तीर्थयात्रा पर्व — अष्टावक्र की कथा

Ashtavakra said: When no Brahmana passes along a path, it then belongs first to the blind, then to the deaf, then to women, then to the carriers of burden and then (last of all) to the king But when a Brahmana is met on the way, it solely belongs to him.

The king said : I leave the path, go in whatever way you like. Even the smallest fire is not to be slighted. Indra himself always bows down to a Brahmana.

Ashtavakra said : O king, O ruler of men, we have come to see the sacrifice, our curiosity was very great. We have come as Athithis (guests). We ask your order on the gate-keeper.

O son of Indradumnya, we have come here with the desire of seeing the sacrifice and to see and to speak with king Janaka. We are burning with anger, for the gate-keeper stops us.

The gate-keeper said : We carry out the word of Bandi. Hear what I say. The boy are not permitted to enter here; only old and learned Brahmanas are allowed to enter.

Ashtavakra said: O gate-keeper, if this be the order that only old men can enter here, then we can enter. We also are old and we have observed severe vows. We are endued with the effulgence of the Vedas,

We have served our preceptor and we have subdued our passions and we have also obtained proficiency in knowledge. It is said that even boys must not be slighted; for the smallest fire if touched burns.

The gate-keeper said: O boy, if you know, recite the verse demonstrating the existence of the Supreme Being, adored by the celestials sages and composed of one letter though multifarious. Do not indulge in vain boasting. Learned men are very rare.

Ashtavakra said: True growth can not be inferred from the mere growth of the body, as the growth of the knots of Salmali tree cannot tell its age. That tree is called full grown, which, though slender and short, bears fruits.

The gate-keeper said : Boys receive instruction from the old and they thus in due time grow old. Knowledge cannot be obtained in a short time. Therefore why being but a child do you talk like an old man?

Ashtavakra said : One is not old, because his hair has turned white. Even boys who possess knowledge are considered to be old by the celestials.

The Rishis have not ordained that a man's merit depends on years or on gray hair or wealth or friend. To us one who is versed in the Vedas is great.

O gate-keeper, I have come with the desire of secing Bandi. Go, inform the king (Janaka) adorned with the garlands of lotuses.

O gate-keeper, you will today see me engaged in a controversial fight with all the learned men and also with Bandi and you will (also) find him defeated by me.

When others will be silenced, then the learned men and the king with his chief priests will judge my superiority or inferiority.

The gate-keeper said : How can you, who are but in your tenth year, hope to enter into the grounds of this sacrifice into which only learned and educated men are admitted? I shall however try some means to admit you. You too make an attempt.

Ashtavakra said: O king, O best of Janaka's race, you are an emperor and all wealth rest in you. In the days of yore, Yayati was the (great) performer of sacrifices and in the modern age you are the great performer of sacrifices.

We have heard that the learned Bandi, after defeating (in controversy), men who are experts in discussion, causes them to be drowned by faithful servants employed by you.

Having heard this from the Brahmanas, I have come to expound the doctrine of the Supreme Being. Where is that Bandi? Tell me, so that I may destroy him, as the sun destroys the stars.

The King said: You hope to defeat Bandi, because you do not know his power. Can they, who know him, speak as you do? He had been tested by the Brahmanas who were experts in discussion.

You hope to defeat Bandi, only because you do not know his powers. Many Brahmanas that assembled did not shine before him as the stars do not shine before the sun.

Being desirous of defeating him, they proud of their learning, have lost their glory on simply appearing before him. They have retired from his presence without even venturing to speak with the members of the assembly.

Ashtavakra said : Bandi has never had an occasion to hold a discussion with a man like me. It is only for this reasor, that he considers himself as a lion and goes about roaring like one. But when he will meet me today, he will lie down (dead) as a cart breaks down on the road when its wheels have been deranged.

The King said : He alone is a really learned man who understands the thing that has thirty divisions, twelve parts, twenty-four joints and three hundred and sixty spokes.

Ashtavakra said: May that ever-revolving wheel (Time) that has twenty-four joints, six naves twelve peripheries and sixty spokes protect you.

The King said : Who among the celestials gives birth to those who which go together like two yoked mares and swoop down like hawks; and to what also do they give birth?

Ashtavakra said : O king, may God keep away from your house those two (thunder and lightning), nay cven from the house of your enemies. He who appears with the wind as his charioteer (cloud or mind) gives, birth to them and they also produce him.

The King said: What is it that does not close its eyes even when it is asleep? What is it that does not move when born? What is it that has no heart and what is it that increases in its speed?

Ashtavakra said: It is a fish that does not close its eyes when asleep. It is an egg that does not move even when born. It is stone that has no heart. It is a river that increases in its speed.

The King said : Opossessor of divine energy, it appears that you are not a human being. I do not consider that you are a boy. I consider you to be a grown up man. There is none who can be compared with you in learning. Therefore I give you admittance. Yonder is Bandi.