Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1406

c7.1406

JĀTISMARAKĪṬA. A worm which got emancipation through the advice of Vyāsa. Once while Vyāsa was roaming about in the country, by chance he saw this worm. It was running through the road, seeing a cart coming very fast. Vyāsa stopped it and asked, “What are you running from?” The worm replied that he was living in fear that the wheel of the cart coming from behind might crush him. In the previous birth this worm was a Śūdra. Jealousy, resentment, arrogance, selfishness etc. were the traits of his character in his previous life. Only twice in his life had he done good deeds. Once he honoured his mother and on another occasion he respected a Brāhmaṇa. Because of these two good deeds, in his present life as worm he had the remembrance of his previous life. Vyāsa gave the worm necessary advice. Instantly the worm was crushed under the wheel of the cart.