Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Penguin Translated Texts)

by Debroy, Bibek

  ‘Yudhishthira asked, “What was the power of the brahmana who thus vanquished Bandi? Why was he born as Ashtavakra? O Lomasha! Tell me everything accurately.”

  ‘Lomasha replied, “Uddalaka had a self-controlled disciple. O king! He was known by the name of Kahoda. He served his preceptor and was devoted to him. He studied for a long time. There were many brahmanas who served as disciples. But the preceptor knew him to be the one. He gave him all his knowledge and his daughter Sujata as a wife. She conceived and the child, who was radiant as the fire, spoke to his studious father. ‘You have studied all night. O father! But you are not right.’ The maharshi was insulted among his own students. He cursed the child who was still inside the womb. ‘Since you spoke while you were still inside, you will be crooked in eight ways.’ He was born exactly as had been spoken and this maharshi became famous as Ashtavakra.590 His maternal uncle was Shvetaketu, who was equal to him in age. While her son grew inside her, Sujata was extremely distressed. She was poor and desired riches. In a conciliatory tone, she privately spoke to her husband. ‘O maharshi! What will we do without riches? The tenth month is upon me. You have no riches. Once the delivery takes place, how will we overcome the calamity that confronts us?’ Having been thus addressed by his wife, Kahoda went to Janaka for riches. Bandi was skilled in debate. The brahmana was defeated by him and drowned in the waters.

  ‘“Uddalaka got to know that he had been defeated by a suta591 and had drowned in the waters. He told Sujata, ‘This must be kept a secret from Ashtavakra.’ She kept this secret extremely well. When he was born, the brahmana heard nothing and thought that Uddalaka was his father and Shvetaketu was his brother. When Ashtavakra was twelve years old, Shvetaketu saw him seated on his father’s lap.592 He grasped him by the hand and told the weeping one, ‘This is not your father’s lap.’ These harsh words pierced his heart and remained there, making him extremely unhappy. Weeping, he went home and asked his mother, ‘Where is my father?’ Sujata was extremely distressed. Scared of being cursed, she told him everything. Having got to know everything from his mother, the brahmana593 spoke to Shvetaketu. ‘Let us go to King Janaka’s sacrifice. It has been heard that his sacrifice has many extraordinary things. We will hear debates among the brahmanas. We will also eat excellent food. We will become wiser. The chants of the brahman are auspicious and pacifying.’ Thus, the maternal uncle and nephew went to King Janaka’s prosperous sacrifice. Ashtavakra encountered the king on the road and was restrained.594 He spoke these words to him.”’595

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  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘The road belongs to a blind one. The road belongs to a deaf one. The road belongs to a woman. The road belongs to a bearer of loads. The road belongs to a king. But when a brahmana is encountered on the way, the road must belong to the brahmana.’

  ‘“The king replied, ‘Then I now give up this road to you. Travel whichever way you desire. There is no fire that is a minor one.596 Even Indra always bows down before brahmanas.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘O son!597 We have come to see the sacrifice. Our curiousity cannot be greater. We have come as guests. Let us enter. O gatekeeper! We are waiting for your command. We wish to see the sacrifice of Indradyumna’s son.598 We wish to see and speak to King Janaka. O gatekeeper! We are being consumed with anger and let that not cause affliction to you.’

  ‘“The gatekeeper said, ‘We are bound by the commands of Bandi. “Listen to the words I utter.599 No brahmanas who are children will be allowed entry. Only the old and the learned, the best of brahmanas will be allowed to enter.”’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘O gatekeeper! If entry is allowed to the aged, then I have a right to enter. We are aged because we have observed vows. We have a right to enter because of our knowledge of the Vedas. We have served600 and are in control of our senses. We have faithfully trodden the path of knowledge. It is said that children should not be slighted. If touched, a young fire also burns.’

  ‘“The gatekeeper said, ‘If you know, recite the single-syllabled and many-formed verse invoking Sarasvati. Look at your limbs. You are a child. Do not boast. It is difficult to obtain success in debates.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘Age cannot be deduced from the growth of the body, just as the number of knots on a shalmali tree601 does not indicate its age. Whether it is short or small in form, it is aged because it is full of fruit. A tree without fruit has no traits of age.’

