The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
53. Digvijaya at Thanjavur
Under the leadership of Shri Yajnanarayana Dikshita, the palace officials and the court scholars respectfully invited Shri Sudheendra Tirtha to the royal assembly and seated him on a high throne of honor. The royal representatives performed Pada Puja (ceremonial worship of his feet) and presented offerings. Following this, a grand scholarly debate (Vidvat Sabha) commenced under the presidency of Shri Sudheendra Tirtha.
The royal court of Thanjavur was a gathering place for hundreds of scholars, poets, Vedic experts, and artists, all of whom held great reverence for Shri Sudheendra Tirtha. However, as in any royal assembly, there were a few envious scholars who could not tolerate the extraordinary respect and influence that Shri Sudheendra commanded. These scholars, harboring jealousy, secretly plotted to undermine his authority and sought an opportunity to create an embarrassing situation for him.
Leading this faction was Shyamadikshita, a renowned commentator on the Shulba Sutras and an expert in Vedic sacrifices and rituals. The arrival of Shri Sudheendra in Thanjavur presented these jealous scholars with a perfect opportunity. They devised a plan: if Venkatanatha could be defeated in a debate, it would reflect poorly on Shri Sudheendra and cause him great dishonor.
Encouraged and flattered by the envious group, Shyamadikshita arrogantly accepted the challenge, boasting that he would humiliate and defeat Venkatanatha in debate.
Understanding the political undercurrents and hostility, Yajnanarayana Dikshita intervened and, with great wisdom, suggested that the debate should begin with Mimamsa Shastra (philosophical exegesis on Vedic interpretation), an area in which Shri Sudheendra was most proficient. The proposal was officially announced to the assembly.
Accepting the challenge, Shyamadikshita and his followers ascended the debate platform. Understanding the Guru’s unspoken command, Venkatanatha too confidently took his seat on the platform, prepared to defend the truth of Dwaita Vedanta.
After establishing the rules of debate and appointing neutral mediators, the scholarly discussion formally commenced—an event that would soon reveal Venkatanatha’s unparalleled intellectual brilliance.
Despite feeling unsettled by Venkatanatha’s commanding presence, eloquence, and radiance, Shyamadikshita proceeded to present his Purvapaksha (initial argument). His followers, emboldened by his arguments, swelled with pride, nodding in approval. The assembled scholars acknowledged the complexity of the argument, while Shri Sudheendra Tirtha, amused by the display, simply smiled.
However, when Venkatanatha began his response, he effortlessly dismantled the Purvapaksha, exposing its flaws and inconsistencies with impeccable logic. His sharp and unbroken flow of reasoning left the scholars in awe.
Yajnanarayana Dikshita, impressed by Venkatanatha’s flawless articulation and precise counterarguments, nodded approvingly and exclaimed:
"Sadhu! Sadhu!" (Excellent! Excellent!)
This public acknowledgment deeply embarrassed Shyamadikshita, who felt humiliated before the gathering. His face glistened with sweat as he tried to regain his composure. To counter Venkatanatha’s arguments, he resorted to a highly intricate section of the Shulba Sutras, a difficult passage related to Vedic rituals. He forcefully reasserted his argument, attempting to overwhelm his opponent with sheer complexity.
Challenging Venkatanatha, he asked:
"Acharya! What do you have to say now?"
Venkatanatha, calm and smiling, replied:
"Dikshita Swami, your explanation was delivered with great intensity. You have cited numerous references to support your Purvapaksha. However, none of them actually validate your claim!"
Hearing this, Shyamadikshita grew agitated and retorted angrily:
"Empty rhetoric is of no use! Can you refute my statements with valid counterproof?"
Venkatanatha, unshaken, responded:
"Swami, the evidences you have cited are not valid in proving your argument."
He then systematically demonstrated why the references were irrelevant and refuted Shyamadikshita’s argument point by point with unwavering precision.
The entire scholarly assembly, witnessing Venkatanatha’s unparalleled depth of knowledge, sharp reasoning, and mastery over Mimamsa, burst into thunderous applause. The jealous scholars, who had plotted against him, now stood defeated and disgraced, their faces downcast.
Even Shyamadikshita, despite his seniority, found himself at a loss for words. Yet, unwilling to accept defeat, he continued arguing stubbornly. However, his arguments became increasingly illogical and self-contradictory, exposing his bias and flawed reasoning. His repeated contradictions and ill-founded assertions frustrated the audience, and his debate soon descended into mere rhetorical wrangling.
Seeing his desperation, the learned scholars grew disappointed, while the neutral mediators stepped in to warn him, urging him to adhere to scholarly decorum rather than resorting to meaningless arguments.
Venkatanatha systematically dismantled each of Shyamadikshita’s arguments, reinforcing his counterpoints with multiple layers of logical reasoning. After refuting every claim, he turned to Shyamadikshita and posed a final challenge:
"Now, Swami, provide a proper response to this!"
Alas, Shyamadikshita, who had relied on evasive tactics from the very beginning, found himself cornered. Having taken the wrong approach, he was now unable to steer the debate back onto a proper scholarly path. His arguments had deviated too far from established scriptural principles, making it impossible for him to defend his stance.
The neutral moderators overseeing the debate officially declared Venkatanatha as the victor.
The entire assembly erupted in joyous acclaim, chanting victory slogans in honor of Acharya Venkatanatha, celebrating his intellectual supremacy and impeccable reasoning.
Words could not describe Shri Sudheendra Tirtha’s immense joy at his disciple’s success.
Yajnanarayana Dikshita, a scholar of great integrity and wisdom, was deeply impressed by Venkatanatha’s profound scholarship, flawless debating skills, and decisive triumph. Overwhelmed with admiration, he embraced Venkatanatha and praised him openly, extolling his unparalleled genius.
Following the traditions of the royal court, Acharya Venkatanatha was honored with a grand ceremonial recognition, further cementing his reputation as a preeminent scholar of his time.
With this momentous victory, Venkatanatha’s fame spread far and wide, marking him as one of the greatest intellectuals of his era.
This event also stood as a shining testament to Yajnanarayana Dikshita’s fairness and impartiality, proving that true scholars honor wisdom above all else, regardless of personal affiliations.