09.049
Library: Story of great sage Jaigīṣavya and his message to Asita and Devala. Duties of a householder versus the path of liberation.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana said:
tasminneva tu dharmātmā vasati sma tapodhanaḥ। gārhasthyaṃ dharmamāsthāya asito devalaḥ purā ॥9-49-1॥
In that very place, the righteous ascetic Asita Devala once lived, having embraced the duties of a householder.
dharmanityaḥ śucirdānto nyastadaṇḍo mahātapāḥ। karmaṇā manasā vācā samaḥ sarveṣu jantuṣu ॥9-49-2॥
He is always righteous, pure, and self-controlled, having renounced punishment and being greatly austere. He is equal towards all beings through his actions, mind, and speech.
akrodhano mahārāja tulyanindāpriyāpriyaḥ। kāñcane loṣṭake caiva samadarśī mahātapāḥ ॥9-49-3॥
The great king, free from anger, treats blame and praise alike, and views gold and a clod of earth with equal regard, being greatly austere.
devatāḥ pūjayannityamatithīṃśca dvijaiḥ saha। brahmacaryarato nityaṃ sadā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ ॥9-49-4॥
He always worships the gods and guests along with the twice-born, remains engaged in celibacy, and is forever devoted to righteousness.
tato'bhyetya mahārāja yogamāsthāya bhikṣukaḥ। jaigīṣavyo munirdhīmāṁstasmiṁstīrthe samāhitaḥ ॥9-49-5॥
Then, O great king, the wise sage Jaigīṣavya, having approached and undertaken yoga, was deeply concentrated in that sacred place.
devalasyāśrame rājannyavatas sa mahādyutiḥ। yoganityo mahārāja siddhiṃ prāpto mahātapāḥ ॥9-49-6॥
In the hermitage of Devala, O king, the greatly radiant one resided. Always devoted to yoga, O great king, he achieved perfection as a great ascetic.
taṃ tatra vasamānaṃ tu jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim। devalo darśayanneva naivāyuñjata dharmataḥ ॥9-49-7॥
Devala, while showing Jaigishavya, the great sage dwelling there, did not engage him righteously.
evaṃ tayormahārāja dīrghakālo vyatikramat। jaigīṣavyaṃ muniṃ caiva na dadarśātha devalaḥ ॥9-49-8॥
In this way, a long period elapsed, O great king. During this time, Devala did not encounter the sage Jaigīṣavya.
āhārakāle matimānparivrāḍjanamejaya। upātiṣṭhata dharmajño bhaikṣakāle sa devalam ॥9-49-9॥
At mealtime, the wise ascetic Janamejaya attended Devala, who was knowledgeable in dharma, during the time of receiving alms.
sa dṛṣṭvā bhikṣurūpeṇa prāptaṃ tatra mahāmunim। gauravaṃ paramaṃ cakre prītiṃ ca vipulāṃ tathā ॥9-49-10॥
Upon seeing the great sage who had come there disguised as a mendicant, he showed utmost respect and deep affection.
devalastu yathāśakti pūjayāmāsa bhārata। ṛṣidṛṣṭena vidhinā samā bahvyaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥9-49-11॥
Devala, however, worshipped with full devotion according to his ability, O Bharata, following the method prescribed by the sage, and remained focused for many years.
kadācittasya nṛpate devalasya mahātmanaḥ। cintā sumahatī jātā muniṃ dṛṣṭvā mahādyutim ॥9-49-12॥
Once upon a time, King Devala, a great soul, was deeply worried when he saw the greatly effulgent sage.
samāstu samatikrāntā bahvyaḥ pūjayato mama। na cāyamalaso bhikṣurabhyabhāṣata kiñcana ॥9-49-13॥
Many years have passed while I have been worshipping, yet this lazy monk has not spoken anything.
