by Bibek Debroy
Chapter 16
‘The father asked, “O son! You have told me about the way samsara is organized and its nature, about how it goes on and on, without decay, like a mechanical clock. 270 I have thus got to know that everything is like this. If that is the state of affairs, tell me, what should I do?”
‘The son replied, “O father! If you have no doubts and have faith in my words, then give up garhasthya. Make up your mind to resort to vanaprastha. 271 Follow the rituals and give up the fire. 272 Fix yourself on the atman that is inside you. Cast aside the opposite pairs of sentiments. 273 Be devoid of possessions. Follow the conduct of being solitary and bring your atman under control. Be a mendicant. Be devoted to yoga and avoid contact with anything external. You will then obtain the yoga that is the medication for all association with miseries. It is unmatched and is the means for attaining emancipation. Its characteristics cannot be described. When you are united with yoga, you will never become a being again.” 274
‘The father said, “O son! Tell me about yoga, the supreme means for attaining emancipation, so that I do not become a being again and am never attached with miseries again. How can I free myself from attachment and the bondage of samsara? This yoga doesn’t exist in me. However, yoga exists in you. Therefore, now tell me about yoga. My body and mind are suffering from samsara, which is like the rays of the sun. Sprinkle the cool words of jnana about the brahman on me. I am suffering from the poison, having been bitten by the black serpent of ignorance. I am like one who is dead. Bestowing your words, which are like amrita, revive me again. I am suffering from the bonds of a son, a wife, a home and a field. Without any delay, throw open the gate of vijnana and use those good sentiments to free me.”
‘The son replied, “O father! In earlier times, the intelligent Dattatreya was questioned about yoga by Alarka and he explained it to him properly, in detail. Listen.”
‘The father asked, “Whose son was Dattatreya? Why did he speak about yoga? Who was the immensely fortunate Alarka who asked him about yoga?”
‘The son replied, “In the city of Pratishthana, there was a brahmana named Koushika. Because of the sins he had committed in a different life, he suffered from leprosy. Though he suffered from that disease, his wife worshipped her husband like a divinity. She massaged his feet and limbs, bathed him, clothed him and fed him. She washed away his phlegm, urine, excrement and blood. In private, she tended to him with sweet conversation and conduct. She constantly worshipped him, with humility. Nevertheless, extremely angry, he censured her with terrible words. However, taking him to be a divinity, the virtuous one prostrated herself before him. Though he was extremely horrible, she thought he was the best. The best among brahmanas was incapable of moving. He told his wife, ‘I saw a courtesan standing by her house on the royal road. 275 Take me to her house. O one who knows about dharma! Take me to her. She is still in my heart. I saw the maiden when the sun was rising and it is night now. Ever since I have seen her, she has not left my heart. She is beautiful in all her limbs. Her breasts are plump and her hips are heavy. If the slender-limbed one does not embrace me, you will see me dead. Perverse desire has taken hold of my senses and there are many men who desire her. But I am incapable of moving. It seems to me that is an impediment.’ Her husband was afflicted by desire and she heard his words. The immensely fortunate wife was devoted to her husband and became anxious. She firmly tied a lot of riches to her garment. Placing her husband on her shoulders, she proceeded slowly. The night sky was covered with clouds and the path along the royal road could only be discerned through flashes of lightning. The brahmana’s wife wished to ensure her husband’s pleasure. Along the path, there was Mandavya, who had been impaled on a stake meant for a thief, because he had been suspected of being a thief. 276 He was suffering a great deal. The brahmana Koushika was astride his wife’s shoulders and as he moved, struck Mandavya with his left foot. Mandavya became angry and said, ‘I am suffering. Who has unnecessarily disturbed me? Because of this, that evil-souled worst among men will also suffer. There is no doubt that he will be so incapacitated that he will lose his life when the sun rises. He will be destroyed as soon as he sees the light of the sun.’ His wife heard this extremely terrible curse and, distressed, said, ‘The sun will not rise.’ At this, the sun did not rise for many days and there was continuous night. The gods were terrified. ‘In the absence of svadhyaya, vashatkara, svadha and svaha, how can the destruction of the entire universe be prevented? 277 There will be no system of night and day, months and seasons will no longer exist. When these are destroyed, one will no longer know dakshinayana and uttarayana. 278 Without knowing about these ayanas, how can time be measured in years? Because of the words of a lady devoted to her husband, the sun is not rising. Without the sun rising, ablutions, baths and other rituals cannot take place. There are no oblations into the fire and the absence of sacrifices can be seen. Without time, without oblations, sacrifices and other rites, all creatures are being destroyed. Mobile and immobile objects are enveloped in darkness. We are satisfied through oblations. The mortals give us our shares through oblations at sacrifices. We favour mortals through rain and other means and crops are grown. Herbs are generated because mortals worship us with sacrifices. Thus, worshipped through sacrifices and other means, we give them what they desire. We shower downwards on mortals and they shower upwards on us. Humans shower us with oblations and we shower them with water. Of course, there are evil-souled and avaricious ones who devour everything themselves and do not give us our sacrificial shares through nitya and naimittika rites. 