Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.198

c8.198

Mahiratha was a King who became prosperous by accrued puṇya. Kaśyapa was his guru. The King entrusted the affairs of the state to his ministers and led a very immoral life. The country began to decay day by day and one day Kaśyapa gave Dharmopadeśa to Mahiratha. The Guru said: "Oh King, your body which was in a state of sinning has attained a state of virtue by your association with me. Those well-versed in the Vedas say that the body is of three different kinds. Firstly there is the one which is evil-natured without either virtue or knowledge. Secondly, there is the virtuous one with good conduct. Thirdly, there is the agonising body which hides both virtue and evil. The body without virtue and salvation is always a body of sins. Your body has now become virtuous by becoming devotional to your guru and attending to my words. You are now fit to do virtuous deeds and I shall now make you enjoy the benefits of Vaiśākhasnāna (a bath with religious rites in the month of Vaiśākha (May).