The Story of the Haihaya Prince and the Son of Sage Tarkshya Arishtanemi – How Death Is Overcome by Those Who Follow Dharma

The story of the Haihaya Prince and the Son of Sage Tarkshya Arishtanemi is found in the Markandeya Samasya Parva of the Mahabharata. It narrates how people who follow Dharma can overcome death.

A prince of the Haihayas was passionate about hunting. Once, while on a hunting expedition, the prince shot an arrow at an antelope. To his dismay, he discovered that he had shot and killed a sage who was wearing an antelope skin.

The sorrow and remorse overwhelmed the prince, causing him to lose his senses. He returned to the palace and narrated to the King of Haihayas the sin he had committed. The entire palace was filled with distress.

The king, along with the prince, then went to the spot where the unfortunate incident had occurred. However, they could not find the body of the sage. They searched the entire forest and finally reached the ashram of Sage Tarkshya Arishtanemi.

The king narrated the incident that had happened earlier in the day and explained how they could not locate the body of the dead sage.

Sage Tarkshya Arishtanemi, after patiently listening to the royal party, called his son. The Haihaya prince was baffled upon seeing the son of Sage Tarkshya, as it was the same person whom he had shot and killed with his arrow.

The prince desperately wanted to know how the person he had killed was still alive.

Sage Tarkshya Arishtanemi then explained that they follow Dharma. They know nothing but Truth. They do not even think about anything other than truth. Thus, they live in a realm that is ruled by truth. Therefore, they have no fear of death.

Upon hearing this explanation, the Haihayas were relieved.

Symbolism and Meaning Of The Story

This profound story from the Mahabharata carries deep spiritual symbolism rooted in Hindu philosophy:

The Power of Dharma and Truth (Satya)

• The sage's son represents the immortal nature of those who are established in absolute truth and righteousness
• Living in complete adherence to Dharma transcends the physical limitations of death
• The "realm ruled by truth" symbolizes a higher spiritual plane where those established in Satya exist

Maya and Reality

• The apparent death represents the illusory nature of physical existence (Maya)
• The prince's perception of killing the sage demonstrates how our limited understanding can create false realities
• The sage's resurrection reveals the ultimate truth that the Atman (soul) is eternal and indestructible

The Transformative Power of Remorse and Truth

• The prince's genuine remorse and seeking of truth leads to spiritual revelation
• This reflects the Hindu concept that sincere repentance and truth-seeking can lead to liberation from karmic consequences
• The story teaches that confronting one's mistakes with honesty opens the path to higher understanding

Transcendence Through Righteous Living

• Those who live completely aligned with cosmic law (Dharma) transcend ordinary limitations
• The sage and his son represent the Jivanmukta state - liberation while living
• Their existence demonstrates that perfect adherence to truth grants mastery over death

The Illusion of Sin and Redemption

• The apparent sin becomes a vehicle for revealing higher truth
• This aligns with the Vedantic teaching that all experiences, even seemingly negative ones, serve the purpose of spiritual evolution
• The relief of the Haihayas symbolizes the liberation that comes from understanding the ultimate nature of reality

This story ultimately teaches that those established in absolute truth and righteousness exist in a state beyond the ordinary laws of life and death, embodying the Hindu ideal of transcending physical existence through spiritual realization.