  ‘“The gatekeeper said, ‘The young receive intelligence from the old, and in due course of time, become aged too. It is impossible to obtain learning in a short time. Therefore, despite being a child, why do you speak as if aged?’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘One does not become old because one’s hair has turned white. The gods know that, a child who is learned is old. The rishis have not decreed that the merit of dharma depends on years, grey hair, riches or relatives.602 “One who has learning is great.”603 I have come here to meet Bandi in the king’s presence. Go and announce this now to the king who is garlanded with lotuses. O gatekeeper! Today, you will witness me engaged in a debate with the learned. I may become superior, or I may become inferior, when all the others become silent today.’

  ‘“The gatekeeper said, ‘You are only ten years old. How can you enter a sacrifice reserved for entry to the humble and the learned? I will have to devise a means for you to enter. But you must take due care.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘O king! O supreme among those of the Janaka lineage! You are worthy of praise. You have all the riches. You are the performer of sacrificial deeds, like King Yayati was the only one in ancient times. We have heard that the wise Bandi, after defeating those who know the Vedas in debate, employs your servants to immerse those broken ones in water. Having heard this from the brahmanas, I have come here today to engage in debate. Where is Bandi? Where can I find him? I will destroy him today, like the sun causing the stars to fade.’

  ‘“The king replied, ‘You hope to vanquish Bandi without knowing the other’s power with words. Those who know his powers are incapable of speaking thus. He has been tested by brahmanas skilled in debate.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘Those who debated were not like me. That made him like a lion and he roars thus. When he meets me today, he will be destroyed, like a cart on the road with its axle broken.’

  ‘“The king replied, ‘He alone is supremely wise who knows what has six parts, twelve axles, twenty-four segments and three hundred and sixty spokes.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘May the wheel604 with twenty-four segments, six parts, twelve axles and three hundred and sixty spokes always protect you.’

  ‘“The king asked, ‘They are joined like horses and descend like hawks. Who among the gods gives them birth and who do they give birth to?’

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘O king! Let them steer away from your house and even from the houses of your enemies. The one with the wind as a charioteer gives them birth and they also give birth to him.’605

  ‘“The king asked, ‘What does not close its eyes when it sleeps? What does not move when it is born? What has no heart? What increases in speed when force is imposed?’

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘A fish does not close its eyes when it sleeps. An egg does not move when it is born. A stone has no heart. A river increases in speed when force is imposed.’

  ‘“The king replied, ‘I do not think that you are a man. You possess divine energy. You are not a child. I regard you as aged. There is no one who is your equal in the power of words. Therefore, I am throwing the gate open. There is Bandi.’”’

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  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘O king! There are kings who are assembled here, unrivalled in power, with their dreadful armies. The ones who debate, like swans cackling in a great expanse of water, should not find a means of escape. You pride yourself on being a great debater.606 When you engage with me today, you will not flow like a river’s current. O Bandi! My energy will blaze like fire on kindling. Stand firm before me today
.’

  ‘“Bandi replied, ‘Do not awaken a sleeping tiger. The virulent snake is licking its mouth. If you kick it on the head with your feet, you will not excape. Be sure that you will be bitten. The extremely weak man is insolent and strikes a mountain, only to lacerate his hands and nails himself. No wounds can be seen on the mountain. Like all mountains before Mainaka, like calves before a bull, all the other kings are inferior to the king of Mithila.’”

  ‘Lomasha said, “Ashtavakra roared in that assembly. O king! His wrath was aroused and he spoke to Bandi. ‘Tell me the answer to my question. I will tell you the answer to your question.’”

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘There is only one fire, but it is kindled in many forms. There is only one sun that illuminates everything. There is only one warrior and slayer, the king of the gods. There is only one Yama, the lord of the ancestors.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘Indra and Agni roam together, as friends. There are two devarshis, Narada and Parvata. There are two Ashvins. There are two wheels to a chariot. As decreed by the creator, wife and husband live together.’

