Then this All-devourer, in order to explain the real situa tion to the Muni, softly addressed him thus “We who are only administering the laws of Eswara will not but extol you who have immeasurable and noble Tapas. Therefore it is not meet that you should spoil your all-full Tapas through your dire anger. Even the fire at the period of Pralaya, will not consume me, much less your words. Indeed many are the Rudras and the large lotus-eyed Vishnus that fell a prey to me, having been enmeshed in the snares of Sam- sara. There is none in this world of pains, who ever van quished me. All came under my jaws. It is the unaltera ble and eternal decree of Parameswara and not myself, that I should be the cause of the destruction of all created lives. This law ever endures. In the immaculate Jn^na introvision, all the differences of actor and enjoyer are lost, but in the Ajnana vision of people, these exist in concrete shapes.
All creatures arising through the force of their Karma are born through Sankalpa and perish at the end of a Kalpa. Then at the time of Pralaya, where shall we find the Jnana- Vision developed through a recitation of the Vedas ? Where will all your firmness of will then be? Where will your glory then be? Where will be then all your present despondency which trembles like a person full of mental darkness, ignorant of the path laid down by the Great ? Are you justified in cursing me through your anger, without trying to understand the present situation of your son brought on by his own Sankalpa? (Mind you now what I say). It is the mind alone that (in esse) is Atma and none else. The mind s acts (and not the bodily ones) are alone the true acts. Through its life in this world, it is called Jiva. It is called Buddhi, through its certainty of knowledge. It is called the direAhankara when the conceptions of “1” and “mine” assert themselves with the signs of anger, &c- And it is this mind alone, that is the universe through the conception of excessive differentiations. Whilst you and your son were engaged in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, your son abandoned his fleshy tabernacle through excessive desires and mentally joined, in the Akasa, a Deva lady by the name of Viswavasu.
Then he incarnated -on earth in the country of Desarna as the son of a Brahmin. He went the round of lives as a King in the country of Kosala, a hunter in an extensive forest, a swan on the banks of the Ganges, a great King in the Solar family ruling over Poundra country and the Guru of the Solar race in Salwa country. For the long period of a Kalpa, he passed his life as the King of Vidhyddaras ; he was the intelligent son of a Muni of great Tapas ; a chieftain in Souvira country with large tanks with fishes playing in them ; the Guru of Sivites in another country ; a bamboo cluster in another country, full of fragrance ; a stag in a decayed forest ; a firece-looking boa-con strictor in a spacious forest.
Thus did he pass through various, wombs; going through births high or low, with a stainful mind and under the influence of Vasanas and was at last born as the incomparable and true son of a Rishi on the banks of the Ganges. In this birth, he got the mastery over his weak foes of the illusory organs and wearing matted locks, &c., and going by the name of Vsudeva, has been engaged in Tapas for the last 800 years. If you, through your love for your son, wish to behold the series of illusory births which flitted across your son s mind like a whirling dream, you can do so now through your divine vision.” So said Yama when the Muni of great culture observed in a moment, through his introvision, all the events of his son s lives reflected in the transparent mirror of the pure mind, which in its turn manifested itself out of the transcendent Jnana-light. Then this Muni of non-desires returned from his trance (at the end of which he was) by the river Ganges, to his normal state by entering and animating his tenement of body lying in Mandaragiri.
Greatly astonished, he asked of him many pardons (for his conduct) and addressed him thus “Oh ommiscient Kala (time), thou art the foremost dispenser of Law; thou art the only one thoroughly acquainted with the three periods of time. Persons like myself are mere tyros in Brahma Jnana.”
Then the ever-ending Yama took hold of Bhrigu s hand and led him out of the caves of Mandaragiri to where the divine river Ganges flowed. There the Rishi saw, with in tense delight, his son who there passed under the pseudonym of Vasudeva. So willed Yama. Again when Yama willed that Vasudeva should come back from his Samadhi state and see them, the latter accordingly did and seeing them before himself saluted them. Thereupon all the three noble souls seated themselves upon a stone with true love towards one another. Then the son eying these two, remarked thus
“Through your presence here, I have been cleansed of all the delusions arising from stainless Tapas, Yajnas and wealth. Even copious draughts of nectar will not yield such a bliss as your advent here.” Thereupon Bhrigu saw him endear ingly and blessed him thus “ May bliss ever increase in thee, mayest thou possess Jnana fully, and may Ajnana fly from thee.” Then closing his two mutilated* eyes, Sukra reviewed all his past lives through his Jnana-Vision. Thus was he freed in a moment from future births.
After observing all through his divine vision, Sukra remarked in wonder thus “ Passing strange is it that the dire delusion called Prakriti (matter), having transformed itself into this universe, flourished friendly in my mind. I have known all that should be known I have seen all that should be seen. I have been released from the pains incidental to the many re-births. I have been whirling in them for a long time. I have attained Atma-Jnana, the good effects of all.
Therefore, sirs, let us here after betake ourselves to Mandara hills and see the body lying there. Do not think that I have either love or hatred towards objects, albeit my intention is to visit the skeleton of my body due to Karma and derive happiness therefrom.” After Vasudeva spoke thus, all the three started for Mandara hills and reached it in a moment. When these triumvirs who had known the extent and true nature of the whole universe ar rived at the spot, Vasudeva surveyed, with unmingled plea sure, his former body as the son of Bhrigu and then casting his glances at his father, asked him, whether it was that bony body which he had reared up as his son s. Then con tinuing, he said “ Oh father, this body you brought up be fore with rare happiness, being without pains, desires, doubts, or sense of gain or loss was in a state of immutable bliss with mind destroyed. Is there any happiness to Jivas (egos) other than in the state when the mind is destroyed ? This soli tary body had then attained the bliss of those who have got by the All-pervading Jnana wherein one is drowned in the one ocean of the great bliss, or the extreme quiescence or that Atrnic certainty, wherein the Jnanis are free from all pains. It is only through dint of my rare Tapas, I have been able to witness the miracles I have seen here.”
So said Vasudeva, when Kala (Yama) who was by in terrupted him with these words. “ Now sir, enter this body like kings, their cities. And there be administer ing the duties of a guru to the Asuras who need cor rection/ Having given these orders to ukra, he bid adieu to them both and instantly disappeared from the very spot where he was standing. At his departure, the father and son were greatly grieved. But $ukra of great prowess abandoned the conception of Vasudeva and then entered his former body according to Yama s injunction.
Thereupon the matchless Bhrigu bathed with the waters in his bowel purified through Vedic Mantras the body of Sukra into which the son had to enter through sheer fate. With this application, the Nadis (nerves) in his body became pliant and allowed the Prana to circulate freely over them throughout his body. Then Bh&rgava(the son of Bhrigu) rose up in that body and having paid due respects to his father, stood by him. Thus did the father and son utterly rout their enemy of the stainful mind and pass their days in the Jivan- mukti state like a waveless ocean. Thus said Vasishta of great Jnana and erudition to Rama of true grace like the clouds.
