Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.792

c4.792

ARIṢṬANEMI VI. A King. Realising the transient nature of worldly life, he gave up his kingdom and went to and did tapas at Mount Gandhamādana. Indra who was much pleased at this sent a messenger with a vimāna (aeroplane) to conduct the King to Svarga (heaven). When he was told that there was in Svarga also the states of being high or low, and fall happened when the effect of good actions decreased, the King gave up his desire for Svarga and sent back Indra's messenger. Then Indra sent the King with a messenger to the Āśrama of Vālmīki so that he might gain spiritual knowledge. Vālmīki consoled the King with the advice that the telling, hearing and pondering over the story of the Rāmāyaṇa alone would be enough to get eternal salvation. (Yogavāsiṣṭham).