Ashtavakra

Mbh.1.2.388	Then hath been described the history of king Mandhata; then the history of prince Jantu; and how king Somaka by offering up his only son Jantu in sacrifice obtained a hundred others; then the excellent history of the hawk and the pigeon; then the examination of king Sivi by Indra, Agni, and Dharma; then the story of Ashtavakra, in which occurs the disputation, at the sacrifice of Janaka, between that Rishi and the first of logicians, Vandi, the son of Varuna; the defeat of Vandi by the great Ashtavakra, and the release by the Rishi of his father from the depths of the ocean.
Mbh.3.132.6700	In that yuga, Swetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, and Ashtavakra, the son of Kahoda, who stood to each other in the relation of uncle and nephew, were the best of those conversant with the sacred lore.
Mbh.3.132.6702	Worship, O son of Kunti, with thy brothers, the sacred hermitage of him who had for his grandson Ashtavakra, who, even when a mere child, had caused Vandin to be drowned in a river, after having defeated him in a literary contest'
Mbh.3.132.6704	Why was he born as Ashtavakra crooked in eight parts in his body
Mbh.3.132.6712	The child was accordingly born crooked, and the great sage was ever after known by the name of Ashtavakra.
Mbh.3.132.6718	And hearing that his son-in-law had been defeated in a controversy by Vandin and caused to be drowned by him, Uddalaka spake unto his daughter Sujata, saying, Thou shall keep it a secret from Ashtavakra'
Mbh.3.132.6719	She accordingly kept her counsel, so that Ashtavakra, when born, had heard nothing about the matter.
Mbh.3.132.6721	And when Ashtavakra was in his twelfth year, Swetaketu one day saw the former seated on his father's lap.
Mbh.3.132.6731	And on being driven from the entrance, Ashtavakra met the king and addressed him in the following words
Mbh.3.133.6732	SECTION CXXXIII Ashtavakra said, When no Brahmana is met with on the way, the way belongeth to the blind, the deaf, the women, carriers of burden, and the king respectively.
Mbh.3.133.6738	At this Ashtavakra said, We have come, O ruler of men, to witness thy sacrificial ceremony and our curiosity, O king, is very great.
Mbh.3.133.6746	Ashtavakra said.
Mbh.3.133.6754	Ashtavakra said, True growth cannot be inferred from the mere development of the body, as the growth of the knots of the Salmali tree cannot signify its age.
Mbh.3.133.6760	Then Ashtavakra said, One is not old because his head is gray.
Mbh.3.133.6771	Ashtavakra then addressing the king said, O king, O foremost of Janaka's race, thou art the paramount sovereign and all power reposeth in thee.
Mbh.3.133.6784	Ashtavakra said, Vandin hath never entered into disputation with a man like myself, and it is for this only that he looketh upon himself as a lion, and goeth about roaring like one.
Mbh.3.133.6787	Ashtavakra said, May that ever-moving wheel that hath twentyfour joints, six naves, twelve peripheries, and sixty spokes protect thee'
Mbh.3.133.6789	Ashtavakra said, May God, O king, forfend the presence of these two in thy house; aye, even in the house of thine enemies.
Mbh.3.133.6792	Ashtavakra said, It is a fish that doth not close its eye-lids, while sleeping; and it is an a egg that doth not move when produced; it is stone that hath no heart; and it is a river that increase in its own speed'
Mbh.3.134.6797	SECTION CXXXIV Ashtavakra said, O king, O leader of fierce legions, in this assembly of monarchs of unrivalled power who have met together, I am unable to find out Vandin, chief of the controversialists.
Mbh.3.134.6809	Lomasa said, Saying this, O Yudhishthira, wroth with Vandin, Ashtavakra thus thundered in the assembly, and addressed him in these words, Do thou answer my questions, and I shall answer thine'
Mbh.3.134.6811	Ashtavakra said, The two friends, Indra and Agni, ever move together; the two celestial sages are Narada and Parvata; twins are the Aswinikumaras; two is the number of the wheels of a car; and it is as a couple that husband and wife live together, as ordained by the deity
Mbh.3.134.6813	Ashtavakra said, Four are the Asramas of the Brahmanas; the four orders perform sacrifices; four are the cardinal points; four is the number of letters; and four also, as is ever known, are the legs of a cow
Mbh.3.134.6815	Ashtavakra said.
Mbh.3.134.6818	Ashtavakra said, Eight are the bags containing a hundred fold; eight is the number of the legs of the Sarabha, which preyeth upon lions; eight Vasus, as we hear, are amongst the celestials; and eight are the angles of yupa stake, in all sacrificial rites
Mbh.3.134.6820	Ashtavakra said, Ten is said to be the number of cardinal points, entering into the cognition of men in this world; ten times hundred make up a thousand; ten is the number of months, during which women bear; and ten are the teachers of true knowledge, and ten, the haters thereof, and ten again are those capable of learning it
