Can One Become Addicted to Spiritual Practice?
A Mahabharata Story Teaches Us the Answer
Near the end of the Adi Parva in the Mahabharata, right before the burning of the Khandava forest, comes a fascinating story that points to why the forest, with all of its inhabitants, needed to be mercilessly destroyed and gives metaphysical context to the entirety of the Mahabharata.
The story starts with King Shvetaki. He was very fond of performing yajna (fire sacrifice). No one on Earth was his equal when it came to performing sacrifice or dana (philanthropy). The king, through his officiating Ritwiks (sacrificial priests), performed sacrifices for many years. Eventually, the Ritwiks grew very weak from the prolonged rites and their eyes were damaged by the incessant smoke. They left the king and did not come back despite his repeated entreaties.
King Shvetaki eventually completed the rite with the assistance of new Ritwiks. Some days after its completion, the king desired to perform yet another sacrifice that would take one hundred years. But this time he could not find anyone to officiate the rites.
The king grew angry and demanded that the brahmanas assist him in performing the yajna. He chastised them for not performing their duty.