SECTION –CXXXIV
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
"Ashtavakra said, 'When no Brahmana is met
with on the way, the way belongeth to the blind, the deaf, the women, carriers
of burden, and the king respectively. But when a Brahmana is met with on the
way, it belongeth to him alone.' Thereupon the king said, 'I give the privilege
to enter. Do thou, therefore, go in by whatever way thou likest. No fire ever
so small is to be slighted. Even Indra himself boweth unto the Brahmanas.' At
this Ashtavakra said, 'We have come, O ruler of men, to witness thy sacrificial
ceremony and our curiosity, O king, is very great. And we have come here as
guests. We want the permission of thy order (to enter). And, O son of
Indradyumna, we have come, desirous of seeing the sacrifice, and to meet king
Janaka and speak to him. But thy warder obstructs us and for this our anger
burneth us like fever.' The warder said, 'We carry out the orders of Vandin.
Listen to what I have to say. Lads are not permitted to enter here and it is
only the learned old Brahmanas that are allowed to enter.' Ashtavakra said. 'If
this be the condition, O warder, that the door is open to those only that are
old, then we have a right to enter. We are old and we have observed sacred vows
and are in possession of energy proceeding from the Vedic lore. And we have
served our superiors and subdued our passions--and have also won proficiency in
knowledge. It is said that even boys are not to be slighted,--for a fire, small
though it be, burneth on being touched.' The warder replied, 'O young Brahmana,
I consider you a boy, and therefore recite, if you know, the verse
demonstrating the existence of the Supreme Being, and adored by the divine
sages, and which, although composed of one letter, is yet multifarious. Make no
vain boast. Learned men are really very rare.' Ashtavakra said, 'True growth
cannot be inferred from the mere development of the body, as the growth of the
knots of the Salmali tree cannot signify its age. That tree is called
full-grown which although slender and short, beareth fruits. But that which
doth not bear fruits, is not considered as grown.' The warder said, 'Boys
receive instruction from the old and they also in time grow old. Knowledge
certainly is not attainable in a short time. "Wherefore then being a child,
dost thou talk like an old man?' Then Ashtavakra said, 'One is not old because
his head is gray. But the gods regard him as old who, although a child in
years, is yet possessed of knowledge. The sages have not laid down that a man's
merit consists in years, or gray hair, or wealth, or friends. To us he is great
who is versed in the Vedas. I have come here, O porter, desirous of seeing
Vandin in the court. Go and inform king Janaka, who hath a garland of lotuses
on his neck, that I am here. Thou shalt to-day see me enter into a dispute with
the learned men, and defeat Vandin in a controversy. And when others have been
silenced, the Brahmanas of matured learning and the king also with his
principal priests, bear witness to the superior or the inferior quality of my
attainments.' The warder said, 'How canst thou, who art but in thy tenth year,
hope to enter into this sacrifice, into which learned and educated men only are
admitted? I shall, however, try some means for thy admittance. Do thou also try
thyself'. Ashtavakra then addressing the king said, 'O king, O foremost of
Janaka's race, thou art the paramount sovereign and all power reposeth in thee.
In times of old, king Yayati was the celebrator of sacrifices. And in the
present age, thou it is that art performer thereof. We have heard that the
learned Vandin, after defeating (in controversy) men expert in discussion,
causeth them to be drowned by faithful servants employed by thee. Hearing this,
I have come before these Brahmanas, to expound the doctrine of the unity of the
Supreme Being. Where is now Vandin? Tell me so that I may approach him, and
destroy him, even as the sun destroyeth the stars. Thereupon the king said,
'Thou hopest, O Brahmana, to defeat Vandin, not knowing his power of speech.
Can those who are familiar with his power, speak as thou dost? He hath been
sounded by Brahmanas versed in the Vedas. Thou hopest to defeat Vandin, only
because thou knowest not his powers (of speech). Many a Brahmana hath waned
before him, even as the stars before the sun. Desirous of defeating him, people
proud of their learning, have lost their glory on appearing before him, and
have retired from his presence, without even venturing to speak with the
members of the assembly.' Ashtavakra said, 'Vandin hath never entered into
disputation with a man like myself, and it is for this only that he looketh
upon himself as a lion, and goeth about roaring like one. But to-day meeting me
he will lie down dead, even like a cart on the highway, of which the wheels
have been deranged.' The king said, 'He alone is a truly learned man who
understandeth the significance of the thing that hath thirty divisions, twelve
parts twentyfour joints, and three hundred and sixty spokes.' Ashtavakra said,
'May that ever-moving wheel that hath twentyfour joints, six naves, twelve
peripheries, and sixty spokes protect thee! 1' The king said, 'Who amongst the
gods beareth those two which go together like two mares (yoked to a car), and
sweep like a hawk, and to what also do they give birth?' Ashtavakra said, 'May
God, O king, forfend the presence of these two 2 in thy house; aye, even in the
house of thine enemies. He who appeareth, having for his charioteer the wind, 3
begetteth them, and they also produce him.' Thereupon the king said, 'What is
that doth not close its eyes even while sleeping; what is it that doth not
move, even when born; what is it that hath no heart; and what doth increase
even in its own speed?' Ashtavakra said, 'It is a fish 4 that doth not close
its eye-lids, while sleeping; and it is an a egg 5 that doth not move when
produced; it is stone 6 that hath no heart; and it is a river 7 that increase
in its own speed.'
"The king said, 'It seemeth, O possessor of
divine energy, that thou art no human being. I consider thee not a boy, but a
matured man; there is no other man who can compare with thee in the art of
speech. I therefore give thee admittance. There is Vandin.'"
Footnotes
276:1 This wheel is the wheel of Time--i.e.,
measured according to the solar, lunar and astral revolutions. The importance
of Ashtavakra's reply is this: May the meritorious deeds performed at proper
times, during the revolution of this wheel of Time protect thee.
276:2 Thunder and lightning or misery and death.
276:3 Cloud or the mind.
276:4 The male being that is ever conscious.
276:5 The mundane egg.
276:6 The soul that has renounced connection with
the body.
276:7 The heart of a Yogi.
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