३२ द्वात्रिंशदशकः - यक्षकथा 32 dvaatrimshadashakah' - yakshakathaa Dasakam 32 Yaksha katha- the story of Yaksha

 ३२ द्वात्रिंशदशकः - यक्षकथा

32 dvaatrimshadashakah' - yakshakathaa

Dasakam 32 Yaksha katha- the story of Yaksha

( To prove that none of the gods are independent of her the Goddess takes a

form of a Yakshi and challenges them. The devas realize they do not have any

power without her. Indra did thapas and pleased her. This story occurs in

eighth chapter of the twelfth book of Devi Bhagawatham as also in

Kenopanishad,)

पुरा सुरा वर्ष शतं रणेर्ु

निरन्तरे र्ु त्वदिुग्रहे ण ।

नवनित्य दै त्याि् िििीमनप त्वां

नवस्मृत्य दृप्ता नितरां बभूवुुः ॥ ३२-१॥

puraa suraa varshashatam raneshu

nirantareshu tvadanugrahena .

vijitya daityaan jananeemapi tvaam

vismri'tya dri'ptaa nitaraam babhoovuh' .. 32-1..

1. Many years ago, the devas, defeated the asuras for 100

   years continuously, due to your blessings. Because of

   which, they even forgot you, who is their mother and

   became very proud.

   Here, the story of how devi destroyed the pride of the

   devas and blessed them is going to begin. Many years ago,

   initially, a war between the devas and the asuras took

   place for 100 years. Due to devi’s blessings the devas

   always won the war. They assumed that they won because

   of their own capability. Eventually, they even forgot the

  devi who had helped them to win the war. They became

  too over-confident and proud.

  In ancient days, the Asuras, maddened with pride, fought

  against the Devas for one hundred years. The war was very

  extraordinary and remarkable. In this great war various

  weapons were used, variegated with numerous Māyās or

  ingenious devices. It tended to destroy the whole world. By

  the mercy of the Highest and the Most Exalted Śakti, the

  Daityas were overcome by the Devas in that Great War.

  And they quitted the Heavens and the Earth and went to

  the nether regions, the Pātāla. The Devas were all delighted

  and began to dwell on their own prowess and became

  proud.

मयैव दै त्या बलवत्तरे ण

हता ि चान्यैररनत शक्रमुख्ाुः ।

दे वा अभूवन्ननतदपषवन्त-

स्त्वं दे नव चान्तुः कुरुर्े स्म हासम् ॥ ३२-२॥

mayaiva daityaa balavattarena

hataa na chaanyairiti shakramukhyaah' .

devaa abhoovannatidarpavanta-

stvam devi chaantah' kurushe sma haasam .. 32-2..

The Asuras were all killed by me who is strong. The cause of

the destruction of the asuras was only because of me,

nobody else. Thus, thinking like this Indra and the other

devas, became very proud. Oh Goddess, you kept on

laughing in your mind.

We had mentioned that the devas had become very

arrogant. Each deva assumed that the devas won over the

asura because of their presence and became proud. It was

the all-powerful devi that was always protecting the devas

during times of trouble. Even that the devas forgot. Seeing

the lowliness of the devas, devi just smiled.

तच्चित्तदपाष सुरिाशिाय

तेिोमयं यक्षवपुदषधािा ।

त्वं िानतदू रे स्वयमानवरासी-

स्त्वां वासवाद्या ददृशुुः सुरौघाुः ॥ ३२-३॥

tachchittadarpaasuranaashanaaya

tejomayam yakshavapurdadhaanaa .

tvam naatidoore svayamaaviraasee-

stvaam vaasavaadyaa dadri'shuh' suraughaah' .. 32-3..

3.For the sake of destroying the asura in the form of pride in

their mind, you appeared before them in a lustrous form of a

Yakshi and appeared in a place not far away from them.

Indra and other devas saw you.

The asuras were always the troublemakers for the devas.

During fag-end of their(devas) prayers, the asuras existence

as pride in the minds of the devas were very strong. It was

devi who was subduing the asuras. Devi took a lustrous form

and appeared, not very far-away, in front of the devas. The

devas saw that ghost-lustre.

“Why shall not victory be ours. Why are not our glories

great? We are by far the best! Where are the Daityas? They

are devils, powerless. We are the causes of creation,

preservation and destruction. We all are glorious! Oh! What

can be said before us in favour of the Asuras, the devils?”