evaṃ vigaṇayanneva sa jagāma mahodadhim। antarikṣacaraḥ śrīmān kalaśaṃ gṛhya devalaḥ ॥9-49-14॥
Thus contemplating, he proceeded to the vast ocean. The illustrious Devala, who traverses the skies, carried the pot.
gacchanneva sa dharmātmā samudraṃ saritāṃ patim। jaigīṣavyaṃ tato'paśyadgataṃ prāgeva bhārata ॥9-49-15॥
As he was going, the righteous soul reached the ocean, the lord of rivers, and then saw Jaigīṣavya who had already arrived, O Bhārata.
tataḥ savismayaścintāṁ jagāmāthāsitaḥ prabhuḥ। kathaṁ bhikṣurayaṁ prāptaḥ samudre snāta eva ca ॥9-49-16॥
Then, the dark lord, filled with wonder, pondered how this mendicant had arrived, having bathed in the ocean.
ityevaṃ cintayāmāsa maharṣirasitastadā। snātvā samudre vidhivacchucirjapyaṃ jajāpa ha ॥9-49-17॥
In this manner, the great sage Asita contemplated. After performing a ritual bath in the ocean, he, purified and following the prescribed rules, recited his prayers.
kṛtajapyāhnikaḥ śrīmān āśramaṃ ca jagāma ha। kalaśaṃ jalapūrṇaṃ vai gṛhītvā janamejaya ॥9-49-18॥
After completing his daily rituals and prayers, the illustrious Janamejaya went to the hermitage, carrying a pot filled with water.
tataḥ sa praviśanneva svamāśramapadaṃ muniḥ। āsīnamāśrame tatra jaigīṣavyamapaśyata ॥9-49-19॥
Then, as the sage entered his own hermitage, he saw Jaigishavya seated there.
na vyāharati caivainaṃ jaigīṣavyaḥ kathaṃcana। kāṣṭhabhūto''śramapade vasati sma mahātapāḥ ॥9-49-20॥
Jaigīṣavya, the great ascetic, remained silent and unmoving like a piece of wood in the hermitage, not speaking to anyone.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā cāplutaṁ toye sāgare sāgaropamam। praviṣṭamāśramaṁ cāpi pūrvameva dadarśa saḥ ॥9-49-21॥
He saw him immersed in the ocean, resembling the ocean itself, and also noticed the hermitage that had been entered earlier.
asito devalo rājaṃścintayāmāsa buddhimān। dṛṣṭaḥ prabhāvaṃ tapaso jaigīṣavyasya yogajam ॥9-49-22॥
Asita and Devala, O King, contemplated wisely. They observed the power that was born from the yoga of Jaigīṣavya's penance.
cintayāmāsa rājendra tadā sa munisattamaḥ। mayā dṛṣṭaḥ samudre ca āśrame ca kathaṃ tvayam ॥9-49-23॥
O King, at that time, the best of sages pondered: How is it that I have seen you both in the ocean and in the hermitage?
evaṃ vigaṇayanneva sa munirmantrapāragaḥ। utpapātāśramāttasmādantarikṣaṃ viśāṃ pate ॥ jijñāsārthaṃ tadā bhikṣorjaigīṣavyasya devalaḥ ॥9-49-24॥
Thus, the sage Devala, who was well-versed in mantras, rose from the hermitage into the sky to inquire about the mendicant Jaigīṣavya, O lord of the people.
so'ntarikṣacarānsiddhānsamapaśyatsamāhitān। jaigīṣavyaṃ ca taiḥ siddhaiḥ pūjyamānamapaśyata ॥9-49-25॥
He observed the celestial beings and the perfected ones in deep concentration. He also saw Jaigīṣavya being revered by those perfected beings.
tato'sitaḥ susaṁrabdho vyavasāyī dṛḍhavrataḥ। apaśyadvai divaṁ yāntaṁ jaigīṣavyaṁ sa devalaḥ ॥9-49-26॥
Then Asita, who was very agitated and determined, firm in his vow, saw Jaigīṣavya going to heaven, and he was Devala.
