The mention of Sage Baka Dalbhya in various ancient texts, such as the Chandogya Upanishad, the Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana, and the Vamana Purana, highlights his significance in Vedic literature and the diverse roles attributed to him.
In the Chandogya Upanishad (1.2.13), Baka Dalbhya is
portrayed as a sage who achieved realization of the prana, the chief vital air
in the body and the deity presiding over it, through the singing of the
udgitha, a part of the sama hymn. Serving as the udgatir priest in a sacrifice
conducted by the Naimishiyas, Baka Dalbhya successfully fulfilled their
desires.
According to the Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana (1.9.2), Baka
Dalbhya played a crucial role in restraining Indra from harming the Ajakeshins,
members of a specific family. This underscores his influence in averting
potential harm and maintaining harmony.
The Vamana Purana (chapter 39) narrates a different episode
involving a sage named Baka Dalbhya, who, through a sacrifice, intended to
destroy the kingdom of a ruler named Dhritarashtra. However, Dhritarashtra,
realizing his earlier mistake of having slighted the sage, made amends, pleased
Baka Dalbhya, and regained all that he had lost.
While the texts provide distinct accounts of Baka Dalbhya's
actions, it remains uncertain whether these references pertain to a single sage
or multiple individuals with a similar name. The possibility of multiple Baka
Dalbhyas cannot be ruled out, adding an element of ambiguity to the
understanding of this sage's identity across different narratives in ancient
Hindu literature.