The story of the Rishi Asita Devala (ch50)

CHAPTER 50

(GADAYUDDHA PARVA)-Continued 

The story of the Rishi Asita Devala 

SYNOPSIS

Vaishampayana narrates the profound tale of two illustrious sages, Asita-Devala and Jaigishavya, whose lives exemplify the heights of spiritual discipline and devotion.

Asita-Devala, a virtuous Rishi and householder, lived a life of unwavering purity, self-restraint, and compassion for all beings. Equally unaffected by praise or criticism, he treated all creatures with impartiality. Daily, he worshipped the gods, served his guests, and observed the vow of Brahmacharya with strict discipline.

One day, Jaigishavya, an enigmatic mendicant devoted to Yoga and deep meditation, arrived at Devala’s hermitage. Silent and detached, Jaigishavya exuded a profound spiritual presence. Devala, though puzzled by Jaigishavya’s silence, honored him for many years with hospitality and reverence.

Curiosity grew within Devala as he witnessed Jaigishavya’s extraordinary abilities, including his power to appear in multiple places simultaneously. One day, after losing sight of Jaigishavya, Devala pursued him across celestial realms. He observed Jaigishavya visiting the regions of Yama, Soma, the gods, and ascetics who performed the highest sacrifices, such as Ashvamedha and Rajasuya. Ultimately, Jaigishavya ascended to the eternal region of Brahman, leaving Devala astonished and reflective.

Determined to understand Jaigishavya’s spiritual greatness, Devala sought his guidance to attain Moksha (emancipation). Jaigishavya graciously initiated Devala into the mysteries of Yoga and the duties necessary for spiritual liberation. However, Devala faced an internal conflict, torn between his responsibilities as a householder and the renunciation required for Moksha.

After deep contemplation, Devala chose the path of renunciation, achieving spiritual liberation and mastery in Yoga. His determination caused all living creatures to lament the loss of his protective presence, as he had previously vowed to harm no being. Despite their grief, Devala’s resolve brought him the highest spiritual success.

The celestial beings, led by Brihaspati, praised Jaigishavya’s unparalleled spiritual power and penance. Narada proclaimed that Jaigishavya’s feats even astonished great sages like Asita-Devala. Their hermitage became a sacred Tirtha, revered by gods and humans alike as a place of profound spiritual merit.

Thus, the tale highlights the transformative power of devotion, the conflict between worldly and spiritual duties, and the boundless potential of Yoga and renunciation.

CHAPTER 50

वैशम्पायन उवाच
तस्मिन्नेव तु धर्मात्मा वसति स्म तपोधनः ।
गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममास्थाय ह्यसितो देवलः पुरा ॥ १ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
tasminneva tu dharmātmā vasati sma tapodhanaḥ |
gārhasthyaṃ dharmamāsthāya hyasito devalaḥ purā || 1 ||

Vaishampayana said

"In this Tirtha lived formerly a virtuous Rishi, named Asita-Devala, leading the life of a house-holder.

धर्मनित्यः शुचिर्दान्तो न्यस्तदण्डो महातपाः ।
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा समः सर्वेषु जन्तुषु ॥ २ ॥

dharmanityaḥ śucirdānto nyastadaṇḍo mahātapāḥ |
karmaṇā manasā vācā samaḥ sarveṣu jantuṣu || 2 ||

He led a life of purity and self-restraint. Possessed of great ascetic merit, he was compassionate to all creatures and never injured anyone. In words, deed, and thought, he behaved equally toward all creatures.

 
अक्रोधनो महाराज तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ।
प्रियाप्रिये तुल्यवृत्तिर्यमवत् समदर्शनः ॥ ३ ॥

akrodhano mahārāja tulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ |
priyāpriye tulyavṛttiryamavat samadarśanaḥ || 3 ||

O monarch, censure, and praise were equal to him who was without wrath, he was, like Yama himself, thoroughly impartial, treating all alike.

काञ्चने लोष्ठभावे च समदर्शी महातपाः ।
देवानपूजयन्नित्यमतिथींश्च द्विजैः सह ॥ ४ ॥
ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नित्यं सदा धर्मपरायणः ।

kāñcane loṣṭhabhāve ca samadarśī mahātapāḥ |
devānapūjayannityamatithīṃśca dvijaiḥ saha || 4 ||
brahmacaryarato nityaṃ sadā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ |

The great ascetic looked with an equal eye upon gold and pebbles. He daily worshipped the gods and guests and the Brahmanas. Righteous himself he always practised the vow of Brahmacharya.

