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At the age of twelve, Rana Vyasa came in contact with one wandering sadhu who told Rana Vyasa all about the holy places of the north, south, east and west. Rana Vyasa impressed with his spiritual talks left that same night and headed for the HimiIayan temple of Bradrinathji.
While ascending the Himilayas, Rana Vyasa encountered many difficulties and by the time he arrived at the sacred temple. He was displeased and could only think of the cold and the perilous descent which awaited him.
From there he proceded to Jagannath Puri in Orrissa. After having the sight of the Deities he became somewhat pleased but a little later he became sick. After a month of recovery he felt that if he did not leave that place he again would become deathly ill. From there he went to the South in order to have the sight of Shri Ranganathji. There he was again dismayed when he found that the Deity was so enormous that when he looked at the Lord's feet he was not able to see His head and vice versa.
From there he proceded to Shri Dwarka in the west of India. After having the Shri Dwarkadhis's sight, the local Brahmans told him that if he wanted to touch the feet of Shri Dwarkadhis, he would have to give a certain amount of money. Rana Vyasa thought that if they are taking money from a celebrite renunciate, as well as using the Thakurji's money, to remain there would not be advantageous towards his religious purity and liberation. Reasoning thus, he left Dwarka and returned home.
By that time Rana Vyasa was eighteen and his parents had be¬come very aged. His parent happy to see their son again said, "If you would have stayed at home, your marriage would have been arranged. Now remain here with us and live according to your caste and customs. Then we will commence your marriage." "Rana Vyasa replied bluntly, "I will always remain a ceIibrite. To which hell are you trying to send me by arranging my marriage. I have no need for such things for I have control over my senses." His parents hearing that became silent.
Some days later, his parents passed away. This pleased Rana Vyasa for now all of his worldly obstacles had been removed. Being rich and over confident of his self-control, he became so full of pride that he would not even talk to anyone else. Everyone in the town subsequently started to call him the Perfect one. Rana Vyasa then studied some scriptures. Thinking that everyone in his town was a fool, he proceeded to Banares in order to have some religious debates.
Arriving there, he debated with the great pandits, but met defeat wherever he went. Distressed at heart he thought to himself, "I will drown myself in the Ganga River at mid-night when no one will be looking."
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