Our Puranas are nothing but a compilation of stories which are metaphorical in nature. Listening to them or reading them for mere entertainment can at best keep us amused. Ruminating on them and interpreting them can help us deal with quandaries of our lives in an informed manner. The necessity to look upon these fables beyond the frills and fancies has been put across very lucidly in the Bhagavata Purana.
Dhundhukari was the wayward foster son of Atmadeva, a pious Brahmin. His mother Dhundhuli was not interested in bearing children. When she was asked to eat a divine fruit to help her become a mother she fed it to a cow, pretended to be pregnant and went on to make a deal with her pregnant sister Mriduli. When her sister delivered a baby boy, Gokarna, she led her husband to believe that her sister’s baby was theirs. The cow gave birth to a human child and was adopted by Atmadeva.
While Gokarna thrived on education, Dhundhukari was more interested in frivolous activities. He was an antithesis of Gokarna. He lacked ethics and values. He distressed his parents with his debauchery. Atmadeva retired into Vanaprastha. Dhundhuli, who was ensnared in the web of deceit committed suicide. Gokarna also left his foster home in search of greater knowledge. This development only made Dhundhukari more decadent. He was addicted to wine and women. Once, the women, whose company he kept, ganged and killed him. His unrequited soul wandered about terrorising those who crossed his path. When Gokarna returned home, he learned of the new developments. He advised the ghost of Dhundhukari to take up austerity and listen to the narration of Bhagavata Purana.
Dhundhukari did as instructed. At the end of the session he was personally liberated by the lord. True, Dhundhukari had been depraved, but he had also made a genuine attempt to correct himself. He listened to the Purana with rapt attention and reflected on it with devotion which redeemed him from his profligate existence.