Vayu Purana

सत्यश्रवसमग्र्यन्तु पुत्रं स तु महायशाः। सत्यश्रवाः सत्यहितं पुनरध्यापयद् द्विजः ।। ६०.

And Satyaśravas, the renowned, taught his son Satyasravas, who in turn taught Satyahita, the twice-born.

सोऽपि सत्यतरं पुत्रं पुनरध्यापयद्विभुः। सत्यश्रियं महात्मानं सत्यधर्मपरायणम् ।। ६०.

He too, the illustrious one, taught his son Satyatara, the great-souled Satyashri, who was devoted to truth and righteousness.

अभवंस्तस्य शिष्या वै त्रयस्तु सुमहौजसः । सत्यश्रियस्तु विद्वासः शास्त्रग्रहणतत्पराः ।। ६०.

He had three disciples of great vigor; Satyashri's wise students were intent on mastering the scriptures.

शाकल्यः प्रथमस्तेषां तस्मादन्यो रथ(ा)न्तरः । बाष्कलिश्च भरद्वाज इति शाखाप्रवर्तकाः ।। ६०.

Śākalya was the first among them, then another called Rathāntara; Bāṣkali and Bharadvāja—these were the founders of the branches.

देवमित्रस्तु शाकल्यो ज्ञानाहङ्कारगर्वितः। जनकस्यस यज्ञे वै विनाशमगमद् द्विजः ।। ६०.

Devamitra, known as Śākalya, proud of his knowledge and ego, met his destruction, O twice-born, at the sacrifice of Janaka.

कथं विनाशमगमत्स मुनिर्ज्ञानगर्वितः। जनकस्याश्वमेधेन कथं वादो बभूव ह ।। ६०.

How did that sage, proud of his knowledge, come to ruin? How did the debate arise at Janaka’s aśvamedha sacrifice?

किमर्थञ्चाभवद्वादः केन सार्द्धमथापि वा। सर्वमेतद्यथावृत्तमाचक्ष्व विदितन्तव। ऋषीणान्तु वचः श्रुत्वा तदुत्तरमथाब्रवीत् ।। ६०.

For what reason did the debate occur, and with whom, and how? Tell me everything as it happened, as you know it. Hearing the words of the sages, he then replied accordingly.

जनकस्याश्वमेधे तु महानासीत्समागमः। ऋषीणान्तु सहस्राणि तत्राजग्मुरनेकशः। राजर्षेर्जनकस्याथ तं यज्ञं हि दिदृक्षवः ।। ६०.

At Janaka’s aśvamedha, there was a great gathering; thousands of sages came there in many groups, wishing to witness the sacrifice of King Janaka.

आगतान् ब्राह्मणान् दृष्ट्वा जिज्ञासास्याभवत्ततः। कोन्वेषां ब्राह्मणः श्रेष्ठः कथं मे निश्चयो भवेत्। इति निश्चित्य मनसा बुद्धिं चक्रे जनाधिपः ।। ६०.

Seeing the assembled brāhmaṇas, a desire for inquiry arose in him: ‘Who among these brāhmaṇas is the greatest? How can I determine this?’ Thus, having resolved in his mind, the king made a decision.

गवां सहस्रमादाय सुवर्णमधिकं ततः। ग्रामान् रत्नानि दासांश्च मुनीन् प्राह नराधिपः। सर्वानहं प्रपन्ननोऽस्मि शिरसा श्रेष्ठभागिनः ।। ६०.

Taking a thousand cows, much gold, villages, jewels, and servants, the king addressed the sages: ‘I submit myself with my head to whoever is the most worthy among you.’

यदेतदाहृतं वित्तं ये वः श्रेष्ठतमो भवेत्। तस्मै तदुपनीतं हि विद्यावित्तं द्विजोत्तमाः ।। ६०.

‘This wealth that has been brought—let it be given to the one among you who is the most excellent, O best of twice-born; to him let this knowledge and wealth be presented.’

जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मुनयस्ते श्रुतिक्षमाः। दृष्ट्वा धनं महासारं धनवृद्ध्या जिघृक्षवः । श्रद्धयाञ्चक्रुरन्योन्यं वेदज्ञानमदोल्बणाः ।। ६०.

Hearing Janaka’s words, those sages, patient in the Veda, seeing the great and valuable wealth, eager for its gain, began to challenge each other with their formidable knowledge of the Veda.

मनसा गतवित्तास्ते ममेदं धनमित्युत। ममैवैतन्न वेत्यन्यो ब्रूहि किं वा विकल्ष्यते। इत्येवं धनदोषेण वादांश्चक्रुरनेकशः ।। ६०.

Their minds set on the wealth, each thought, ‘This treasure is mine.’ Another said, ‘It is not yours but mine—say, what is to be decided?’ Thus, because of the desire for wealth, they engaged in many debates.

तथान्यस्तत्र वै विद्वान् ब्रह्मवाहसुतः कविः। याज्ञवल्क्यो महातेजास्तपस्वी ब्रह्मवित्तमः ।। ६०.

There, another learned one was present—a poet, son of a Brahma-bearer, Yājñavalkya, of great brilliance, ascetic, and foremost knower of Brahman.