ततोऽभ्येत्य महाभाग योगमास्थाय भिक्षुकः ॥ ५ ॥
जैगीषव्यो मुनिर्धीमास्तस्मिंस्तीर्थं समाहितः ।
देवलस्याश्रमे राजन्यवसत् स महाद्युतिः ॥ ६ ॥

tato’bhyetya mahābhāga yogamāsthāya bhikṣukaḥ || 5 ||
jaigīṣavyo munirdhīmāstasmiṃstīrthaṃ samāhitaḥ |
devalasyāśrame rājanyavasat sa mahādyutiḥ || 6 ||

Once upon a time, an intelligent ascetic, O king, of the name of Jaigishavya, devoted to Yoga and rapt in meditation and leading the life of a mendicant, came to Devala's hermitage.

योगनित्यो महाराज सिद्धिं प्राप्तो महातपाः ।
तं तत्र वसमानं तु जैगीषव्यं महामुनिम् ॥ ७ ॥

yoganityo mahārāja siddhiṃ prāpto mahātapāḥ |
taṃ tatra vasamānaṃ tu jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim || 7 ||

That great ascetic ever practicing Yoga, O monarch, while residing in Devala's hermitage became crowned with ascetic success.

देवलो दर्शयन्नेव नैवायुञ्जत धर्मतः ।
एवं तयोर्महाराज दीर्घकालो व्यतिक्रमत् ॥ ८ ॥

devalo darśayanneva naivāyuñjata dharmataḥ |
evaṃ tayormahārāja dīrghakālo vyatikramat || 8 ||

Indeed, while the great Muni Jaigishavya lived there, Devala always paid him attention, never neglecting him at any time.

जैगीषव्यं मुनिवरं व ददर्शाथ देवलः ।
आहारकाले मतिमान् परिव्राड् जनमेजय ॥ ९ ॥

jaigīṣavyaṃ munivaraṃ va dadarśātha devalaḥ |
āhārakāle matimān parivrāḍ janamejaya || 9 ||

Thus, O king, they both lived long together. On one occasion, Devala lost sight of Jaigishavya, that foremost of ascetics.

उपातिष्ठत धर्मज्ञो भैक्षकाले स देवलम् ।
स दृष्ट्वा भिक्षुरूपेण प्राप्तं तत्र महामुनिम् ॥ १० ॥

upātiṣṭhata dharmajño bhaikṣakāle sa devalam |
sa dṛṣṭvā bhikṣurūpeṇa prāptaṃ tatra mahāmunim || 10 ||

At the hour, however, of dinner, O Janamejaya, the intelligent and righteous ascetic, leading a life of mendicancy, approached Devala for soliciting aims.

 
गौरवं परमं चक्रे प्रीतिं च विपुला तथा ।
देवलस्तु यथाशक्ति पूजयामास भारत।। ११॥

gauravaṃ paramaṃ cakre prītiṃ ca vipulā tathā |
devalastu yathāśakti pūjayāmāsa bhārata|| 11||

Seeing that great ascetic reappear in the guise of a mendicant, Devala paid him great honors and expressed much gratification.

ऋषिदृष्टेन विधिना समा बह्वीः समाहितः ।
ṛṣidṛṣṭena vidhinā samā bahvīḥ samāhitaḥ |

And Devala adored his guest, O Bharata, according to his might, according to the rites laid down by the Rishis and with great attention for many years. By the method prescribed by the sages, he remained concentrated for many years.

कदाचित् तस्य नृपते देवलस्य महात्मनः ॥ १२ ॥
चिन्ता सुमहती जाता मुनिं दृष्ट्वा महाद्युतिम् ।

kadācit tasya nṛpate devalasya mahātmanaḥ || 12 ||
cintā sumahatī jātā muniṃ dṛṣṭvā mahādyutim |

One day, however, O king, in the sight of that great Muni, a deep anxiety distributed the mind of the high-souled Devala.

समास्तु समतिक्रान्ता बह्व्यः पूजयतो मम ॥ १३ ॥
न चायमलसो भिक्षुरभ्यभाषत किंचन ।

samāstu samatikrāntā bahvyaḥ pūjayato mama || 13 ||
na cāyamalaso bhikṣurabhyabhāṣata kiṃcana |

The latter thought within himself - "Many years have I passed in adoring this ascetic. This idle mendicant, however, has not yet spoken to me a single word!”

