Section CXXXIII

("Lomasa said, )

"Ashtavakra said,

'When no Brahmana is met with on the way, the way belongs to the blind, the deaf, the women, carriers of burden, and the king respectively. But when a Brahmana is met with on the way, it belongs to him alone.'

Thereupon the king said,

'I give the privilege to enter. Do you, therefore, go in by whatever way you likest. No fire ever so small is to be slighted. Even Indra himself bows unto the Brahmanas.'

At this Ashtavakra said,

'We have come, O ruler of men, to witness your sacrificial ceremony and our curiosity, O king, is very great. And we have come here as guests. We want the permission of your order (to enter). And, O son of Indradyumna, we have come, desirous of seeing the sacrifice, and to meet king Janaka and speak to him. But your warder obstructs us and for this our anger burns us like fever.'

The warder said,

'We carry out the orders of Vandin. Listen to what I have to say. Lads are not permitted to enter here and it is only the learned old Brahmanas that are allowed to enter.'

Ashtavakra said.

'If this be the condition, O warder, that the door is open to those only that are old, then we have a right to enter. We are old and we have observed sacred vows and are in possession of energy proceeding from the Vedic lore. And we have served our superiors and subdued our passions—and have also won proficiency in knowledge. It is said that even boys are not to be slighted,—for a fire, small though it be, burns on being touched.'

The warder replied,

'O young Brahmana, I consider you a boy, and therefore recite, if you know, the verse demonstrating the existence of the Supreme Being, and adored by the divine sages, and which, although composed of one letter, is yet multifarious. Make no vain boast. Learned men are really very rare.'

Ashtavakra said,

'True growth cannot be inferred from the mere development of the body, as the growth of the knots of the Salmali tree cannot signify its age. That tree is called full-grown which although slender and short, bears fruits. But that which does not bear fruits, is not considered as grown.'

The warder said,

'Boys receive instruction from the old and they also in time grow old. Knowledge certainly is not attainable in a short time. Wherefore then being a child, dost you talk like an old man?'

Then Ashtavakra said,

'One is not old because his head is gray. But the gods regard him as old who, although a child in years, is yet possessed of knowledge. The sages have not laid down that a man’s merit consists in years, or gray hair, or wealth, or friends. To us he is great who is versed in the Vedas. I have come here, O porter, desirous of seeing Vandin in the court.

Go and inform king Janaka, who has a garland of lotuses on his neck, that I am here. You shalt to-day see me enter into a dispute with the learned men, and defeat Vandin in a controversy. And when others have been silenced, the Brahmanas of matured learning and the king also with his principal priests, bear witness to the superior or the inferior quality of my attainments.'

The warder said,

'How canst you, who art but in your tenth year, hope to enter into this sacrifice, into which learned and educated men only are admitted? I shall, however, try some means for your admittance. Do you also try thyself'.

Ashtavakra then addressing the king said,

'O king, O foremost of Janaka’s race, you are the paramount sovereign and all power reposes in you. In times of old, king Yayati was the celebrator of sacrifices. And in the present age, you it is that art performer thereof. We have heard that the learned Vandin, after defeating (in controversy) men expert in discussion, causes them to be drowned by faithful servants employed by you.

Hearing this, I have come before these Brahmanas, to expound the doctrine of the unity of the Supreme Being. Where is now Vandin? Tell me so that I may approach him, and destroy him, even as the sun destroyes the stars.'

Thereupon the king said,

'You hopest, O Brahmana, to defeat Vandin, not knowing his power of speech. Can those who are familiar with his power, speak as you dost? He has been sounded by Brahmanas versed in the Vedas. You hopest to defeat Vandin, only because you knowest not his powers (of speech). Many a Brahmana has waned before him, even as the stars before the sun.

Desirous of defeating him, people proud of their learning, have lost their glory on appearing before him, and have retired from his presence, without even venturing to speak with the members of the assembly.'

Ashtavakra said,

'Vandin has never entered into disputation with a man like myself, and it is for this only that he looks upon himself as a lion, and goes about roaring like one. But to-day meeting me he will lie down dead, even like a cart on the highway, of which the wheels have been deranged.'

The king said,

'He alone is a truly learned man who understands the significance of the thing that has thirty divisions, twelve parts twentyfour joints, and three hundred and sixty spokes.'

Ashtavakra said,

'May that ever-moving wheel that has twentyfour joints, six naves, twelve peripheries, and sixty spokes protect you! ^[1]'

The king said,

'Who amongst the gods bears those two which go together like two mares (yoked to a car), and sweep like a hawk, and to what also do they give birth?'

Ashtavakra said,

'May God, O king, forfend the presence of these two^[2] in your house; aye, even in the house of thine enemies. He who appears, having for his charioteer the wind,^[3] begets them, and they also produce him.'

Thereupon the king said,

'What is that does not close its eyes even while sleeping; what is it that does not move, even when born; what is it that has no heart; and what does increase even in its own speed?'

Ashtavakra said,

'It is a fish^[4] that does not close its eye-lids, while sleeping; and it is an a egg^[5] that does not move when produced; it is stone^[6] that has no heart; and it is a river^[7] that increase in its own speed.'

"The king said,

'It seems, O possessor of divine energy, that you are no human being. I consider you not a boy, but a matured man; there is no other man who can compare with you in the art of speech. I therefore give you admittance. There is Vandin.'"