Thus, not knowing the Highest Śhakti, the Devas were

deluded. At this moment, seeing this plight of the Devas, the

World Mother took pity on the Devas and, to favour them, O

King! She appeared before them in the form of the Most

Worshipful, the Great Holy Light. It was resplendent like ten

million Suns, and cool as well like ten million Moons.

सद्युः नकलाशङ्क्यत तैररदं नकं

मायाऽऽसु री वेनत ततो मघोिा ।

अनिनिषयुक्तो भवतीमवाप्तुः

पृष्टस्त्वया कोऽनस कुतोऽनस चेनत ॥ ३२-४॥

sadyah' kilaashankyata tairidam kim

maayaa''suree veti tato maghonaa .

agnirniyukto bhavateemavaaptah'

pri'sht'astvayaa ko'si kuto'si cheti .. 32-4..

4.They immediately fearfully thought like this. “What is this?

Could it be an illusion created by the asuras? Afterwards

send by Indra, the fire God agni approached you. You asked

him, “Who are you? And where from are you?”

The devas got scared on seeing this hazardous element-that

it was an illusion by the asuras. In order to find out who it is,

and what does it want, indra sent the fire god agni. Agni

thought that only he was capable of doing that-the other

devas cannot-hence indra gave him that responsibility-the

bloating of pride! When agni went close to the light the

element asked like this-who are you? Where are you coming

from?

Thus, coming to this ultimate conclusion, Indra called Agni

and said :-- “O Agni! You are the mouthpiece of the Devas.

Therefore, you go first and ascertain distinctly what this Light

is.” Hearing thus the words of Indra, Agni, elated by his own

prowess, set out immediately from the place and went to

that Light. Seeing Agni coming, the Light addressed him thus

:-- “Who are you? What is your strength? State this before

Me.”

स चाह सवैनवषनदतोऽनिरच्चस्म

मय्येव नतष्ठत्यच्चिलं िगि ।

शक्नोनम दग्ुं सकलं हनवभुषङ्म-

द्वीयषतो दै त्यगणा निताश्च ॥ ३२-५॥

sa chaaha sarvairvidito'gnirasmi

mayyeva tisht'hatyakhilam jagachcha .

shaknomi dagdhum sakalam havirbhung-

madveeryato daityaganaa jitaashcha .. 32-5..

5.He(Agni) told , “I am known to all as the fire god agni. The

entire world rests on me. I am strong enough to digest all

the offerings offered during a yagya. The asura army was

defeated by my valour”

Agni answered all the questions asked by the element: “I am

agni, the one who eats the offerings offered during a yagya. I

eat everything and am famous all over the world. I am

capable of defeating any asura with my hands”-pride filled

words!

At this Agni replied :-- “I am Agni. All the yajñās, ordained in

the Vedas are performed through me. The power of burning

everything in this universe resides in me.”

इतीररता शुष्कतृणं त्वमेकं

पुरो निधायात्थ दहै तदाशु ।

एवं ज्वलन्ननिररदं च दग्ुं

कुवषि् प्रयत्नं ि शशाक मत्तुः ॥ ३२-६॥

iteeritaa shushkatri'nam tvamekam

puro nidhaayaattha dahaitadaashu .

evam jvalannagniridam cha dagdhum

kurvan prayatnam na shashaaka mattah' .. 32-6..

6. After hearing all this, you took a dried blade of grass and

kept it in front of him and said to him, ’Burn this quickly.” The

proud Agni , burnt with great flame, to burn that blade of

grass, in spite of putting in great effort, he could not do it.

“I have the strength to burn anything”, is what agni had

previously bragged. ““Then burn this” saying thus the

element kept a dry blade of grass in front of him. Agni burnt

bright and began to glow. He could not burn even the end of

the blade of grass.

Then that adorable Light took up a straw of grass and said :--

“O Agni! If you can burn everything in this universe, then can

you burn this trifling straw.” Agni tried his best to burn the

straw but he could not burn it. He got ashamed and fast

went back to the Devas.

स िष्टगवषुः सहसा निवृत्त-

स्ततोऽनिलो वज्रभृता नियुक्तुः ।

त्वां प्राप्तवािनिवदे व पृष्टो

दे नव स्वमाहात्म्यवचो बभार्े ॥ ३२-७॥

sa nasht'agarvah' sahasaa nivri'tta-

stato'nilo vajrabhri'taa niyuktah' .

tvaam praaptavaanagnivadeva pri'sht'o

devi svamaahaatmyavacho babhaashe .. 32-7..

