At a sacred tīrtha, the sage Asita-Devala lived a life of righteousness, deeply committed to dharma and spiritual discipline. A great yogi named Jaigīṣavya arrived at his hermitage, living silently in meditation. Devala served him faithfully, though Jaigīṣavya never spoke. Curious about his powers, Devala witnessed Jaigīṣavya’s miraculous presence in multiple distant places and realms at once.
Following him through the celestial spheres, Devala saw Jaigīṣavya surpass the worlds of sacrifice and ascetics to reach the highest realm of Brahman. Denied access to this realm due to insufficient merit, Devala returned and humbly sought guidance. Enlightened by Jaigīṣavya's teachings, Devala renounced worldly duties and attained spiritual liberation. The gods and sages honored both for their yogic greatness, and their tīrtha became a revered place of pilgrimage.
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 ||
Vaishampāyana said In that very Tīrtha, the righteous and austere sage, Asita-Devala, lived in former times, leading the life of a householder in accordance with dharma.
धर्मनित्यः शुचिर्दान्तो न्यस्तदण्डो महातपाः ।
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा समः सर्वेषु जन्तुषु ॥ २ ॥
dharmanityaḥ śucirdānto nyastadaṇḍo mahātapāḥ |
karmaṇā manasā vācā samaḥ sarveṣu jantuṣu || 2 ||
Constantly devoted to dharma, pure in conduct, and restrained in mind, he had renounced all aggression and was endowed with great ascetic power. Through his actions, thoughts, and words, he remained impartial towards all beings.
अक्रोधनो महाराज तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ।
प्रियाप्रिये तुल्यवृत्तिर्यमवत् समदर्शनः ॥ ३ ॥
akrodhano mahārāja tulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ |
priyāpriye tulyavṛttiryamavat samadarśanaḥ || 3 ||
O King, he was devoid of anger, remaining unaffected by both censure and praise. He was indifferent to pleasure and pain, maintaining equanimity like Yama himself.
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 viewed gold and mere clods of earth with equal detachment. He worshipped the gods daily and honored guests and Brahmanas with reverence. Ever devoted to celibacy, he remained steadfast in dharma at all times.
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, a wise sage named Jaigīṣavya arrived at Devala’s hermitage. A wandering mendicant devoted to Yoga, he was absorbed in deep meditation. That great ascetic took residence in Devala’s hermitage, immersed in spiritual practice.
योगनित्यो महाराज सिद्धिं प्राप्तो महातपाः ।
तं तत्र वसमानं तु जैगीषव्यं महामुनिम् ॥ ७ ॥
yoganityo mahārāja siddhiṃ prāpto mahātapāḥ |
taṃ tatra vasamānaṃ tu jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim || 7 ||
O great King, Jaigīṣavya, ever devoted to Yoga, attained supreme spiritual success. That exalted sage, crowned with ascetic perfection, dwelled in Devala’s hermitage.
देवलो दर्शयन्नेव नैवायुञ्जत धर्मतः ।
एवं तयोर्महाराज दीर्घकालो व्यतिक्रमत् ॥ ८ ॥
devalo darśayanneva naivāyuñjata dharmataḥ |
evaṃ tayormahārāja dīrghakālo vyatikramat || 8 ||
Though Devala observed Jaigīṣavya’s spiritual attainments, he never attempted to influence him, respecting his independent path to ascetic perfection. Thus, the two sages lived together for a long period, absorbed in their respective practices.
जैगीषव्यं मुनिवरं व ददर्शाथ देवलः ।
आहारकाले मतिमान् परिव्राड् जनमेजय ॥ ९ ॥
jaigīṣavyaṃ munivaraṃ va dadarśātha devalaḥ |
āhārakāle matimān parivrāḍ janamejaya || 9 ||
O Janamejaya, during one occasion, Devala, seeking him at mealtime, suddenly lost sight of Jaigīṣavya, the 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 of alms-giving, the righteous ascetic approached Devala to seek alms. Devala beheld that great sage arriving in the guise of a mendicant.