एवं विगणयन्नेव स जगाम महोदधिम् ॥ १४ ॥
अन्तरिक्षचरः श्रीमान् कलशं गृह्य देवलः ।

evaṃ vigaṇayanneva sa jagāma mahodadhim || 14 ||
antarikṣacaraḥ śrīmān kalaśaṃ gṛhya devalaḥ |

Having thought thus the blessed Devala proceeded to the banks of the ocean through the sky, carrying his earthen pitcher.

 
गच्छन्नेव स धर्मात्मा समुद्रं सरितां पतिंम् ।। १५ ।।
जैगीषव्यं ततोऽपश्यद् गतं प्रागेव भारत ।

gacchanneva sa dharmātmā samudraṃ saritāṃ patiṃm || 15 ||
jaigīṣavyaṃ tato’paśyad gataṃ prāgeva bhārata |

Arrived at the cost of the Ocean, that lord of rivers, O Bharata, the righteous Devala saw Jaigishavya arrive there before him.

 
ततः सविस्मयश्चिन्तां जगामाथामितप्रभः ॥ १६ ॥
कथं भिक्षुरयं प्राप्तः समुद्रेः स्नात एव च ।

tataḥ savismayaścintāṃ jagāmāthāmitaprabhaḥ || 16 ||
kathaṃ bhikṣurayaṃ prāptaḥ samudreḥ snāta eva ca |

Thereat the lord Asita, became filled with wonder and thought within himself - "How could the mendicant come to the ocean and perform his ablutions even before my arrival?'

 
इत्येव चिन्तयामास महर्षिरसितस्तदा ॥ १७ ॥
स्नात्वा समुद्रे विधिवच्छुचिर्जप्यं जजाप सः ।

ityeva cintayāmāsa maharṣirasitastadā || 17 ||
snātvā samudre vidhivacchucirjapyaṃ jajāpa saḥ |

Thus thought the great Rishi Asita. Duly performing his ablutions there and purifying himself thereby, he then began to silently recite the sacred mantras.

कृतजप्याह्निकः श्रीमानाश्रमं च जगाम ह ।। १८ ।
कलशं जलपूर्णं वै गृहीत्वा जनमेजय ।

kṛtajapyāhnikaḥ śrīmānāśramaṃ ca jagāma ha || 18 |
kalaśaṃ jalapūrṇaṃ vai gṛhītvā janamejaya |

Having finished his ablutions and silent prayers, the blessed Devala returned to his hermitage, O Janamejaya, taking with him his earthen pitcher filled with water.

 
ततः स प्रविशन्नेव स्वमाश्रमपदं मुनिः ॥ १९ ॥
आसीनमाश्रमे तत्र जैगीषव्यमपश्यत।

tataḥ sa praviśanneva svamāśramapadaṃ muniḥ || 19 ||
āsīnamāśrame tatra jaigīṣavyamapaśyata|

As the ascetic, however, entered his hermitage, he saw Jaigishavya seated there.

 
न व्याहरति चैवेनं जैगीषव्यः कथंचन ॥ २० ॥
काष्ठभूतोऽऽश्रमपदे वसति स्म महातपाः ।

na vyāharati caivenaṃ jaigīṣavyaḥ kathaṃcana || 20 ||
kāṣṭhabhūto’’śramapade vasati sma mahātapāḥ |

The great ascetic Jaigishavya never spoke a word to Devala but lived in the latter's hermitage like a log of wood.

तं दृष्ट्वा चाप्लुतं तोये सागरे सागरोपमम् ॥२१॥
प्रविष्टमाश्रमं चापि पूर्वमेव ददर्श सः ।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā cāplutaṃ toye sāgare sāgaropamam ||21||
praviṣṭamāśramaṃ cāpi pūrvameva dadarśa saḥ |

Having seen that ascetic, who was an ocean of austerities, plunged into the waters of the ocean (before his arrival there), Asita now saw him return to his hermitage before his return.

असितो देवलो राजश्चिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान् ॥ २२॥
दृष्ट्वा प्रभावं तपसो जैगीषव्यस्य योगजम्।

asito devalo rājaścintayāmāsa buddhimān || 22||
dṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṃ tapaso jaigīṣavyasya yogajam|

Witnessing this Yoga power, of Jaigishavya, the intelligent Asita-Devala, O king, began to think over the matter.

