Chapter 24 - On the Puranas (continued, 4)

King Janaka received the Munis with great respect, and wished to know the object of their visit. The Munis unanimously made Parasara their spokesman, and he spoke as follows:—

“Brahma, in a gathering of Munis before him, said, ‘Valmiki has composed the Ramayana. Now who among you will undertake the composition of the Mahabharata and the Puranas?’ Thereupon Narada proposed Vyasa for the work, hut, as we are all capable of doing it, we felt aggrieved at the suggestion, and were, therefore, referred to you by Brahma.”

The king said,

“As both Brahma and Narada are in favour of entrusting the duty to Vyasa, I fail to see by whose authority you can undertake the work. Brahma, who is the god of gods is in reality the maker of the Sastras, and Vyasa will simply be his mouth-piece As, however, you are not in favour of Vyasa, I request you and him to describe before me the efficacy of repeating the name of Bhagavana (God)”.

Thereupon Parasara composed a verse to the effect that if the name “Krishna” is pronounced by a man, millions of his worst sins are washed away at once. Vyasa then composed another verse to the effect that no sinner can possibly commit the amount of sin on this earth which the name of Hari cannot destroy. King Janaka, after examining the style, of both the verses, decided that the Mahabharata should be composed by Vyasa alone, but that the thirty-six Puranas and Upapuranas might be divided between him and the other Munis who should all go to the immortal Valmiki for necessary instructions.

Thereupon the Munis went to the banks of the river Tamasa where they found Valmiki reciting the Ramayana.