Enquiring about his father Gautama's reuniting with his mother Ahalya, Sage Shataananda relates the legend of Vishvamitra. Shataananda greets Rama for his adherence to the rectitude of Vishvamitra, which Vishvamitra gained through a series of self-important exploits, when he was a great king at one time. Shataananda finds worth in informing the biography of Vishvamitra to Rama, because too much of overbearing of kings, as has been done by Vishvamitra, will be unbecoming for kings.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः |
हृष्टरोमा महातेजाः शतानन्दो महातपाः || १-५१-१
गौतमस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभः |
रामसंदर्शनादेव परं विस्मयमागतः || १-५१-२
1. dhiimataH = intellectual one; tasya vishvaamitrasya tat vacanam shrutvaa = on hearing that sentence of his Vishvamitra's; mahaatejaaH mahaatapaaH = highly refulgent, great-ascetic; gautamasya jyeSThaH sutaH = Sage Gautama's, eldest, son; tapasaa dyotitaprabhaH = brightened radiance [who has it] by ascesis ; such a; shataaanandaH = sage Shataananda; hR^iSTaromaaH = rejoiced hair [hair-raising, overjoyed]; raamasandarshanaat eva = just by seeing at Rama; param vismayam aagataH = he obtained great amazement.
On hearing that sentence of that intellectual sage Vishvamitra, the highly refulgent and the great ascetic Shataananda is overjoyed, and Sage Shataananda, the eldest son of Sage Gautama, and whose radiance is brightened by his own ascesis is highly amazed just on seeing Rama. [1-51-1, 2]
एतौ निषण्णौ संप्रेक्ष्य सुखासीनौ नृपात्मजौ |
शतानन्दो मुनिश्रेष्ठं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत् || १-५१-३
3. atha = then; shataaanandaH = Shataananda; niSaNNau = the two whose heads are bent - bowing submissively; sukhaasiinau = comfortably seated; etau nR^ipaatmajau samprekSya = on raptly observing those two king's sons [princes] ; munishreSTham vishvaamitram abraviit = spoke to the eminent sage Vishvamitra.
On raptly observing those two princes who are sitting comfortably with their heads bending down submissively, then Shataananda spoke to the eminent sage Vishvamitra. [1-51-3]
अपि ते मुनिशार्दूल मम माता यशस्विनी |
दर्शिता राजपुत्राय तपो दीर्घमुपागता || १-५१-४
4. munishaarduula = oh tigerly saint Vishvamitra; diirgham tapaH upaagataa = came near [who meted out] marathon ascesis; yashasvinii = glorious one; mama maataa = my, mother; te = by you; raajaputraaya = to princes; api darshitaa = even she is revealed.
Oh, tigerly saint Vishvamitra, you have revealed my glorious mother Ahalya who meted out a marathon ascesis to the princes - Really! [1-51-4]
अपि रामे महातेजो मम माता यशस्विनी |
वन्यैरुपाहरत् पूजां पूजार्हे सर्वदेहिनाम् || १-५१-५
5. mahaatejaH yashasvinii = highly resplendent one, celebrated one - Ahalya; mama maataa = my, mother; sarvadehinaam = by every one with body [with corporeity, corporeal beings]; puujaarhe raame = worthy for deference, in Rama - in respect of Rama; vanyaiH = with forest produce - flowers and fruits; puujaam api upaaharat = has she even performed worship - has she worshipped him?
And the highly resplendent and celebrated mother of mine worshipped Rama, who is worthy of worship by every corporeal being, with forest produce, is it so! [1-51-5]
अपि रामाय कथितं यद् वृत्तं तत्पुरातनम् |
मम मातुर्महातेजो दैवेन दुरनुष्ठितम् || १-५१-६
6. mahaatejaH = oh great-resplendent - Vishvamitra; mama maatuH = my, mother; daivena duranuSThitam = mal-treatment by Providence - subjected to; puraatanam = anciently - happened episode; yathaavR^ittam = as happened; raamaaya api kathitam = narrated even to Rama.
