Vashishta offers hospitality to Vishvamitra and his armies. Even though the King Vishvamitra is disinclined to pressurise a hermit with such a burdensome affair of hospitality to hosts, Vashishta entreats the king to accept. Vishvamitra had to oblige the same. Vashishta summons his do-all Divine Sacred Cow, Shabala, also known as Kaamadhenu, requests her to generate heaps of tasteful foodstuffs for a royal banquet as well as for military rations.
तम् दृष्ट्वा परम प्रीतो विश्वामित्रो महाबलः |
प्रणतो विनयात् वीरो वसिष्ठम् जपताम् वरम् || १-५२-१
1. mahaabalaH viiraH vishvaamitraH = great-mighty, valorous one, Vishvamitra; japataam varam = [who is] among meditators, the best sage; tam vasiSTham dR^iSTvaa = him, Vashishta, on seeing; parama priitaH = is highly, rejoiced; vinayaat praNataH = obediently, made an obeisance.
On seeing at that best sage among best meditators Sage Vashishta, the great-mighty and valorous Vishvamitra is highly rejoiced and obediently made an obeisance to the sage. [1-52-1]
स्वागतम् तव च इति उक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना |
आसनम् च अस्य भगवान् वसिष्ठो व्यादिदेश ह || १-५२-२
2. tava svaagatam = to thee, welcome; iti mahaa aatmanaa vasiSThena uktaH = thus, by great-souled, Vashishta, is spoken to [Vishvamitra]; bhagavaan vasiSThaH = godly, Vashishta; asya aasanam ca vyaadidesha ha = to him [to Vishvamitra, ] seat, also, ordering [showing,] indeed.
The great-souled Vashishta spoke, "you are welcome," and that godly sage has indeed shown a high seat to Vishvamitra. [1-52-2]
उपविष्टाय च तदा विश्वामित्राय धीमते |
यथा न्यायम् मुनि वरः फल मूलम् उपाहरत् || १-५२-३
3. tadaa = then; muni varaH = saint, eminent; upaviSTaaya dhiimate vishvaamitraaya = to one who is sitting, courageous one, to Vishvamitra; yathaa nyaayam = according, to custom; phala muulam upaaharat = fruits, tubers, submitted - offered.
The eminent saint Vashishta then customarily offered fruits and tuber to the courageous Vishvamitra who by now has assumed a seat. [1-52-3]
प्रतिगृह्य तु ताम् पूजाम् वसिष्ठात् राज सत्तमः |
तपो अग्नि होत्र शिष्येषु कुशलम् पर्यपृच्छत || १-५२-४
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वनस्पति गणे तथा |
सर्वत्र कुशलम् च आह वसिष्ठो राज सत्तमम् || १-५२-५
4. raaja sattamaH = king, unsurpassed; mahaatejaa = great-resplendent one; vishvaamitraH = Vishvamitra; vasiSThaat = from Vashishta; taam puujaam pratigR^ihya = that, deference, on receiving; tapaH agni hotra shiSyeSu = concerning ascesis, fire, rituals, disciples; tathaa = likewise; vanaspati gaNe = regarding trees, clumps of - of flora and implied fauna of hermitage; kushalam = well being; paryapR^icChata = in turn asked after; vasiSThaH = Vashishta; sarvatra kushalam ca = all round, well-being, also; raaja sattamam aaha = to king, the matchless, said - reported.
On receiving that deference from Vashishta, then that unsurpassed king Vishvamitra asked after the well-being of the ascesis, Fire-rituals and disciples and their progress in that hermitage, and that great-resplendent Vishvamitra has also asked after the well being of flora and fauna of the hermitage, and Vashishta reported to the matchless king about the all round well-being of every activity. [1-52-4, 5]
सुख उपविष्टम् राजानम् विश्वामित्रम् महातपाः |
पप्रच्छ जपताम् श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः || १-५२-६
6. japataam shreSThaH = among meditators, supreme one; mahaatapaaH = great-ascetic; brahmaNaH sutaH vasiSThaH = Brahma's, son [brainchild,] Vashishta; sukha upaviSTam = at ease, on sitting; raajaanam vishvaamitram = to king, Vishvamitra; papracCha = asked.