चिन्तयामास राजेन्द्र तदा स मुनिसत्तमः ॥ २३ ॥
मया दृष्टः समुद्रे च आश्रमे च कथं त्वयम् ।

cintayāmāsa rājendra tadā sa munisattamaḥ || 23 ||
mayā dṛṣṭaḥ samudre ca āśrame ca kathaṃ tvayam |

Indeed, that best of ascetics, O king, wondered much, saying - "How could this one be seen in the ocean and again in my hermitage?”

एवं विगणयन्नेव स मुनिर्मन्त्रपारगः ॥ २४ ॥
उत्पपाताश्रमात् तस्मादन्तरिक्षं विशाम्पते ।
जिज्ञासार्थं तदा भिक्षोर्जेगीषव्यस्य देवलः ॥ २५ ॥
सोऽन्तरिक्षचरान् सिद्धान् समपश्यत् समाहितान् ।
जैगीषव्यं च तैः सिद्धैः पूज्यमानमपश्यत ॥ २६ ॥

evaṃ vigaṇayanneva sa munirmantrapāragaḥ || 24 ||
utpapātāśramāt tasmādantarikṣaṃ viśāmpate |
jijñāsārthaṃ tadā bhikṣorjegīṣavyasya devalaḥ || 25 ||
so’ntarikṣacarān siddhān samapaśyat samāhitān |
jaigīṣavyaṃ ca taiḥ siddhaiḥ pūjyamānamapaśyata || 26 ||

While immersed in these thoughts, the ascetic Devala, conversant with mantras then soared aloft, O king, from his hermitage into the sky, to ascertain who the mendicant Jaigishavya really was. Devala saw numbers of sky-ranging Siddhas rapt in meditation and Jaigishavya reverentially adored by them.

ततोऽसितः सुसंरब्धो व्यवसायी दृढव्रतः ।
अपश्यद् वै दिवं यान्तं जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ॥ २७॥

tato’sitaḥ susaṃrabdho vyavasāyī dṛḍhavrataḥ |
apaśyad vai divaṃ yāntaṃ jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ || 27||

Devala became filled with wrath at the sight. He then saw Jaigishavya start for heaven.

तस्मात् तु पितृलोकं तं व्रजन्तं सोऽन्वपश्यत ।
पितृलोकाच तं यान्तं याम्यं लोकमपश्यत ॥ २८ ॥

tasmāt tu pitṛlokaṃ taṃ vrajantaṃ so’nvapaśyata |
pitṛlokāca taṃ yāntaṃ yāmyaṃ lokamapaśyata || 28 ||

He next saw him proceed to the region of the Pitris. Devala saw him and then proceeded to the region of Yama.

तस्मादपि समुत्पत्य सोमलोकमभिप्लुतम्।
व्रजन्तमन्वपश्यत् स जैगीषव्यं महामुनिम् ।। २९ ।।
लोकान् समुत्पतन्तं तु शुभानेकान्तयाजिनाम् ।

tasmādapi samutpatya somalokamabhiplutam|
vrajantamanvapaśyat sa jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim || 29 ||
lokān samutpatantaṃ tu śubhānekāntayājinām |

From Yama's region, the great ascetic Jaigishavya was then seen to soar aloft and proceed to the region of Soma. He was then seen to proceed to the blessed regions of the performers of various rigid sacrifices.

 
ततोऽग्निहोत्रिणां लोकांस्ततश्चाप्युत्पपात ह ॥ ३० ॥
दर्श च पौर्णमासं च ये यजन्ति तपोधनाः ।

tato’gnihotriṇāṃ lokāṃstataścāpyutpapāta ha || 30 ||
darśa ca paurṇamāsaṃ ca ye yajanti tapodhanāḥ |

Thence he proceeded to the regions of the Agnihotris and thence to the regions of those ascetics that perform the Darsha and the Paurnamasa sacrifices.

तेभ्यः स दृदशे धीमाँल्लोकेभ्य: पशुयाजिनाम् ॥ ३१॥
व्रजन्तं लोकममलमपश्यद् देवपूजितम् ।

tebhyaḥ sa dṛdaśe dhīmāṁllokebhya: paśuyājinām || 31||
vrajantaṃ lokamamalamapaśyad devapūjitam |

The intelligent Devala then beholds him go from those regions of persons performing sacrifices by killing animals to that pure region which is adored by the very gods.