tasmācca pitṛlokaṃ taṃ vrajantaṃ so'nvapaśyata। pitṛlokācca taṃ yāntaṃ yāmyaṃ lokamapaśyata ॥9-49-27॥
He observed him transitioning from the world of ancestors to Yama's realm.
tasmādapi samutpatya somalokamabhiṣṭutam। vrajantamanvapaśyatsa jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim ॥9-49-28॥
From there, he saw the great sage Jaigishavya proceeding to the revered realm of Soma.
lokānsamutpatantaṃ ca śubhānekāntayājinām। tato'gnihotriṇāṃ lokāṃstebhyaścāpyutpapāta ha ॥9-49-29॥
The worlds of the various auspicious sacrificers were rising, and then he ascended from the worlds of the fire-sacrificers.
darśaṃ ca paurṇamāsaṃ ca ye yajanti tapodhanāḥ। tebhyaḥ sa dadṛśe dhīmāṁllokebhyaḥ paśuyājinām ॥ vrajantaṃ lokamamalamapaśyaddevapūjitam ॥9-49-30॥
The wise ascetic appeared to those who perform the new moon and full moon sacrifices, and he saw the pure world, revered by the gods, where those who sacrifice animals go.
cāturmāsyairbahuvidhairyajante ye tapodhanāḥ। teṣāṃ sthānaṃ tathā yāntaṃ tathāgniṣṭomayājinām ॥9-49-31॥
The ascetics who perform various four-monthly sacrifices attain the same place as those who perform the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
agniṣṭutena ca tathā ye yajanti tapodhanāḥ। tatsthānamanusamprāptamanvapaśyata devalaḥ ॥9-49-32॥
Devala saw the place reached by the ascetics who worship with the praised Agni.
vājapeyaṃ kratuvaraṃ tathā bahusuvarṇakam। āharanti mahāprājñāsteṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyata ॥9-49-33॥
The greatly wise ones performed the Vājapeya sacrifice, which is considered the best, along with offering much gold, and their fame was seen across the worlds.
yajante puṇḍarīkeṇa rājasūyena caiva ye। teṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyacca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ ॥9-49-34॥
Devala observed Jaigīṣavya among those who performed worship with Puṇḍarīka and Rājasūya in the worlds.
aśvamedhaṁ kratuvaraṁ naramedhaṁ tathaiva ca। āharanti naraśreṣṭhāsteṣāṁ lokeṣvapaśyata ॥9-49-35॥
The best among men perform the horse-sacrifice and the human-sacrifice, which are considered the best of sacrifices, and they are seen in the worlds.
sarvamedhaṁ ca duṣprāpaṁ tathā sautrāmaṇiṁ ca ye। teṣāṁ lokeṣvapaśyacca jaigīṣavyaṁ sa devalaḥ ॥9-49-36॥
Devala, who was Jaigishavya, saw all the sacrifices, including the difficult-to-obtain Sautramani, in their worlds.
dvādaśāhaiś ca satrair ye yajante vividhair nṛpa। teṣāṃ lokeṣv apaśyac ca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ ॥9-49-37॥
O king, Devala saw Jaigiṣavya among those who perform various sacrifices with twelve-day sessions in the worlds.
mitrāvaruṇayorlokānādityānāṃ tathaiva ca। salokatāmanuprāptamapaśyata tato'sitaḥ ॥9-49-38॥
Asita then saw that he had attained the same world as Mitra, Varuna, and the Adityas.
rudrāṇāṃ ca vasūnāṃ ca sthānaṃ yacca bṛhaspateḥ। tāni sarvāṇyatītaṃ ca samapaśyattato'sitaḥ ॥9-49-39॥
Asita saw together all the past abodes of the Rudras, the Vasus, and Bṛhaspati.