Vashishta the supreme one among meditators, a great-ascetic, and the brainchild of Brahma has then asked Vishvamitra who is sitting at ease. [1-52-6]
कच्चित् ते कुशलम् राजन् कच्चित् धर्मेण रंजयन् |
प्रजाः पालयसे राजन् राज वृत्तेन धार्मिक || १-५२-७
7. raajan = oh, king; te kushalam kaccit = to you, well-being, I hope - All is well!; raajan = oh, king; dhaarmikaH = as a righteous one; prajaaH dharmeNa ranjayan = people, righteously, while satisfying to their contentment; raaja vR^ittena = by kingly, righteousness; paalayase kaccit = are you ruling, hopefully.
" 'I hope that you are fine! And oh, righteous king, hope that you are ruling people righteously with kingly righteousness to their contentment. [1-52-7]
The kingly righteousness is one component among the four primary concerns of the kingcraft as said at: nyaayena aarjanam arthasya varthanam paalanam tathaa | sat paatre pratipattiH ca raaja vR^ittam catur vidham || 'monies are to be earned righteously, they are to be enriched righteously, and safeguarded righteously, and they are to be endowed to righteous deeds or persons, for welfare of the state, righteously...'
कच्चित् ते सुभृता भृत्याः कच्चित् तिष्ठन्ति शासने |
कच्चित् ते विजिताः सर्वे रिपवो रिपु सूदन || १-५२-८
8. te bhR^ityaaH = your, servants; su bhR^itaa kaccit = well-served - are they looked after well, I hope; shaasane tiSThanti kaccit = by rulership, abiding, I hope; ripu suudana = oh, adversary, vanquisher of; te ripavaH = your, enemies; sarve = all of them; vi jitaaH = surely, vanquished; kaccit = I hope.
" 'I hope your servants are looked after well, hope all of them are abiding by the rulership, oh, vanquisher of adversaries, I hope that you have surely vanquished all of your adversaries. [1-52-8]
कच्चित् बले च कोशे च मित्रेषु च परंतप |
कुशलम् ते नर व्याघ्र पुत्र पौत्रे तथा अनघ || १-५२-९
9. parantapa = oh, enemy-inflamer; anagha = oh, impeccable one; nara vyaaghra = oh, man, tigerly; bale ca koshe ca mitreSu ca = in forces, and, in exchequer, and, among friends [confederates,] also; tathaa = likewise; te putra pautre = your, in sons, in grandsons; kushalam kaccit = well-being, I hope.
" 'For you are an impeccable one and an emery-inflamer, oh, tigerly-man, I hope that your forces, exchequer and confederates are fine, and all is well with your sons and grandsons." Thus Vashishta asked the well-being of Vishvamitra. [1-52-9]
सर्वत्र कुशलम् राजा वसिष्ठम् प्रत्युदाहरत् |
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठम् विनय अन्वितम् || १-५२-१०
10. mahaatejaa raajaa vishvaamitra = great-resplendent, king, Vishvamitra; vasiSTham vinaya anvitam = to Vashishta, respect, having - respectfully; sarvatra kushalam = everywhere, fineness - everything is fine; vasiSTham = to Vashishta; prati udaaharat, in turn [in reply,] exemplified - replied.
"The great-resplendent king Vishvamitra respectfully replied Sage Vashishta saying, 'everything is fine.' [1-52-10]
कृत्वा तौ सुचिरम् कालम् धर्मिष्ठौ ताः कथाः तदा |
मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेताम् तौ परस्परम् ||
१-५२-११
11. dharma iSThau = conscientious celebrities of; tau [ubhau] = both of them; paramayaa mudaa yuktau = heightened, rejoice, along with; su ciram kaalam = for a very, long, time; taaH kathaaH = those, stories [pleasantries]; tadaa kR^itvaa = thus, on making [exchanging]; tau = those two; parasparam - paraH aparam = one, another; priiyetaam = gladdened.