7.The pride of fire God was destroyed, and he went back in

haste. After this the wind God, Vayu, was sent by Indra, and

approached you. On hearing the same questions that you

asked the fire God, The Wind God told about his fame in the

following way.

Agni’s pride was destroyed. Neither could he burn the blade

of grass nor could he find out who the bright element was.

Agni returned. Then, indra told vayu, The wind god to go.

Vayu also puffed up with pride, like agni. Then the element

asked vayu,” who are you?” “from where are you?” the same

questions that was asked to agni. Hearing the questions ,

vayu started elaborating his own glories.

Indra then asked Vāyu (wind) and said :-- “O Vāyu! You are

dwelling in this universe, through and through; by your

efforts, all are moving; therefore, you are the Prāṇa of all; it is

possible that all forces are concentrated within you. Go and

ascertain what is this Light? Verily I do not see any other

person here than you who can ascertain this great adorable

Light.” Hearing these commendable words of Indra, Vāyu felt

himself elated and went at once to that place where was that

Light.

Seeing the Vāyu, the Light, the Yakṣha, the deva, the Spirit

asked in a gentle language :-- “Who are you? What strength

is there in you? Speak out all these to me.” At this, Vāyu

spoke arrogantly,

मां मातररश्वािमवेनह सवे

व्यापारवन्तो नह मयैव िीवाुः ।

ि प्रानणिुः सच्चन्त मया नविा च

गृह्णानम सवं चलयानम नवश्वम् ॥ ३२-८॥

maam maatarishvaanamavehi sarve

vyaapaaravanto hi mayaiva jeevaah' .

na praaninah' santi mayaa vinaa cha

gri'hnaami sarvam chalayaami vishvam .. 32-8..

8.”Please understand that I am the wind God, all living

things, with my help, penetrates into everything, if separated

from me, living things cannot last.” I hold everything. I have

the capacity to move anything.

Vayu, the wind God, introduced himself to the element. He

spoke with arrogance. It is because of him that all living

things are able to breathe; he is the one who gives the power

of life to all living things; he can take away anything; can

shake anything-this continues vayu’s prattle.

“I am Mātarisvan, I am Vāyu; about my strength, I can move

anything and I hold everything. It is through the strength of

mine, that this universe is, and is alive and brisk with

movements and works.”

इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्ष तृणं तदे व

प्रदर्श्ष चैतिलये त्यभाणीुः ।

प्रभञ्जिस्तत्स च कमष कतुष -

-मशक्त एवास्तमदो निवृत्तुः ॥ ३२-९॥

ityuktamaakarnya tri'nam tadeva

pradarshya chaitachchalayetyabhaaneeh' .

prabhanjanastatsa cha karma kartu-

mashakta evaastamado nivri'ttah' .. 32-9..

9.Hearing  these words, showed him the same blade of dry

grass, “Try to move this” you told him (vayu). The wind God

blew a very great storm, in spite of it, he was unable to

perform the deed and returned back with his pride

destroyed.

Devi might have laughed within, hearing vayu praising

himself. She kept the same blade of dry grass she had kept in

front of the fire god. “Try to move this” she ordered. A strong

wind blew there. But not a portion of the dry grass moved.

The words, “I can move anything”, that vayu had used was of

no use. His pride was destroyed. Vayu also returned. In this

way agni’s and vayu’s pride were destroyed.

“O Vāyu! Move this straw that lies before you, and if you

cannot, quit your pride and go back to Indra ashamed.” At

this Vāyu tried all his might but, alas! He could not move the

straw a bit from that place! Vāyu then gave up his pride and

returned to the Devas and spoke to them all about the Yakṣa

(a sort of a ghost). O Devas! Our pride is vain; in no way can

we be able to ascertain the nature of that Light. It seems that

that Holy Light, adorable by all, is extraordinary.

अथानतमािी शतमन्युरन्त-

रनिं च वायुं च हसन्नवाप ।

त्वां यक्षरूपां सहसा नतरोऽभूुः

सोऽदह्यतान्तुः स्वलघुत्वभीत्या ॥ ३२-१०॥

athaatimaanee shatamanyuranta-

ragnim cha vaayum cha hasannavaapa .

tvaam yaksharoopaam sahasaa tiro'bhooh'

so'dahyataantah' svalaghutvabheetyaa .. 32-10..

