Vasishta's Wisdom

Vasishta was the Guru, philosopher and guide of the kings in Raghu Vamsa. His mature advice backed by his wisdom was heeded and acted upon with great respect by those Kings.

According to a legend in Vamuna Purana, once King Raghu was performing a ‘Yajna’at Ayodhya under the guidance of Sage Vasishta. A mighty demon named ‘Mura’, who was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that gave him supremacy over all the creatures, reached Ayodhya, where he said to King Raghu to stop the Yajna or fight with him. Sage Vasishta told ‘Mura’ “O mighty King of Demons”! Victory over kings and kingdoms matters very little. You should try to trounce Yamaraja. Thinking that victory over Yama, the Lord of death would amount to victory over every creature, Mura went to Yamaloka. Thus the wise Sage avoided confrontation between King Raghu and Mura.

In Valmiki Ramayana, we come across many instances where Vasishta’s intervention would save many an embarrassing situation. When Viswamitra visited Ayodhya, Dasaratha greeted him warmly and offered to do anything he wanted. Viswamitra requested Dasaratha to send Rama with him to the forests to help the Rishis in performing a Yajna which was threatened by rakshasas. Dasaratha was initially hesitant. Vishwamitra was upset that Dasaratha had gone back on his promise. Then Vasishta intervened with his great authority and advised the King to fall in line with the wishes of the visitor so that Rama would benefit. Ultimately Dasaratha agreed to send Rama and Lakshmana. In “Yoga Vasishta”, Vasishta explained to Rama, who was in a disinterested mood that one should work to reduce pains not only of himself but also of others around him in a spirit of selflessness. Explaining the virtues of Satsanga, which serves as a boat to cross this terrible ocean of Samsara, the sage told Rama that the company of the virtuous shed light on the right path and destroyed the internal darkness of man. “The company of sages is the unfailing means to conquer Maya and this dire mind”. Rama was convinced and accompanied Viswamitra to the jungles.

Doubts have been expressed as to how Vasishta fixed the date for Rama’s coronation, which did not take place on that date and instead he had to spend fourteen years in Vanvas. It is significant to note that the date was not fixed by Vasishta, but by Dasaratha and Vasishta only went ahead with preparations.

After Rama went away with Lakshmana and Sita to the forest, Vasishta sent messengers to Kekaya to bring Bharata, but he instructed them not to inform Bharata of the death of Dasaratha or the exile of Shri Rama. His intention was that Bharata should come to know first hand about the events that took place in his absence after he reached Ayodhya.

When Vasishta asked Bharata to take the kingdom after having performed the obsequies to the father and be crowned king, Bharata wept in the presence of the whole audience and at the same time censured Vasishta. He said “I am surprised that a wise man and an old man like you should try to persuade me to take the kingdom which belongs to my brother by the traditions of the Ikshvak family”. “Later, when Bharata met Rama in the forest, Vasishta seconded Bharata.

He mentioned to Rama that he had been preceptor to all the kings right from Ikshvak and in every case a dead king had been succeeded by the eldest son. He even said to Rama that he was greater than his father, being his Guru. Rama, however, told Vasishta that no one can ever adequately repay what he takes from his father and from his mother. “Don’t tell me that guru is greater than a parent”. According to Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri in his ‘Lectures on the Ramayana’, “Vasishta could not play the conspicuous and commanding part that his name could justify. He was the very fountain of Dharma. All knowledge came from him. No part of the Veda or anything that had authority was unknown to him”. He did not support Rama who was fighting a lone hand against the combined opposition of everybody”. Instead he persuaded Bharata to take the kingdom and become king, but as mentioned earlier, was snubbed by Bharata. “Vasishta plays therefore this ineffective part in history”, is according to Shri Sastri.

Be that as it may it was ultimately left to Vasishta to hammer out a solution in resolving the conflicting views of Rama, who was resolute in carrying out the wishes of his father and Bharata, who was obstinate in getting Rama crowned as the king of Ayodhya. He counseled Bharata to get the sandals of Rama installed in his place to represent Rama as the king while Bharata can discharge the regal duties for him as his regent.