Before the King's Court

Around the ninth century, the region was ruled from Madurai by a king named Vallabhadevan. He was a good king who ruled wisely and was devoted to Sriman Nārāyaṇa, and he longed to understand the meaning of the Vedas and the nature of the Supreme Truth. He asked his chief minister how he might pursue this desire. The minister replied: "Let us invite Vedic scholars to answer your questions. Whoever answers well and resolves your doubts may be richly rewarded, O king." The king agreed, and it was proclaimed throughout the land.

It was also announced that a bag of gold coins would hang high in the court, and that by the power and truth of the Vedic principle it would fall of its own accord when that principle was truly stated.

Many scholars and paṇḍits came, and there were debates, discourses and recitations, but the bag remained hanging. No one had stated the true principle underlying the Vedas, and the king was deeply disappointed.

Then the Lord began His play. Sri Vaṭapatrashāyī appeared in Vishṇuchittar's dream and said: "O devotee, I am pleased with your service of garlands. Tomorrow go to the palace, speak on the principles of the Vedas, and claim the reward." Vishṇuchittar replied: "I am not learned in the Vedas. I never even studied them. All I know is how to make a simple garland for You, Lord. I cannot speak of Vedic truths, for I do not know them." The Lord smiled. "O Vishṇuchitta, you are only an instrument. We will speak through you. Do not worry. Simply go."

The Lord also appeared in the chief minister's dream and asked him to bring Vishṇuchittar to the palace the next day in a palanquin, with full honours. The next day Vishṇuchittar prayed to the Lord, boarded the palanquin, and was carried to the palace with every honour. The scholars laughed at what they took to be his greed, knowing how little he knew of the Vedas, and made scornful remarks aloud. But once Vishṇuchittar, after a short prayer, began to speak, the murmurs died away, the scorn vanished, and everyone listened intently.

The king, the ministers, the people and the scholars could all follow his simple words, which were full of deep meaning and flowed like waves from a great ocean. Everyone understood him clearly, and when Vishṇuchittar concluded that Sri Mahāvishṇu, Shriyaḥ Pati, alone is the Paramporuḷ, the Supreme Being who protects and blesses the whole universe and all beings, and the one principle underlying all four Vedas, the bag fell of its own accord, straight into his hands.

The king rose at once, tears in his eyes, and prostrated at Vishṇuchittar's feet. "Now I am clear," he said. "You have resolved all my doubts. Sriman Nārāyaṇa alone is the Supreme. I have never heard such deep truths explained so simply." The scholars bowed their heads in shame, set aside their pride, and joined in celebrating Vishṇuchittar's victory. The king gave him still more gifts and honoured him with the title Bhaṭṭarpirān.

Vishṇuchittar, deeply moved and trembling at the Lord's mercy towards one so humble, replied: "O king, I am but a mute. I never spoke; it was He who spoke through me. He is the flute player; I am only the bamboo. I am only the plant; it is He who made the flower bloom. I am only a puppet; He is the doer and the puppeteer. Do not praise me, and do not bow at my feet. Let us all bow at His feet."