 
चातुर्मास्यैर्बहुविधैर्यजते ये तपोधनाः ॥ ३२ ॥
तेषां स्थानं ततो यातं तथाग्निष्टोमयाजिनाम् ।
अग्निष्टतेन च तथा ये यजन्ति तपोधनाः ॥ ३३ ॥

cāturmāsyairbahuvidhairyajate ye tapodhanāḥ || 32 ||
teṣāṃ sthānaṃ tato yātaṃ tathāgniṣṭomayājinām |
agniṣṭatena ca tathā ye yajanti tapodhanāḥ || 33 ||

Devala next saw the mendicant proceed to the place of those ascetics who performed the sacrifice called Chaturmasya and various others of the same kind. Thence he went to the region belonging to the performers of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Devala then saw his guest go to the place of those ascetics who performed the sacrifice called Agnishutta.

 
तत् स्थानमनुसम्प्राप्तमन्वपश्यत देवलः ।
वाजपेयं क्रतुवरं तथा बहुसुवर्णकम् ॥ ३४ ॥

tat sthānamanusamprāptamanvapaśyata devalaḥ |
vājapeyaṃ kratuvaraṃ tathā bahusuvarṇakam || 34 ||

Devala next saw him in the regions of those highly wise men that perform that foremost of sacrifices, viz.., Vajapeya and the other sacrifice in which enough of gold is necessary.

आहरन्ति महाप्राज्ञास्तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यत।
यजन्ते राजसूयेन पुण्डरीकेण चैव ये || ३५ ॥

āharanti mahāprājñāsteṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyata|
yajante rājasūyena puṇḍarīkeṇa caiva ye || 35 ||

Then he saw Jaigishavya in the region of those that perform the Rajasuya and Pundarika.

 
तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यच जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ।
अश्वमेधं क्रतुवरं नरमेधं तथैव च ॥ ३६ ॥

teṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyaca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ |
aśvamedhaṃ kratuvaraṃ naramedhaṃ tathaiva ca || 36 ||

He then saw him in the regions of those foremost men who performed the horse sacrifice and the human sacrifice.

आहरन्ति नरश्रेष्ठास्तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यत ।
सर्वमेधं त दुष्प्रापं तथा सौत्रामणिं च ये ॥३७॥

āharanti naraśreṣṭhāsteṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyata |
sarvamedhaṃ ta duṣprāpaṃ tathā sautrāmaṇiṃ ca ye ||37||

Indeed, Devala saw Jaigishavya in the regions also of those that celebrate the sacrifice called Sautramani and that other in which the flesh of all living animals is required.

 
तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यच जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ।
द्वादशाहैश्च सत्रैश्च यजन्ते विविधैर्नृप ॥ ३८ ॥

teṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyaca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ |
dvādaśāhaiśca satraiśca yajante vividhairnṛpa || 38 ||

Jaigishavya was then seen in the regions of those that perform the sacrifice called Dadashaha and various others of a similar nature.

तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यच जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ।
मैत्रावरुणयोर्लोकानादित्य ॥ तथैव च ॥ ३९ ॥

teṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyaca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ |
maitrāvaruṇayorlokānāditya || tathaiva ca || 39 ||

Asita next saw his guest sojourning in the region of Mitravaruna and then in that of Adityas.

सलोकतामनुप्राप्तमपश्यत ततोऽसितः ।
रुद्राणां च वसूनां च स्थानं यच्च बृहस्पतेः ॥ ४० ॥

salokatāmanuprāptamapaśyata tato’sitaḥ |
rudrāṇāṃ ca vasūnāṃ ca sthānaṃ yacca bṛhaspateḥ || 40 ||

Asita then saw his guest go through the regions of the Rudras, the Vasus, and Brihaspati.

तानि सर्वाण्यतीतानि समपश्यत् ततो ऽसितः ।
आरुह्य च गवां लोके प्रयातो ब्रह्मसत्रिणाम् ॥ ४१ ॥
लोकानपश्यद् गच्छन्तं जैगीषव्यं ततो ऽसितः ।

tāni sarvāṇyatītāni samapaśyat tato ’sitaḥ |
āruhya ca gavāṃ loke prayāto brahmasatriṇām || 41 ||
lokānapaśyad gacchantaṃ jaigīṣavyaṃ tato ’sitaḥ |

Thereafter, Asita crossed all that saw him. Having soared next into the blessed region called Golaka, Jaigishavya was next seen to pass into those of the Brahmasatris.