गौरवं परमं चक्रे प्रीतिं च विपुला तथा ।
देवलस्तु यथाशक्ति पूजयामास भारत।। ११॥
gauravaṃ paramaṃ cakre prītiṃ ca vipulā tathā |
devalastu yathāśakti pūjayāmāsa bhārata|| 11||
Devala held him in the highest regard and received him with deep reverence. With utmost devotion and to the best of his ability, O Bhārata, he honored the mendicant with due offerings.
ऋषिदृष्टेन विधिना समा बह्वीः समाहितः ।
कदाचित् तस्य नृपते देवलस्य महात्मनः ॥ १२ ॥
चिन्ता सुमहती जाता मुनिं दृष्ट्वा महाद्युतिम् ।
ṛṣidṛṣṭena vidhinā samā bahvīḥ samāhitaḥ |
kadācit tasya nṛpate devalasya mahātmanaḥ || 12 ||
cintā sumahatī jātā muniṃ dṛṣṭvā mahādyutim |
For many years, the great sage Devala remained engaged in devout service according to the sacred rites prescribed by the Ṛṣis. However, O King, upon beholding the resplendent ascetic, a deep concern arose in his mind.
समास्तु समतिक्रान्ता बह्व्यः पूजयतो मम ॥ १३ ॥
न चायमलसो भिक्षुरभ्यभाषत किंचन ।
samāstu samatikrāntā bahvyaḥ pūjayato mama || 13 ||
na cāyamalaso bhikṣurabhyabhāṣata kiṃcana |
For many years, I have honored this mendicant with devotion, yet he, though not indolent, has never spoken a single word to me!
एवं विगणयन्नेव स जगाम महोदधिम् ॥ १४ ॥
अन्तरिक्षचरः श्रीमान् कलशं गृह्य देवलः ।
evaṃ vigaṇayanneva sa jagāma mahodadhim || 14 ||
antarikṣacaraḥ śrīmān kalaśaṃ gṛhya devalaḥ |
Thus reflecting upon this mystery, the illustrious Devala, taking his water-filled pitcher, soared through the skies and proceeded towards the great ocean.
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 |
As the righteous Devala traveled toward the great ocean, the lord of rivers, he was astonished to see that Jaigīṣavya had already arrived before him, O Bhārata.
ततः सविस्मयश्चिन्तां जगामाथामितप्रभः ॥ १६ ॥
कथं भिक्षुरयं प्राप्तः समुद्रेः स्नात एव च ।
tataḥ savismayaścintāṃ jagāmāthāmitaprabhaḥ || 16 ||
kathaṃ bhikṣurayaṃ prāptaḥ samudreḥ snāta eva ca |
Thereupon, the glorious Devala was struck with astonishment and deep thought. 'How could this mendicant have reached the ocean before me and already performed his ablutions?
इत्येव चिन्तयामास महर्षिरसितस्तदा ॥ १७ ॥
स्नात्वा समुद्रे विधिवच्छुचिर्जप्यं जजाप सः ।
ityeva cintayāmāsa maharṣirasitastadā || 17 ||
snātvā samudre vidhivacchucirjapyaṃ jajāpa saḥ |
Thus did the great sage Asita ponder deeply. After bathing in the ocean with due rites, he purified himself and began reciting sacred mantras in silence.
कृतजप्याह्निकः श्रीमानाश्रमं च जगाम ह ।। १८ ।
कलशं जलपूर्णं वै गृहीत्वा जनमेजय ।
kṛtajapyāhnikaḥ śrīmānāśramaṃ ca jagāma ha || 18 |
kalaśaṃ jalapūrṇaṃ vai gṛhītvā janamejaya |
Having completed his ablutions and prayers, the illustrious Devala returned to his hermitage, taking with him his water-filled pitcher, O Janamejaya."
ततः स प्रविशन्नेव स्वमाश्रमपदं मुनिः ॥ १९ ॥
आसीनमाश्रमे तत्र जैगीषव्यमपश्यत।
tataḥ sa praviśanneva svamāśramapadaṃ muniḥ || 19 ||
āsīnamāśrame tatra jaigīṣavyamapaśyata|
As the sage Devala was entering his hermitage, he beheld Jaigīṣavya already seated there, awaiting him.