10 Then the very haughty Indra, making fun of wind and fire

God in his mind , came near you, who were in the form of a

Yakshi. You disappeared suddenly. And he thinking of his

inferiority, suffered within his mind.

Indra is the chief, among the arrogant devas. Hence, he will

have maximum arrogance. That was self-pride. Agni and vayu

both could not find out who the yakshi was. He ridiculed

them in his mind-“all useless people” he thus evaluated

them. Thus thinking, he himself went to meet the yakshi.

Suddenly the yakshi disappeared. Agni and vayu were at

least able to talk to the yakshi. Indra was unable to do even

that. Suddenly indra began to feel that he was inferior to

them. Now what all will the deva’s talk about him! He felt all

his fame draining off. There was no solution to rectify his

feeling of inferiority-thus thinking like this indra’s mind was

in a turmoil.

“When You are the King of the Devas, better go yourself and

ascertain the reality of Its Nature.” Indra, then, with great

pride, went himself to the Light; the Light, too, began to

disappear gradually from the place, and ultimately vanished

from Indra’s sight. When Indra found that he could not even

speak to That Light, he became greatly ashamed and began

to conceive of his own nothingness.

He thought thus :-- “I won’t go back to the Devas. What shall

I say to them? Never will I disclose to them my inferiority;

one is better to die than do this. One’s self-honour is the

only treasure of the great and honourable. If honour is gone,

what use, then, is there in living?” O King! Then Indra, the

Lord of Devas, quitted his pride and took refuge unto That

Great Light which exhibited, before long, such a glorious

character.

अथ श्रुताकाशवचोऽिुसारी

ह्रीङ्कारमन्त्रं स नचराय िप्त्त्वा ।

पर्श्न्नुमां त्वां करुणाश्रुिेत्ां

ििाम भक्त्या नशनथलानभमािुः ॥ ३२-११॥

atha shrutaakaashavacho'nusaaree

hreenkaaramantram sa chiraaya japtvaa .

pashyannumaam tvaam karunaashrunetraam

nanaama bhaktyaa shithilaabhimaanah' .. 32-11..

11. Then later(Indra) as per the advice given by a divine voice

from the sky, started chanting the “Hreem” mantra for a long

time, and after seeing you, The Goddess Uma, discarded his

pride and saluted thee, with eyes wet with tears of mercy.

Indra’s pride dissolved bit by bit. At that time he heard a

divine voice from the sky- ‘Indra chant the maya beeja

mantra’. As per the advice, he did severe penance and

chanted the ‘hreem’ mantra with full devotion, for many

years. Finally, devi appeared before him as the daughter of

himavan. He threw away all his pride and prayed to devi.

At this moment, a celestial voice was heard from the

Heavens:-- “O Indra! Go on now and do the japam, the

reciting of the Māyā bīja Mantra, the basic Mantra of Māyā.

All your troubles will, then, be over.” Hearing this celestial

voice, Indra began to repeat the Māyā bīja, the Seed Mantra

of Māyā, with rapt concentration and without any food.

Then on the ninth lunar day of the month of Caitra when the

Sun entered the meridian, suddenly there appeared in that

place a Great Mass of Light as was seen before. Indra saw,

then, within that Mass of Light, a Virgin Form in full youth.

The lustre from Her body was like that of ten million Rising

Suns; and the colour was rosy red like a full-blown Javā

flower. On Her forehead was shining the digit of the Moon;

Her breasts were full, and, though veiled under the cloth,

they looked very beautiful. She was holding noose and a

goad in Her two hands and Her other two hands indicated

signs of favour and fearlessness.

Her body was decked with various ornaments and it looked

auspicious and exceedingly lovely; nowhere can be seen a

woman beautiful like Her. She was like a Kalpa Vrikṣa

(celestial tree yielding all desires); she was three eyed and

Her braid of hair was encircled with Mālatī garlands. She was

praised on Her four sides by the Four Vedas, Incarnate, in

their respective Forms. The brilliancy of Her teeth shed lustre

on the ground as if ornamented with Padmarāga jewels. Her

face looked smiling. Her clothing was red and Her body was

covered with sandalpaste. She was the Cause of all causes.

