98 - Moksha of Satyataþas

In the text the chapter is named Parvädhyàya.

Earth said:

1-2. O lord, you said formerly that there is much that is interesting to be said about Satyatapas, the Brahmin who became a hunter and who saved Aruni from a tiger and propitiated Durväsas and then went to Himalayas.

3. I am now very much eager to know this. Be pleased to tell me.

Varäha said:

4. Satyatapas was a Brahmin in the line of Bhrugu, but because of his association with Dasyus (a cruel uncivilised tribe), himself became one like 

5. After a long time, by the contact with sages, he became a Brahmin again and got instruction from Durväsas in particular.

6. On the northern side of mount Himavän there is a holy river called Pushyabhadrä, on its bank a beautiful slab called Chitrašhilä and a big banyan tree called Bhadra.

7. There Satyatapas was performing severe penance.

8. Once when he was cutting with his axe sticks (for homa), he happened to cut his left forefinger.

9. At the broken part there were only ashes, neither blood nor flesh nor marrow. He put the broken finger in its place and it got united as before.

10. This wonder was seen by a Kinnara couple that had resorted to the banyan tree Bhadra the previous night.

11. When the couple returned to Indraloka in the morning, they were asked by Indra and Yakshas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras there to tell them if there was anything wonderful to be narrated.

  12-15. The Kinnara couple then narrated about their being near Rudrasaras, the wonder relating to Satyatapas they saw on the bank of river Pushyabhadrä, the exudation of ashes from his broken finger and all that.

16-17. Surprised at this, Indra suggested to Vishnu that they may go to the place of wonder mentioned by the Kinnara pair on the slopes of the Himälayas.

18. Vishnu then transformed himself into a boar and Indra into a hunter, and both went near the sage (Satyatapas).

19. Vishnu in the form of the boar appeared within the sight of the sage, alternately revealing and hiding himself.

20. Soon appeared there Indra also (in the guise of the hunter) with bow and arrow in hand and asked sage Satyatapas:

21. “O sage, did you see here a big boar? I want to kill it for the food of my family”.

22. Asked thus, the sage began to think: “If I show him the boar now, it will surely be killed by him.

23. If I don’t, his family will famish. This hunter with his wife and children, is in great hunger.

24. The boar hit by the arrow has sought refuge in my hermitage. What shall I do?”

25. When thus in a dilemma, a thought occurred to him, and he exclaimed:

26. “The eye is directed to see the moving objects and the tongue is directed to speak to the hunter. There is no eye now to see or the tongue to speak. Does the tongue really have the eye?”

27. Hearing this, both Indra and Vishnu were pleased, and showing their genuine forms, offered to grant him a boon.

Hearing this Satyatapas said:

28. “Really there is nothing to be asked, after seeing you both before me here in this earth. I am fully gratified.

29. Still I shall ask: One, when Brahmins honour other Brahmins at the sight of the new moon and full moon with devotion, let their acquired sin disappear in the course of a month.

30. Another, let me attain full liberation”.

31. They granted him both the boons asked for and disappeared. Satyatapas too felt in his heart to have become one with Brahman.

32. While the sage was thus remaining there fully gratified, his guru Äruni came there after going round the world visiting the holy spots.

33. In great devotion he honoured the Guru with a seat, Pädya, Ächamana and Godäna.

34. Äruni then spoke to him, seeing him full of humility and freed from all sins.

Aruni said:

35. “You have achieved in full the aim of penance and you have now become Brahman. Now it is the time for your liberation along with me.

36. Arise, my son, we shall go to the supreme Abode, after reaching which there will be no rebirth”.

37. Then both of them, Satyatapas and Äruni, meditated on Lord Näräyana and became merged in him.

38. He who listens to this Parvädhyäya in full or reads it to others, attains all that he desires.