Vayu Purana

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.

साग्रं प्रश्नसहस्रन्तु शाकल्यस्तमुचूचुदत्। याज्ञवल्क्योऽब्रवीत्सर्वान् ऋषीणां श्रृण्वतां तदा ।। ६०.

Shakalya put to him a thousand questions with their parts; Yajnavalkya answered them all, as the sages listened.

शाकल्ये चापि निर्वादे याज्ञवल्क्यस्तमब्रवीत् । प्रश्रमेकं ममापि त्वं वद शाकल्य कामिकम्। शापः पणोऽस्य वादस्य अब्रुवन् मृत्युमाव्रजेत् ।। ६०.

When Shakalya was defeated in debate, Yajnavalkya said to him: Now you must answer one question of mine, Shakalya, concerning desire. The wager for this debate, they say, is a curse—death would ensue.

अथ सन्नोदितं प्रश्रं याज्ञवल्क्येन धीमता । शाकल्यस्तमविज्ञाय सद्यो मृत्युमवाप्नुयात् ।। ६०.

Then, when the wise Yajnavalkya posed the question, Shakalya, unable to answer, immediately met his death.

एवं मृतः स शाकल्यः प्रश्रव्याख्यानपीडितः। एवं वादश्च सुमहानासीत्तेषां धनार्थिभिः। ऋषीणां मुनिभिः सार्द्धं याज्ञवल्क्यस्य चैव हि ।। ६०.

Thus Shakalya died, afflicted by his failure to explain the question. So great was the debate among those seekers of wealth, together with the sages and Yajnavalkya.

सर्वैः पृष्टांस्तु सम्प्रश्रान् शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। व्याख्याय वै मुने तेषां प्रश्रसारं महागतिः ।। ६०.

Asked hundreds and thousands of questions by all, the sage explained them, attaining the highest essence of the questions.

याज्ञवल्क्यो धनं गृह्य यशो विख्याप्य चात्मनः। जगाम वै गृहं स्वस्थः शिष्यैः परिवृतो वशी ।। ६०.

Yajnavalkya, having taken the wealth and made his fame known, went home at ease, surrounded by his disciples, self-controlled.

देवमित्रस्तु शाकल्यो महात्मा द्विजसत्तमः। चकार संहिताः पञ्चबुद्धिमान् पदवित्तमः ।। ६०.

Devamitra Shakalya, the great-souled and eminent Brahmin, composed five collections, being wise and most skilled in words.

तच्छिष्या अभवन् पञ्च मुद्घलो गोलकस्तथा। खालीयश्च तथा मत्स्वः शैशिरेयस्तु पञ्चमः ।। ६०.

His five disciples were Mudghala, Golaka, Khalīya, Matsva, and the fifth was Shaishireya.

प्रोवाच संहितास्तिस्रः शाकपूर्णरथीतरः। निरुक्तञ्च पुनश्चक्रे चतुर्थं द्विजसत्तमः ।। ६०.

Shakapurnarathitara composed three collections, and again made the Nirukta as the fourth, O best of Brahmins.

तस्य शिष्यास्तु चत्वारः केतवो दालकिस्तथा। धर्मशर्मा देवशर्मा सर्वे व्रतधरा द्विजाः ।। ६०.

His disciples were four: Ketava, Dalaki, Dharmasharma, and Devasharma—all Brahmins devoted to vows.