(Emancipation)!  Hearing these words of his, Jaigishavya gave him lessons.  And he also taught him the ordinances of Yoga and the supreme and eternal duties and their reverse.  The great ascetic, seeing him firmly resolved, performed all the acts (for his admission into that religion) according to the rites ordained for that end.  Then all creatures, with the Pitris, beholding Devala resolved to adopt the religion of Moksha, began to weep, saying, ’Alas, who will henceforth give us food!’ Hearing these lamentations of all creatures that resounded through the ten points, Devala set his heart upon renouncing the religion of Moksha.  Then all kinds of sacred fruits and roots, O Bharata, and flowers and deciduous herbs, in thousands, began to weep, saying, ’The wicked-hearted and mean Devala will, without doubt, once more pluck and cut us!  Alas, having once assured all creatures of his perfect harmlessness, he sees not the wrong that he meditates to do!’ At this, that best of ascetics began to reflect with the aid of his understanding, saying, ’Which amongst these two, the religion of Moksha or that of Domesticity, will be the better for me?  Reflecting upon this, Devala, O best of kings, abandoned the religion of Domesticity and adopted that of Moksha.  Having indulged in those reflections, Devala, in consequence of that resolve obtained the highest success, O Bharata, and the highest Yoga.  The celestials then, headed by Brihaspati, applauded Jaigishavya and the penances of that ascetic.  Then that foremost of ascetics, Narada, addressing the gods, said, ’There is no ascetic penance in Jaigishavya since he filled Asita with wonder!’ The denizens of heaven then, addressing Narada who said such frightful words, said, ’Do not say so about the great ascetic Jaigishavya!  There is no one superior or even equal to this high-souled one in force of energy and penance and Yoga!’ Even such was the power of Jaigishavya as also of Asita.  This is the place of those two, and this the tirtha of those two high-souled persons.  Bathing there and giving away wealth unto the Brahmanas, the high-souled wielder of the plough, of noble deeds, earned great merit and then proceeded to the tirtha of Soma.”

51

Vaishampayana said, “There, in that tirtha, O Bharata, where the Lord of stars had in former days performed the rajasuya sacrifice, a great battle was fought in which Taraka was the root of the evil.  Bathing in that tirtha and making many presents, the virtuous Bala of cleansed soul proceeded to the tirtha of the muni named Sarasvata.  There, during a drought extending for twelve years, the sage Sarasvata, in former days, taught the Vedas unto many foremost of brahmanas.”

Janamejaya said, “Why did the sage Sarasvata, O thou of ascetic merit, teach the Vedas unto the rishis during a twelve years’ drought?”