279 For the destruction of the wicked ones who harm us, we pollute the water, the sun, the fire, the wind and the earth. Since the water and other things are polluted, many kinds of extremely terrible symptoms appear among those evildoers and they die. However, there are also those who please us and only eat what is left. 280 We delight those great-souled ones by conferring auspicious worlds on them. But since none of this exists now, how can the system be maintained? How can day be brought back?’ The gods assembled and consulted with each other in this way. They were worried that sacrifices would be destroyed. Hearing the words of the gods, the god Prajapati spoke. ‘Energy is pacified through energy, austerities are pacified through austerities. O immortals! Listen to my words. Because of the greatness of the lady who is devoted to her husband, the sun will not rise. Since it does not rise, there is injury to you and the mortals. Therefore, since you desire that the sun should rise, seek the favours of the ascetic Anasuya, Atri’s wife. She is devoted to her husband.’ They went and pleased her and she asked, ‘What shall I do?’ The gods requested that there might be day, as there used to be earlier.
‘“Anasuya replied, ‘How can the greatness of a lady who is devoted to her husband be diminished? O gods! I have to maintain the honour of the virtuous one, so that her curse is pacified, her husband is not destroyed and your desire of there being day and night again is accomplished.’ Having told the gods this, she went to the auspicious lady’s house. Following dharma, she asked about her welfare and that of her husband. ‘O fortunate one! O one who brings delight to your husband! Are you happy? Do you think that your husband is superior to all the gods? I have obtained great fruits through serving my husband. Women obtain all the objects of desire by serving their husbands. O virtuous one! Humans must always pay their five debts. 281 Following the dharma of one’s own varna, one must accumulate wealth. Observing the rituals, the received wealth must be given away to worthy recipients. One must always be truthful, upright and compassionate and perform austerities and donations. Without any attachment or hate, one must perform the rituals indicated in the sacred texts. According to capacity, one must always faithfully give. That is the way humans obtain worlds ordained for their own species. O virtuous one! It is through a great deal of effort, that one then progressively goes up to higher worlds, those of Prajapati and others. However, though men earn them through a lot of hardship, women earn all these auspicious worlds by serving their husbands. There ar
e no separate sacrifices for women. There are no separate shraddha ceremonies or fasting. They conquer all the desired worlds by serving their husbands. That is the reason you hold the view that your supreme task and your supreme objective is your husband. There are virtuous tasks meant for gods, ancestors, masters and others. However, by only serving the husband, the woman obtains half of those fruits.’ 282 Having heard her words, she welcomed them affectionately and replied to Anasuya, Atri’s wife, in these words. ‘I am blessed by fortune that I have seen you. O one who is naturally fortunate! You have increased my faith again. I know that a woman has no refuge other than her husband. For this world and for the next world, he must be pleased. O famous one! When a husband is pleased, a woman obtains happiness in this world and in the next one. For women, husbands are divinities. O immensely fortunate one! You have come to my house. O auspicious one! Tell me what I and my husband can do for you.’ Anasuya replied, ‘These gods, along with Indra, have come to me. They are miserable. Because of your words, the difference between day and night has ceased and the virtuous rites have ended. They desire that the difference between day and night should continue, as it used to. That is the reason I have come to you. Listen to my words. Since there is no day, there is a lack of sacrifices and other rituals. O ascetic lady! In their absence, the gods cannot be nourished. Since the day has been destroyed, all the rituals have been destroyed. Since the rituals have been destroyed, there is no rain and the world will be destroyed. Now that you know the truth, if you so wish, you should be patient and save the world from this calamity. O virtuous one! Be pacified. Let the worlds and the sun be as they used to be earlier.’ The brahmana’s wife said, ‘The immensely fortunate Mandavya has cursed my lord and husband. In his rage, he has told him that he will be destroyed when the sun rises.’ Anasuya replied, ‘O fortunate one! If you say so and if it pleases you, I will follow your words and will make your husband get back the body he used to possess earlier. O one excellent in complexion! I take women who are devoted to their husbands to be great and that is the reason I honour you.’ When she agreed, the ascetic lady, Anasuya, offered oblations and arghya to the sun. It had been night for the equivalent of ten nights. The illustrious sun god’s form was like that of a blossoming red lotus. With the large disc, he arose from behind Mount Udaya. Having lost his life, her husband immediately fell down on the ground. As he was falling down on the ground, she 283 clasped him. Anasuya said, ‘O fortunate one! You should not grieve. Immediately, behold my powers. By serving my husband, I have obtained the fruit of austerities. Since I have never regarded any other man as my husband’s equal in beauty, conduct, intelligence, sweetness of speech and other such qualities, through the strength of that truth, this brahmana will be freed from his ailments and will become young again. He will come back to life and with his wife as a companion, will live for a hundred years. Since I have never looked upon any divinity as my husband’s equal, through the strength of that truth, the brahmana will come back to life and will be hale. Through deeds, thoughts and words, my efforts have always been directed towards worshipping my husband. Therefore, let the brahmana come back to life again.’ At this, the brahmana arose, freed from disease. He became young again and illuminated the house with his radiance. He had no signs of old age and resembled a deity. Flowers were showered down from above and the musical instruments of the gods were sounded. Extremely delighted, the gods spoke to Anasuya. ‘O fortunate one! You have accomplished a great task for the gods. Ask for a boon. O one excellent in vows! Since the sun has risen again, please ask for a boon. O ascetic lady! That is the reason the gods wish to confer a boon on you.’ Anasuya replied, ‘O those who grant boons! With the grandfather at the forefront, if the gods are pleased with me and if you think I am worthy of receiving a boon, grant me the boon that Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara should become my sons. With my husband, let me obtain the yoga that frees from all hardships.’ Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the other gods agreed to this. Having taken their leave of the ascetic lady, they departed.
‘“After many days had passed, the illustrious Atri, Brahma’s second son, 284 saw his own wife. She was beautiful in her limbs and had bathed after her menstrual cycle. Her form was seductive. Seeing the unblemished one, the sage’s mind was filled with desire. Having seen her, he was agitated. His powerful semen was released and proceeded upwards. Its hue was white and its form was that of the brahman. As it descended and covered the ten directions, it was white and had the form of rajas. 285 Soma was born through Prajapati Atri’s mental powers. Vishnu, the reservoir and sustainer of all that is true, was pleased and was born as her son in the form of the great-souled Dattatreya. This excellent brahmana, the store of sattva, was born from Atri’s physical body. He was famous as Dattatreya and suckled at Anasuya’s breast. Vishnu descended, in the form of Atri’s second son. He was angry 286 and emerged from his mother’s womb within a week. He saw the gross crimes that the Indra among the Haihayas was engaged in, directed towards Atri. Therefore, he desired to instantly burn him down, 287 along with the Haihayas. Filled with misery and intolerance at having had to dwell inside a womb, Durvasa was born as Rudra’s portion, filled with tamas. In this way, Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu were born as three sons—Soma from Brahma, Dattatreya from Vishnu and Durvasa from Shankara. This was in accordance with the boon the residents of heaven had conferred. With his beams, Soma cools and nourishes herbs, plants and humans. Delighting everyone, that Prajapati resides in heaven. 288 Dattatreya saves subjects from the wicked oppression of daityas and to perform tasks that show favours to the virtuous. He was born from Vishnu’s portion. The illustrious Durvasa, who is actually without birth, descended for the sake of burning down those who were insolent in sight, thoughts and words. Therefore, he resorted to terrible inclinations. The illustrious Prajapati 289 was born as Atri’s son and became Soma. In the form of Dattatreya, Hari engaged in yoga in the material world. Durvasa abandoned his mother and his father. He roamed around the earth, resorting to the practice known as unmatta. 290
‘“The yogi Dattatreya was always surrounded by the sons of sages. However, since he did not want to become attached to them, the lord spent a long period of time immersed in the water. But since the great-souled one was extremely handsome to behold, those sons did not leave him and remained on the banks of the Sarasvati. Even after one hundred divine years had passed, all the sons of the sages did not leave him. Pleased with them, the sage arose from the water. He had an extremely beautiful and fortunate lady with him. She possessed splendid buttocks and was attired in divine garments. He thought, ‘Since I am with a woman, the sons of the sages will abandon me. I will then be able to practise yoga.’ Even then, the sons of the sages did not abandon him. At this, he started to drink liquor with the woman. ‘If I drink liquor with my wife, they will abandon me. There are sins from associating with those who enjoy themselves with women and indulge in singing and musical instruments.’ But they took him to be a great-souled one, unaffected by such external tasks. Even though he was drinking varuni, 291 such a lord of yoga was not tainted by this. Like the wind residing in the house of an outcaste, he was not touched by this. Though he was drinking liquor with his wife, the one who knew about yoga was actually tormenting himself through austerities. Desiring to free themselves through yoga, they regarded him as a lord of yoga.