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘Beings are born thrice as a result of their deeds.607 The vajapeya is united with three.608 Thrice do the adhvaryus perform the act of pressing.609 It is said that there are three worlds and three sources of light.’610

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘There are four stages of life for a brahmana.611 Four are required to complete the sacrifice. There are four directions and four varnas. It has always been said that cows have four feet.’612

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘There are five fires.613 The pankti has five feet.614 There are five sacrifices.615 There are five organs of sense. It has been seen in the Vedas that apsaras have five tufts of hair.616 There are five sacred rivers in the world.’617

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘When the sacrificial fire is prepared, six cows are the dakshina. There are six seasons in the wheel of time. There are six organs of sense.618 There are six in Krittika.619 It has been seen in all the Vedas that there are six sadasykas.’620

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘There are seven kinds of domestic animals and seven that are wild.621 There are seven meters that carry the sacrifice.622 There are seven rishis.623 There are seven forms of offering homage.624 The veena is known to have seven strings.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘Eight shanas bear a hundred.625 Sharabha, the destroyer of the lion, has eight feet.626 We have heard that among the gods, there is a class of eight Vasus. In all sacrifices, the sacrificial post has eight corners.’

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘When kindling sacrifices for the ancestors, nine verses are used. It is said that there are nine stages in creation. The brihati meter has nine syllables. Nine digits are always used in calculations.’627

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘In the world of men, it has been said that there are ten stages.628 It has been said that a thousand is made up of ten complete hundreds. A woman who has conceived bears for ten months. There are ten Dasherakas, Dashas and Dasharnas.’629

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘Eleven animals are used in the ekadashi rite.630 There are eleven sacrificial stakes. There are eleven changes in the breath of life.631 It has been said that there are eleven Rudras among the gods.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘It has been said that there are twelve months in a year. The jagati meter is formed out of twelve syllables. It has been said that an ordinary sacrifice lasts for twelve days. The brahmanas say that there are twelve Adityas.’

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘It has been said that the thirteenth lunar day is terrible. The earth is formed out of thirteen islands …’”632

  ‘Lomasha said, “Having said this, Bandi fell silent. Then Ashtavakra completed the other half of the shloka. Keshi travelled for thirteen days.633 It has been said that the atichhanda meter has thirteen syllables.” At that, when they saw that the suta’s son had fallen silent, a loud applause arose. His head was lowered and he was immersed in thought. But Ashtavakra went on reciting. In King Janaka’s grand sacrifice, there was a tremendous uproar. Hands joined in salutation, all the brahmanas went to Ashtavakra and worshipped him.

  ‘“Ashtavakra said, ‘I have heard that, vanquishing learned brahmanas in debate, this one immersed them in water. Let Bandi follow the same dharma today. Seize him and immerse him also.’

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘I am the son of King Varuna. O Janaka! A sacrifice that will last for twelve years is taking place, equal in duration to your sacrifice. Therefore, I have sent the foremost brahmanas there. All of them had gone to witness Varuna’s sacrifice. But behold. They are returning. I worship the venerable Ashtavakra. Because of him, I will join the one who gave me birth.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘You immersed brahmanas in the water of the ocean. Though they were learned and intelligent, they lost in debate. I have now rescued their speech through my learning. Let the learned examine these words. Jataveda634 Agni knows the houses of the learned and does not consume them. Thus the learned examine the words that are spoken, even if they are uttered by children, sons and those to be pitied. Has your energy become lean because of shleshmataki?635 Or is that flattery has intoxicated you? You are like an elephant that has been goaded. O Janaka! You are hearing. But you are not paying attention to these words of mine.’

  ‘“Janaka said, ‘I am listening to your words. They are divine in form and superhuman. Your form is also celestial. Since you have vanquished Bandi in debate today, Bandi is yours, to do as you desire.’

  ‘“Ashtavakra replied, ‘O king! I have no use for Bandi alive. If Varuna is his father, immerse him in the water.’

  ‘“Bandi said, ‘I am the son of King Varuna. I have no fear from being immersed in the water. Ashtavakra will soon see his father Kahoda, who had been destroyed a long time ago.’”636

