Atri Visits King Vainya's Sacrifice

The sage Atri had made up his mind. He would retire to the forest — leave behind the world of houses and gifts and kings, and live out his days in austerity. He summoned his wife and his sons and told them: if we wish to reap great fruits, free from any hindrances, you should agree that it is best to swiftly retire to the forest. His wife listened. Then she said: go to the great-souled Vainya first. Ask for riches from him. The rajarshi (royal sage) is conducting a horse sacrifice and donating gifts. He will give you what you desire. Receive the riches, distribute them among your servants and sons, and *then* go wherever you wish. This is the supreme dharma, as indicated by those who are learned in dharma. Atri hesitated. He told her that the sage Goutama had warned him: Vainya is conversant with dharma and artha and devoted to truthfulness, yes — but he is surrounded by brahmanas who hate him. If Atri went there and spoke words of well-being, they would contradict him and render his words useless. But his wife's argument had taken hold. Atri went. He arrived at Vainya's sacrificial grounds and praised the king directly. "O king! O Vainya! You are the foremost among all kings on earth. Masses of sages praise you and no one other than you knows dharma." Goutama heard this and was furious. "Do not speak such words again. You have not yet attained wisdom. In this world, Mahendra Prajapati — Indra himself — occupies the foremost place." Atri did not back down. "Vainya is as much of a sustainer as Prajapati Indra. You are the one who is confused. Your wisdom has been clouded by ignorance." "I know that I am not confused," Goutama shot back. "You are the one suffering from delusion. On having seen him, you are speaking thus so as to satisfy him. You do not know what supreme dharma is, nor do you see any need for it. You are as stupid as a child. Why have you then grown old?" They argued in full sight of the assembled sages. The other rishis turned to each other: what are these two arguing about? Who permitted them entry? Why are they standing here shouting? Kashyapa stepped between them and asked what the quarrel was about. Goutama explained: Atri says Vainya is the sustainer. I have a great doubt on this score. The sages decided the matter needed a higher authority. They went to Sanatkumara, the great ascetic learned in dharma, and laid the question before him. Sanatkumara heard them out. Then he gave his ruling. "Brahmanas are united with kshatriyas and kshatriyas with brahmanas. The king is foremost in dharma and he is the lord of his subjects. He is like Shakra, Shukra, the creator and Brihaspati. He is Prajapati, Virata, emperor, kshatriya, the lord of the earth and the lord of men. If one is praised with such words, how can he not be worthy of worship?" He listed the king's appellations — "the prime cause," "the conqueror in battles," "the one who propagates dharma and truth" — and concluded: "Out of fear for that which is not dharma, the rishis conferred powers on kshatriyas. Through its energy, the sun removes darkness in heaven, among the gods. Like that, the king eradicates that which is not dharma from earth. Therefore, the proof of the sacred texts is that the king is foremost. I am in favour of the side that has spoken for the king." King Vainya was delighted that his side had won. He turned to Atri, who had praised him first. "You have earlier described me as the foremost and greatest among men and an equal to all the gods. Therefore, I will give you a lot of riches — one thousand shyama servant girls adorned in excellent garments and ornaments, ten crores of gold coins, and ten bhara of gold. I must give you this, because I think you know everything." Atri accepted it all in the proper fashion. He returned home, distributed the riches among his sons, and then — as he had originally intended — left for the forest to perform austerities.