‘“After Kritavirya left for heaven, some time passed. The ministers, the priests and the citizens decided that the powerful Kartavirya Arjuna 292 should be instated and summoned him for the purpose. But he said, ‘O ministers! I will not rule over the kingdom. That finally leads to hell, since taxes collected for a specific purpose are not successfully spent. By giving one-twelfth the value of their merchandise to the king, traders hope to travel along protected routes that are protected from bandits. Cowherds give one-sixth of their ghee and buttermilk and farmers give a similar share of their produce. The king earns merits through agnihotra, austerities, truthfulness, studying the Vedas, hospitality, performing sacrifice
s to the Vishvadevas, constructing ponds, wells, waterbodies and temples to the gods, giving food to those who desire it and other kinds of public works. However, if the traders and others give him a greater share of the produce than is warranted and the king accepts and enjoys it, he acts like a thief and all these sacrifices and public works are destroyed. Having received one-sixth of the produce as a share, if people have to depend on others for protection, it is certain that the king goes to hell. In return for protection, the king’s share has been fixed earlier. Having accepted that share of the riches, if the king does not protect, he becomes a thief. Therefore, I desire to torment myself through austerities and become a yogi. Having accomplished this, I will become the single king on earth and rule the earth. I will alone wield weapons and be filled with prosperity. Unless that happens, I will not unnecessarily become a sinner.’ He thus informed them about his decision. An extremely intelligent and aged sage named Garga was seated amidst the ministers. Filled with compassion, he spoke respectfully to the king and satisfied him. ‘O son a king! If you wish to do what you desire and rule the kingdom properly, then listen to my words and act accordingly. The great-souled Dattatreya resides in a valley in the Sahyadri mountains and protects the three worlds. O lord of the earth! Worship him. The great-souled one is immersed in yoga and perceives everything impartially. To protect the universe, he has descended on earth from Vishnu’s portion. After worshipping him, the one with the thousand eyes 293 obtained his position. The evil-souled sons of Diti had taken it away and he killed Diti’s sons.’ Arjuna asked, ‘How did the gods worship the powerful Dattatreya? How did the daityas take away the position of Indra and how did Vasava regain it?’ Garga replied, ‘There was an extremely terrible war between the gods and the daityas. Jambha was the lord of the daityas and Shachi’s consort was the lord of the gods. While they fought, an entire celestial year passed. After this, the gods were defeated and the daityas were triumphant. The gods were defeated by the danavas, headed by Viprachitti. They made efforts to run away and no longer made efforts to defeat the enemy. Desiring the death of the daitya soldiers, Brihaspati arrived and consulted with the valakhilya rishis. 294 Brihaspati said, “The immensely fortunate, Dattatreya, Atri’s son, is a store of austerities, though he follows perverse courses of action. You should faithfully satisfy him. He grants boons and he will grant you a boon for the destruction of the daityas. O gods! That is how you will be able to slay the daityas and the danavas.” They were thus told that there was no doubt that they would be able to kill them through Dattatreya’s favours. Therefore, the gods went to Dattatreya’s hermitage. They saw the patient and great-souled one and Lakshmi was with him. Praised by the gandharvas, the sage was engaged in drinking liquor. Having gone there, they prostrated themselves and reverentially worshipped him with a hymn that would accomplish all objectives. They offered him appropriate articles of worship. Since he drank, the residents of heaven offered him liquor. If he remained in one spot, they remained in that spot. If he walked, they walked with him. They worshipped him and when he sat down, they sat down below him. As they prostrated themselves before him, Dattatreya asked, “What is this? What do you expect to get from me that you are serving me in this way?” The gods replied, “O tiger among sages! The danavas, Jambha and the others, have attacked us. They have taken away the three worlds of bhuloka, bhuvarloka and svarloka. 