Conversation between King Janak and Ashtavakra

Conversation between King Janak and Ashtavakra:  

Ashtavakra was a sage who had physical deformities in eight places. His name came about in such a way that Ashtavakra's father, Kahoda Rishi, was engaged in Vedic recitation while Ashtavakra was in his mother Sujata's womb. 

One day, while Kahoda was reciting the Vedas, his unborn child corrected him, saying, "Father, you are reciting the Vedas incorrectly. Your behaviour isn't pure, yet you engage in this recitation. What use is it if the words are perfect? Knowledge is beyond words. Knowledge exists within oneself." 

At that moment, Kahoda was sitting with other sages. He was Enraged by the child's words that insulted him in the womb. Kahoda cursed the child by saying, "Since you criticize me while in the womb, you shall be deformed in eight places when you are born." Consequently, Ashtavakra was born with deformities in his eight places. Despite his twisted body, he possessed profound and extraordinary knowledge.

When Ashtavakra was twelve years old, King Janak organized a conference to discuss the knowledge of Brahman. As Janak invited all the scholars from different countries. Renowned scholars attended the event. Among them was Ashtavakra's father, Kahoda Rishi. 

At the conference venue, Janak decorated a thousand cows with various markings, ornaments, and gold. Whoever defeated scholars in discussions would be awarded these cows. When Ashtavakra understood that his father, Kahoda Rishi, was bound by scholars in a debate and was about to lose, even though he was an exceptionally knowledgeable person, Ashtavakra came to Janak's court and stood in the middle of the assembly. 

With his deformed body in eight places, his speed appeared bizarre. Despite this, all the scholars burst into laughter upon seeing him. This sight made Ashtavakra laugh heartily. Looking at everyone from his place, King Janak noticed this and asked Ashtavakra, "Why do all of them laugh, and why are you laughing, my boy?"

To this, Ashtavakra replied, "King, I laughed for my sake. Why should a potter's wheel break in the sky? Although my body is twisted, I am not. Look beyond my external form, towards my inner self and intellect." Even though his limbs were twisted, his wisdom was profound and unique.

Ashtavakra continued, "Oh King, I laughed to make myself understand that those engaged in external beauty, rather than inner thoughts and depth of the mind, laugh with a shallowness that is merely skin-deep. Only true knowledge comes from within and surpasses mere physical beauty or worldly honours." This insight made everyone laugh, but it also made Ashtavakra blush due to his physical deformity. King Janak noticed this and felt embarrassed that despite everyone laughing at the physically disabled boy, he didn't laugh. This sense of guilt led to a sleepless night for King Janak.

The next day, while King Janak was riding on a horse, he spotted the same boy, Ashtavakra, playing. Getting down from the horse, King Janak touched Ashtavakra's feet and begun a conversation by saying, "You opened my eyes. I haven't slept all night. Those who engage in discussions on spiritual knowledge with a smile despite their physical conditions – how knowledgeable they must be! Please grant me knowledge."  Hearing this request, Ashtavakra received King Janak's respect and imparted him with knowledge.

This story teaches us that recognizing our ignorance is the beginning of attaining knowledge. Even though the great scholar Changdev lived for twenty years after the wise Devendra's reign, he humbly bowed before him. Please share how you perceived this story.