Mbh.3.134.6822	Ashtavakra said, Twelve months compose the year; twelve letters go to the composition of a foot of the metre called Jagati; twelve are the minor sacrifices; and twelve, according to the learned, is the number of the Adityas
Mbh.3.134.6825	Thereupon Ashtavakra supplied the latter half of the sloka.
Mbh.3.134.6826	Ashtavakra said, Thirteen sacrifices are presided over by Kesi; and thirteen are devoured by Atichhandas, the longer metres of the Veda
Mbh.3.134.6827	And seeing Ashtavakra speaking and the Suta's son silent, and pensive, and with head downcast, the assembly broke into a long uproar.
Mbh.3.134.6828	And when the tumult thus arose in the splendid sacrifice performed by king Janaka, the Brahmanas well pleased, and with joined hands, approached Ashtavakra, and began to pay him homage'
Mbh.3.134.6829	Thereupon Ashtavakra said, Before this, this man, defeating the Brahmanas in controversy, used to cast them into water.
Mbh.3.134.6839	I pay homage to the worshipful Ashtavakra, by whose grace to-day I shall join him who hath begot me'
Mbh.3.134.6840	Ashtavakra said, Defeating the Brahmanas either by words or subtlety.
Mbh.3.134.6850	Ashtavakra said, O king, Vandin remaining alive, will not serve any purpose of mine.
Mbh.3.134.6855	Ashtavakra shall see his long-lost sire, Kahoda'
Mbh.3.134.6865	And then Ashtavakra worshipped his father, and he himself also was worshipped by the Brahmanas.
Mbh.3.134.6867	Ashtavakra returned to his own excellent hermitage, in company with his uncle.
Mbh.13.19.2911	Bhishma said, In this connection is cited the old narrative of the discourse between Ashtavakra and the lady known by the name of Disa.
Mbh.13.19.2912	In days of yore Ashtavakra of severe penances, desirous of marriage, begged the high-souled Rishi Vadanya of his daughter.
Mbh.13.19.2917	The Rishi addressed Ashtavakra and said, Yes, I shall bestow my daughter on thee.
Mbh.13.19.2921	Ashtavakra said, It behoveth thee to tell me what I shall see in that region.
Mbh.13.19.2941	Ashtavakra said, So be it.
Mbh.13.19.2945	Bhishma continued, The illustrious Ashtavakra set out on his journey.
Mbh.13.19.2961	Then king Vaisravana, approaching the faultless Ashtavakra, duly enquired about his welfare.
Mbh.13.19.2973	Thus addressed, the ascetic Ashtavakra said, in a sweet voice, Let the dance proceed.
Mbh.13.19.2976	After such excellent music and dance had commenced, the Rishi Ashtavakra of severe penances unconsciously passed a full celestial year there in the abode of king Vaisravana
Mbh.13.19.2984	The illustrious Ashtavakra, thus addressed by king Vaisravana, replied unto him, with a pleased heart, saying, I have been duly honoured by thee.
Mbh.13.19.3028	Having taken his seat, Ashtavakra said, Let all the damsels go to their respective quarters.
Mbh.13.19.3039	The illustrious Ashtavakra welcomed her with courtesy.
Mbh.13.19.3061	Ashtavakra said, O blessed lady, I never approach one that is another's spouse.
Mbh.13.20.3113	Ashtavakra said, O blessed lady, my mind turns away from sexual congress with one who is the spouse of another.
Mbh.13.20.3118	Ashtavakra said, Women can never be their own mistresses.
Mbh.13.20.3123	Ashtavakra said, Diverse faults, drag away the man that acts as he likes.
Mbh.13.20.3138	Ashtavakra said, How is it, O good lady, that thou art thy own mistress.
Mbh.13.20.3150	Ashtavakra said, As thou art inclined to me, so I am inclined to thee.
Mbh.13.21.3163	SECTION XXI Yudhishthira said, Tell me why had that lady no fear of Ashtavakra's curse although Ashtavakra was endued with great energy?
Mbh.13.21.3164	How also did Ashtavakra succeed in coming back from that place
Mbh.13.21.3165	Bhishma said, Ashtavakra asked her, saying, How dost thou succeed in altering thy form so?
Mbh.13.21.3189	I shall discourse on it, O Ashtavakra, in accordance with the truth.
Mbh.13.21.3191	Bhishma continued, Hearing these words of hers, the regenerate Ashtavakra joined his hands in a reverential attitude.
Mbh.13.21.3195	Welcomed with the usual enquiries by Vadanya, the Rishi Ashtavakra, with a well-pleased heart, narrated all that he had seen in course of his sojourn to the North.
Mbh.13.21.3203	Bhishma continued, Ashtavakra said, So be it and took the hand of the girl.
Mbh.13.25.3460	Repairing to Brahmasaras as also to the Bhagirathi and bathing there and offering oblations to the Pitris every day for a full month, abstaining from food all the while, one is sure to attain to the region of Soma, Bathing in Utpataka and then in Ashtavakra and offering oblations of water to the Pitris every day for twelve days in succession, abstaining the while from food, one acquires the merits of a Horse-sacrifice.

Jijith Nadumuri Ravi
Research data published for the interest of people researching on Mahabharata.
Suggestions are welcome: email:moc.liamg|rnhtijij#moc.liamg|rnhtijij

Reference:- Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli; Source of Plain Text: www.sacred-texts.com; Wikified at AncientVoice.

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