Oh, great-resplendent Vishvamitra, you have narrated to Rama about the maltreatment of my mother by the Providence as has happened anciently, isn't it![1-51-6]
अपि कौशिक भद्रं ते गुरुणा मम संगता |
माता मम मुनिश्रेष्ठ रामसंदर्शनादितः || १-५१-७
7. kaushika = oh Kaushika; te bhadram = let safety be to you; munishreSTha = oh the best sage; mama maataa = my, mother; raamasandarshanaat itaH = by Rama's bolding - giving hospitality etc; mama guruNaa = with my, father; api sangataa = even, joined - reunited with.
Oh, the best sage Kaushika, you be safe, my mother is reunited with my father on beholding and giving hospitality to Rama - Really! [1-51-7]
अपि मे गुरुणा रामः पूजितः कुशिकात्मज |
इहागतो महातेजाः पूजां प्राप्य महात्मनः || १-५१-८
8. kushikaatmaja = oh Kushi's son [Kaushika, Vishvamitra]; raamaH = Rama; me guruNaa api puujitaH = he is worshipped even by my father; iha aagataH mahaatejaaH = one who came here [to Ahalya's place,] great-resplendent one [Gautama, Shataananda's father]; mahaatmanaH = from great-souled one [from Rama]; puujaam api praapya = he [Rama] has worship, even.
Oh, Kaushika, my father came to my mother's place from Himalayas! Has the great resplendent father of mine worshipped Rama because the redemption of my mother is per the kindness of Rama! Has this great-souled Rama reverenced that great resplendent father of mine by according a redemption, ahalyaa-daana, the endowment of Ahalya to her husband. [1-51-8]
अपि शान्तेन मनसा गुरुर्मे कुशिकात्मज|
इहागतेन रामेण पुजितेनाभिवादितः || १-५१-९
9. kushikaatmaja = oh son of Kushika, Vishvamitra; iha aagatena = who came here [at Ahalya's place] ; puujitena = by a reverential one - Rama [prayatena = by a pure soul - Rama]; raameNa = by Rama; me guruH = my, father; shaantena manasaa = with a pacified, heart; api abhivaaditaH = whether, reverenced.
"Oh, Kaushika, on his arrival at my mother's place whether this reverential Rama reverenced my father with a pacified heart without becoming contumelious!" Thus sage Shataananda exclaimed at the marvel occurred through Rama. [1-51-9]
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः |
प्रत्युवाच शतानन्दं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यगोविदम् || १-५१-१०
10. mahaamuniH vishvaamitraH = great-saint, Vishvamitra; tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa = on hearing that sentence of his; vaakyaj~naH = sententious one [Vishvamitra]; vaakyakovidam shataanandam = sentence-precisian to sentence, to precisionist, to Shataananda; pratyuvaaca = spoke in reply.
On hearing that sentence of his, that great-saint and sentence-precisian Sage Vishvamitra, replied the sentence-precisionist Sage Shataananda. [1-51-10]
नातिक्रान्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठ यत् कर्तव्यं कृतं मया |
संगता मुनिना पत्नी भार्गवेणेव रेणुका || १-५१-११
11. munishreSTha = oh sage the best - oh Shataananda; na atikraantam = not, over stepped - nothing left unperformed; mayaa yat kartavyam = whatever performable by me; kR^itam = that is performed; reNukaa bhaargaveNa iva = Renuka as with [the descendent of] Bhaargava or Bhrugu ; patnii muninaa sangataa = wife [of sage] is reunited with sage.
"I have done whatever good is to be done and nothing is left undone, and the wife of the sage, namely Ahalya, is reunited with her husband sage Gautama, as with Renuka who was reunited with sage Jamadagni, the descendent of Bhrigu." So said Vishvamitra. [1-51-11]
Renuka is the mother of Parashu Rama, another human incarnation of Vishnu as a Brahmin to struggle with the erring Kshatriya kings of an earlier era. Renuka's husband is Sage Jamadagni, the descendent of Bhrigu or also called as Bhaargava and on certain occasion, Jamadagni, orders his son Parashu Rama to behead her, i.e., Renuka, Parashu Rama's own mother and Parashu Rama unhesitatingly carries out his father's orders. Thus, Parashu Rama is called Bhaargava Rama, with an axe as his unsurpassed weapon. This Parashu Rama confronts Rama of Ramayana after Seetha's marriage.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः |
शतानन्दो महातेजा रामं वचनमब्रवीत् || १-५१-१२
12. tasya vishvaamitrasya dhiimataH = his highly intellectual Vishvamitra's ; tat vacanam shrutvaa = on hearing that sentence; mahaatejaaH shataanandaH = of high refulgence, Shataananda; raamam vacanam abraviit = spoke sentence to Rama.