 
त्रींल्लोकानपरान् विप्रमुत्पतन्तं स्वतेजसा ॥ ४२ ॥
पतिव्रतानां लोकांश्च व्रजन्तं सोऽन्वपश्यत ।

trīṃllokānaparān vipramutpatantaṃ svatejasā || 42 ||
pativratānāṃ lokāṃśca vrajantaṃ so’nvapaśyata |

Having his energy passed through three other regions, he was seen to go to those regions that are reserved for women who are chaste and devoted to their husbands.

ततो मुनिवरं भूयो जैगीषव्यमथासितः ।। ४३ ।।
नान्वपश्यत लोकस्थमन्तर्हितमरिंदम ।

tato munivaraṃ bhūyo jaigīṣavyamathāsitaḥ || 43 ||
nānvapaśyata lokasthamantarhitamariṃdama |

At this point, O chastiser of foes, Asita lost sight of Jaigishavya that foremost of ascetics, who, rapt in Yoga, disappeared from his view.

 
सोऽचिन्तयन्महाभागो जैगीषव्यस्य देवलः ॥ ४४॥
प्रभावं सुव्रतत्वं च सिद्धिं योगस्य चातुलाम् ।

so’cintayanmahābhāgo jaigīṣavyasya devalaḥ || 44||
prabhāvaṃ suvratatvaṃ ca siddhiṃ yogasya cātulām |

The highly blessed Devala then reflected upon the power of Jaigishavya his vows and success in Yoga.

असितोऽपृच्छत सदा सिद्धाँल्लोकेषु सत्तमान् ॥ ४५ ॥
प्रयत: प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा धीरस्तान् ब्रह्मसत्रिणः ।
जैगीषव्यं न पश्यामि तं शंसध्वं महौजसम् ॥ ४६ ॥
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ।

asito’pṛcchata sadā siddhāṁllokeṣu sattamān || 45 ||
prayata: prāñjalirbhūtvā dhīrastān brahmasatriṇaḥ |
jaigīṣavyaṃ na paśyāmi taṃ śaṃsadhvaṃ mahaujasam || 46 ||
etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me |

Then the self-restrained Asita, with joined hands and in a reverential spirit, enquired of those foremost of Siddhas in the regions of the Brahmasatris, saying " [ do not see Jaigishavya! Tell me when that energetic ascetic is! I desire to hear this, for great is my curiosity !'

सिद्धा उचुः
शृणु देवल भूतार्थं शंसता नो दृढव्रत ॥ ४७ ॥
जैगीषव्यं स वै लोकं शाश्वतं ब्रह्मणो गतः ।

siddhā ucuḥ
śṛṇu devala bhūtārthaṃ śaṃsatā no dṛḍhavrata || 47 ||
jaigīṣavyaṃ sa vai lokaṃ śāśvataṃ brahmaṇo gataḥ |

Siddhas said

Listen, O Devala of rigid vows, we speak to you the truth! Jaigishavya has gone to the eternal region of Brahman!'

वैशम्पायन उवाच
स श्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां सिद्धानां ब्रह्मसत्रिणाम्॥४८॥
असितो देवलस्तूर्णमुत्पपात पपात च ।
ततः सिद्धास्त ऊचुर्हि देवलं पुनरेव ह ॥ ४९ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
sa śrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ siddhānāṃ brahmasatriṇām||48||
asito devalastūrṇamutpapāta papāta ca |
tataḥ siddhāsta ūcurhi devalaṃ punareva ha || 49 ||

Vaishampayana said

"Hearing these words of those Siddhas, living in the regions of the Brahmasatris, Asita tried to soar aloft but he soon fell.

न देवलगतिस्तत्र तव गन्तुं तपोधन ।
ब्रह्मणः सदने विप्र जैगीषव्यो यदाप्तवान् ॥ ५०॥

na devalagatistatra tava gantuṃ tapodhana |
brahmaṇaḥ sadane vipra jaigīṣavyo yadāptavān || 50||

The Siddhas then, once more addressing Devala said to him - "You O Devala, are not competent to proceed to the region of Brahman, where Jaigishavya has gone!

वैशम्पायन उवाच
तेषां तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सिद्धानां देवलः पुनः ।
अनुपूर्व्येण लोकांस्तान् सर्वानवततार ह ।। ५१ ।।

 
vaiśampāyana uvāca
teṣāṃ tad vacanaṃ śrutvā siddhānāṃ devalaḥ punaḥ |
anupūrvyeṇa lokāṃstān sarvānavatatāra ha || 51 ||

Vaishampayana said

"Hearing those words of the Siddhas, Devala came down, descending from one region to another in due succession.

