88 - Vyasatirtha - Holy Centre

Brahmā said: 

1. The holy centre well known as Vyasatirtha is called Prachetasa also. There is no other holier centre than this. It bestows all spiritual achievements. 

2. The ten mind-born sons¹ of mine are the creators of the worlds too. Due to their (inordinate) power they went ahead desirous of knowing the end of the Earth. 

1. The Mahabharata (1.65.10) mentions the following six as the mind-born sons of Brahmä: Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu, who became great sages. The remaining four are: Vasişhtha, Dakşha, Bhrugu and Närada. 

3. Again some were created. Again they went in search of others. Neither they nor those who had gone before, returned. Those who had gone ahead had gone for ever. 

4. Then O sage, the highly intelligent divine Angirasas were born. They were conversant with the principles of Vedas and the Vedāngas. They were experts in all scriptural texts. 

5. They were permitted by Angiras to perform penance. those ascetics bowed down to their preceptor. They decided to perform penance without asking their mother. 

6. Invenerability mother is superior to all preceptors and elders. Then, O Nārada, she cursed her own sons out of anger. 

The Mother said: 

7. Those sons who have slighted me and begun to perform penance will never really attain spiritual achievement in any respect. 

Brahma said: 

8. In their quest for success in penance they went to different countries but they did not attain Siddhi. Obstacles followed them wherever they went. 

9. In some places they were hindered by Rakshasas, in some the obstacle was created by men, in some it was created by youthful maidens and in others it was due to defects of the physical body. 

10. Wandering thus, they went to sage Agastya, who was born of a pot¹, who was the most excellent among those who perform penance and who was the preceptor of worlds. 

1. The son of Mitra and Varuna whose semen fell out at the sight of Urvashi and was collected in a water pot from which he was eventually born along with Vasishtha. 

11. The Angirasas born in the race of the Fire-god bowed down to calm the lord of southern quarter, i.e., sage Agastya. Humbly they began to ask him. 

Angirasas said: 

12-15. O saintly lord, what is the fault due to which our penance does not fructify? Though we have employed different means, and we perform penance again and again (why does it not become fruitful?) 

What shall we do? What is the (proper) method of penance? Shall we become (successful)? O great brahmin, tell us the means. Certainly you are the seniormost by virtue of your penance, 

You are the best speaker. You are the most excellent speaker. You are the wisest of all wise men. O brahmin, you are the calmest among all those who have self-control. You are ever merciful and you do what is pleasing to others. 

You are never angry. You do not hate. Hence, tell us what is desired to be told. Those who are arrogant, those who are devoid of sympathy, those who have abandoned service to elders, those who speak untruth, and those who are cruel do not know reality. Brahmā said: 

16. Agastrya meditated for a moment and said to all of them slowly. 

Agastya said: 

17. All of you are of tranquil souls. You were made creators by Brahmā. Your penance was not adequate. Remember the cause of your arrogance (?) 

18. Those who had been previously created by Brahma and those who went away are increasingly happy. Those who went later in quest of them became Angirasas. 

19. They are you. You went in quest of them at the proper time and you went slowly. There is no doubt that you will become superior to Prajapati (Brahma). 

20. All of you go from here to Gangā, the sanctifier of the three worlds, in order to perform penance. Excepting Gangā, the beloved of Siva, there is no other refuge in this world. 

21. There worship 'the bestower of knowledge in the holy spot in the hermitage. He is extremely intelligent. He will dispel your doubts. Without a good preceptor no one will attain Siddhi at any place.

Brahmā said: 

22-23. They said to that excellent sage: "Who is called 'the bestower of knowledge?' Is it Brahma, Vişhnu, Mahesha, Sun-god, Moon-god, Fire-god or Varuna? O excellent sage, who will be the bestower of knowledge?" 

Agastya said again, "Let it be heard who the bestower of knowledge is. 

24-25. That which is water is fire, that which is fire is sun. He who is sun is Vishnu. He who is Vişhnu is (Sun-god). He who is Brahma is Rudra and he who is Rudra is everything, It is he who has the entire and perfect knowledge. He is glorified as the bestower of knowledge. 

26. There are many preceptors, viz. (1) teacher; (2) One who induces us to do something; (3) one who explains; (4) priest; (5) the progenitor, Among them the bestower of knowledge is superior. 

27. That alone is called knowledge, whereby difference is dispelled. One and secondless Shambhu is called by brahmins by the different names of Indra, Mitra (Sun-god) and Agni for helping those who are deluded."

Brahmā said: 

28. On hearing these words of the sage five of them went to the northern Ganga and five to the southern Gangā. They sang songs of praise while going. 

29. In accordance with the injunctions they performed the worship of Devas mentioned by Agastya. They were seated in their special seats and they began to ponder over Reality. 

30-36. Devas became pleased with them, O sage. Their (state of being creators) had already been ordained by the creator of the universe in the beginning of the Yuga. 

It is for dispelling evil, for preserving the Vedas, for helping the worlds and for the attainment of righteousness, enjoyment and wealth (that they are ordained as creators). 

The creatorship of the worlds was liked by them) in order to interpret correctly the meaning of the Puranas, Smrutis, Vedas and Dharmaśhāstras (Ethical and Legal Codes)."You will assume such a form” (they were told). 

They will have the status of Prajapati (the state of being the lords of subjects) slowly and in due order whenever evil spreads in the world and the Vedas are slighted. If there is any danger to the Vedas they are born as Vyāsas, 

Whenever there is decrease of righteousness and danger to Veda Vyāsas are born to revive them. It is the excellent banks of Gangā, that become the place of their penance. 

There all of us are present always viz., Siva, Vişhnu, myself Brahma, Aditya (Sun-god), Agni (fire) and Apaḥ (waters). 

37-40. There is nothing holier than these. There is nothing superior to this anywhere. They are the Brahman alone which assumes different forms. 

Siva who is the soul of everything (who is identical with all) is all-pervasive. He assumes the forms of all living beings. Especially in this holy centre he is present due to the mercy towards all livings beings. He is surrounded by all Devas. He is the cause of blessing to them. They are to be known as Dharma Vyasas and Veda-Vyāsas. Their holy centre is called after their names in the three worlds. The Vyasatirtha holy centre has waters that wash off the mud of sins. It dispels the darkness of delusion and arrogance. It is excellent and it yields all Siddhis unto men.