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(The epic Mahabharata is an unparalleled source of stories. Every time I read the epic, I discover something new in it, learn something more from it. One of my favourite stories from Mahabharata relates the conversation between Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, and a python, on the importance of the castes. The incidence takes place after Dharmaraja loses the game of dice, and loses, as a consequence, his empire and all his wealth. Dharmaraja offers his brothers Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva as bets, and loses the game. Then he bets himself, and later even his wife, Draupadi. Every time Dharmaraja loses the game to his cousin, Dhuryodhana, the King of the Kauravas. At this point the elders in the Kaurava court intervene, and Dhuryodhana reluctantly agrees to set the Pandavas and Draupadi free. On one condition. The Pandavas and Draupadi have to retire to the forest and live there for 12 years, and they have to spend one more year in disguise.)

The Pandavas are quite content to live in the forest, spending their time in the company of other sages. Dharmaraja enjoys discussing with these elders the intricacies of dharma. On one such day, Bhima sets out to hunt. When after a long time Bhima does not return, the brothers and Draupadi get worried. Finally, Dharmaraja himself sets out in search of Bhima. Soon he hears Bhima's cry for help. Hurrying in the direction of the voice, Dharmaraja sees Bhima, who has been attacked by an enormous python that has wound itself around him, making him totally immobile. Seeing his mighty brother struggling like a helpless man in the grip of the python, Dharmaraja is shocked. With tears streaming down his face, he starts praying to Krishna.

Just then, the python addresses him in a human voice, and says, "Oh, King, Dharmaraja! I understand how unhappy you are at seeing your brother being imprisoned by me. I will happily let him go if you can correctly answer a couple of my questions."
Dharmaraja replies, "Oh, Holy being! You are certainly not an ordinary python. You seem to be testing us - for whatever reason. Please state your questions. I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities."

The python asks the Pandava brother, "Tell me, oh king, who is a Brahmin ?"
Dharmaraja's answer is clear. He says, "He who speaks the truth, who is patient, and is compassionate, whose character is without any blemish, who gives alms - he is a Brahmin."
The Python continues, " What if a Shudra has these qualities?"
Without any hint of hesitation, Dharmaraja replies, "A Shudra who has these qualities is not a Shudra. if a Brahmin does not have these qualities, he is certainly not a Brahmin."
The python is not satisfied. It asks further, "If it is the character which makes a man a brahmin, what is the use of the caste system? What role does birth play?"
Dharmaraja continues calmly: "These days castes are very mixed. Therefore the caste cannot be determined by birth alone. There are many examples, where the caste of the child is determined by the caste of the mother. At the same time, there are also plenty of examples, where the caste of the father decides the caste of the child.

The sage Vedavyasa was born of a fisher woman. But he is considered to be a Brahmin, because his father was one. The same fisher woman later married king Shantanu, and was considered from that time onwards as belonging to the Kshatriya caste. Their sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, were considered to be Kshatriyas. Unfortunately both these princes died without having sired children. For the sake of the continuation of the royal lineage, their queens were asked to bear children from the sage Vedavyasa. The great sage consented to undertake this task so that the dynasty will continue. Pandu, my father, and Dhritarashtra were born as a result, and they were considered to be Kshatriyas. Vidura, who was fathered by Vedavyasa at the same time, is considered to be a Shudra because his mother was a servant. And look at us, the five Pandava brothers. We are all born of gods. Yet we are considered to be Kshatriyas. So, how can birth determine the caste? How can one son born of a sage be a Kshatriya, and the other one a Shudra? Birth can determine the caste only if there is no mixing up amongst the castes. When the castes are mixed up, as it has been happening for so long now, birth alone cannot decide the caste of a person.

Thus I am convinced that it is not birth that determines the caste to which one belongs, but it is the character that decides. In my opinion, it is the holy Gayatri who is the true mother of a Brahmin, and the teacher who is the true father. Thus that person is a real Brahmin who has studied the Vedas, whose character is without blemishes, who strives to realise the Brahman, the supreme entity."

(The python is satisfied with the answers Dharmaraja gives. The conversation between the two continues a bit longer. Soon the python frees Bhima, and is itself freed. It was the king Nahusha who had become a python, because of a curse of sage Agastya. Why the king Nahusha was cursed by sage Agastya to become a python is another story altogether!)

Credits

• Graphic designed by Kamini Singh.