Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti (Bhāgavata Purāṇa)

In the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, a group of great ṛshis once asked which of the three, Brahmā, Śiva or Vishṇu, is the most exalted. They sent Bhṛgu Maharshi to test each of them. This is Chapter 89 of the tenth skanda.

The debate of the ṛshis on the Sarasvatī

The greatest ṛshis of the age had gathered on the bank of the river Sarasvatī for a long satrayāga (a sacrifice-session lasting many days). During the satra a question rose among them. Of the three, Brahmā, Śiva and Vishṇu, who is the most supreme? The ṛshis could not agree by reasoning alone.

They decided to send one of their number to find out by direct test. They chose Bhṛgu Maharshi. He is a son of Brahmā and one of the most formidable of all ṛshis. He would come to each of the three in an unexpected way and watch how each one answered what might seem an insult.

The test of Brahmā

Bhṛgu went first to Satyaloka, the realm of Brahmā. He entered the great assembly where Brahmā sat in splendour, surrounded by all the Prajāpatis and the devas. Bhṛgu offered no namaskāra (bow), no stotra (hymn of praise) and no greeting at all. He stood before his own father as if he did not care.

Brahmā felt the sting of it. A son had not bowed to his father. A ṛshi had not honoured the creator. This was a serious break of the order that Brahmā himself had set up. His tejas (fiery power) blazed with held-in anger.

But Brahmā is Svayambhu, the self-born. As water puts out a fire that is born of water, he put out his own anger with wisdom. He knew Bhṛgu as his own son and understood that this was a test. He controlled himself fully.

The test of Śiva

Bhṛgu then went to Kailāsa. Mahādeva Śiva is by nature very loving toward his own. He saw his dear brother Bhṛgu coming and rose with joy to embrace him. His love was true and came without thought.

Bhṛgu stepped back. He refused the embrace and said in a sharp voice: “You cross all proper conduct. You belong to no āśrama (stage of life) and you do not follow dharma.” It was a direct insult, a refusal of the embrace and a shaming before others.

Śiva’s eyes turned red. The trident was in his hand before reason could speak. The whole of Kailāsa was charged with the threat of violence.

Then Pārvatī came forward. With words of great tenderness and good sense, she placed herself between the two. Slowly and steadily she brought Śiva’s anger to rest. The danger passed, but it had come very close.

The test of Vishṇu

Bhṛgu came to Vaikuṇṭha, the supreme and timeless realm. He went into the great chamber and found Bhagavān Vishṇu resting in perfect peace, with his head in the lap of Lakshmī, who was tending him.

Bhṛgu said nothing and gave no notice. He stepped forward and kicked Bhagavān Vishṇu on the chest.

Bhagavān Vishṇu is the Paramātmā (the Supreme Self). Lakshmī lives for ever on his chest. He is the master of all the lokas. He rose at once from his couch together with Lakshmī. He bowed before Bhṛgu with folded hands and spoke with full calm and warmth:

“O Maharshi! Welcome! Forgive us, we did not know you were coming. Please take this āsana (seat) and rest. O master, are your feet unhurt? My chest is very hard. I fear it has hurt your feet. Please let me look after them.”

He took Bhṛgu’s feet in his own hands and began to press them gently. His eyes were full of real concern. Then he said:

“O Father! O Maharshi! Today a great blessing has come to me. The dust of your feet gives its purifying power to all the tīrthas (holy places) of the world. That same dust has now touched my chest. Lakshmī lives here always. The touch of your foot has taken away all its impurities. Through you, my Vaikuṇṭha and all who live in it will be blessed.”

Bhṛgu was overcome. His whole purpose of testing melted away in the flood of that welcome. His eyes filled with tears of bhakti (loving devotion) and he fell silent. He could not speak.

The conclusion of the ṛshis

Bhṛgu went back to the satrayāga and told the gathered ṛshis all that had happened. They listened in deep silence. Then one firm conviction came over all of them.

Bhagavān Vishṇu alone is the most exalted of the three. Greatness is not measured by power or by the might of creation. It is measured by kshamā (forbearance), śānti (peace) and the complete absence of ahaṅkāra (pride of self), even when the worst insult is given. A ṛshi had kicked him on the chest, and he received it with care for the ṛshi’s comfort and treated it as a blessing. This was a quality beyond all understanding.

The ṛshis then reflected that all of these come from Bhagavān Vishṇu alone:

• dharma (right conduct)
• sākshātkāra-jñāna (direct knowledge that frees)
• jñāna-yukta-vairāgya (detachment joined with wisdom)
• the eight powers (ashṭa-aiśvarya), among them aṇimā

His fame cleans the deepest impurities of the antaḥkaraṇa (the inner instrument of mind). His form, which is full of pure sattva, is the very gateway to moksha (liberation).

The ṛshis did pūjā at the lotus feet of Bhagavān Vishṇu. They reached his own svarūpa (true nature) and were freed from saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death).

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 89