Chapter 21 - The Dialogue between Aurva and Paraśurāma

Vasiṣṭha said:—

1. As the noble-souled Jamadagni of immense strength, went on working like this, O king, several years elapsed.

2-3. Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma) also, the most excellent one among those who uphold dharma, who mastered the essential principles of the Vedas and the auxiliary treatises concerning the Vedas and who was an expert in all scriptures, who was polite and of a well-disciplined nature and who was highly intelligent, served his parents, O leading king. By his activities, he heightened the pleasure of others.

4. Working like this, O king, Rāma, the most excellent one among intelligent men, spent a number of years in rendering service to his parents.

5. On one occasion, O king, as destined by Fate (Providence), that sage of great splendour, planned to go to the house of his grand-father.

6. Touching the feet of his parents with his head, that noble scion of the family of Bhṛgu, with his palms folded in reverence, addressed these words with great humility.

7. “O dear father, I wish to submit a certain matter now to you and mother. It behoves both of you to hear it from me.

8. For a long time I have been eager to see my grandfather. Hence, with your permission, i shall go to him.

9. My loving grand-mother wishes to see me. She has invited me eagerly many times through various persons.

10. Indeed, seeing one’s parents and grand-father is very pleasing. Hence, permit me to goto him.”

Vasiṣṭha said:

11. “On Shearing these words which he uttered with emotional excitement, both of them became extremely delighted. Their eyes became filled with tears of joy.

12. They embraced that highly fortunate (dignified) son and lovingly sniffed at his head. After blessing and congratulating their dear son, they said thus:

13. “Dear son, go to your grand-father’s house with pleasure for meeting and delighting your grand-father and grand-mother.

14. After going there stay in their house for some time, serving them duly and delighting them, O dear son.

15. O highly fortunate one, do not stay there for a very long time. With their permission come back safe and sound. Of course, you will be eager to see us again.

16. We cannot remain even for half a moment without seeing our dear son. Hence, do not stay in your grand-father’s abode for a very long time.

17. Or even if you go to your great-grand-father’s presence at his (your grand-father’s) bidding, return quickly in due course but certainly with his permission.”

Vasiṣṭha said:

18-20. On being told thus, the highly intelligent son Rāma circumambulated and bade good-bye to them. Thereafter, he went to his grand-father’s house. Rāma entered the hermitage of the noble-souled Ṛcīka, the most excellent one among the descendants of Bhṛgu.

The hermitage was rendered beautiful by the gracious presence of the sage and his disciples. Everywhere it was resonant with the high-pitched sounds of the recitation of the Vedas. It was charming on account of the various kinds of animals which lived there with their natural animosity completely suppressed.

21. After entering the fascinating hermitage O leading king, Rāma saw in front of him, Ṛcīka his grandfather sitting on his seat.

22. On account of his penance, he was shining brilliantly like the sacred fire in its sacrificial place. He was accompanied by Satyavatī like the sacrifice or yajña accompanied by Dakṣiṇā.

23. On observing Rāma who was approaching them, the two saintly souls critically gazed at him as though he was a totally unknown stranger who had never been before.

24. “Who is this boy honoured (i.e. endowed with) all the requisite auspicious characteristics. He appears to be a huge mass of austerities. Although still a boy, he appears to be very powerful, due to his majestic demeanour coupled with humility.”

25. Even as they were thinking thus with delight and curiosity in their hearts, Rāma slowly came to their vicinity, full of perfect humility.

26. The intelligent sage Rāma reported his name and lineage. With great joy, he touched the feet of his grand-father and grand-mother with his head, as well as the hands and paid respects to them thus.

27. Then both of them were delighted in their minds. They lifted up the excellent grandson and showered him with blessings. They congratulated him severally.

28. They embraced him and made him sit on their laps. Their eyes were flowing with tears of joy. Looking at his lotuslike face, they felt great delight.

29. When the scion of their own family was comfortably seated, the elderly couple enquired about his health.

30. “Dear boy, we hope your parents are quite well. Are your brothers quite well? We hope you sustain yourself without any undue strain.”

