Devarishi Brihaspati
Other names: Brihaspathi; Brishaspati; Vrihaspati; Guru. Son of Angirasa and Suroopa, he is revered as the preceptor of the Devas and a master of wisdom, counsel, and sacred learning. He is also associated with the planet Jupiter and with the lineage of Kacha.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Abstention from injury, the observance of the Vedic ritual, meditation, subjugation of the senses, penances, and obedient services rendered to the preceptors,–which amongst these is fraught with the greatest merit with respect to a person?’ “Vrihaspati said, All these six are fraught with merit. They are different doors of piety. I shall discourse upon them presently. Do thou listen to them, O chief of the Bharatas! I shall tell thee what constitutes the highest good of a human being. That man who practises the religion of universal compassion achieves his highest good. That man who keeps under control the three faults, viz., lust, wrath, and cupidity, by throwing them upon all creatures (and practises the virtue of compassion), attains to success. He who, from motives of his own happiness, slays other harmless creatures with the rod of chastisement, never attains to happiness, in the next world. That man who regards all creatures as his own self, and behaves towards them as towards his own self, laying aside the rod of chastisement and completely subjugating his wrath, succeeds in attaining to happiness.” – The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Section CXIII