न व्याहरति चैवेनं जैगीषव्यः कथंचन ॥ २० ॥
काष्ठभूतोऽऽश्रमपदे वसति स्म महातपाः ।
na vyāharati caivenaṃ jaigīṣavyaḥ kathaṃcana || 20 ||
kāṣṭhabhūto’’śramapade vasati sma mahātapāḥ |
Jaigīṣavya never uttered a single word to Devala, but remained in the hermitage, unmoving like a lifeless log of wood, absorbed in deep meditation.
तं दृष्ट्वा चाप्लुतं तोये सागरे सागरोपमम् ॥२१॥
प्रविष्टमाश्रमं चापि पूर्वमेव ददर्श सः ।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā cāplutaṃ toye sāgare sāgaropamam ||21||
praviṣṭamāśramaṃ cāpi pūrvameva dadarśa saḥ |
Devala had earlier witnessed Jaigīṣavya, who was an ocean of austerities, immersing himself in the vast ocean. Now, to his astonishment, he saw him already seated in the hermitage before his own arrival.
असितो देवलो राजश्चिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान् ॥ २२॥
दृष्ट्वा प्रभावं तपसो जैगीषव्यस्य योगजम्।
asito devalo rājaścintayāmāsa buddhimān || 22||
dṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṃ tapaso jaigīṣavyasya yogajam|
Witnessing the immense yogic power of Jaigīṣavya, O King, the wise sage Asita-Devala was struck with amazement and deep contemplation.
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 |
O King, that foremost of ascetics, deeply pondering, thought to himself: 'I saw this sage immersed in the ocean, yet he is here in my hermitage. How is this possible?'
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 ||
Thus reflecting upon the mystery, the sage Devala, master of sacred mantras, rose from his hermitage and ascended into the sky, O ruler of men, driven by a desire to uncover the truth about the mendicant Jaigīṣavya.
In the skies, Devala beheld numerous celestial Siddhas, rapt in meditation, their minds absorbed in divine consciousness. Among them, he saw Jaigīṣavya being worshipped with great reverence.
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||
Then, Asita-Devala, steadfast in his vows and resolute in his purpose, observed Jaigīṣavya ascending toward the celestial realms.
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 ||
From there, Devala saw Jaigīṣavya journeying to the realm of the Pitris. Then, he beheld him moving further towards the domain of Yama, the lord of justice.
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 realm, the great sage Jaigīṣavya was seen ascending further to the celestial domain of Soma (the moon-god).
He then journeyed toward the blessed regions of those devoted to performing numerous sacred 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 realms of those who diligently performed the Agnihotra sacrifices. Then, he ascended further to the sacred abodes of ascetics who regularly conducted the Darśa and Paurṇamāsa rituals.
तेभ्यः स दृदशे धीमाँल्लोकेभ्य: पशुयाजिनाम् ॥ ३१॥
व्रजन्तं लोकममलमपश्यद् देवपूजितम् ।
tebhyaḥ sa dṛdaśe dhīmāṁllokebhya: paśuyājinām || 31||
vrajantaṃ lokamamalamapaśyad devapūjitam |
From there, the intelligent Devala beheld him journeying away from the worlds of those who conducted animal sacrifices and proceeding toward the pure and divine realm revered by the 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 then saw Jaigīṣavya entering the realm of those sages who performed the Cāturmāsya and similar grand seasonal sacrifices. From there, he proceeded to the exalted abode of the performers of the Agniṣṭoma and Agniṣṭut sacrifices.
तत् स्थानमनुसम्प्राप्तमन्वपश्यत देवलः ।
वाजपेयं क्रतुवरं तथा बहुसुवर्णकम् ॥ ३४ ॥
tat sthānamanusamprāptamanvapaśyata devalaḥ |
vājapeyaṃ kratuvaraṃ tathā bahusuvarṇakam || 34 ||
Devala then saw him arrive at the revered realm of those who had performed the sacred Vājapeya sacrifice, a supreme ritual requiring abundant offerings of gold.