  ‘Lomasha said, “Then Varuna’s great-souled son showed homage to all the brahmanas. All of them arose and approached Janaka. Kahoda said, ‘O Janaka! It is for this reason that men desire sons who will perform deeds. My son has performed the deed that I was unable to. O Janaka! To a weak one may be born a strong son, to a foolish one an intelligent one and to an ignorant one a wise one.’ Bandi said, ‘O king! May you be fortunate. Yama will use your sharp axe to chop off the heads of your enemies. At this sacrifice of King Janaka’s, there were great recitations and the best of sama hymns were sung. Soma was drunk in copious amounts at the sacrifice. Delighted in heart, the gods themselves partook of their sacred shares.’ O king! When all the brahmanas arose, more resplendent than they had been before, Bandi obtained King Janaka’s permission and entered the waters of the ocean. Ashtavakra showed homage to his father. As is proper, he was worshipped by the brahmanas. Having vanquished the Bandi, he returned to the best of hermitages with his uncle. O Kounteya! Therefore, with your brothers and with the brahmanas, dwell here happily. O Ajamidha! With me, you will then go to other sacred places, devoted and pure in your deeds.”’

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  ‘Lomasha said, “O king! Madhuvila Samanga can be seen here.637 This is the place where Bharata638 bathed, known by the name of Kardamila. After Shachi’s husband killed Vritra, we have heard that he was struck by misfortune.639 He was cleansed of all his sins after bathing in Samanga. O bull among men! This is the place where Mainaka sunk into the earth. In ancient times, Aditi cooked food here, so as to obtain sons. O bull among men! Ascend this king of mountains and dispel your ill fame and misfortune, incapable of being expressed in words. O king! These are the Kankhala mountains, loved by the rishis. O Yudhishthira! The great river Ganga is resplendent here. In ancient times, the illustrious Sanatkumara obtained success here. O Ajamidha! By bathing here, you will be cleansed of all your sins. O Kounteya! With your advisers, silently touch the waters of this lake, known as Punya, the mountain Bhrigutunga and the Ganga. The beautiful hermitage of Sthulasirasa is there. O Kounteya! Discard all sense of ego and anger. O Pandava! The beautiful hermitage of Raibhya is resplendent here. The wise Yavakrita, Bharadvaja’s son, died there.”

 
‘Yudhishthira asked, “What powers did the rishi who was Bharadvaja’s son possess? Why did the sage’s son, Yavakrita, die? I wish to hear all this exactly as it happened. O Lomasha! I find delight in listening to the deeds of those who were equals of the gods.”

  ‘Lomasha said, “Bharadvaja and Raibhya were friends. They lived here happily, in the interior of the forest and in great friendship. Raibhya had two sons named Arvavasu and Paravasu. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Bharadvaja had a son named Yavakrita. Raibhya and his sons were learned. The other one640 was an ascetic. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Right from childhood, their friendship was unparalleled. Yavakrita noticed that his father was an ascetic and received no honours. O unblemished one! But Raibhya and his sons were honoured by brahmanas. The energetic one was tormented by this and became overcome with anger. O Pandava! He performed terrible austerities in order to obtain knowledge of the Vedas. He burnt his body in a gigantic and flaming fire. The great ascetic generated anxiety in Indra’s mind. O Yudhishthira! Indra went to Yavakrita and asked him, ‘Why are you engaged in these supreme torments?’ Yavakrita replied, ‘O one who is worshipped by the masses of gods! I am performing this supreme austerity so that the Vedas, studied by brahmanas, become manifest in me. O chastiser of Paka! My efforts are for my own knowledge. O Koushika!641 O illustrious one! The knowledge of the Vedas must be acquired from a preceptor and take a long time. Therefore, I am engaged in this great endeavour.’ Indra replied, ‘O brahmana rishi! This is not the path for you. This is not the road you wish to traverse. O brahmana! Why do you wish to destroy yourself? Go and learn from a preceptor’s mouth.’

  ‘“O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Having spoken these words, Shakra left. Yavakrita, whose valour was infinite, also left and once again engaged in austerities. O king! We have heard that with his terrible and great austerities, he caused great distress to the king of the gods. He was burnt by the terrible austerities of the great sage. The god who was the slayer of Bala came to restrain him again. ‘The goal that you have set for yourself is not possible. You have not thought properly about how the knowledge of the Vedas can be manifested to you and your father.’ Yavakrita replied, ‘O king of the gods! If I do not succeed in my desired objective through these deeds, I will torment myself with greater austerities and engage in greater vows. O Maghavan! O king of the gods! Listen. If you do not satisfy my desires, everything that I wish for, I will slice off my limbs and offer them into the fire.’ On realizing that the great-souled sage’s resolution was firm, the intelligent and wise one thought of a means of restraining him.