Chapter 14 - Instruction about learning the Vedas

[Note: This page represents a summary English translation of the Dvisāhasrī by Ṭembesvāmī, chapter 14.—Now in order to destroy the evil actions the collection of 5 chapters (14-18) is being depicted for evoking detachment for those whose minds are impure.—In the 14^th chapter the Holy Master makes a low-caste person to participate in debate about the Vedic topic with two arrogant Brahmins and grants him absolution.]

14/01-03: Nāmadhāraka spoke: Why does then He elaborate the path of Action? When the actions arise from Nescience, how can they destroy it? (02-03)

14/04-09: Siddha spoke: Just as the young ones born from cancer devour the mother and just as the clay is washed away with the clay, the Nescience and the actions are destroyed by the actions (05). When the higher religious practice is adopted and when one renounces the world, one becomes eligible for the accomplishment of the selfless action (06). A person attached may be a knower, but the detached one is really a knower whose attachment is meant for an illustration (07). The Holy Master narrates the principles of the path of Action which leads one to the Highest Abode (08-09).

14/10-16: A Yavan king hates Brahmins, invites them to recite the Vedas with their meaning and gives them plenty of money. Greedy Brahmins go to him who hears and blames the Vedas (12). Meanwhile two wicked Brahmin come, introduce themselves as the experts and ask the king to debate with the Brahmins who are his patronized. None of the greedy Brahmins^[1] is ready to face the wicked Brahmins (13-16).

14/17-21: Two Brahmins spoke: They ask permission to move in his kingdom to win other Vedic scholars (18). The wicked king allows them to do so. They move around with the sole purpose to obtain a letter of victory (jayapatra) from the scholars (19-20). They come to Trivikramabhāratī, the Vedic scholar and ask him to debate with them (21).

14/22-28: Trivikrama spoke: He is a monk yet they ask for a letter of victory. He is ready to give in the presence of his Holy Master (23- 24). They go to His hermitage (25-27). The Holy Master wants to know the benefit of the debate (28).

14/29-30: Two Brahmins spoke: As per the king’s order they would defeat Brahmins and not a beggar (bhikṣu) (30).

14/31-48: Holy Master spoke: Brahmins are normally destroyed due to their pride. Even Brahmā is not able to know the Vedas fully (32). When sage Bhāradvāja performed penance to study the Vedas, Brahmā showed him the Vedas in three handfuls of the Vedic knowledge. Even today sage Bhāradvāja is studying the Vedas yet he is not an expert (33-34). Veda Vyāsa’s disciples Paila, Vaiśampāyana, Jaimini and Sumantu have learnt Ṛgveda, Yahurveda, Sāmaveda and Atharvaveda respectively (35-36). In the modern age Veda-knowers are not many, though some with a little knowledge, try to get the recognition of Vedic scholars (37). The Vedas have many branches, 04 Subordinate-vedas, different colours, families, metres, deities and size (38-48).

14/49-54: The Brahmins are deviated from their rites and sell the Vedas to the low-caste. They have become devoid of spiritual powers. The Vedas when studied secretly give every thing to the Brahmins. The world is supported by the gods who are supported by the Vedic formulas and the formulas depend on the Brahmins who are the gods for Lord Viṣṇu (49-51). In ancient time kings used to offer all belongings to the Brahmins who did not accept them. Both of them get deviated and the formulas become ineffective. They cheat the righteousness and hence they become Brahmin-ghost (52- 54).

14/55-64: Two Brahmins spoke: Instead of hearing any thing, they ask for the letter of victory (56). The Holy Master calls a low-caste person, asks to draw 07 lines and tells him to cross the lines one by one. As soon as he does so, he introduces himself as the knower of his 07 past lives i.e. a low-caste, a man of scheduled tribe, a fisherman living on the bank of a river, a farmer, a merchant, a Kṣatrīya and a Vedic scholar (in the 07^th one) ((57-61). The Holy Master sanctifies him with the ashes and asks him to defeat the two Brahmins (62). The two Brahmins fall in the lotus-feet of the Holy Master and apologize for their sins, wickedness and foolishness and request to save them (63-64).

14/65-70: The Holy Master: As they recited the Vedas in front of Mlecchas and blamed the Brahmins, they would be born as Brahmin-demons (66). After experiencing their sin till 12 years, they would be free by teaching the Yajurveda to a Brahmin (67). They undergo the consequences predicted by the Holy Master (68-70).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

jaihyaupasthyasukhāsakti-nidonenedṛśī sthitiḥ|
vedajñānamadhaḥpāta-śaṅkāvarjitacetasām|| 14/16||