09.049
Library: Story of great sage Jaigīṣavya and his message to Asita and Devala. Duties of a householder versus the path of liberation.
Vaishampayana said:
In that very place, the righteous ascetic Asita Devala once lived, having embraced the duties of a householder.
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.
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.
He always worships the gods and guests along with the twice-born, remains engaged in celibacy, and is forever devoted to righteousness.
Then, O great king, the wise sage Jaigīṣavya, having approached and undertaken yoga, was deeply concentrated in that sacred place.
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.
Devala, while showing Jaigishavya, the great sage dwelling there, did not engage him righteously.
In this way, a long period elapsed, O great king. During this time, Devala did not encounter the sage Jaigīṣavya.
At mealtime, the wise ascetic Janamejaya attended Devala, who was knowledgeable in dharma, during the time of receiving alms.
Upon seeing the great sage who had come there disguised as a mendicant, he showed utmost respect and deep affection.
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.
Once upon a time, King Devala, a great soul, was deeply worried when he saw the greatly effulgent sage.
Many years have passed while I have been worshipping, yet this lazy monk has not spoken anything.
Thus contemplating, he proceeded to the vast ocean. The illustrious Devala, who traverses the skies, carried the pot.
As he was going, the righteous soul reached the ocean, the lord of rivers, and then saw Jaigīṣavya who had already arrived, O Bhārata.
Then, the dark lord, filled with wonder, pondered how this mendicant had arrived, having bathed in the ocean.
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.
After completing his daily rituals and prayers, the illustrious Janamejaya went to the hermitage, carrying a pot filled with water.
Then, as the sage entered his own hermitage, he saw Jaigishavya seated there.
Jaigīṣavya, the great ascetic, remained silent and unmoving like a piece of wood in the hermitage, not speaking to anyone.
He saw him immersed in the ocean, resembling the ocean itself, and also noticed the hermitage that had been entered earlier.
Asita and Devala, O King, contemplated wisely. They observed the power that was born from the yoga of Jaigīṣavya's penance.
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?
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.
He observed the celestial beings and the perfected ones in deep concentration. He also saw Jaigīṣavya being revered by those perfected beings.
Then Asita, who was very agitated and determined, firm in his vow, saw Jaigīṣavya going to heaven, and he was Devala.
He observed him transitioning from the world of ancestors to Yama's realm.
From there, he saw the great sage Jaigishavya proceeding to the revered realm of Soma.
The worlds of the various auspicious sacrificers were rising, and then he ascended from the worlds of the fire-sacrificers.
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.
The ascetics who perform various four-monthly sacrifices attain the same place as those who perform the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
Devala saw the place reached by the ascetics who worship with the praised Agni.
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.
Devala observed Jaigīṣavya among those who performed worship with Puṇḍarīka and Rājasūya in the worlds.
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.
Devala, who was Jaigishavya, saw all the sacrifices, including the difficult-to-obtain Sautramani, in their worlds.
O king, Devala saw Jaigiṣavya among those who perform various sacrifices with twelve-day sessions in the worlds.
Asita then saw that he had attained the same world as Mitra, Varuna, and the Adityas.
Asita saw together all the past abodes of the Rudras, the Vasus, and Bṛhaspati.
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.
He saw the sage ascending to the other three worlds with his own brilliance, and also noticed the realms of the devoted wives moving.
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.
Devala, the greatly fortunate, contemplated the unparalleled power, virtuous conduct, and the supreme perfection of Jaigīṣavya's yoga.
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.
I do not see Jaigishavya, the mighty one you praise. I wish to hear about this, as I am indeed very curious.
The perfected beings spoke:
"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."
Upon hearing the words of the accomplished sages who performed Brahma sacrifices, Asita Devala quickly rose and then fell.
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."
Upon hearing their words, Devala, the sage, once again descended through all those worlds in order.
He returned to his sacred hermitage swiftly like a bird. As he entered, he saw the sage Jaigīṣavya, known as Devala.
Then, Devala, using his intelligence and righteousness, assessed the power that was born from the yoga and penance of Jaigīṣavya.
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."
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.
The great ascetics, observing him whose intellect was shaped by renunciation, performed all his duties according to the prescribed rules.
Having renounced his intellect, the beings, along with the ancestors, cried out, "Who will distribute to us?"
Devala, upon hearing the compassionate words of the beings, decided to speak in all ten directions, resolving to abandon liberation.
Then, O Bhārata, pure fruits, roots, flowers, and herbs grow abundantly in thousands.
Devala, who is mean and evil-minded, will certainly harm us again. He does not realize the significance of granting fearlessness to all beings.
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.
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.
Devala, after contemplating these beginnings with determination, achieved the highest perfection and supreme yoga, O Bharata.
Then the gods, with Bṛhaspati at their head, gathered and praised the austerity of Jaigīṣavya and his ascetics.
Then the revered sage Nārada addressed the gods, saying: "In Jaigīṣavya, there is no penance that can astonish Asita."
The celestial beings, acknowledging the wisdom of the speaker, replied, "Not so," and praised the great sage Jaigīṣavya.
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.
