Tripura Rahasya

Sage Dattatreya

Seeing the figure of the Brahmin full of courage and tapas (penance), the two princes asked him who he was:

I was formerly a Brahmin of Magadha. My name is Vasuman. I was famous for my learning and known as an invincible debater. I was proud of myself and sought the assembly of those learned pandits who gathered in my country under royal patronage. There was among them a great saint, perfect in wisdom and entirely Self-possessed. He was known as Ashtaka. I went there for love of debate. Though I was a mere logician, I argued against his statement on Self-realisation, by sheer force of logic. He backed his arguments by profuse quotations from the holy scriptures. Since I was out to win laurels, I continued to refute him. Finding me incorrigible, he kept silent. 

However, one of his disciples, a descendant of Kasyapa lineage, was enraged at my audacity and cursed me before the king, saying: You chip of a Brahmin! How dare you refute my Master without first understanding his statements? May you at once become a ghoul and remain so for a long time. 

I shook with fear at the imprecation and took refuge at the feet of the Sage Ashtaka. Being always Self-possessed, he took pity on me, though I had figured as his opponent just before; and he modified his disciple’s curse by pronouncing an end to it as follows: May you resume your old shape as soon as a wise man furnishes appropriate answers to all the questions which were raised here by you, answered by me, but refuted by your polemics. 

O Prince! You have now released me from that curse. I therefore consider you as the best among men, knowing all that pertains to life here and beyond. The princes were astonished at this story of his life. The Brahmin asked Hemangada further questions and became further enlightened. Then the princes returned to their city after saluting the Brahmin.

I have now told you everything, O Bhargava!

Thus ends the chapter on the “Episode of the Ghoul” in Tripura Rahasya.