स्वमाश्रमपद् पुण्यमाजगाम पतत्त्रिवत् ।
प्रविशत्रेव चापश्यजैगीषव्यं स देवलः ॥ ५२ ॥

svamāśramapad puṇyamājagāma patattrivat |
praviśatreva cāpaśyajaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ || 52 ||

He repaired to his own sacred hermitage very quickly, like a winged insect. As soon as he entered his abode he beheld Jaigishavya seated there.

ततो बुद्ध्या व्यगणयद् देवलो धर्मयुक्त्या ।
दृष्ट्वा प्रभावं तपसो जैगीषव्यस्य योगजम् ॥ ५३ ॥
ततोऽब्रवीन्महात्मानं जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ।
विनयावनतो राजन्नुपसर्प्य महामुनिम् ॥ ५४ ॥
मोक्षधर्मं समास्थातुमिच्छेयं भगवन्नहम्।

tato buddhyā vyagaṇayad devalo dharmayuktyā |
dṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṃ tapaso jaigīṣavyasya yogajam || 53 ||
tato’bravīnmahātmānaṃ jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ |
vinayāvanato rājannupasarpya mahāmunim || 54 ||
mokṣadharmaṃ samāsthātumiccheyaṃ bhagavannaham|

Then beholding his Yoga power Devala, reflected upon it with his righteous understanding and approaching that great ascetic, O king, with humility, addressed the great Jaigishavya, saying I desire, O adorable one, to acquire Moksha (Emancipation)!'

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वां उपदेशं चकार सः ।। ५५॥
विधिं च योगस्य परं कार्याकार्यस्य शास्त्रतः ।

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvāṃ upadeśaṃ cakāra saḥ || 55||
vidhiṃ ca yogasya paraṃ kāryākāryasya śāstrataḥ |

Hearing these words of his, Jaigishavya gave him lessons. And he also initiated him into the mysteries of Yoga and taught him the all-important and obligatory duties of individuals as also their reverses.

संन्यासकृतबुद्धि तं ततो दृष्ट्वा महातपाः ॥ ५६ ॥
सर्वाश्चास्य क्रियाश्चक्रे विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ।

saṃnyāsakṛtabuddhi taṃ tato dṛṣṭvā mahātapāḥ || 56 ||
sarvāścāsya kriyāścakre vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā |

The holy personage of hard austerities, seeing him thus determined, performed all the sacred rites according to the injunctions laid down for that purpose.

संन्यासकृतबुद्धिः तं भूतानि पितृभिः सह ॥ ५७ ॥
ततो दृष्ट्वा प्ररुरुदुः कोऽस्मान् संविभजिष्यति ।

saṃnyāsakṛtabuddhiḥ taṃ bhūtāni pitṛbhiḥ saha || 57 ||
tato dṛṣṭvā praruruduḥ ko’smān saṃvibhajiṣyati |

Then all creatures with the Pitris, seeing Devala determined to adopt the religion of emancipation began to weep, saying - "Alas, who will hereafter offer us food!'

देवलस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा भूतानां करुणं तथा ॥ ५८ ॥
दिशो दश व्याहरतां मोक्षं त्यक्तुं मनो दधे ।

devalastu vacaḥ śrutvā bhūtānāṃ karuṇaṃ tathā || 58 ||
diśo daśa vyāharatāṃ mokṣaṃ tyaktuṃ mano dadhe |

Hearing these lamentations of all creatures that resounded through all the points of the horizon, Devala thought of renouncing the religion of emancipation.

ततस्तु फलमूलानि पवित्राणि च भारत ।। ५९॥
पुष्पाण्योषधयश्चैव रोरूयन्ति सहस्रशः ।
पुनर्नो देवलः क्षुद्रो नूनं छेत्स्यति दुर्मतिः ॥ ६० ॥
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो यो दत्त्वा नावबुध्यते ।

tatastu phalamūlāni pavitrāṇi ca bhārata || 59||
puṣpāṇyoṣadhayaścaiva rorūyanti sahasraśaḥ |
punarno devalaḥ kṣudro nūnaṃ chetsyati durmatiḥ || 60 ||
abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo yo dattvā nāvabudhyate |

Then all sorts of sacred fruits and roots, O Bharata and thousands of flowers and deciduous herbs, began to weep, saying, the wicked and mean Devala will, forsooth, once more pluck and cut us! Alas, having once promised all creatures no injury, he sees not the wrong that he thinks of doing.