आहरन्ति महाप्राज्ञास्तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यत।
यजन्ते राजसूयेन पुण्डरीकेण चैव ये || ३५ ॥
āharanti mahāprājñāsteṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyata|
yajante rājasūyena puṇḍarīkeṇa caiva ye || 35 ||
Next, Devala beheld Jaigīṣavya in the celestial abodes of those wise sages who had performed the prestigious Rājasūya and Puṇḍarīka sacrifices.
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 divine realms of those foremost sacrificers who had conducted the great Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice) and Naramedha (human sacrifice) rituals.
आहरन्ति नरश्रेष्ठास्तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यत ।
सर्वमेधं त दुष्प्रापं तथा सौत्रामणिं च ये ॥३७॥
āharanti naraśreṣṭhāsteṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyata |
sarvamedhaṃ ta duṣprāpaṃ tathā sautrāmaṇiṃ ca ye ||37||
Thereafter, Devala observed Jaigīṣavya reaching the exalted realms of those who had successfully conducted the rare and supreme Sarvamedha sacrifice, as well as the sacred Sautrāmaṇi ritual.
तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यच जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ।
द्वादशाहैश्च सत्रैश्च यजन्ते विविधैर्नृप ॥ ३८ ॥
teṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyaca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ |
dvādaśāhaiśca satraiśca yajante vividhairnṛpa || 38 ||
Finally, Devala saw Jaigīṣavya entering the realms of those illustrious sages who had performed the Dvādaśāha (twelve-day) sacrificial rites and various other grand Satras.
तेषां लोकेष्वपश्यच जैगीषव्यं स देवलः ।
मैत्रावरुणयोर्लोकानादित्य ॥ तथैव च ॥ ३९ ॥
teṣāṃ lokeṣvapaśyaca jaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ |
maitrāvaruṇayorlokānāditya || tathaiva ca || 39 ||
Devala then saw Jaigīṣavya sojourning in the celestial realms of Mitra and Varuṇa and then proceeding toward the abode of the Ādityas.
सलोकतामनुप्राप्तमपश्यत ततोऽसितः ।
रुद्राणां च वसूनां च स्थानं यच्च बृहस्पतेः ॥ ४० ॥
salokatāmanuprāptamapaśyata tato’sitaḥ |
rudrāṇāṃ ca vasūnāṃ ca sthānaṃ yacca bṛhaspateḥ || 40 ||
Asita then beheld Jaigīṣavya attaining the celestial companionship of the Rudras and the Vasus, and then ascending to the exalted domain of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods.
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 |
Having witnessed Jaigīṣavya transcend all these celestial domains, Asita then saw him ascending to the blessed realm known as Goloka. From there, he proceeded toward the sacred worlds of the Brahmasatris—those devoted to the highest Vedic sacrifices.
त्रींल्लोकानपरान् विप्रमुत्पतन्तं स्वतेजसा ॥ ४२ ॥
पतिव्रतानां लोकांश्च व्रजन्तं सोऽन्वपश्यत ।
trīṃllokānaparān vipramutpatantaṃ svatejasā || 42 ||
pativratānāṃ lokāṃśca vrajantaṃ so’nvapaśyata |
With the brilliance of his own ascetic power, Jaigīṣavya ascended beyond the three worlds, and Asita beheld him entering the sacred realms of chaste women devoted to their husbands.
ततो मुनिवरं भूयो जैगीषव्यमथासितः ।। ४३ ।।
नान्वपश्यत लोकस्थमन्तर्हितमरिंदम ।
tato munivaraṃ bhūyo jaigīṣavyamathāsitaḥ || 43 ||
nānvapaśyata lokasthamantarhitamariṃdama |
Then, O subduer of foes, Asita sought once more to glimpse Jaigīṣavya. Yet, the great sage had vanished from worldly perception, his form lost in the depths of divine absorption.
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 deeply upon the immense spiritual power of Jaigīṣavya, his steadfast vows, and the unparalleled success he had attained through 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 hands joined in reverence, approached the foremost Siddhas dwelling in the realms of the Brahmasatris and inquired earnestly—‘I no longer see the powerful Jaigīṣavya. Tell me, O great ones, where has he gone? I deeply desire to know, for my curiosity is immense.’
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 steadfast Devala, we speak to you only the truth. Jaigīṣavya has now attained the eternal realm of Brahman, transcending all mortal existence.’