Oh! She was all Full of Mercy. O King Janamejaya! Thus Indra

saw, then, the Umā Parvatī Maheśvarī Bhagavatī and the hairs

of his body stood on ends with ecstasy. His eyes were filled

with tears of love and deep devotion and he immediately fell

prostrate before the feet of the Devī. Indra sang various

hymns to Her and praised Her. He became very glad and

asked Her, “O Fair One! Art Thou that Great Mass of Light? If

this be, kindly state the cause of Thy appearance.”

ज्ञािं परं त्वन्मुितुः स लब्ध्वा

कृताञ्जनलिषम्रनशरा निवृत्तुः ।

सवाष मरे भ्युः प्रददौ ततस्ते

सवं त्वनदच्छावशगं व्यिािि् ॥ ३२-१२॥

jnyaanam param tvanmukhatah' sa labdhvaa

kri'taanjalirnamrashiraa nivri'ttah' .

sarvaamarebhyah' pradadau tataste

sarvam tvadichchhaavashagam vyajaanan .. 32-12..

12. Indra earned the divine knowledge from you, and with

folded hands and head bent with respect and devotion,

saluted you and returned. Later he shared that divine

knowledge with all the devas. From that day they understood

that everything in the world are slaves to your desire.

Indra prayed with devotion to that daughter of himavaan. In

return the devi imparted the knowledge of the supreme to

him. Indra understood that the trimurtis too are full of

qualities, only devi is bereft of any qualities. It became very

clear to him, that without the wish of devi, nothing can take

place. The burning of fire and the blowing of the wind all

happens due to the wishes of devi. indra finally understood,

that it was because of the blessings of devi they were able to

defeat the asuras, and cos of their capabilities. He returned

after meeting devi; he also spread the knowledge that he

had got to the other devas. After acquiring that knowledge,

all the devas came out of their arrogance and anger and

prayed to devi with devotion.

ततुः सुरा दम्भनवमुच्चक्तमापु र्

भवन्तु मत्याष श्च नविम्रशीर्ाष ुः ।

अन्योन्यसाहाय्यकराश्च सवे

मा युद्धवाताष भुवित्येऽस्तु ॥ ३२-१३॥

tatah' suraa dambhavimuktimaapur

bhavantu martyaashcha vinamrasheershaah' .

anyonyasaahaayyakaraashcha sarve

maa yuddhavaartaa bhuvanatraye'stu .. 32-13..

13.Therefore the devas completely let go of their pride. They

prayed that, may all Human beings bow their heads before

you, and help each other; Let there be, no war in the entire

three worlds.

All the devas returned to heaven praying continuously to the

devi. Suppose on earth humans also behaved like this! -the

poet thinks thus. The poet presents all his wishes to devi-

“may all human beings living here, be always humble, help

each other. Let there be no news of hatred from anywhere.

त्वनदच्छया सूयषशशाङ्कवनि-

वाय्वादयो दे नव सुराुः स्वकानि ।

कमाष नण कुवषच्चन्त ि ते स्वतन्त्रा-

स्तस्यै िमस्तेऽस्तु महािुभावे ॥ ३२-१४॥

tvadichchhayaa sooryashashaankavahni-

vaayvaadayo devi suraah' svakaani .

karmaani kurvanti na te svatantraa-

stasyai namaste'stu mahaanubhaave .. 32-14..

14. Oh goddess, it is as per your wish, the sun, the moon, the

Fire, the wind and others are able to do their respective

duties. They are not independent. Oh great one, Oh Goddess,

Who has the form of great power, Our salutations to you.

Other than devi nobody else is independent, devi decides

who should do what duties at what time and where. Others

have no choice but obey devi’s decision. The freedom to do

as one wishes to do is called independence. Only devi has

this. That is devi’s glory. Devi gives what is necessary to each

and every one at that time-that is devi’s mercy.

Let us all be the subjects to Devi’s mercy. For that the poet

prays to devi.

The story of devi having taken the form of a yaksha, and

blessing indra, is there in the 12th skandam, 8th chapter of

devi bhagavatham. This story is there in the

kenopanishad also.

Thus ends the 32nd chapter

Part 3 shlokas 14-25 of kena Upanishad

14. ब्रह्म ह दे वेभ्यो नवनिग्ये तस्य ह ब्रह्मणो नविये दे वा अमहीयन्त ।

त अइक्षन्तास्माकमेवायं नवियोऽस्माकमेवायं मनहमेनत ॥ १४ ॥

brahma ha devebhyo vijigye tasya ha brahmaṇo vijaye devā

amahīyanta |

ta aikṣantāsmākamevāyaṃ vijayo'smākamevāyaṃ mahimeti || 14 ||

14. The Brahman won a victory for the Devas and in that victory of

the Brahman the Devas attained glory. They thought ‘the victory is

ours and this glory is ours alone.’