31. He replied to everything that he was asked about, O dear king, everything concerning himself as well as the activities of his parents and brothers.

32. Thus, O great king, Rāma stayed in the house of the parents of his father delighted at the good things that issued forth, due to the affection of those two elderly persons.

33. He stayed there for a few months giving delight to the minds and eyes of all loving beings and spending time rendering service (to his grand-father and grand-mother) eagerly.

34. Thereafter, the noble-minded scion of the family of Bhṛgus took leave of both of them, O king, and desired to go to the hermitage that was the resort of the parents of his grandfather.

35. He was congratulated and blessed by those two delighted (grand-parents). He went towards the hermitage of Aurva along the path indicated by them.

36. After duly prostrating at the feet of Cyavana^[1]?) (Rāma) of excessive austerities went to the hermitage of Bhṛgu on being permitted by him (i.e. Cyavana) with great delight.

37. After proceeding ahead he saw the penance-grove of Bhṛgu the chief of all sages surrounded by sages of tranquil minds.

38. He was delighted (to see the penance-grove) over-grown with trees which offered plenty of cool fescinating shade; which were blessed with the fine qualities (and products) of all the seasons and that had been endowed with exquisite fruits and flowers.

39. It was resonant everywhere with different kinds of pleasing sounds of recitation of the Vedas and the chirping sounds of various kinds of birds all pleasing to the minds and ears.

40. The hermitage had been rid of all kinds of sins due to the fragrance of smoke arising from the sacred fires; white Āhutis (ghee-offerings) were being oblated to the accompaniment of chantings of Mantras during the performance of Homas. The fragrance was wafted everywhere within the forest (by gentle breezes thus wiping out all sins thereof).

41. On all sides, O king, the penance-grove was rendered splendid by the handsome sons of sages who were fetching sacrificial twigs and Darbha grass and who were embellished with their stavas, girdles and antelope skins.

42. Here and there the daughters of sages could be seen moving about with vessels (and baskets) filled with water and flowers and rendering those places beautiful.

43. Herds of hinds along with their fawns were taking rest in the shade of trees bordering the court-yard of the huts. They were free from fear about their safety, due to their faith and confidence in the sanctity of the penance grove.

44. Peacocks and pea-hens of sweet notes had begun graceful dances even as the herds of Ṛṣya deer indulged in chewing the cud and stood as witnesses. The peacocks gave them great pleasure.

45. Bits of Nīvāra (a kind of rice) grains were scattered about in that penance-grove and heaps of Nīvāra grains were being dried in the sun as well as in shade. They were not eaten by the young ones of the deer moving about nearby.

46. In that penance grove, Homa was being duly performed in the sacrificial fire at the proper time. Groups of guests were being honoured duly. Recitation of Vedic hymns was being practised. What is mentioned in the Āgamas (scriptures) was being pondered over.

47. All the Smṛti texts were being read. The meanings of the Śruti texts were being discussed. The worship of the Pitṛs and the Devas had begun. The penance-grove was fascinating for all living beings.

48. The grove was inhabited mostly by sages performing penance. It was not at all resorted to by the wretched contemptible fellows. It was holy and conducive to the progress of penance. It was an abode of happiness to all living beings (including animals).

49. It was highly delightful to the ascetics. It was another world of god Brahmā, as it were. It was resounded with the humming of bees which hovering over fragrant flowers echoed everywhere.

50-52. Breezes of various kinds (i.e. of varying velocity) blew there. Surveying such an excellent hermitage endowed with the qualities mentioned above. Rāma, an humble disciplined soul, entered it like a meritorious person getting into the abode of Devas. After entering the penance-grove, O king, he saw his great-grand-father (i.e. Bhṛgu). He was surrounded by hundreds of sages who were his disciples. He was seated on a seat of Darbha in the centre of the dais intended for explanatory discourses. He appeared radiant with white moustaches, beard and matted hair as well as with his sacred thread.