"Both of those celebrities of conscientious then exchanged pleasantries for a long time with their rejoice heightening and gladdening one another. [1-52-11]
ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथा अन्ते रघुनंदन |
विश्वामित्रम् इदम् वाक्यम् उवाच प्रहसन् इव || १-५२-१२
12. raghunandana = oh, legatee of Raghu - Rama; tataH = then; bhagavaan vasiSThaH = godly sage, Vashishta; kathaa ante = story, at end [of discussions]; prahasan iva = smilingly, like; vishvaamitram idam vaakyam uvaaca = to Vishvamitra, this, sentence, spoke.
"Then at the end of discussions, oh, Rama the legatee of Raghu, that godly Sage Vashishta smilingly spoke this sentence to Vishvamitra. [1-52-12]
आतिथ्यम् कर्तुम् इच्छामि बलस्य अस्य महाबल |
तव च एव अप्रमेयस्य यथा अर्हम् संप्रतीच्छ मे || १-५२-१३
13. mahaabalaH = oh, great-forceful one - Vishvamitra; asya balasya = to this, military force; a prameyasya = without, a match [matchless one]; tava ca eva = to you, also, as well; yathaa arham = as, befitting - to your status; aatithyam kartum icChaami = guestship, to do [to offer,] I wish to[ me = from me; sampratiicCha [sam prati icCha = well, in turn, you accede] = kindly accede to it.
" 'I wish to offer guestship befitting to your status, oh, great-forceful king Vishvamitra, to a matchless one like you and to this military force of yours, kindly accept it from me. [1-52-13]
सत्क्रियाम् तु भवान् एताम् प्रतीच्छतु मया कृताम् |
राजन् त्वम् अतिथि श्रेष्ठः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः ||
१-५२-१४
14. bhavaan = you; mayaa kR^itaam = by me, done [offered]; etaam sat kriyaam tu = all these, good, works [hospitalities,] on their part; pratiicChatu = kindly take - accept; raajan = oh, king; tvam = you are; prayatnataH puujaniiyaH = one to be reverenced, effortfully; atithi shreSThaH = guest, important.
" 'You may kindly accept all these hospitalities offered by me, oh king, for you are an important guest you ought to be reverenced effortfully.' So said Vashishta to Vishvamitra. [1-52-14]
'It is quiet meaningless on the part of this sage, subsisting on wild fruits and tubers, to offer a royal banquet or rations to military and feed to horses and elephants' - is the thinking of King Vishvamitra. For that, the sage is saying that a king is to be reverenced 'effortfully...' But, Vishvamitra is reluctantly evading the so-called hospitality for 'royals' and 'armies' from a poor hermit.
एवम् उक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामतिः |
कृतम् इति अब्रवीत् राजा पूजा वाक्येन मे त्वया || १-५२-१५
15. vasiSThena evam uktaH = by Vashishta, thus, said - to the sage; mahaamatiH raajaa vishvaamitraH = highly intellectual, king, Vishvamitra; tvayaa = by you; puujaa vaakyena = with [just by] reverential, words; me = to me; kR^itam = done[hospitality is deemed to have been offered - and nothing more is required; iti abraviit = thus, said.