On hearing those words of that highly intellectual Vishvamitra, high refulgent sage Shataananda spoke these words to Rama. [1-51-12]
स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव |
विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य महर्षिमपराजितम् || १-५१-१३
13. narashreSTha raaghava = oh best among men, oh Raghava; [svaagatam te = hail to thee; aparaajitam = not defeatable one; maharSim vishvaamitram puraskR^itya = keeping afore [spearheaded by] great-sage Vishvamitra ; diSTyaa praaptaH asi = you are chanced as godsend; svaagatam te = hail, to thee.
Hail to thee! Oh, best one among men Rama, your arrival is a godsend, not only to Mithila but to entire humanity, and oh, Raghava, as an undefeatable great-sage Vishvamitra spearheads you, so shall your mission be undefeatable, thus hail to thee! [1-51-13]
This statement of Sage Shataananda shall remind us the utterances of Vishvamitra in Dasharatha's court at 1-19-14: aham vedmi mahaatmaanam raamam... 'I know this great soul Rama, the virtue valiant, even Vashishta and also these saints who are here...' So also, Shataananda being the son of Ahalya and Gautama perceived who this Rama is. Further, when such and such a sage spearheads Rama, Rama ought to know something about the background of his steersman, namely Vishvamitra, basing on which Rama can learn his own lessons. As such, next few chapters are catered to the legend of Vishvamitra through Shataananda.
अचिन्त्यकर्मा तपसा ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः |
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वेत्स्येनं परमां गतिम् || १-५१-१४
14. mahaatejaaH vishvaamitraH = highly resplendent, Vishvamitra; acintyakarmaa = is of un imaginable, exploits; tapasaa brahmarSiH = by ascesis, Brahma-sage; amitaprabhaH = of ill imitable resplendence; paramaam gatim = him, as ultimate, course; [vedmya = you have to know;] enam vetsi = you [already] know him.
This highly resplendent Vishvamitra's exploits are unimaginable. He attained the highest order of Brahma-sage by his ascesis, thus illimitable is his ascetic resplendence, and you have to know him as an ultimate course, not only to you alone, but also to one and all. [1-51-14]
If the text 'you already know him...' is adopted there will be nothing left to Shataananda to say more. Hence, the meaning is said on taking vedmya 'you should know some more...' would be better. Because Vishvamitra is a paramahitasandhaayaka 'a do-gooder for universal peace' as indicated by his name itself, vishva 'of universe...' mitra 'friend, 'friend of universe...'
नास्ति धन्यतरो राम त्वत्तोऽन्यो भुवि कश्चन |
गोप्ता कुशिकपुत्रस्ते येन तप्तं महत्तपः || १-५१-१५
15. raama = oh Rama; bhuvi = on earth; tvattaH = than you; dhanyataraH = better fortunate; anyaH = another one; kashcana = anyone; na asti = not, is there; yena mahat tapaH taptam = by whom, supreme, ascesis, practised; such a sage; kushikaputraH = Kushi's, scion, namely Vishvamitra; te goptaa = protector to you.
None other than you is fortunate enough on earth, oh, Rama, as you are in the custodial care of Vishvamitra, the scion of Kushika, who has practised supreme ascesis. [1-51-15]
श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामि कौशिकस्य महात्मनः |
यथा बलं यथा तत्त्वं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु || १-५१-१६
16. mahaatmanaH kaushikasya = great-souled, Vishvamitra's; balam yathaa = prowess, as to how; shruuyataam = I will let you hear - hear from me; tattvam [vR^ittam] = quintessence [his legend]; yathaa = as to how; abhidhaasyaami = I will narrate; tat me nigadataH shR^iNu = that you listen from me while being narrated.
What is the prowess of the great-souled Vishvamitra, and what the quintessence of his legend may be heard from me while I narrate it. [1-51-16]
राजाऽसीदेष धर्मात्मा दिर्घकालमरिंदमः |
धर्मज्ञः कृतविद्यश्च प्रजानां च हिते रतः || १-५१-१७
17. eSaH = he; dharmaatmaa = probity-souled one Vishvamitra; dharmaj~naH = well-versed [proficient] one in rectitude; kR^itavidyaH ca = made [perfected] education [perfectionist in kingcraft,] also; prajaanaam ca hite rataH = also, proponent in welfare of people ; arindamaH = persecutor of enemies; diirghakaalam raajaa abhuut = for long time he became king.
