The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - 22. Swami Krishnananda.

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Sunday, January 29, 2023. 07:30.

Chapter- III :

FIRST BRAHMANA: SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP AND ITS REWARDS

Post-22.

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Chapter III

FIRST BRAHMANA: SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP AND ITS REWARDS

The central portion of the Brhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣhad is what we are now entering into. The context of the discussion in these two chapters is the court of King Janaka who was a great knower of the Self. We are told that there were about sixty-four Janakas. Janaka is not the name of a person. It is a designation, say, the title like Collector, which is not the name of a man but the name of an office that he holds. According to the Bhāgavata and other Purānas we are told that all these sixty-four were famous knowers of the Self. They were ātmā-jñānis. One Janaka, out of these sixty-four, was the father of Sīta of the Rāmāyana.

Now, we are going to discuss the conversation between the first Janaka, and the Master, Yājñavalkya. It occurred to the mind of King Janaka that he should know who was the most learned in his country. There were many learned people and sages, but 'who was the foremost'? He wanted to be initiated by the best among them. But how to find out the best? There were hundreds and thousands in the country. So, he thought of a plan. He arranged a huge sacrifice in his palace, and all great people, sages, saints and learned men were invited to participate in that great sacrifice, where he gave charities in plenty. This sacrifice was called Bahu-Dakshinena, as much was given in philanthropy, charity and gift. It was an occasion of great rejoicing for all people. Many people, thousands in number, came from all countries. The intention of the Emperor was that in this group of people who come in thousands to the sacrifice, the greatest of them also may be present. Now he thought, "I should find out some means of discovering the presence of the greatest of men in the court." After much thought, he announced in the open court of the palace, before all the thousands that had assembled there for the sacrifice, "Here are one thousand cows, great and beautiful to look at, milk-giving and very rich in their appearance, to the horns of each of which I will tie ten gold coins." Ten gold coins were tied to the horns of each cow and there were one thousand cows. He made the announcement; "The best among you may take all these cows. It is up to you to find out who is the best among you. Anyone who is best among you may stand up and take these thousand cows with so much of gold coins tied to their horns." Now, who can say 'I am the best'. It was a very delicate matter.

 By means of a great sacrifice known as Bahu-daksina where much is given in gift, King Janaka performed a great Yajña.  In that sacrifice, many great men came from the Kuru and Pāñchāla countries. Tasya ha janakasya vaidehasya vijijñāsā babhūva: Janaka thought in his mind, he had a desire to know something. What was that desire?  Who is the best knower of the Truth among these people in this assembly was what Janaka wanted to know. Sa ha gavam sahasram avarurodha: One thousand cows he brought in front. Ten gold coins were tied to the horns of every cow.


"Great men, learned people.  Who is the greatest knower of Truth among you?"  None of them was bold enough to say: "I am the best of the knowers of Truth." Everybody kept quiet.  saumya, udaja, sāmaśravā iti. Yājñavalkya, the great Master, was in that assembly. He told his disciple, a Brahmāchāri (celibate), known as Sāmaśravas: "Take these cows to my house." Very strange it was! Everybody was surprised. How was this man talking like this? He simply called the Brahmāchāri and said "take them to my house". Sāmaśravas was the name of the Brahmāchāri. "You take them," he said.  Everybody was in a huff and raged in anger. All the Brahmins seated there were mumbling among themselves. Who is this man? How does he claim that he is the greatest? How does he think that he is the most learned amongst us? He has insulted us in public by taking these cows like this. How unceremoniously he drives the cows shamelessly away.  

Janaka's chief priest  vedic type, one known as Aśvala, decided to solve this problem. "How is it possible for this man to regard himself, in the presence of people like us, as the best knower of Truth," he thought. Sa hainam papraccha: He decided to put questions and see what answers would come from Yājñavalkya and how he could answer such difficult questions which could not easily be answered.   Aśvala, the chief priest of King Janaka stood up and told Yājñavalkya: "Yājñavalkya! You regard yourself as the best knower of Truth among us? Is it not so? Well, then answer my question." Sa hovāca: Yājñavalkya says, "I prostrate myself before the greatest knower of Truth, but I am desirous of the cows. I have taken the cows because I wanted the cows, that is all!  And as far as the knower of Truth especially is concerned, I prostrate myself before him." Then immediately there was a volley of questions from Aśvala to Yājñavalkya.

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