"When sage Vashishta said in this way, that highly-intellectual king Vishvamitra said to him, 'hospitality is deemed to have been offered to me with your reverential words, it is enough and nothing more is necessary.' [1-52-15]
फल मूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत् तव आश्रमे |
पाद्येन आचमनीयेन भगवद् दर्शनेन च || १-५२-१६
सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ
पूजा अर्हेण सुपूजितः |
नमस्ते अस्तु गमिष्यामि मैत्रेण ईक्षस्व चक्षुषा || १-५२-१७
16. bhagavan = oh, godly sage; yat tava aashrame vidyate = what, in your, hermitage, obtains; with such; phala muulena = with fruits, tubers; paadyena aacamaniiyena = by water for feet-wash, by water for wetting mouth; bhagavat darshanena ca = godlike [you,] by [the very] visualisation, also; puujaa arheNa = [by you who are] for reverence, worthy; su puujitaH = [I am] well, reverenced; mahaa praaj~naH = oh, highly, noetic sage; gamiSyaami = I wish to go; te namaH astu = to you, obeisance, let there be [ le it be accepted]; sarvathaa = always; maitreNa cakSuSaa iikSasva = with a friendly, eye [regard,] you look upon [us.]
" 'I am entertained with whatever item that obtains in your hermitage, say fruits, tubers and water for feet-wash and to wet mouth. Why those petty items, I regaled just by seeing you, a godly sage like. Oh, highly noetic sage, by yourself you are a sage worthy to be reverenced by one and all, such as you are you alone have reverenced me. Now I wish to take leave, please accept my obeisance to you, and please look upon us with a friendlily regard. [1-52-16, 17]
The reverential salutation namas te astu is discussed in the endnote.
एवम् ब्रुवन्तम् राजानम् वसिष्ठः पुनः एव हि |
न्यमंत्रयत धर्मात्मा पुनः पुनः उदार धीः || १-५२-१८
18. evam bruvantam raajaanam = in this way, [obliquely] speaking, to king; dharmaatmaa = virtue-souled one; udaara dhiiH = benevolent, minded [magnanimous sage]; vasiSThaH = Vashishta; punaH eva hi = again, thus, indeed; punaH punaH = again, again [repeatedly]; nyamantrayata = entreated.
Even if the king was speaking in this way obliquely to him, that virtue-souled and magnanimous sage Vashishta entreated the king repeatedly. [1-52-18]
बाढम् इति एव गाधेयो वसिष्ठम् प्रत्युवाच ह |
यथा प्रियम् भगवतः तथा अस्तु मुनि सत्तम || १-५२-१९
19. gaadheyaH = Gaadhi's son - Vishvamitra; vasiSTham = to Vashishta; said this; muni sattama = oh, saint, eminent; baaDham = Agreed!; bhagavataH yathaa priyam = to godlike you, as to how, it will be pleasing; tathaa astu = so, be it; iti prati uvaaca ha = thus, in turn, spoke [replied,] indeed.
"Gaadhi's son Vishvamitra then replied the eminent saint Vashishta, "Agreed! As it pleases the godly sage. So be it!' [1-52-19]
एवम् उक्तः तथा तेन वसिष्ठो जपताम् वरः |
आजुहाव ततः प्रीतः कल्माषीम् धूत कल्मषः || १-५२-२०
20. tathaa tena evam uktaH = thus, that way, by him [Vishvamitra,] who is said; japataam varaH = among meditators, the best; dhuuta kalmaSaH = one who is laved, of blemishes; vasiSThaH = Vashishta; priitaH = is gladdened; tataH = then; kalmaaSiim = speckled cow [namely Shabala]; aa juhaava = to come, called - started calling.
"When Vishvamitra said that way then Vashishta, the best one among meditators, and one whose blemishes are laved is gladdened, and started calling his speckled cow, namely Shabala, yclept Kaamadhenu. [1-52-20]
एहि एहि शबले क्षिप्रम् शृणु च अपि वचो मम |
सबलस्य अस्य राजर्षेः कर्तुम् व्यवसितो अस्मि अहम् |
भोजनेन महा अर्हेण सत्कारम् संविधत्स्व मे || १-५२-२१
21. shabale = oh, amazingly coloured [cow Shabala]; kSipram ehi ehi = quickly, come, come; mama vacaH shR^iNu ca api = my, word, listen, also, even; aham = I; mahaa arheNa bhojanena = with highly, delectable, feast [with a royal banquet]; sa balasya asya raajarSeH = together with, [all] forces, his, to kingly-sage; satkaaram kartum vyavasitaH asmi = hospitality, to do [to accord,] prepared, I am; me samvidhatsva = for me, you arrange for it.