ततो भूयो व्यगणयत् स्वबुद्ध्या मुनिसत्तमः ॥ ६१॥
मोक्षे गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे वा किं नु श्रेयस्करं भवेत् ।

tato bhūyo vyagaṇayat svabuddhyā munisattamaḥ || 61||
mokṣe gārhasthyadharme vā kiṃ nu śreyaskaraṃ bhavet |

Thereat that foremost of ascetics began to think with the help of his understanding, saying "Which of the two, viz., the religion of Moksha or that of a house-holder, will be the better for me?

इति निश्चित्य मनसा देवलो राजसत्तम ॥ ६२ ॥
त्यक्त्वा गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं स मोक्षधर्ममरोचयत् ।

iti niścitya manasā devalo rājasattama || 62 ||
tyaktvā gārhasthyadharmaṃ sa mokṣadharmamarocayat |

Meditating on this, Devala, O king, relinquished the life of a householder and adopted that of Moksha.

एवमादीनि संचिन्त्य देवलो निश्चयात् ततः ॥ ६३ ॥
प्राप्तवान् परमां सिद्धिं परं योगं च भारत ।

evamādīni saṃcintya devalo niścayāt tataḥ || 63 ||
prāptavān paramāṃ siddhiṃ paraṃ yogaṃ ca bhārata |

Having thought thus, Devala, on account of this determination, acquired the highest success, O Bharata, and the highest Yoga.

 
ततो देवाः समागम्य बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः ॥ ६४ ॥
जैगीषव्ये तपश्चास्य प्रशंसन्ति तपस्विनः ।

tato devāḥ samāgamya bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ || 64 ||
jaigīṣavye tapaścāsya praśaṃsanti tapasvinaḥ |

The celestials then, led by Brihaspati, praised Jaigishavya and the penances of that ascetic.

अथाब्रवीदृषिवरो देवान् वै नारदस्तथा ॥ ६५ ॥
जैगीषव्ये तपो नास्ति विस्मापयति योऽसितम् ।

athābravīdṛṣivaro devān vai nāradastathā || 65 ||
jaigīṣavye tapo nāsti vismāpayati yo’sitam |

Then that best of ascetics, viz., Narada, said to the gods "There is no penance in Jaigishavya since he filled Asita with wonder!'

 
तमेवंवादिनं धीरं प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः ॥ ६६ ॥
नैवमित्येव शंसन्तो जैगीषव्यं महामुनिम् ।

tamevaṃvādinaṃ dhīraṃ pratyūcuste divaukasaḥ || 66 ||
naivamityeva śaṃsanto jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim |

The inhabitants of heaven then said to Narada who has communicated such dangerous words. Do not say about the great ascetic Jaigishavya!

नातः परतरं किंचित् तुल्यमस्ति प्रभावतः ॥ ६७ ॥
तेजसस्तपसश्चास्य योगस्य च महात्मनः

nātaḥ parataraṃ kiṃcit tulyamasti prabhāvataḥ || 67 ||
tejasastapasaścāsya yogasya ca mahātmanaḥ

There is no one superior or even equal to this great one in energy, penance, and Yoga.

 
एवं प्रभावो धर्मात्मा जैगीषव्यस्तथासितः ।
तयोरिदं स्थानवरं तीर्थं चैव महात्मनोः ॥ ६८ ॥

evaṃ prabhāvo dharmātmā jaigīṣavyastathāsitaḥ |
tayoridaṃ sthānavaraṃ tīrthaṃ caiva mahātmanoḥ || 68 ||

Such was the power of Jaigishavya as also of Asita. Here lived those two and this is the Tirtha of those two great persons.

तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य ततो महात्मा
दत्त्वा च वित्तं हलभृद् द्विजेभ्यः ।
अवाप्य धर्मं परमार्थकर्मा
जगाम सोमस्य महत् सुतीर्थम् ॥ ६९ ॥

tatrāpyupaspṛśya tato mahātmā
dattvā ca vittaṃ halabhṛd dvijebhyaḥ |
avāpya dharmaṃ paramārthakarmā
jagāma somasya mahat sutīrtham || 69 ||

Bathing there and distributing wealth to the Brahmanas, the great wielder of the plow, of great deeds, acquired great merit and then went to the Tirtha of Soma."