Chapter 6 - Khāṇḍikya and his cousin Keśidhvaja

Parāśara

The highest spirit may be perceived through Vedic recitation and through yoga. That’s why the Absolute, the means of attaining that state, is described by the formula ‘It is this—tad etat’. 1

After recitation, one should practise yoga, and, after yoga, recitation. Through excellence in both, the highest spirit manifests. 2

Vedic recitation is one eye with which to see the lord, and yoga is the other, as the Absolute lies beyond the bodily eye. 3

Maitreya

Speak on yoga, master, as I wish to understand it. When I comprehend that, I may be able to perceive the highest lord, foundation of the universe. 4

Parāśara:

I’ll describe yoga to you, great sage, just as Keśidhvaja explained it to Khāṇḍikya Janaka in former times. 5

Maitreya:

Who was Khāṇḍikya, brahmin, and who was Keśidhvaja? How did their talk of yoga come about? 6

Parāśara:

Janaka Dharmadhvaja had one son, Amitadhvaja, and another named Kṛtadhvaja, a king who constantly found joy in the highest spirit. 7

Kṛtadhvaja had a son named Keśidhvaja, brahmin. Amitadhvaja’s son was Khāṇḍikya Janaka. 8

Khāṇḍikya excelled on the path of ritual action and was skilled in worldly matters, but Keśidhvaja was an expert in spiritual knowledge. 9

These two, however, both wished to usurp the other, and Keśidhvaja deprived Khāṇḍikya of his kingdom. 10

Driven from his realm, Khāṇḍikya wandered in the jungle, where travel is not easy, accompanied by his priest and ministers but taking little else. 11

He still conducted sacrifices, but, lacking true spiritual insight, he hoped in his ignorance to gain knowledge of the Absolute and escape from death thereby. 12

One day, Keśidhvaja was engaged in yoga when a fearsome tiger killed his dairy-cow in a trackless forest, you yoga expert. 13

Hearing that his cow was dead, the king then asked his priests about atonement. 14

‘We don’t know,’ they said, ‘but you should question Kaśeru.’ The king then asked that sage, who gave the scion of Bhṛgu the same reply: 15

‘I don’t know, your majesty, but ask Śunaka. He’s an expert in such things.’ The king then went to Śunaka and asked him, sage, and Śunaka replied, ‘Listen: 16

Neither Kaśeru, nor I, nor any other man on earth at present knows the answer. The only one who truly knows is your rival Khāṇḍikya whom you’ve vanquished.’ 17

The king replied to Śunaka, ‘I’ll go and ask my enemy, sage, and even if he kills me, I’ll obtain the reward of sacrifice. 18

On the other hand, if I ask him and he tells me how to make amends, then my yoga practice will be unimpaired, best of sages.’ 19

Parāśara:

So saying, the king, dressed like an ascetic in a black antelope hide, mounted his chariot and entered the forest where wise Khāṇḍikya camped. 20

When Khāṇḍikya saw his enemy approaching, his eyes grew red with fury and, nocking an arrow to his bow, he said, 21

Khāṇḍikya:

You attack me with a deer skin as protection, and you think I won’t fight back because I’m wearing the same thing! 22

But tell me, fool, isn’t this the hide from the back of an antelope that you and I both killed with our deadly sharpened arrows? 23

I’m going to kill you now. You’ll not escape alive. You, the foolish thief who stole my realm, are now my enemy! 24

Keśidhvaja:

I’ve come to ask a question, Khāṇḍikya, not to fight you, so set aside your anger. Put down that arrow. 25

Parāśara:

Wise Khāṇḍikya then consulted all his ministers and priests in private. 26

‘Now your rival’s in your power you should kill him,’ his advisors said. ‘If you do so this whole world is yours.’ 27

‘It’s surely true,’ Khāṇḍikya said, ‘that once he’s dead the world is mine. 28

But victory in the next world will be his, even if this world belongs to me. If I forbear to kill him, I’ll win in the afterlife, and he can have this mundane realm. 29

Victory in the next world is eternal, but victory here is fleeting. I’ll therefore spare the man and listen to his question.’ 30

Parāśara:

Khāṇḍikya Janaka approached his adversary and said, ‘Ask me all you wish to say, and I’ll reply.’ 31

Keśidhvaja told him that his cow had died, brahmin, and asked how he should make amends. 32

Khāṇḍikya then described to Keśidhvaja the atonement to be performed in full, brahmin, according to the law. 33

Now that great Khāṇḍikya understood Keśidhvaja’s intention, he granted him permission to proceed to the sacrificial ground, where he duly undertook the rites. 34

When King Keśidhvaja had carried out the rituals in the proper order and according to the law, and performed the requisite purification afterwards, he’d done his duty, but then he thought, 35

‘I’ve worshipped all the priests and honoured the assembled officiants. Similarly, I’ve satisfied the desires of all who wanted something. 36

I’ve behaved appropriately towards everybody here, so why’s my heart not satisfied with this sacrifice?’ 37

Reflecting thus, he realised that he hadn’t paid Khāṇḍikya his sacrificial fee, the guru-dakṣiṇā. 38

Mounted on his chariot, the king returned to the trackless wood, Maitreya, where Khāṇḍikya resided. 39

When Khāṇḍikya saw the king returning, he raised his bow and stood intent on killing him, but Keśidhvaja spoke again: 40

‘I haven’t come to fight, Khāṇḍikya, so don’t be angry. Understand I’m here to make the payment due to you as guru. 41

I’ve completed all the rituals as instructed, and I wish to compensate you, so name your fee.’ 42

Parāśara:

King Khāṇḍikya consulted with his ministers once more, saying, ‘He wants to pay a fee, so how much should I ask for?’ 43

‘You should ask for your whole realm back again,’ the ministers replied. ‘Skilful men win sovereignty without deploying arms.’ 44

Wise King Khāṇḍikya laughed at them and said, ‘Why would such a man as me request a fleeting earthly kingdom? 45

You provide advice for handling mundane matters but know nothing of the highest truth or how it may be reached.’ 46

Parāśara:

Having spoken thus, Khāṇḍikya went to King Keśidhvaja, asking, ‘Do you truly wish to pay the guru-dakṣiṇā?’ 47

‘Indeed, I do,’ was his reply. Khāṇḍikya then said, ‘You’re well-versed in spiritual knowledge and highest truth. 48

If you wish to pay my fee, then say what acts are able to dispel my misery?’ 48

So ends Chapter Six in Book Six of the glorious Viṣṇu Purāṇa.

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Gurudakshina, Sacrifice, Spiritual knowledge, Sacrificial ground, Spiritual insight, Proper order, Vedic recitation, Worldly matter.