The Ring

So instructed, Alarka grew to manhood, married as he should, had sons, offered sacrifices, and obeyed his father in everything. After a long time, when Ṛtadhvaja reached the last stage of his life, he consecrated his son king, and with his wife resolved to go to the forest for austerity.

Then Madālasā spoke her last words to her son, so that he might one day let go of his attachment to the pleasures of desire. When a sorrow you cannot bear comes to you, she said, from parting with those you love, or from an enemy's attack, or from the loss of your wealth, or from within yourself, as it will come to one who rules a kingdom and holds to the householder's life, for a householder who clings to the sense of mine is the very home of sorrow, then, my son, draw it out of this ring I give you, and read the teaching written on the strip inside, in very small letters.

She gave him the golden ring, and with it such blessings as befit a man living as a householder. Then Kuvalayāśva and Queen Madālasā gave the kingdom to their son and went away to the forest to do austerity.

Alarka ruled by dharma and had strong sons. He pursued dharma, wealth and pleasure together, never letting one get in the way of another, and many years went by like a single day; but no dispassion arose in him. His brother Subāhu, who now lived in the forest, heard that Alarka was careless in his pleasures and had not conquered his senses. Wishing to awaken him, he decided after long thought that the best thing he could do for his brother was to take refuge with Alarka's enemy. So he went to the king of Kāśi, who had a great army, and to that end asked for help to gain his own kingdom. The king of Kāśi made ready for war and sent an envoy to Alarka: Give the kingdom to Subāhu.

Alarka answered: Let my elder brother come to me with affection and ask. I will not give up even a little land out of fear.

Subāhu did not ask, for begging is no dharma for a warrior. The king of Kāśi marched in. With gifts and with quarrels sown and with soft words he won over Alarka's neighbours, the lords of his borders, the keepers of his forts and the chiefs of the forest tribes. Alarka's treasury ran dry, his city was besieged, and he fell into despair.

In his worst hour he remembered the ring his mother had spoken of. He bathed and made himself pure, had the best of the brahmins speak their blessings, drew the teaching out of the ring and saw the letters clearly. As he read what his mother had written, the hair rose on his body and his eyes opened wide with joy:

Attachment must be given up with your whole being. If it cannot be given up, keep it with the good, for the company of the good is the medicine.

Desire must be given up with your whole being. If it cannot be given up, turn it toward the longing for freedom, for that is its medicine.

He read it again and again, asking himself how the highest good of a man is won, and he decided: by the longing for freedom, and that comes from the company of the good. So, thinking of the company of the good, he went in his distress to the great sage Dattātreya.