This probity-souled Vishvamitra, being a proficient in rectitude, a perfectionist in kingcraft, a proponent of people's welfare, more so a persecutor of enemies, was there as a king for a long time. [1-51-17]
प्रजापतिसुतस्त्वासीत् कुशो नाम महीपतिः |
कुशस्य पुत्रो बलवान् कुशनाभः सुधार्मिकः || १-५१-१८
18. prajaapatisutaH = Prajapati's brainchild; kushaH naama mahiipatiH = Kusha, named, earth lord [king]; aasiit = was there; balavaan = powerful one; sudhaarmikaH = verily righteous one; kushanaabhaH = Kushanaabha is; kushasya putraH = Kusha's, son.
There was a king named Kusha, a brainchild of Prjaapati, and Kusha's son was the powerful and verily righteous Kushanaabha. [1-51-18]
कुशनाभसुतस्त्वासीद्गाधिरित्येव विश्रुतः |
गाधेः पुत्रो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः || १-५१-१९
19. gaadhiH iti eva vishrutaH = Gaadhi, thus, only, verily heard [of highly renowned]; kushanaabhasutaH tu = Kushanaabha's son, but; aasiit = was there; mahaatejaaH mahaamuniH vishvaamitraH = great resplendence, great-saint, Vishvamitra; gaadheH putraH = Gaadhi's, son.
One who is highly renowned by the name Gaadhi was the son of Kushanaabha, and Gaadhi's son is this great-saint of great resplendence, Vishvamitra. [1-51-19]
विश्वमित्रो महातेजाः पालयामास मेदिनीम् |
बहुवर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत् || १-५१-२०
20. mahaatejaaH vishvamitraH = great resplendent, Vishvamitra - the king; mediniim paalayaamaasa = was ruling the earth; raajaa = king; bahuvarSasahasraaNi = many thousands of years; raajyam akaarayat = kingdom, made [ruled.]
Vishvamitra ruled the earth, and this great-resplendent king ruled the kingdom for many thousands of years. [1-51-20]
कदाचित्तु महातेजा योजयित्वा वरूथिनीम् |
अक्षौहिणीपरिवृतः परिचक्राम मेदिनीम् || १-५१-२१
21. mahaatejaaH = great-resplendent king Vishvamitra; kadaacit = at some time; varuuthiniim yojayitvaa = combining [marshalling] armies; akSauhiNiiparivR^itaH = encircled by - along with Akshauhini - unit of army ; mediniim paricakraama = he circulated - gone round earth.
At one time the great-resplendent king Vishvamitra went round the earth marshalling a unit of akshauhini army. [1-51-21]
The army unit called akshauhini consists of 21,870 elephants, as many chariots, 65,610 cavalry, and 1,09,350 foot soldiers.