āruhya ca gavāṃ lokaṃ prayāntaṃ brahmasatriṇām। lokānapaśyadgacchantaṃ jaigīṣavyaṃ tato'sitaḥ ॥9-49-40॥
Asita, having ascended to the realm of the cows and departing from the realm of the Brahma sacrificers, then saw Jaigīṣavya proceeding to the worlds.
trī̱ṁllokānaparānvipramutpatantaṁ svatejasā। pativratānāṁ lokāṁśca vrajantaṁ so'nvapaśyata ॥9-49-41॥
He saw the sage ascending to the other three worlds with his own brilliance, and also noticed the realms of the devoted wives moving.
tato munivaraṁ bhūyo jaigīṣavyamathāsitaḥ। nānvapaśyata yogasthamantarhitamariṁdama ॥9-49-42॥
Then, O subduer of enemies, the great sage Jaigishavya, who was seated, could no longer see the one who was absorbed in yoga and had disappeared.
so'cintayanmahābhāgo jaigīṣavyasya devalaḥ। prabhāvaṃ suvratatvaṃ ca siddhiṃ yogasya cātulām ॥9-49-43॥
Devala, the greatly fortunate, contemplated the unparalleled power, virtuous conduct, and the supreme perfection of Jaigīṣavya's yoga.
asito'pṛcchat tadā siddhām̐llokeṣu sattamān। prayataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā dhīrastānbrahmasatriṇaḥ ॥9-49-44॥
Asita, with devotion and folded hands, asked the wise and perfected beings, the best among those engaged in the pursuit of Brahman, in the worlds.
jaigīṣavyaṁ na paśyāmi taṁ śaṁsata mahaujasam। etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me ॥9-49-45॥
I do not see Jaigishavya, the mighty one you praise. I wish to hear about this, as I am indeed very curious.
siddhā ūcuḥ॥
The perfected beings spoke:
śṛṇu devala bhūtārthaṃ śaṃsatāṃ no dṛḍhavrata। jaigīṣavyo gato lokaṃ śāśvataṃ brahmaṇo'vyayam ॥9-49-46॥
"Listen, Devala, to the true essence of those who praise us, who are firm in their vows. Jaigīṣavya has reached the eternal and imperishable world of Brahman."
sa śrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ siddhānāṃ brahmasatriṇām। asito devalastūrṇamutpapāta papāta ca ॥9-49-47॥
Upon hearing the words of the accomplished sages who performed Brahma sacrifices, Asita Devala quickly rose and then fell.
tataḥ siddhāsta ūcurhi devalaṃ punareva ha। na devala gatistatra tava gantuṃ tapodhana ॥ brahmaṇaḥ sadanaṃ vipra jaigīṣavyo yadāptavān ॥9-49-48॥
Then the perfected beings said to Devala, "Indeed, there is no way for you to go there, O sage. The abode of Brahma, O wise one, is what Jaigīṣavya attained."
teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā siddhānāṃ devalaḥ punaḥ। ānupūrvyeṇa lokāṃstānsarvānavatatāra ha ॥9-49-49॥
Upon hearing their words, Devala, the sage, once again descended through all those worlds in order.
svamāśramapadaṃ puṇyamājagāma pataṅgavat। praviśanneva cāpaśyajjaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ ॥9-49-50॥
He returned to his sacred hermitage swiftly like a bird. As he entered, he saw the sage Jaigīṣavya, known as Devala.
tato buddhyā vyagaṇayad devalo dharmayuktayā। dṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṃ tapaso jaigīṣavyasya yogajam ॥9-49-51॥
Then, Devala, using his intelligence and righteousness, assessed the power that was born from the yoga and penance of Jaigīṣavya.
tato'bravīnmahātmānaṃ jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ। vinayāvanato rājannupasarpya mahāmunim ॥ mokṣadharmaṃ samāsthātumiccheyaṃ bhagavannaham ॥9-49-52॥
Then Devala, with humility, addressed the great soul Jaigishavya, as he approached the great sage, saying, "O king, I wish to understand and establish the principles of liberation, O revered one."
tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā upadeśaṁ cakāra saḥ। vidhiṁ ca yogasya paraṁ kāryākāryaṁ ca śāstrataḥ ॥9-49-53॥
Upon hearing those words, he provided the instruction, detailing the supreme method of yoga and distinguishing between duties and non-duties according to the scriptures.
saṃnyāsakṛtabuddhiṃ taṃ tato dṛṣṭvā mahātapāḥ। sarvāścāsya kriyāścakre vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥9-49-54॥
The great ascetics, observing him whose intellect was shaped by renunciation, performed all his duties according to the prescribed rules.
saṃnyāsakṛtabuddhiṃ taṃ bhūtāni pitṛbhiḥ saha। tato dṛṣṭvā praruruduḥ ko'smānsaṃvibhajiṣyati ॥9-49-55॥
Having renounced his intellect, the beings, along with the ancestors, cried out, "Who will distribute to us?"
devalastu vacaḥ śrutvā bhūtānāṃ karuṇaṃ tathā। diśo daśa vyāharatāṃ mokṣaṃ tyaktuṃ mano dadhe ॥9-49-56॥
Devala, upon hearing the compassionate words of the beings, decided to speak in all ten directions, resolving to abandon liberation.
tatastu phalamūlāni pavitrāṇi ca bhārata। puṣpāṇyoṣadhayaścaiva rorūyante sahasraśaḥ ॥9-49-57॥
Then, O Bhārata, pure fruits, roots, flowers, and herbs grow abundantly in thousands.
punarno devalaḥ kṣudro nūnaṃ chetsyati durmatiḥ। abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo yo dattvā nāvabudhyate ॥9-49-58॥
Devala, who is mean and evil-minded, will certainly harm us again. He does not realize the significance of granting fearlessness to all beings.
tato bhūyo vyagaṇayatsvabuddhyā munisattamaḥ। mokṣe gārhasthyadharme vā kiṃ nu śreyaskaraṃ bhavet ॥9-49-59॥
Then, the best of sages pondered deeply with his own intellect, questioning what would truly be beneficial: the path of liberation or the duties of a householder.
iti niścitya manasā devalo rājasattama। tyaktvā gārhasthyadharmaṃ sa mokṣadharmamarocayat ॥9-49-60॥
Thus, having made up his mind, Devala, the best among kings, decided to renounce the duties of a householder and chose the path of liberation.
evamādīni sañcintya devalo niścayāttataḥ। prāptavānparamāṃ siddhiṃ paraṃ yogaṃ ca bhārata ॥9-49-61॥
Devala, after contemplating these beginnings with determination, achieved the highest perfection and supreme yoga, O Bharata.
tato devāḥ samāgamya bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ। jaigīṣavyaṃ tapaścāsya praśaṃsanti tapasvinaḥ ॥9-49-62॥
Then the gods, with Bṛhaspati at their head, gathered and praised the austerity of Jaigīṣavya and his ascetics.
athābravīdṛṣivaro devān vai nāradas tadā। jaigīṣavye tapo nāsti vismāpayati yo'sitam ॥9-49-63॥
Then the revered sage Nārada addressed the gods, saying: "In Jaigīṣavya, there is no penance that can astonish Asita."
tamevaṃvādinaṃ dhīraṃ pratyūcuste divaukasaḥ। maivamityeva śaṃsanto jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim ॥9-49-64॥
The celestial beings, acknowledging the wisdom of the speaker, replied, "Not so," and praised the great sage Jaigīṣavya.
tatrāpyupaspṛśya tato mahātmā; dattvā ca vittaṃ halabhṛddvijebhyaḥ। avāpya dharmaṃ paramāryakarmā; jagāma somasya mahats tīrtham ॥9-49-65॥
There, the great soul, after performing the rituals and giving wealth to the brahmins, having achieved supreme virtue through noble deeds, proceeded to the great pilgrimage site of Soma.