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 Upon hearing the words of the Siddhas dwelling in the realms of the Brahmasatris, Asita-Devala swiftly attempted to ascend toward that supreme abode, but he faltered and fell. Then, the Siddhas once again addressed Devala, speaking words filled with profound wisdom.
न देवलगतिस्तत्र तव गन्तुं तपोधन ।
ब्रह्मणः सदने विप्र जैगीषव्यो यदाप्तवान् ॥ ५०॥
na devalagatistatra tava gantuṃ tapodhana |
brahmaṇaḥ sadane vipra jaigīṣavyo yadāptavān || 50||
O Devala, O great ascetic, you lack the merit required to attain that supreme realm, where Jaigīṣavya has now reached—the divine seat of Brahman.
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 ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing these words of the Siddhas, Devala descended from one celestial realm to another, returning in proper succession through all the worlds.
स्वमाश्रमपद् पुण्यमाजगाम पतत्त्रिवत् ।
प्रविशत्रेव चापश्यजैगीषव्यं स देवलः ॥ ५२ ॥
svamāśramapad puṇyamājagāma patattrivat |
praviśatreva cāpaśyajaigīṣavyaṃ sa devalaḥ || 52 ||
Swift as a winged bird, he returned to his own sacred hermitage. Upon entering, Devala beheld Jaigīṣavya seated there in deep contemplation.
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, with his mind filled with righteous reasoning, Devala contemplated the immense spiritual power of Jaigīṣavya, born of Yoga. Approaching the great sage with humility, he bowed in reverence and said: ‘O venerable one, I too desire to tread the path of Mokṣa (liberation).’
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 Devala’s words, Jaigīṣavya imparted sacred teachings to him, revealing the supreme path of Yoga and the scriptural wisdom of duty and non-duty.
संन्यासकृतबुद्धि तं ततो दृष्ट्वा महातपाः ॥ ५६ ॥
सर्वाश्चास्य क्रियाश्चक्रे विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ।
saṃnyāsakṛtabuddhi taṃ tato dṛṣṭvā mahātapāḥ || 56 ||
sarvāścāsya kriyāścakre vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā |
The great sage, seeing Devala fully resolved in his pursuit of renunciation, conducted for him all the sacred rites according to the prescribed ordinances.
संन्यासकृतबुद्धिः तं भूतानि पितृभिः सह ॥ ५७ ॥
ततो दृष्ट्वा प्ररुरुदुः कोऽस्मान् संविभजिष्यति ।
saṃnyāsakṛtabuddhiḥ taṃ bhūtāni pitṛbhiḥ saha || 57 ||
tato dṛṣṭvā praruruduḥ ko’smān saṃvibhajiṣyati |
When Devala resolved to embrace the path of renunciation, all beings, along with the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits), beheld him and wept, saying: ‘Who will now sustain us?’
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 the sorrowful words of the beings, Devala, filled with compassion, made up his mind to grant them liberation as they cried out in all ten directions.
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, O Bharata, all sacred fruits and roots, along with thousands of flowers and medicinal herbs, began to wail in distress, saying—'Alas! The wicked Devala, devoid of wisdom, will once again cut and pluck us!' 'Having once granted us the boon of non-violence, does he not now realize the wrong in what he intends to do?'
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 |
Then, the foremost of sages, with deep contemplation, reflected once more with his discerning intellect: ‘Between the path of Mokṣa and the duties of a householder, which is truly the greater good?’
इति निश्चित्य मनसा देवलो राजसत्तम ॥ ६२ ॥
त्यक्त्वा गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं स मोक्षधर्ममरोचयत् ।
iti niścitya manasā devalo rājasattama || 62 ||
tyaktvā gārhasthyadharmaṃ sa mokṣadharmamarocayat |
Thus resolving within his mind, O foremost of kings, Devala abandoned the duties of a householder and embraced the path of Mokṣa.
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 reached this firm resolution, Devala attained supreme success, O Bharata, and achieved the highest state of Yoga.
