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Formation of Yajurveda Shakas (यजुर्वेदशाख-अवतरणम्) (view source)
Revision as of 22:16, 28 October 2019
, 22:16, 28 October 2019adding content from Skanda Purana
== Skanda Purana ==
== Skanda Purana ==
Skanda Purana describes the anecdote from Brhat-kalpa, about Yajnavalkya's role in the formation of two shakas of Yajurveda. <blockquote>आसीद्ब्राह्मणशार्दूलः शाकल्य इति विश्रुतः॥ भार्गवान्वयसंभूतो वेद वेदांगपारगः ॥ ५ ॥</blockquote>
Skanda Purana describes the anecdote from Brhat-kalpa, about Yajnavalkya's role in the formation of the two widely followed shakas of Yajurveda. Presented here are a few shlokas and the summary of the story from adhyaya 129 of the purana.<ref name=":2">Skanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AC_(%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Khanda 6 (Nagara Khanda) Adhyaya 129])</ref> <blockquote>आसीद्ब्राह्मणशार्दूलः शाकल्य इति विश्रुतः॥ भार्गवान्वयसंभूतो वेद वेदांगपारगः ॥ ५ ॥ बृहत्कल्पे पुरा विप्रा वर्धमाने पुरोत्तमे ॥ बहुशिष्यसमायुक्तो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः ॥ ६ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.5-6)</blockquote>Summary : Shakalya was great Brahmana, who mastered the Vedas and Vedangas. Formerly, in Brhat kalpa, in the city of Vardhamana ruled by Raja Supriya, there lived Shakalya always engrossed in veda adhyayan and vidya [[Dana (दानम्)|dana]] to a large number of students. An excellent preceptor, he was also well-known for conducting all the rites and yajnas efficiently. He served as the royal preceptor and purohita for the royal family. Having served Raja Supriya for a long time, Shakalya appointed a shishya for the purpose of conducting shanti rites (which protects the Raja and gives him prosperity) everyday in the royal palace. The disciple would conduct the procedures as instructed by Shakalya and offered the blessings (आशीर्वादं) to the Raja everyday. This continued for a long time.
Brahma at the time of conducting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, glances Parvati the bride with an evil intent in mind. Knowing this Shiva curses Brahma. Brahma was then born as Yajnvalkya. Shakalya engaged Yajnavalkya in the royal palace to perform the Shanti rites everyday. <blockquote>सोऽपि तारुण्यगर्वेण वेश्याकरजविक्षतः ॥ सर्वांगेषु सुनिर्लज्जः प्रकटांगो जगाम वै ॥ १५ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.15)</blockquote>On one occasion, Yajnavalkya on his way to perform the Shanti rites, comes across a courtesan and in all naturality (pride) of youth (तारुण्यगर्वेण) exposes his body being marked by nails (when engaged in amorous activities). He performs the shanti rites, japa and proceeds to offer the blessings and water (शांतोदकम्) to the raja even while people were laughing as he was passing by. Seeing the Brahmana in the state of a Vita, raja refused to accept the blessings and water offered by him and instead asked Yajnavalkya to offer the water to the pillar as he was impure (उच्छिष्टः).<blockquote>उच्छिष्टोऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठ शय्यारूढो व्यवस्थितः । अत्र शालोद्भवे स्तंभे तस्मादेतज्जलं क्षिप ॥ १८ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.18)</blockquote>Noting Raja Supriya's anger, Yajnavalkya became angry and offered the asirvachana jala after uttering the associated mantras and meditation upon Brahman. Instantly the pillar became splendid with new leaves and blooming flowers. <blockquote>ततः स पतिते तोये स्तंभः पल्लवशोभितः ॥ तत्क्षणादेव संजज्ञे फल पुष्पैर्विराजितः ॥ २१ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.21)</blockquote>Raja Supriya was wonderstruck and repented for his ill-mannered attitude towards Yajnavalkya and requested him to grant him the asirvachana and jala (water) as he was not impure. Yajnavalkya however refused to do so and informs his unworthiness for the abhisheka jala. He was not lured even though he was offered ample wealth, vahanas, rich clothes and wealth.
Upon Shakalya's arrival in the palace next day, Supriya requests him to send the same Brahmana as he sent earlier for the purpose of Shanti rites. When Shakalya so informs Yajnavalkya he refuses to do the shanti rites for the raja as he was arrogant and unclean, and directed that the abhisheka jala be poured on the pillar. Shaklaya implores him earnestly to ignore the raja's disrespect and go back to the palace. He advises Yajnavalkya thus<blockquote>समौ मानापमानौ च चित्तज्ञः कालवित्तथा ॥ सर्वंसहः क्षमी विज्ञः स भवेद्राजवल्लभः ॥ ३८ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.38)</blockquote>One who takes respect and disrespect equanimously, one who knows the mind (of the bhupati), one who understands the opportune time, and who patiently endures everything wisely will become the favorite friend of a raja.<ref name=":1">Tagare, G. V. (1958) ''The Skanda Purana, Part 17.'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 530-548)</ref>
Further he asks Yajnavalkya not to transgress his commands which is the right conduct for a student. Yajnavalkya replies, "whenever the convention is violated (परिपाटीव्यतिक्रमात्), transgression of the command will surely follow. If you forcibly employ me there, I will leave you and go elsewhere, since it has been said by the great seers:<blockquote>गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः ॥ उत्पथे वर्तमानस्य परित्यागो विधीयते ॥ ४२ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.42)</blockquote>Desertion is enjoined in the case of even a preceptor who is overbearing and does not discriminate between what should and ought not be done, and who adheres to the wrong path.
On hearing his words of rebellion, Shakalya became furious and rebuking him repeatedly, he asks him to return every syllable of mantras taught to him because even if one syllable is taught by a preceptor, there exists no wealth on this earth to fulfill the rna (debt) incurred by the student. Hence return every syllable received, renounce the learning imparted by him (Shakalya) and leave, else bear the wrath. <blockquote>एकमप्यक्षरं यत्र गुरुः शिष्ये निवेदयेत् ॥ पृथिव्यां नास्ति तद्द्रव्यं यद्दत्त्वा ह्यनृणी भवेत् ॥ ४४ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.44)</blockquote>So saying the preceptor gave Yajnavalkya water, charged with mantras of atharva veda and nadabindu, after drinking which he experienced severe exhaustion and vomited out all the contents of the internal organs mixed with tatvavidya (knowledge).
== Bhagavata Purana ==
== Bhagavata Purana ==