295 They have taken away all our shares in sacrifices. O unblemished one! Think of a means to kill them and save us. We desire your favours so that we can get heaven back.” Dattatreya said, “I am addicted to liquor. I am like ucchishta. I am not in control of my senses. O gods! How do you think your enemies will be defeated through me?” The gods replied, “O unblemished one! You are the protector of the universe and none of this touches you. You have been cleansed through pure learning. You are permeated with jnana.” Dattatreya said, “O gods! It is true that my learning is impartial in outlook. However, because of my association with this woman, I have become ucchishta. Enjoyment with women leads to great miseries and the virtuous should not indulge in this.” Having been addressed in this way, the gods again spoke these words. The gods replied, “O best among sages! She is the unblemished mother of the universe and cannot be polluted. O lord! She is the learning that exists in the hearts of omniscient people like you. Irrespective of whether it touches a brahmana or a chandala, the rays of the sun are not sullied. O protector of the universe! This beautiful one is just like that.” When Dattatreya was addressed by the gods in these words, he smiled. He said, “O residents of heaven! O best among the gods! If that is the view that all of you hold, then summon all the asuras to a battle. Without any delay, summon them and let it take place here, within my range of vision. My sight will be like a consuming fire and will diminish their strength and energy. Because of my sight, all of them will head towards destruction.” Hearing his words, the gods summoned and challenged the immensely strong daityas. All the gods were slaughtered by the daityas and afflicted by fear, the large number of gods fled to the hermitage. All of them went to Dattatreya’s hermitage, seeking protection. To destroy the residents of heaven, the daityas also entered there. They saw the great-souled Dattatreya, intoxicated with liquor. His wife was seated on his left, the auspicious one who is desired by all the worlds. This was Lakshmi, beautiful in all her limbs and with a face that was like the moon. Her eyes were like blue lotuses and her breasts were large and her hips were full. Her teeth were excellent and her speech was sweet. She possessed all the qualities desired in a woman. Seeing her in front, the daityas were filled with desire for her. The daityas were so stricken by desire that they were no longer capable of controlling themselves. They abandoned the gods. Desiring to obtain the woman, they lost all their energy. Driven by sin and desire, they said, “This jewel among women is the essence of the three worlds. If we obtain her, we will accomplish all our objectives. That is what we think.” All those afflicters of the gods placed her on a palanquin and made up their minds to take her to their own abode. She was attached to the sage and was unapproachable for others. Nevertheless, they were smitten by attachment and love and placed the virtuous lady on a palanquin. Placing the palanquin on their heads, the daityas and the danavas proceeded in the direction of their own abode. Dattatreya laughed and told the gods, “It is good fortune that the daityas desired Lakshmi and placed her on their heads. Since she has passed seven spots and is on their heads, they will indeed head towards destruction.” The gods asked, “O protector of the universe! Tell us about the spots she occupies. When does it bring fruits to a man and when does it lead to destruction?” Dattatreya answered, “When placed on a man’s foot, Lakshmi gives him a house. When placed on the bones of the thigh, she gives him garments, jewels and other kinds of riches. When placed in the genital organs, she gives him a wife. When placed on the lap, she gives him offspring. When placed in a man’s heart, she satisfies all his wishes. The best place for Lakshmi is the throat. She becomes an ornament for the throat and this occurs for prosperous men. There is union with beloved relatives and wives who have resided in distant places. She arose from the ocean. If she happens to be located on the mouth, food and speech are sweet and graceful. The person’s commands are carried out and he has the qualities of a poet. However, when she is placed on the head, she abandons the person and goes to another one for refuge. Since the daityas have placed her on their heads, she will immediately abandon them. Therefore, take up your weapons and slay the enemies of the gods. There is no need for you to be scared. I have taken away their terrible energy. Since they oppressed another person’s wife, all their auspicious deeds have been scorched and they have been deprived of their energy. Hence, without any apprehension, you should kill them.” At this, using many kinds of weapons, they slaughtered the enemies of the gods. We have heard that when Lakshmi is placed on the head, it leads to such destruction. Lakshmi leapt down and again reached Dattatreya, the great sage. Delighted at the destruction of the daityas, she was praised by Indra and the other gods. The go
ds prostrated themselves before Dattatreya, the great sage. “Victory to Krishna, the protector of the universe. O destroyer of the daityas! O Hara! O lord! O Narayana! O Achyuta! O Ananta! O Vasudeva, who does not age or decay! O Janardana! We have obtained happiness, Lakshmi, the kingdom and prosperity through your favours. O one who wields the Sharnga bow! O one who wields the chakra in his hand! O one who is always devoted to his devotees!” Praising him in this way, the gods went to the vault of heaven, where they used to be earlier. O Indra among kings! In that way, if you wish to obtain what you desire and also obtain unmatched riches, you should swiftly worship him.’”’
