Śuka at Jaṭātīrtha

This is the talk between Vyāsa and his son Śuka. It is part of the account of Jaṭātīrtha in the Setu Māhātmya of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa. Śuka had studied all the Vedānta and the Purāṇas under Vyāsa, yet his mind was not pure enough for advaita-jñāna (knowledge of the one Self) to arise. Vyāsa sent him to bathe at Jaṭātīrtha, where Bhagavān Rāma had washed his jaṭās (matted hair). One bath there gave Śuka direct knowledge of the Self.

Śuka’s question

Śuka was the son of Vyāsa and one of the greatest jñānins (knowers of the Self) in the Purāṇic tradition. He is the one who told the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa to King Parīkshit. Even so, he came to Vyāsa with a simple and humble question:

“O Father, teacher of all! I have studied the whole Vedānta, all the itihāsas and all the Purāṇas under your own guidance. Yet my mind has not reached that final purity from which direct knowledge of advaita arises of itself. What is the means of citta-śuddhi (purity of mind)? What purifies the antaḥkaraṇa (the inner instrument of mind)?” (Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 20)

Vyāsa on the limits of study

Vyāsa answered. Study of Vedānta alone, without purity of the antaḥkaraṇa, does not lead to liberation. Students of Vedānta get caught in the ocean of the Vedānta tradition itself, in its pūrvapaksha (opening positions), siddhānta (conclusions), śabda (words) and vāgvāda (argument in words). Their minds stay unclear, busy with thinking, and do not rest in the clarity of pure consciousness. Without citta-śuddhi first, the study of Vedānta becomes a block on the path, not the path. (Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 20)

The secret of Jaṭātīrtha

Vyāsa then told the secret. On the Gandhamādana mountain at Setu Kshetra there is Jaṭātīrtha. Bhagavān Śaṃbhu himself set it up. Bhagavān Rāma washed his jaṭās there after he slew Rāvaṇa.

A bath in Jaṭātīrtha gives purity of the antaḥkaraṇa and destroys ajñāna (ignorance). It needs no other sādhana (practice), yajña, japa (repeating a mantra) or upavāsa (fasting). Vyāsa gave these examples:

  • Bhṛgu gained advaita-vijñāna here, on the advice of Varuṇa.
  • Durvāsa, the part of Śaṅkara, gained purity of mind (manaḥ-śuddhi) and brahmānanda (the joy of Brahman) here.
  • Dattātreya, the part of Vishṇu, gained a pure antaḥkaraṇa and brahmakaraṇa here.

Vyāsa said to Śuka: “Go to this tīrtha and bathe there. Citta-śuddhi will come.” (Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 20)

Śuka’s realisation

Śuka went to Setu Kshetra and came to Jaṭātīrtha. He bathed with saṅkalpa (a spoken resolve) and full devotion. The result was at once. His antaḥkaraṇa was fully purified. The seed of ajñāna was dissolved. The light of advaita-jñāna rose in him of itself.

Śuka reached his own svarūpa (true nature), the form of supreme joy, paramānanda, which is pure consciousness. He had been a student of all the Vedāntas. Now he knew by direct experience what the Vedāntas point to. (Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 20)

Sources

  • Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 20