तद्धै र्ां नविज्ञौ तेभ्यो ह प्रादु बषभूव तन्न व्यिाित नकनमदं यक्षनमनत ॥ १५ ॥

taddhaiṣāṃ vijajñau tebhyo ha prādurbabhūva tanna vyajānata

kimidaṃ yakṣamiti || 15 ||

15. He knew this notion of theirs and appeared before them. What

that Great Spirit was they did not know.

Shankara’s Commentary:

Com.—The Brahman evidently knew this false notion of theirs.

Brahman being all-knowing and director of the senses of all living

beings knew of the false idea of the Devas and in order that the

Devas might not be disgraced like the Asuras by this false notion,

out of pity for them and intending to bless them by dismissing their

false notion, appeared before them for their benefit in a form

assumed at will, in virtue of its power—a form unprecedentedly

glorious and astonishing and capable of being perceived by the

senses. The Devas did not at all know the Brahman that appeared

before them. Who is this Yaksham, i.e., this venerable Great Spirit.

तेऽनिमब्रुवि् िातवेद एतनद्विािीनह नकमेतद्यक्षनमनत तथेनत ॥ १६ ॥

तदभ्यद्रवत्तमभ्यवदत्कोऽसीत्यनिवाष अहमस्मीत्यब्रवीज्जातवेदा वा अहमस्मीनत ॥१७ll

तच्चस्मिँस्त्वनय नकं वीयषनमत्यपीदिँ सवं दहे यं यनददं पृनथव्यानमनत ॥ १८ ॥

तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतद्दहे नत तदु पप्रेयाय सवषिवेि तन्न शशाक दग्ुं स तत एव निववृते

िैतदशकं नवज्ञातुं यदे तद्यक्षनमनत ॥ १९ ॥

te'gnimabruvan jātaveda etadvijānīhi kimetadyakṣamiti tatheti || 16 ||

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko'sītyagnirvā

ahamasmītyabravījjātavedā vā ahamasmīti || 17 ||

tasmim̐stvayi kiṃ vīryamityapīdam̐sarvaṃ daheyaṃ yadidaṃ

pṛthivyāmiti || 18 ||

tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāvetaddaheti tadupapreyāya sarvajavena tanna

śaśāka dagdhuṃ sa tata eva nivavṛte naitadaśakaṃ vijñātuṃ

yadetadyakṣamiti || 19 ||

16. They addressed the Fire thus “O Jataveda! Find out what this

Great Spirit is.” He said “yes.”

17. He ran to That. That said to him “who art thou?” He replied “I am

Agni or I am Jataveda.”

18. That said “what power, in thee so named, is lodged.’ He replied “I

can burn even all this, on the earth.”

19. That placed a straw before him and said: ‘Burn this.’ He

approached it with all haste but was not able to burn it. He

immediately returned from thence to the Devas and said I was not

able to learn what this Great Spirit is.”

Shankara’s Commentary:

Com.—The Devas not knowing what that Spirit was, being afraid of

it, and desirous to know what it was, thus addressed Agni who went

before them and who was little less than omniscient. “O Jataveda,

learn well what this Great Spirit now in our view is. You are the

brightest of us all.” “Be it so” said Agni and ran towards the Spirit.

Seeing him approach near, with a desire to ask questions of it, but

overawed into silence in its presence, the Spirit asked him: “who are

you?” Thus questioned by Brahman, Agni replied: “I am Agni well

known also as Jataveda”; as if in self-complaisance at being so well

known by two names, Brahman said to Agni who had thus replied:

“what power is in you who owns such well-known and significant

names.?” He replied: “I could reduce to ashes all this universe and all

immoveables, etc., on this earth.” The word ‘earth’ is illustratively

used; for, even what is in the air is burnt by Agni [Fire]. The Brahman

placed a straw before Agni who was so vain-glorious, and said: “Burn

but this straw in my presence. If thou art not able to burn this, give

up thy vanity as the consumer of all.” Thus addressed, Agni

approached the straw with all the speed of overweening confidence

but was not able to burn it. So he, Jataveda, being unable to burn it,

covered with shame and bathed in bis resolution, returned in silence

from the presence of the Spirit and told the Devas: “I was not able to

learn more, concerning this Spirit.”