ततो देवाः समागम्य बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः ॥ ६४ ॥
जैगीषव्ये तपश्चास्य प्रशंसन्ति तपस्विनः ।
tato devāḥ samāgamya bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ || 64 ||
jaigīṣavye tapaścāsya praśaṃsanti tapasvinaḥ |
Then, the celestials, led by Bṛhaspati, assembled together and praised Jaigīṣavya for his supreme asceticism and austerities.
अथाब्रवीदृषिवरो देवान् वै नारदस्तथा ॥ ६५ ॥
जैगीषव्ये तपो नास्ति विस्मापयति योऽसितम् ।
athābravīdṛṣivaro devān vai nāradastathā || 65 ||
jaigīṣavye tapo nāsti vismāpayati yo’sitam |
Then, the great sage Nārada spoke to the gods, saying—'Jaigīṣavya performs no ascetic penance, yet he astonishes even the great Asita!'
By that Nārada does not meant that Jaigīṣavya lacked austerities but implied that his spiritual power was so profound that he transcended the need for conventional penance.
तमेवंवादिनं धीरं प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः ॥ ६६ ॥
नैवमित्येव शंसन्तो जैगीषव्यं महामुनिम् ।
tamevaṃvādinaṃ dhīraṃ pratyūcuste divaukasaḥ || 66 ||
naivamityeva śaṃsanto jaigīṣavyaṃ mahāmunim |
Upon hearing Nārada’s words, the gods responded with great reverence, declaring— ‘Not so! Indeed, Jaigīṣavya is a great ascetic beyond measure.’
नातः परतरं किंचित् तुल्यमस्ति प्रभावतः ॥ ६७ ॥
तेजसस्तपसश्चास्य योगस्य च महात्मनः.
nātaḥ parataraṃ kiṃcit tulyamasti prabhāvataḥ || 67 ||
tejasastapasaścāsya yogasya ca mahātmanaḥ
There is nothing superior or even comparable to Jaigīṣavya in terms of his divine brilliance, asceticism, and mastery of Yoga.
एवं प्रभावो धर्मात्मा जैगीषव्यस्तथासितः ।
तयोरिदं स्थानवरं तीर्थं चैव महात्मनोः ॥ ६८ ॥
evaṃ prabhāvo dharmātmā jaigīṣavyastathāsitaḥ |
tayoridaṃ sthānavaraṃ tīrthaṃ caiva mahātmanoḥ || 68 ||
Such was the immense spiritual power of the righteous Jaigīṣavya and the sage Asita. This sacred place became their revered abode, and it stands as a holy Tīrtha in honor of these two exalted beings.
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 ||
Having bathed in that sacred Tīrtha, the great Halabhṛt (Baladeva) distributed generous wealth to the Brahmanas. By this meritorious act, he attained immense religious merit, and then proceeded to the highly sanctified Tīrtha of Soma.
At a sacred tīrtha, the sage Asita-Devala led a life of perfect dharma, detached and serene, honoring gods and Brahmanas while observing celibacy and household duties. One day, the silent yogi Jaigīṣavya arrived and took residence in his hermitage. Though Jaigīṣavya never spoke, Devala served him with reverence for years. Mystified by the yogi’s silence, Devala once traveled to the ocean—only to find Jaigīṣavya had already arrived and performed ablutions before him.
Puzzled, Devala ascended into the heavens and saw Jaigīṣavya traversing realms of sages, sacrificers, and gods—eventually reaching the supreme abode of Brahman. Devala tried to follow but fell back, told by the Siddhas he lacked the merit. Returning home, he found Jaigīṣavya still seated in meditation. Humbled and inspired, Devala sought spiritual liberation. Jaigīṣavya then initiated him into yogic wisdom and the path of renunciation.
When Devala prepared to renounce the world, the trees, herbs, and spirits he had once protected mourned, fearing his return to household duties would harm them. Moved by their pleas, Devala finally relinquished all attachments and fully embraced Mokṣa. Attaining supreme yogic perfection, he too became exalted among the sages. The gods praised Jaigīṣavya as the greatest of ascetics, his silent mastery surpassing even visible austerities.
That tīrtha, sanctified by both sages, became a revered holy site. Baladeva, visiting it during his pilgrimage, bathed there and gave generous gifts to Brahmanas, earning immense merit before departing for the next sacred destination.