Chapter 129 - Greatness of the Hermitage of Yājñavalkya

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-4. Further, there is an Āśrama belonging to Yājñavalkya. It is well-known all over the world. It accords Siddhi even to dullards.

It was here that the intelligent Yājñavalkya performed a severe penance and regained all the Vedas that had been taken away by his preceptor.

The sages said:

5. There was a tiger among Brāhmaṇas well-known as Śākalya. He hailed from the family of Bhārgavas. He was master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.

6. Formerly, in the Bṛhat-kalpa, O Brāhmaṇas, he lived in the excellent city of Vardhamāna with a great number of disciples. He was eagerly engrossed in the study of the Vedas.

7. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, he always got up in the morning and imparted instructions to deserving disciples with great pleasure.

8. At that time, he was the royal priest of the noble-souled king Supriya born of the solar race, O Brāhmaṇas.

9. After performing all the holy rites (of the day), he used to return home everyday, honoured duly by the king.

10. For the performance of the Śānti rites of the king, he used to leave one disciple thereafter telling him the scope and procedure of the Homas.

11. The disciple used to perform all the rites with great concentration. After offering the blessings to the king, he used to return home.

12. Thus, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the noble-souled Śākalya performed the priestly duties for a long time.

13-14. After seeing his (of Brahmā) aberration on the altar at the time of marriage, Śaṃbhu cursed him. He was then born as Yājñvalkya. Śākalya engaged Yājñavalkya in the royal palace for the performance of the Śānti rites.

15. In the pride of youth he also went shamelessly exposing his body marked all over by the nails of courtesans without covering it.

16. Then he performed the Śānti rites. At the end of the Japa, he went to the king to offer the holy water of the Śānti rite. While going there, he was laughed at by the people.

17. On seeing the Brāhmaṇa in such a vicious form of a Vita (lustful person), the king did not accept the blessings uttered by him. He then spoke these words:

18. “I am Ucchiṣṭa (impure), O excellent Brāhmaṇa. Hence I am still in the bed. So pour this water on the pillar in the hall.”

19. Yājñavalkya understood that the king showed contempt. Hence he became angry. With the pillar in view, he meditated upon the eternal Brahman.

20. He recited the Yajurveda Mantra beginning with dyām tāmālikhya etc., and poured the holy water of Śāntika rite quickly on its top.

21. As soon as the water fell on it, the pillar instantly became splendid with sprouts and was embellished with flowers and fruits.^[1]

22. On seeing this, the eyes of the king beamed with wonder. He repented for his conduct and spoke these words:

23. “O excellent Brāhmaṇa, give me this holy water of ablution with (uttering) the same Mantra. I am not impure.”

Yājñavalkya said:

24. O king, you are unworthy to receive the offer of the holy water of ablution from me. So I shall go immediately to the place where my preceptor is present.

The king said:

25. I shall give you ample wealth, vehicles and garments. Offer me this holy water of ablution now with the same Mantra.

Yājñvalkya said:

26. Before the conclusion of the Homa, O excellent king, the Mantra cannot manifest (and function) the Mantra that was earlier uttered by the Lotus-born One in connection with the procedure of ablution. Hence I will not carry out what is present in your heart.

27. After saying thus to the king, Yājñavalkya, the Brāhmaṇa who strictly adhered to the principle of non-covetousness, went home immediately.

28. When śākalya came (to the palace) next day, the king said to him humbly with palms joined in reverence:

29. “The excellent Brāhmaṇa, your disciple who was deputed by you yesterday, should be sent to my abode again for the purpose of Śānti rites."

30. He said, “So be it" and went to his abode. He called Yājñavalkya and told him earnestly:

31. “Today also you should go to the abode of the king for the Śānti rites. Dear son, you have been specially invited by the great king.”

Yājñavalkya said:

32. Father, I will not go to his mansion for Śānti rites, because he is very arrogant and devoid of cleanliness.

33. The sacred water I proffered to him for the purpose of holy ablution was directed by that evil-minded one to be poured over the wood (i.e. pillar).

34. At the very instant the water was poured over the wood and it flourished instantly.

Śākalya said:

35. That is why, dear son, you have been specially summoned. So go there quickly. Kings should not be treated with contempt.

36. On being disrespected kings may become angry doubtlessly. One who makes them angry may not become a favourite.

37. The servants who piece together the matters of anger and favour, get the upper hand over the king who always tries to repulse them.

38. One who takes respect and disrespect equanimously, one who knows the mind (of the king), one who understands the opportune time, one who endures everything and remains patient is wise. He shall be a favourite of the king.

39. Ignore the disrespect shown to you and go to the abode of the king. Further, you must not transgress my command. This is the eternal right conduct.

Yājñavalkya said:

40. If the convention is violated transgression of the command will surely follow. Should you alter the arrangement of your disciples who have been employed there by you?

