be done by a child up to the twelfth year of his age
from birth. The Shastras shall not recognise it as sinful. The
punishment you have inflicted on me for such a forgiveable offence has been
disproportionate in severity. The killing of a Brahmana involves a sin that is
heavier than the killing of any other living being. You shall, therefore, O
Dharmadeva, have to be born among men in the Shudra varna. From this day, I establish this limit in respect of the
consequence of acts that an act shall not be sinful when committed by one below
the age of fourteen. But when committed by one above that age, it shall be
regarded as sin.’
“Vaishampaayana
continued, ‘Cursed for this fault by that illustrious Rishi (Aani-Maandavya), the Dharmadeva had his birth as Vidura in the Shudra varna. Vidura
was well-versed in the doctrines of morality, politics and Arthaa. He was entirely
free from greed and anger. Possessed of great foresight and undisturbed peace
of mind, Vidura was ever devoted to the welfare of the Kurus.’”
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