नगराणि च राष्ट्रानि सरितश्च तथा गिरीन् |
आश्रमान् क्रमशो राजा विचरन्नाजगाम ह || १-५१-२२
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं नानापुष्पलताद्रुमम् |
नानामृगगणाकीर्णं सिद्धचारणसेवितम् || १-५१-२३
देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किंनरैरुपशोभितम् |
प्रशान्तहरिणाकिर्णं द्विजसंघनिषेवितम् || १-५१-२४
ब्रह्मर्षिगणसंकीर्णं देवर्षिगणसेवितम् |
तपश्चरणसंसिद्धैरग्निकल्पैर्महात्मभिः || १-५१-२५
सततं संकुलं श्रीमद्ब्रह्मकल्पैर्महात्मभिः |
अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च शिर्णपर्णाशनैस्तथा || १-५१-२६
फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैर्जितदोषैर्जितेन्द्रियैः - यद्वा -
फलमूलाशनैर्दानैर्जिततोषैर्जितेन्द्रियैः |
ऋषिभिर्वालखिल्यैश्च जपहोमपरायणैः || १-५१-२७
अन्यैर्वैखानसैश्चैव समन्तादुपशोभितम् |
22, 23, 24, 2125, 26, 27, 28a. nagaraaNi raaSTraani ca = cities, provinces, also; saritaH tathaa giriin = rivers, like that, mountains; aashramaan ca = hermitages, also; kramashaH = sequentially; vicaran = while moving about; naanaapuSpalataadrumam = which has numerous flowered, climbers, trees; naanaamR^igagaNaakiirNam = which is overspread by herbs of very many animals ; siddhacaaraNasevitam = adored by siddha-s, caaranaa-s ; at such a hermitage; devadaanavagandharvaiH kinnaraiH upashobhitam = [frequented and] embellished with gods, demons, gandharva-s, kinnaraa-s; prashaantahariNaakiirNam = spread out with equable deer; dvijasanghaniSevitam = adored by flights of birds; brahmarSigaNasankiirNam = assemblages compacted with Brahma sage's; devarSigaNasevitam = adored by assemblages of godly sages; satatam sankulam = always, bustling with; tapashcaraNasamsiddhaiH = well accomplished one with practise of ascesis ; agnikalpaiH = similar to Ritual-fire; mahaatmabhiH = with great-souled ones; brahmakalpaiH = comparable one to Brahma; mahaatmabhiH = with great-souled ones; abbhakSaiH = water eaters [some subsisting on] ; vaayubhakSaiH ca = [some subsist on] air eaters, also; shiirNaparNaashanaiH tathaa = eaters of dried leaves, likewise [some subsisting on them]; phalamuulaashanaiH = eaters of fruits, tubers [some subsisting on]; daantaiH = self-controlled ones; jitadoSaiH = overcame peccabilites; jitendriyaiH = overpowered senses; R^iSibhiH vaalakhilyaiH ca = with sages, Vaalakhilyaa-s, also; japahomaparaayaNaiH = who are occupied with meditations, oblations in Ritual-fire; anyaiH vaikhaanasaiH ca eva = with others, Vaikhaanasa-s, also thus; samantaat = well up to end - whole of perimeter; upashobhitam brightened with; shriimat = magnificent one [to such a hermitage of]; vasiSThasya aashramapadam = Vashishta's hermitage's threshold; raajaa aajagaama ha = king Vishvamitra, arrived, indeed.
Moving sequentially about the provinces, cities, rivers likewise mountains, king Vishvamitra arrived at the threshold of a hermitage which is with numerous flowered trees and climbers, overspread with very many herds of animals, adored by the celestials like siddha-s and caarana-s, frequented and embellished with gods, demons, gandharva-s, and kinnara-s, spread out with equable deer, adored by flights of birds, compacted with the assemblages of Brahma-sages, and also with the assemblages of godly-sages who are fully accomplished in their ascesis, where the personal resplendence of each of the great-souled sage is similar to each of the Ritual-fire available in each of the Ritual Fire Altar before which he is sitting, and which hermitage is bustling with the activity of great-souled sages who are comparable to Brahma, among whom some subsist on water alone, and some on air alone, likewise some more on dry leaves, while some on fruits, tubers, and with such of those sages and also with particular sages like Vaalakhilyaa-s, also with others like Vaikhaanasa-s, who are all self-controlled, who have overcame their peccabilites, who have overpowered their senses that hermitage is occupied, and while everyone of the inmates is engaged in meditations and oblations into Ritual-fire, and with such sages and their activity whole of the perimeter of that hermitage is brightened and rendered splendent, and king Vishvamitra arrived at such a magnificent hermitage of Sage Vashishta. [1-51-22, 23, 24, 2125, 26, 27, 28a]
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मलोकमिवापरम् |
ददर्श जयतां श्रेष्ठो विश्वामित्रो महाबलम् || १-५१-२८
28. jayataam shreSTha = best one among vanquishers; mahaabalaH vishvaamitraH = great-stalwart, Vishvamitra; aparam = not other [not in other world, this worldly]; brahmalokam iva = like Brahma's universe; vasiSThasya aashramapadam = Vashishta's, Hermitage's threshold; dadarsha = has seen.
"And this best one among vanquishers and the great-stalwart Vishvamitra has then seen the hermitage of Vashishta which is like the worldly Universe of Brahma." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration. [1-51-28]
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकपंचाशः सर्गः
© Nov, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : November 04]
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