41. Hence, if you forcibly employ me there, I will leave you and go elsewhere, since it has been said by great sages:

42. “Desertion is enjoined in the case of even a preceptor who is overbearing and arrogant, who does not discriminate between what should be done and what should not be done and who adhers to wrong path.”

Sūta said:

43. On hearing his words Śākalya became farious. He said rebuking him repeatedly:

44-45. If a preceptor teaches but one syllable to a disciple, no sufficient wealth exists on the earth (is available) for giving it to the Guru and to get oneself free from debt.

Hence go to your abode after returning the lore received from me. Renounce the learning imparted by me. Otherwise I will curse you.”

46. After saying thus, he charged the water by means of the Ātharvaṇic Mantras evolved from Nādabindu (Eternal Sound and Oṃkāra) and gave it to him to drink.

47. Instantly, he drank the water after which he experienced excessive exhaustion in all the sense-organs. He vomited all the contents of the bowels mixed with the spiritual knowledge.

48-49. Then he spoke to Śākalya with extreme anger manifest in his face: “There is not even a single syllable taught by you in my stomach. Hence I am no longer your disciple, nor are you my preceptor. I will now go elsewhere as I please. What can you do?”

50. After saying thus he went out of that age-old holy spot according Siddhi.

51. Then this holy spot was mentioned to him by learned men. It bestows Siddhi on all creatures. It cannot be fruitless at all.

52-53. “Leave aside Siddhi acquired by performing penance or observing Vratas and restraints. Siddhi is acquired by one who simply stays in the Hāṭakeśvara kṣetra.

The Siddhi of people shall be splendid or otherwise (auspicious or inauspicious) in accordance with the mental fervour and feeling of the people with which they stay there.”

54-55. On hearing it, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, he hurried to this holy spot, installed an image of Bhānu and propitiated it. He observed celibacy. He assigned Gāyatrī Mantra to the various limbs (ritualistically as Nyāsa) and meditated with a mind cleared of all doubts.

56. At the end of a year, the Lord was pleased with him, restrained his terrifying refulgence, appeared before him and spoke to him:

57. “O Yājñavalkya, speak out whatever is in your mind. Take it as my boon. I will grant you everything. There is nothing that cannot be given to you."

Yājñavalkya said:

58. If you are pleased, O excellent one among Suras, be my preceptor in regard to the study of the Vedas. This is the desire of my heart.

Bhāskara said:

59. O Brāhmaṇa, out of compassion for you I have restrained my excessive refulgence and come here. Hence you are not burned.

60. Now I shall deposit here in this holy Kuṇḍa all the splendid Sārasvata Mantras mentioned in the Vedas myself, O excellent Brāhmaṇa.

61. Take your holy bath and be pure and clean. Whatever Vedic Mantra you may utter then once, it shall remain with you permanently.

62. The entire meaning and principles will be manifest to you with my favour. There is no doubt about it. It is the truth that has been spoken by me.

63. From now onwards, if a man takes his holy bath in the pool here in the morning and recites Sāvitra Sūkta facing me, O Brāhmaṇa, he shall undoubtedly have everything that has been mentioned in your case by me.

Yājñavalkya said:

64. Let it be so, O Lord of Devas; may all the words uttered by you be true. But what I wish to say is another thing. Listen.

1 shall tell you.

65. O Lord of the universe, be merciful to me. I will never have a human being as my preceptor.

66. Then with his inner self fully pleased Sūrya granted him the splendid Vidyā named Laghimā for augmenting his prowess.

67-68. He said to him: “Enter the ear of my horses and practise the recitation of the Vedic Mantras.

Learn the Vedas direct from my mouth, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, if that be your desire. You will not have any harm from my rays.”

69. On being told thus by him (i.e. Sun) Yājñavalkya became very small and weightless. He resorted to the ear of the horse and learned the Vedas from the mouth of the Sun.^[2]

70. Thus the excellent Brāhmaṇa Yājñavalkya attained Siddhi. He composed the Upaniṣad (Bṛhadāraṇyaka) in a fascinating manner incorporating all the meanings of the Vedas.

71. He explained it to king Janaka. He begot a son named Kātyāyana who composed the Vedic Sūtras (Śrauta Sūtras).

72. He cast off his body in the holy water made by Brahmā. He united his refulgence with the body of Brahmā in accordance with his capacity.

73. A man who takes his holy bath in the Tīrtha, visits the deity Divākara (Sun) and utters Nāda-bindu Mantra before him, shall attain salvation.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

It shows wooden pillars were used in palaces then.

[2]:

Mahbāhārata, Śānti 318. 6-12 states that Yājñavalkya got the Veda from the Sun-god. But the story given here is special to this Purāṇa.