Janaka, Yājñavalkya and Varuṇa

Chapter 17 of the Gautamī Māhātmya in the Brahma Mahā Purāṇa tells a short and deep talk between King Janaka, his priest Yājñavalkya, and Varuṇa. Janaka asked how moksha can be reached without great hardship. Varuṇa taught that karma (holy action) is better than akarman (keeping away from action), that the household life is the best āśrama, and that the Gautamī in the Daṇḍaka forest is the best place for karma that gives both enjoyment and moksha. Janaka did the aśvamedha yajña (horse yajña) on the banks of the Gautamī and reached moksha. The place became the great Janasthāna tīrtha.

Janaka’s question

There was a king named Janaka, born in the solar dynasty. He married Guṇārṇavā, “the ocean of virtue”, the daughter of Varuṇa, the ruler of the waters. Her name suited her. She was the giver of virtue, wealth, love and liberation. The great brāhmaṇa Yājñavalkya was the priest of this king.

King Janaka went to Yājñavalkya with a deep question. He said: “Enjoyment of worldly pleasures and moksha are the two highest aims, as the greatest ṛshis have said. Worldly pleasures are fine when they come through men, maidservants, elephants, horses and chariots. But in the end everything is dry and without taste. Only moksha gives immortality. Yet reaching moksha by giving up all attachment is hard work. Tell me, O greatest of ṛshis, how can moksha be reached easily?”

Yājñavalkya sends him to Varuṇa

Yājñavalkya answered: “O king, Varuṇa, the ruler of the waters, is your father-in-law and your well-wisher. So he can be your guru. Go to him and ask. He will teach you what is good for you.”

Yājñavalkya went with Janaka to Varuṇa’s world. They asked him about the path of moksha, step by step.

Varuṇa’s teaching: karma is better

Varuṇa’s teaching was direct and clear. He said: “Moksha comes in two ways, through karma (holy rites) and through akarman (keeping away from work). The path settled in the Veda is this: karma is better for one’s good than akarman. Everything, including the four aims of life, is bound up with karma. It is not true that the path of moksha is gained by akarman alone. All grains are gained through karma. Of the four āśramas, the household life is remembered as the giver of puṇya (merit). In my view, both enjoyment of pleasures and moksha are possible in the household life.”

Varuṇa names the kshetra

Janaka and Yājñavalkya asked further: “What is that place, that holy kshetra (field), which gives worldly pleasures and liberation?” Varuṇa answered in steps.

On the whole Earth, the land of Bhārata is the most meritorious. In Bhārata, the Daṇḍaka forest is the most meritorious. Karma done in that land gives worldly pleasures and moksha. And among all the holy places of Daṇḍaka, the Gautamī Gaṅgā is the best, the giver of moksha. By yajña and by gifts given on her banks, a person will gain both worldly pleasures and moksha.

Janaka performs the yajña and reaches moksha

Hearing this, Janaka and Yājñavalkya went back to their city. King Janaka did the aśvamedha yajña and other great holy rites on the banks of the Gautamī, led by Yājñavalkya. Through these rites, done on the holy banks, King Janaka reached moksha. Many other kings also reached moksha by the grace of the Gautamī at the same place.

From then on the place was called Janasthāna. It is the place of many yajñas and of the moksha of many kings. It reaches out for four yojanas. Just by remembering it, all pāpa (sin) is driven away.

Sources

• Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 17