Have you, like me, sometimes fallen into the trap of chasing the wish-fulfilling cow of the
world? What is this wish-fulfilling cow, why would I chase her, and what does she have to do
with me, you might ask? She is introduced in a famous story from the Vedas I will briefly relate:
There was once a wish-fulfilling cow, Nandini, who belonged to the great Rishi (Sage/Seer of the Vedas), named Vasishtha, and his wife, Arundati. One day, Vishwarata, a warrior king leading his army, gets lost in the jungle and stumbles upon
the ashram of Rishi Vasishtha, where they are welcomed and fed in plenty by the
unlimited gifts of Nandini. Vishwarata covets this cow, and asks for it (for surely a wish-
fulfilling cow would be of more use to the multitude of warriors, and a whole kingdom,
than to the few yogis of an ashram). This request is refused, and, being a warrior,
Vishwarata leads his army in a battle for Nandini, and loses to the spiritual army sprung
from Nandini at the wish of Rishi Vasishta. Vishwarata leaves, defeated and angry, and
determined to develop his own spiritual powers equal to the power of Rishi Vashishta
and his wish-fulfilling cow. During many years of intense spiritual study and practice,
Vishwarata, more than once, becomes distracted from his spiritual life by worldly desires
and becomes weakened, yet each time, he gets back on track, persists, and eventually
attains the status of Rishi(Sage), but, Lord Brahma informs him, he will only attain the
highest status, Brahma Rishi (One with God), by receiving the blessing of the very Rishi
he has been at war with in his heart, Rishi Vashishta. Vishwarata goes at once to Rishi
Vasishtha, who withholds his blessing, and Vishwarata becomes frustrated and enraged,
until he overhears a conversation between Rishi Vasishtha and his wife, Arundhati:
“Beloved husband, why don’t you make Rishi Vishwarata happy and give him your
blessing?” “My dear wife,” Rishi Vasishtha answers, “If I acknowledge his status as
Brahma Rishi, I know in my heart that he will again become distracted by his ego and
become weak, losing his power. I cannot allow this to happen, because I love him.”
Upon hearing this, Vishwarata is transformed, falls at the feet of Rishi Vasishtha, gets his
blessing, and then goes on to receive, in a deep state of meditation, the powerfully
transformative Gayathri Mantra, which he reveals to humanity, blessing us all, and
earning him a new name, Rishi Vishwamitra, Friend to the World.
This story is so rich in symbolism in the Vedic tradition, especially when relayed and explained
in detail by a qualified teacher. But what does this story have to do us, personally? It may shine
a light on whether or not we are sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, chasing the
ephemeral wish-fulfilling cows of this world. Are we trying to “milk” the mundane world
through our spiritual practices? Are we, during our sadhana, our chants, our prayers, our
meditations, seeking union with God (by any name), Universal Consciousness, Self with a capital
“S,” the eternal, ultimate gift, or are we really seeking, even unconsciously, the transient gifts of
the world, hoping or wishing for certain outcomes, situations, or solutions to magically end our
worldly problems? When we chase worldly gifts and egoic pursuits, we enter a cycle, a well-
worn path, of desire/aversion, attachment, happiness followed by sorrow, disappointment, loss
or betrayal, leading to grief, anger, and ultimately, loss of power (like what happened
repeatedly to Vishwarata, the warrior king). Each time we lose our spiritual power, we risk
entering the realm of delusion; loss of intellectual acuity and inability to discern or achieve
clarity. We may become confused, and forgetful of who we truly are, deep inside – an eternal,
unchanging, boundless spiritual being in a fleetingly temporary, limited human body.
The story may also lead us to contemplate whether we, like Vishwarata, are repeatedly
distracted from our spiritual quest. Do we become entranced, even enslaved, by the shiny
things of life? Are we angered or depressed by the slings and arrows of life? Do we understand
that the circumstances of life are an accumulation of karmas (results of actions), which we’ve
gathered in this lifetime and over many lifetimes? Do we remember that karma is, by nature,
neutral, perfectly in balance, though in one lifetime we can’t see the full picture? Are we
viewing life through a limited lens and responding in a limited way? When blessed with good
fortune, do our egos become inflated? When seemingly cursed by bad luck, do we become
angry or despondent, deflated? Whether inflated or deflated, do we fall away from our spiritual
path, losing touch with our inherent, true, and highest power? When this happens, can we be
like the compassionate Rishi Vasishtha and shine love on our own perceived weaknesses and
those we see in other people (instead of shame and blame)? Will we let compassion and
wisdom transform us from a warrior king to a Friend to the World?
As we strive to become like Vishwamitra, a Friend to the World, we may well benefit from
learning and practicing the very mantra given to us by him, the powerfully transformative
Gayathri Mantra. While simply hearing and properly reciting it will convey some benefits,
studying with a qualified lineage-based teacher helps us unlock the full potency embedded in
the 24 syllables of the Gayathri Mantra. A large part of connecting with the power of the
mantra is our continual effort to live a dharmic, spiritually centered life. While we study and
practice the mantra, can we, like Vishwamitra, be persistent in overcoming distraction, anger,
lust, jealousy, and selfishness? One could spend an entire lifetime unfolding the secrets of
Gayathri Mantra! This is no mere wish-fulfilling cow, but a divine pathway to the ultimate gift,
Self-Realization, the goal of every sincere spiritual seeker.
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