" 'Come on, oh, Shabala! Come quickly and listen to my words. I prepared to accord hospitality with a highly delectable royal banquet to this kingly sage together with all his forces. You arrange it for me. [1-52-21]
यस्य यस्य यथा कामम् षड् रसेषु अभिपूजितम् |
तत् सर्वम् काम धुक् दिव्ये अभिवर्ष कृते मम || १-५२-२२
22. divye kaama dhuk = oh, divine, desires, milker [cow]; yasya yasya = whose, whose; [yadyad = yat yat = what, what - whatever]; abhipuujitam = cherished - savoured; SaD raseSu = from among - six, savours; tat sarvam = that, in entirety p- plentifully; yathaa kaamam = as, [he] wishes [as per his piquancy]; kR^ite mama = owing to, me - for my sake; abhivarSa = now shower.
"Oh, Kaamadhenu, the Divine Cow, the Milker of All-Desires, for my sake you shower whatsoever foodstuff is savoured by whosoever according to one's own piquancy from each of the six savour, that too plentifully. [1-52-22]
The six tastes that shall comprise an Indian meal are: 1] caustic, 2] acidic, 3] sweetish, 4] salty, 5] un-sweetish [bitter,] and 6] alkaline.
रसेन अन्नेन पानेन लेह्य चोष्येण संयुतम् |
अन्नानाम् निचयम् सर्वम् सृजस्व शबले त्वर || १-५२-२३
23. shabale = oh, Shabala; rasena annena paanena = with savourily, masticable, drinkables; lehya = [with dishes that can be] licked; coSyeNa = [that can be] sucked; samyutam = comprised of; sarvam anaanaam nicayam = every kind of, foodstuffs, heaps of; sR^ijasva = you create; tvara = be quick.
" 'Oh, Shabala, you create heaps of savourily foodstuffs comprised of masticable items like crunchy foods, drinkable items like soft-drinks, tasteable items like honey-like viscous dishes, squeezable items like pulpy fruits, and be quick.' " So said Sage Vashishta to that Sacred Cow, Kaamadhenu, and Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-52-23]
.
namaste... namaskaar... I greet yau...
The reverential greeting namaste is from the root nam 'bend down a little...' before upper echelons and the word namas is usually translated a 'salutation by bending a little...' and namas kaara is the act of doing so. This word namaH= na aham is 'not me...' te astu but 'you, it shall be...' rather, 'I have lost my 'I-ness' before you as I am humbling myself to your high knowledge or, high seat, or elder age...' and let your 'your-ness' prevail over me, for I am somewhat an inferior being before you...' is the latent meaning.
This is either vocalised or coupled with the gesture of adjoining palms, and that mudra 'gesture...' is called an~jali or as a Latinian friend of ours has provided its Latin counterpart as:
The infinitive is iungere manus ante pectus 'to join hands in front of your chest...' or merely iungere manus 'to join hands...' We can say iungimus manus ante pectus 'we join or fold our hands in front of us...' iungo manus ante pectus 'I fold my hands...' iungite manus ante pectus 'fold your hands in front of you...' This last sentence is the - you, plural - is in command form. Again, you may leave out ante pectus for succinctness.
And if the word iun with a half 'n' nasal is matched with Sanskrit a~n in an~jali and the word ngo is matched with Sanskrit ~nja as the English 'g' is most often used for Sanskrit 'ja' by Max Muller et al., the two an~jali of Sanskrit and iungo Latin have same pronunciation and portent in prayer or traditional salutation.
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe dvi paMcaashaH sargaH
© Dec, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : November 04]