Chapter 7 - Bṛhaspati’s Insult and his abandonment of Preceptorship

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The King said:

1. Please-tell me, Oh venerable sir, why the gods were forsaken by their own preceptor and what was the fault of the disciples (gods) against their teacher.

Śrī Śuka said:

2-6. Indra transgressed the path followed by the good, due to his arrogance of overlordship of the three worlds. (Once) surrounded by Maruts, Vasu, Rudras, Ādityas, Ṛbhus, Viśvedevas, Sādhyas and the Aśvinikumāras, and attended upon and praised and sweetly extolled by Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, by sages, the knowers of Brahman, Vidyādharas, heavenly damsels, Kinnaras, birds and Nāgas (serpents), he (Indra) was seated on the throne equipped with a white umbrella, beautiful like the orb of the full Moon, and with chowries, fans and other insignia of supreme royalty. He looked extremely splendid with (his wife) Śacī occupying half the throne.

3-9. When he did not welcome the great preceptor of gods and of himself, by offering him due formalities of respect such as standing up, offering a seat, on his arrival; he (Indra) did not rise at all from his seat, even though he saw the great sage Bṛhaspati who was adorable both to gods and demons, coming to his assembly; the wise and powerful descendent of Aṅgiras (Bṛhaspati) who understood that the violation of good manners is due to the arrogance of affluence and power, came out of the assembly and quietly returned to his house.

10. At that very moment, Indra became aware of the disrespect shown by him to his preceptor, and he, of his own accord, censured himself publicly in the assembly.

11. “Oh what a pity! What an unrighteous and wicked deed has been committed by me, of poor intellect: being intoxicated with the arrogance of wealth and power, my preceptor has been disrespectfully treated in this assembly.

12. Who will covet for the prosperity and wealth of the Lord of the celestial regions, if he be wise? for I who am the Lord of gods of sāttvic nature was dragged into the demonic state of egotism by that prosperity.

13.. Those who lay down that the occupants of the highest position should not rise to receive anyone, do not know the highest code of conduct.

14. Those who believe in the words of those who show the wrong course and themselves sink in the dark infernal regions, verily, go down (to the abysmal depth of hell) by boarding a raft of granite rock, as it were.

15. Now with all my crookedness shed off and touching with my head the feet of that Brāhmaṇa, the preceptor of gods, and possessor of unfathomable intelligence, I shall propitiate him.”

16. While Indra was musing thus, the venerable Bṛhaspati went out of his mansion and disappeared with his superb spiritual power.

17. The glorious Lord of the celestial region, looked on all sides for the whereabouts of his preceptor, but could not trace him. Anxiously considering (what will happen to them all, in the absence of the protection of the preceptor) Indra, though he commanded the loyalty of all gods, did not get the peace of mind.

18. As soon as all the demons got the report of it (the desertion of gods’ side by Bṛhaspati), they followed the advice of Śukra. Haughty as they were, they carried a war against gods with their arms raised.

19. Gods whose heads, thighs and arms were deeply- wounded by the sharp arrows discharged by the demons, went along with Indra, with their heads lowered in humility, to god Brahmā for protection.

20. The venerable birthless self-born god Brahmā saw them afflicted and harassed that way. Consoling them, the god spoke out to them in his supreme grace.

God Brahmā said:

21. What a pity it is, Oh great gods! Out of arrogance of power and wealth you have certainly committed a very unjust and inauspicious deed in not respectfully welcoming a self-controlled Brāhmaṇa who was imbued with the spirit of Brahman.

22. It is the result of your unrighteousness that you gods, rich and powerful as you are, are defeated at the hands of your enemies who were extremely weak.

23. Oh Indra! Look at your enemies who became extremely powerless due to disrespect shown by them to their preceptor, have again grown in strength due to their devoted propitiation of their preceptor Śukra. They, who regard Śukra as their deity, may capture even my abode (Brahma- Ioka).

24. The demons who are well instructed in their objectives by Śukra and whose secret designs are not divulged, have the slightest regard for the celestial region. (They can easily conquer it). Inauspicious results do not befall kings who are protected by Brāhmaṇas, Lord Viṣṇu and cows.

25. Therefore, take resort to Viśvarūpa immediately. That Brāhmaṇa, the son of Tvaṣṭṛ, possesses self-control and (a wealth of) penance. If respectfully treated by you, he will accomplish your objects, if you put up with (some of) his acts (of partiality to demons).

Śrī Śuka said:

26. Oh King! Gods who were thus advised by god Brahmā, were relieved of their feverish anxiety. They approached the sage Viśvarūpa, the son of Tvaṣṭṛ, embraced him and addressed him thus.

Gods said:

27. We have approached your hermitage as unexpected guests. May you be blessed, Oh child. Please accomplish the wish of your elders (uncles) as demanded by the occasion.

28. It is the highest duty of virtuous sons to serve their parents, even though the sons themselves have got children. It is much more so in the case of celibates, Oh Brahman.

29. The preceptor who invests the sacred thread and initiates in the Vedas, is the embodiment of the Vedas. Father is god Brahmā (the creator) incarnate. A brother is as if an image of Indra, the chief of gods. The mother is a veritable earth personified.

30. A sister is the embodiment of tenderness. An unexpected visitor is the soul of dharma (the god of righteousness). And the guest staying with us is the god of Fire incarnate and all beings are the representations of the Supreme Soul of Lord Viṣṇu. (Therefore, one should look upon all beings like himself).

31. Oh child, you should carry out our request and remove by your penance the afflictions of us, your elders, who are suffering from defeat at the hands of our enemies.

32. We select you, who are possessed of Brahmanic power, and a Brāhmaṇa ḍeserving respect, as our preceptor, so that we shall easily and thoroughly vanquish our enemies by the virtue of your spiritual power.

33. They (the wise) do not censure the act of bowing at the feet of younger persons for the accomplishment of their objects. Mere age is not the ground of superiority when one is wanting in Vedic knowledge.

The Sage (Śuka) said:

34. The great sage Viśvarūpa who was so earnestly entreated by the gods for accepting priesthood, became pleased and spoke to them in soft words.

Viśvarūpa said:

35. Priesthood has been condemned by the righteous ones as leading to the loss of spiritual power. But, Oh masters, how a person like me who deserves to be commanded by Lords of worlds like you, can refuse your request, for compliance (of your orders) is in my real interest.

36. To those who decide not to possess anything, grain that is gleaned after the removal of corn from the fields and the grains of corn found after the market-day is over, form the wealth. I have performed my righteous duties with that wealth. Oh suzerine Lords, how should I accept the reproachful priesthood which pleases only those who are wretched in intellect.

37. I, however, do not refuse what has been requested by elders like you. Whatever insignificant is desired by you,. I shall accomplish it, at the cost of my life and means.

Śrī Śuka said:

38. The great ascetic Viśvarūpa who was thus solicited for accepting priesthood promised them (the gods) thus, and carried out his duties of priesthood, with perfect concentration.

39. The (spiritually) powerful sage snatched the fortune of the enemies of gods even though it was protected by the incantations and spells of Śukra, and by the prayer (lore) of Viṣṇu, i.e. by Nārāyaṇa Kavaca, gave it to Indra.

40. The noble-minded Viśvarūpa initiated Mahendra in that lore, and Indra, the thousand-eyed god, became powerful and protected by that lore, vanquished the armies of demons.

41.^[1] Indra, the leader of all gods, entered the spiritual coat of armour called Nārāyaṇa Kavaca and always scored victories over the demons, like a lion over ordinary beasts, Oh child.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Padaratnāvalī’s text adds this verse.