The sage Uddalaka had a devoted disciple named Kahoda, who served his teacher for a long time. Pleased with Kahoda’s service, Uddalaka gave him his daughter, Sujata, in marriage, along with the mastery of the Shastras. Sujata soon became pregnant, and even in the womb, the child began correcting his father, saying, ‘O father, your reading is incorrect. By your grace, I have already mastered the Shastras and the Vedas.’ Angered by this insult in front of his students, Kahoda cursed his unborn son, saying, ‘Since you criticize me from the womb, you will be born with eight parts of your body crooked.’
Ashtavakra’s uncle, Swetaketu, was of the same age as him. Sujata, distressed by her husband’s poverty, asked him how they would manage after her delivery. Vandin defeated Kahoda in debate, then drowned him after Kahoda sought wealth from King Janaka. Sujata, heartbroken, kept the truth from Ashtavakra, who grew up thinking Uddalaka was his father and Swetaketu his brother. When Ashtavakra was twelve, Swetaketu saw him sitting on Uddalaka’s lap and, pulling him aside, declared, ‘That is not your father.’ He returned home and questioned his mother, who tearfully revealed the truth about his father’s fate. Determined to avenge his father, Ashtavakra said to Swetaketu, ‘Let us attend King Janaka’s sacrifice, where we will hear debates between scholars. I will defeat Vandin and restore my father’s honour.’ Together, uncle and nephew set out for Janaka’s splendid sacrifice.
When they arrived, the gatekeeper halted them, stating that admittance was limited to elderly and learned Brahmanas. Ashtavakra replied, ‘True knowledge does not depend on age. Even young men can possess great wisdom.’ On convincing the gatekeeper that he was well versed in the scriptures and, hence old, he was let in. Then Janaka tested Ashtavakra with cryptic questions which Ashtavakra answered with ease.
King: “What has 30 divisions, 12 parts, 24 joints, and 360 spokes?”
Ashtavakra: The ever-moving wheel with 24 joints, 6 naves, 12 peripheries, and 60 spokes. (The wheel of time with 30 days, 12 months, 24 hours, and 360 moments).
King: “Which two gods move together, sweep like a hawk, and what do they produce?”
Ashtavakra: “These two (likely day and night) are powered by wind. They beget each other cyclically.” (The sun and moon, which move like horses and give birth to day and night).
King: “What doesn’t close its eyes while sleeping? What doesn’t move when born? What has no heart? What increases at its own speed?”
Ashtavakra: “A fish, an egg, a stone, and a river, respectively.”
He then boldly declared, ‘I have come to defeat Vandin in debate and reclaim my father’s honour.’
Hearing of this, King Janaka allowed Ashtavakra to enter. When the two finally met, Vandin and Ashtavakra engaged in a fierce debate, exchanging riddles and philosophical arguments. They alternately composed six extempore verses on the numbers one to twelve. Vandin then only managed the first half of a verse about thirteen. Ashtavakra completed the verse by composing the second half and thus won the argument against Vandin. This unique debate is full of enigmas and latent meanings which lie under the simple counts of the numbers one to thirteen.
One: Vandin emphasizes unity (one fire, one sun, one Indra, one Yama).
Two: Ashtavakra highlights duality (Indra and Agni, Narada and Parvat, Ashwini kumaras, wheels of a car, husband and wife).
Three: Vandin mentions triads in rituals and nature.
Four: Ashtavakra points out quaternaries in social and natural orders.
Five: Vandin lists pentads in rituals and nature.
Six: Ashtavakra enumerates hexads in rituals and cosmic cycles.
Seven: Vandin highlights heptads in fauna and music.
Eight: Ashtavakra mentions octads in mythology and rituals.
Nine: Vandin points out nonads in rituals and linguistics.
Ten: Ashtavakra lists decades in human perception and social structures.
Eleven: Vandin enumerates hendecads in enjoyment and divinity.
Twelve: Ashtavakra highlights duodecads in time and rituals.
Thirteen: Vandin begins with “Thirteen islands on earth,” but falters.
Ashtavakra completes: “Thirteen sacrifices by Kesi, thirteen devoured by longer Vedic metres.”
Thus, Ashtavakra avenged his father and restored the honor of the Brahmanas, whom Vandin had defeated.
The debate between Ashtavakra and Vandin is often seen as a metaphor for the triumph of true wisdom over superficial knowledge or appearances. Ashtavakra, despite his physical deformities (his name means “eight bends”), demonstrates superior knowledge and understanding.
Vandin revealed that he was the son of the sea god Varuna and had been sending defeated scholars to witness a great sacrifice under the sea. Ashtavakra, however, demanded justice for his father’s death and ordered Vandin to be drowned. Vandin accepted his fate, but before being submerged, he paid homage to Ashtavakra, acknowledging his superior intellect.
Lessons from the story of Ashtavakra
The debate between Ashtavakra and Vandin, and the events surrounding it, offer several important lessons.
True Knowledge vs. Superficial Appearances – Ashtavakra, though young and deformed, proves that true knowledge and wisdom are not dependent on age or physical appearance. He stands out for his sharp intellect and depth of understanding, challenging the perception that only elders or physically unimpaired individuals possess knowledge. This illustrates that one should not judge by appearances alone, but value wisdom, intellect, and character.
Respect for Brahmanas and Knowledge – The story emphasizes the reverence due to Brahmanas (scholars) and the knowledge they carry. Even the highly respected King Janaka honored Ashtavakra and allowed him to take part in the assembly of learned men, highlighting the value of learning and wisdom over status or power.
The Power of Humility – Despite his physical deformities and young age, Ashtavakra enters the debate with confidence in his knowledge rather than arrogance. His humility in the face of Vandin’s earlier victories leads to his eventual success, teaching that humility paired with wisdom can lead to victory, even against strong opponents.
The Consequences of Ego and Arrogance – Vandin, in contrast, is depicted as arrogant, having won previous debates and sent his opponents to be drowned. His arrogance blinds him to the possibility that he could be defeated, but Ashtavakra’s superior intellect shows that ego can lead to downfall. This reflects the broader moral that pride comes before a fall.
Justice and Retribution – Vandin had unjustly cast many Brahmanas into the water after defeating them in debates. When Ashtavakra defeats him, justice is served, as Vandin faces a similar fate of being drowned, illustrating the principle of karma—what one does to others will eventually come back to them.
Family Loyalty and Duty – The revelation that Vandin humiliated and killed Ashtavakra’s father motivates his journey. His sense of duty towards his family drives him to confront Vandin, showing the importance of family loyalty and pursuiting justice for one’s loved ones.
The Importance of Debate and Intellectual Discourse – The entire story revolves around debates and the exchange of ideas, stressing the significance of intellectual discourse in seeking truth. The debates were not just about winning but also about upholding the Vedic truths, thereby illustrating the role of discussion in the pursuit of knowledge.
Divine Support for the Righteous – Ashtavakra’s eventual success is seen as divinely favoured, as King Janaka himself acknowledges the superhuman quality of his intellect and form. This suggests that righteousness, wisdom, and truth will ultimately be supported by divine forces.
In conclusion, the story teaches that knowledge, humility, justice, family loyalty, and the pursuit of truth through intellectual discourse are all essential virtues that lead to success, whereas arrogance and ego lead to downfall.