53-56a. (Defective text). He was seated cross-legged with the right leg supported by the left shank (from ankle to the knee) and vice versa. The leading sage had got his body covered with Yogapaṭṭa (the cloth used to cover the body of ascetics while in abstract meditation). The right palm was brilliant like a lotus expressing Mudrā (Gesture) of explanation by means of the fingers and the palm. His radiant left hand had been placed above the Yogapaṭṭa. The subtle meanings of the Āraṇyaka (Upaniṣadic) texts were being explained to leading sages by the ascetic.

56b-57a. On seeing his father’s grand-father, O great king, Rāma slowly approached the noble-souled sage.

57b-58a. On seeing him come, O king, the sages were overawed by his power even from a distance. They began to have misgivings as to who he was,

58b-59a. In the meantime, Bhṛgu of incomprehensible soul, was delighted by his arrival. Stopping his discourse, O king, the sage remained gazing at him.

59b-60a. Approaching him with his head bowed down due to humility, Rāma duly saluted him like Upendra offering salutations to Veḍhas (God Brahmā).

60b-61. After paying respects to Khyāti (Bhṛgu’s wife) Rāma endowed with humility, paid due obeisance to the sages in accordance with their seniority by age. He was extremely blessed by all of them gleefully.

62-63a. With their permission, the intelligent sage (Rama) seated himself on the ground. After Rāma had been seated and duly congratulated and blessed, Bhṛgu looked at him again and asked him about his health and happiness.

63b-65a. “I hope you are happy, dear boy. I hope your parents are free from ailments, so also your brothers as well as the parents of your father. Wherefore have you come here now to my presence? Have you been directed by anyone? Or have you come of your own accord?”

65b-68a. Thereupon, Rāma reported to him everything without leaving out anything that had been asked by that noble-souled sage (Bhṛgu) viz. the news regarding his father and mother, the happiness of his noble-souled brothers as well as that of the parents of his father, with humility and joy. Rāma mentioned to Bhṛgu the fact that he had paid a visit to them and every other details. He told him what he himself had desired.

68b-69a. On hearing these statements of Rāma and particularly on seeing him, O king, Bhṛgu was delighted and he congratulated him.

69b-70a. Rāma stayed in his hermitage for a few days, pleasing his (great-grand-father) by means of his excellent activities, O king.

70b-71a. Then once, the excellent sage (Bhṛgu) said to him “Dear boy, come” and called him to a secluded spot.

71b-72a. Rāma approached the seated sage with palms joined in reverence and paid him his respects. He stood in front of him with a highly delighted mind.

72b-73. After offering his blessings with delighted mind, Bhṛgu looked at Rāma with respect as he stood there without being overwhelmed by awe and suspicion and said—“Dear boy, listen to my words that I am going to tell you now.”

74. You have to go to the great mountain Himavān for the welfare of all the worlds, for your own sake as well as for our sake.

75. It is my behest, dear son. You must start now itself from this hermitage with your mind bent upon penance. Go there, O highly fortunate one, and set up an auspicious hermitage.

76. With due observance of holy rites propitiate Mahādeva by means of penance. With a devotion not to be found elsewhere, cause pleasure unto him ere long.

77-78a. You will attain great bliss and felicity before long. There is no doubt about it. With your devotion, Śaṅkara will become delighted quickly. He will do whatever you wish in your mind.

78b-79. When Śaṅkara who is the lord of the Universe and who fondly loves his devotees, is propitiated, dear son, request him for all sorts of weapons as you desire. This difficult task must be performed by you for the welfare of all Devas.

80-81. There is a lot of work awaiting you which can be accomplished only through weapons on many occasions. Hence, you propitiate Śaṅkara, the lord of the lords of Devas. Being endowed with great devotion, you will surely obtain, your desire.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Paraśurāma is shown to have visited all his forebears in a serial order thus: (Jamadagni’s hermitage):—Ṛcīka—Aurva—Cyavana—Bhṛgu.

A line indicating Paraśurāma’s stay with Aurva and departure to Cyavana’s hermitage appears to be missing. Hence the question-mark after Cyavana.