ब्रह्मणोऽङ्गात् समुत्पन्नो वाक्यं प्रोवाच सुस्वरम्। शिष्यं ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो धनमेतद् गृहाण भो ।। ६०.

Born from a part of Brahmā, he spoke in a melodious voice: ‘O best of Brahman-knowers, my disciple, take this wealth.’

नयस्व च गृहं वत्स ममैतन्नात्र संशयः। सर्ववेदेष्वहं वक्ता नान्यः कश्चित्तु मत्समः। योवा न प्रीयते विप्रः स मे ह्यवतु माऽचिरम् ।। ६०.

‘Take it home, my child; of this there is no doubt. In all the Vedas I am the speaker; there is no one equal to me. If any brāhmaṇa is not pleased, let him leave me at once.’

ततो ब्रह्मार्णवः क्षुब्धः समुद्र इव सम्प्लवे । तानुवाच ततः स्वस्थो याज्ञवल्क्यो हसन्निव ।। ६०.

Then the ocean of Brahman-knowledge was stirred, like the sea in a storm; Yājñavalkya, composed, spoke to them, almost smiling.

क्रोध माकार्षुविद्वांसो भवन्तः सत्यवादिनः। वदामहे यथायुक्तं जिज्ञासन्तः परस्परम् ।। ६०.

‘Do not be angry, O learned ones, you who speak the truth; let us debate properly, seeking to understand one another.’

ततोऽभ्युपागमंस्तेषां वादा जग्मुरनेकशः। सहस्रधा शुभैरर्थैः सूक्ष्मदर्शनसम्भवैः ।। ६०.

Then, as they agreed, many debates arose among them, in thousands of ways, with excellent arguments and subtle reasoning.

लोके वेदे तथाध्यात्मे विद्यास्थानैरलंकृताः। शापोत्तमगुणैर्युक्ता नृपौघपरिवर्जनाः । वादाः समभवंस्तत्र धनहेतोर्महात्मनाम् ।। ६०.

In the world, in the Veda, and in the spiritual domain, adorned with seats of knowledge, endowed with the highest qualities from asceticism, and free from the multitude of kings, debates arose there among the great souls for the sake of wealth.

ऋषयस्त्वेकतः सर्वे याज्ञवल्क्यस्तथैकतः। सर्वे ते मुनयस्तेन याज्ञवल्क्येन धीमता । एकैकशस्ततः पृष्टा नैवोत्तरमथाव्रुवन् ।। ६०.

All the sages stood on one side, and Yājñavalkya alone on the other; all those sages, questioned one by one by the wise Yājñavalkya, could not give any answer.

तान्विजित्य मुनीन् सर्वान् ब्रह्मराशिर्महाद्युतिः। शाकल्यमिति होवाच वादकर्त्तारमञ्जसा ।। ६०.

Having defeated all the sages, the radiant Brahmarashi directly addressed Shakalya, the disputant.

शाकल्य वद वक्तव्यं किं ध्यायन्नवतिष्टसे। पूर्णस्त्वं जडमानेन वाताध्मातो यथा दृतिः ।। ६०.

Shakalya, speak what is to be spoken—why do you stand there, lost in thought? You are filled with dull pride, puffed up like a bladder by the wind.

एवं स धर्षितस्तेन रोषात्ताम्रास्यलोचनः। प्रोवाच याज्ञवल्क्यं तं पुरुषं मुनिसन्निधौ ।। ६०.

Thus insulted by him, Shakalya, his face and eyes reddened with anger, spoke to Yajnavalkya in the assembly of sages.

त्वमस्मांस्तृणवत्त्यक्त्वा तथैवेमान् द्विजोत्तमान्। विद्याधनं महासारं स्वयंग्राहं जिघृक्षसि ।। ६०.

You treat us as straw and likewise these excellent twice-born; you seek to seize for yourself the great prize of knowledge and wealth.

शाकल्येनैवनुक्तः स्याद्याज्ञवल्क्यः समब्रवीत्। ब्रह्मिष्ठानां बलं विद्धि विद्यातत्त्वार्थदर्शनम् ।। ६०.

Addressed thus by Shakalya, Yajnavalkya replied: Know that the strength of the Brahmavadins lies in seeing the true meaning of knowledge.

कामश्चार्थेन सम्बद्धस्तेनार्थं कामयामहे । कामप्रश्रधना विप्राः कामप्रश्रान्वदामहे ।। ६०.

Desire is connected with wealth; therefore, we desire wealth. O Brahmins, we speak in accordance with the desire for reward.

पणश्चैषोऽस्य राजर्षेस्तस्मान्नीतं धनं मया। एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य शाकल्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। याज्ञवल्क्यमथोवाच कामप्रश्रार्थमद्वचः ।। ६०.

This is the wager of the royal sage; therefore, I have taken the wealth. Hearing these words, Shakalya, overcome with anger, then spoke to Yajnavalkya words concerning the desire for reward.

ब्रूहीदानीं मयोद्दिष्टान् कामप्रश्रान् यथार्थतः। ततः समभवद्वादस्तयोर्ब्रह्मविदोर्महान् ।। ६०.

Now declare, as I have set forth, the questions concerning desire for reward, as they truly are. Then a great debate arose between those two knowers of Brahman.