अथ वायुमब्रुवन्वायवेतनद्विािीनह नकमेतद्यक्षनमनत तथेनत ॥ २० ॥

तदभ्यद्रवत्तमभ्यवदत्कोऽसीनत वायुवाष अहमस्मीत्यब्रवीन्मातररश्वा वा अहमस्मीनत ॥ २१ ॥

तच्चस्मिँस्त्वनय नकं वीयषनमत्यपीदिँ सवषमाददीय यनददं पृनथव्यानमनत ॥ २२ ॥

तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतदादत्स्वेनत तदु पप्रेयाय सवषिवेि तन्न शशाकाऽऽदतुं स तत एव

निववृते िैतदशकं नवज्ञातुं यदे तद्यक्षनमनत ॥ २३ ॥

atha vāyumabruvanvāyavetadvijānīhi kimetadyakṣamiti tatheti || 20 ||

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko'sīti vāyurvā

ahamasmītyabravīnmātariśvā vā ahamasmīti || 21 ||

tasmim̐stvayi kiṃ vīryamityapīdam̐sarvamādadīya yadidaṃ

pṛthivyāmiti || 22 ||

tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāvetadādatsveti tadupapreyāya sarvajavena

tanna śaśākā''datuṃ sa tata eva nivavṛte naitadaśakaṃ vijñātuṃ

yadetadyakṣamiti || 23 ||

20. The Devas then said to Vayu: “Learn O Vayu! what this Great

Spirit is” He said: “yes.”

21. He ran to That. That said: “who art thou”? lie replied: “I am Vayu

or Matarisva.”

22. That said “what power is in thee; so well known?” He replied: “I

can blow away all the universe and all that is on the earth.”

23. That placed a straw before him and said “Blow it away.” He

approached it with all speed but was not able to blow it. He returned

immediately from there and told the Devas “I was not able to learn

who this Great Spirit is.”

Shankara’s Commentary:

Com.—They next addressed Vayu thus: ‘know this, etc.’ The vest

bears the same meaning as in the last passage. Vayu [ Air ] is so

named from the root which means ‘to go’or ‘to smell.’ Vayu is also

called ‘Matarisva’ because it travels [ svayati ] in space [ matari ],

‘Adadiyam’ means ‘can take.’

अथेन्द्रमब्रुवन्मघवन्नेतनद्विािीनह नकमेतद्यक्षनमनत तथेनत

तदभ्यद्रवत्तस्मानत्तरोदधे ॥ २४ ॥

 तच्चस्मन्नेवाकाशे च्चियमािगाम बहुशोभमािामुमािँ हैमवतीं तािँ होवाच

नकमेतद्यक्षनमनत ॥ २५ ॥

athendramabruvanmaghavannetadvijānīhi kimetadyakṣamiti

tatheti tadabhyadravattasmāttirodadhe || 24 ||

sa tasminnevākāśe striyamājagāma

bahuśobhamānāmumām̐haimavatīṃ tām̐hovāca

kimetadyakṣamiti || 25 ||

24. Then they said to Indra: “Maghavan! learn what this Great

Spirit is.” He said “yes” and ran to That. That vanished from

his view.

25. He beheld in that very spot a woman, Uma, very beautiful

and of golden hue, daughter of Himavat. He said to her

“What is this Great Spirit?”

Shankara’s Commentary:

Com.—Atha, etc., has already been explained. Indra, lord of

the Devas, Maghavan, (being the most powerful of them)

said yes and ran to That. That vanished from his sight, when

he was near the Brahman and did not even talk to him,

because it wished to crush altogether his pride at being

Indra. In the very spot where the Spirit showed itself and

from which it vanished and near the place where Indra was at

the moment the Brahman vanished, Indra stood discussing

within himself what that Spirit was, and did not return like

Agni and Vayu. Seeing his attachment to that Spirit,

knowledge in the form of a woman and of Umu appeared

before him. Indra beheld knowledge. fairest of the fair,—this

epithet is very appropriate in the particular context—as if

adorned in gold. ‘Himavatim’ may mean ‘the daughter of

Himalaya’ and being ever associated with the Lord (Siva) the

omniscient, and having approached her, asked: “Who is this

Spirit that showed itself and vanished?”