Vishvamitra ruins Vashishta's hermitage on acquiring missiles at the grace of God Shiva by practising a paramount ascesis. When the forces generated by Wish-Milker Sacred Cow, namely Kaamadhenu, have eliminated Vishvamitra's army and his hundred sons, he felt indignant and pray Shiva for bestowal of unusual missiles. On getting them, he again comes to Sage Vashishta's hermitage and ruins it completely. Then extremely infuriated Sage Vashishta resorts to his Brahma-baton to confront Vishvamitra.
tataḥ tān ākulān dṛṣhṭvā viśhvāmitra astra mohitān |
vasiṣhṭhaḥ chodayāmāsa kāma dhuk sṛja yogataḥ || 1-55-1
1. tataH = then; vasiSThaH = Vashishta; vishvaamitra astra mohitaan = Vashishta, by missiles, those who are perplexed; aakulaan = those flurrying; taan dR^iSTvaa = them - army, on seeing; kaama dhuk = oh, wish, milker [Shabala]; yogataH sR^ija = by yogic [capacity,] you generate [more army]; codayaamaasa = started to motivate - in this way.
"Then on seeing the flurrying warriors earlier created by the Sacred Cow, Shabala, who are perplexed by the missiles of Vishvamitra, Vashishta started to motivate her, 'oh, wish-milker, generate more forces by your yogic capacity.' Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration about the legend of Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-55-1]
tasyā huṃkārato jātāḥ kāṃbojā ravi sannibhāḥ |
ūdhasaḥ tu atha saṃjātāḥ pahlavāḥ śhastra pāṇayaḥ || 1-55-2
yoni deśhāt cha yavanaḥ śhakṛ deśhāt śhakāḥ tathā |
roma kūpeṣhu mlechchhāḥ cha hārītāḥ sa kirātakāḥ || 1-55-3
2, 3. tasyaaH hum kaarataH = of her, from 'hum' mooing; ravi sannibhaaH kaambojaa jaataaH = Sun, similar in shine, Kaamboja-s, are born; atha = further; uudhasaH = from udder; shastra paaNayaH = weapons, in hands; pahlavaaH sanjaataaH = Pahlava-s, are born; yoni deshaat yavanaH ca = from privates, area, Yavana-s, also - are born; tathaa = likewise; shakR^i deshaat shakaaH = from rectal, area, Shaka-s - are born; roma kuupeSu mlecChaaH ca = from hair, roots, Mleccha-s, also - are born; sa kiraatakaaH = with, Kirataka-s; haariitaaH = Haariitaa-s - are also born.
"From the 'hums' of her mooing Kaamboja-s similar to sunshine are born, from her udder Pahlava-s wielding weaponry are born, from the area of her privates Yavana-s, likewise from her rectal area Shaka-s, and from her hair-roots Mleccha-s, Haariitaa-s along with Kirataka-s are issued forth. [1-55-2, 3]
taiḥ tat niṣhūditam sainyam viśhvamitrasya tat kṣhaṇāt |
sa padāti gajam sa aśhvam sa ratham raghunaṃdana || 1-55-4
4. raghunandana = oh, Raghu's legatee, Rama; taiH = by them [Yavana-s etc.]; tat kSaNaat = that, very moment; vishvamitrasya = of Vishvamitra; sa padaati gajam = with, foot-soldiers, elephants; sa ashvam sa ratham = with horses, with chariots; tat sainyam = that, army; ni Suuditam = utterly, slaughtered.
"At that very moment, oh, Rama the legatee of Raghu, Vishvamitra's army comprising foot-soldiers, elephants, chariots and horses is utterly slaughtered by the Yavana, Mleccha etc., forces generated by the Sacred Cow. [1-55-4]
dṛṣhṭvā niṣhūditam sainyam vasiṣhṭhena mahātmanā |
viśhvāmitra sutānām tu śhatam nānā vidha āyudham || 1-55-5
abhyadhāvat susaṃkruddham vasiṣhṭham japatām varam |
hum kāreṇa eva tān sarvān nirdadāha mahān ṛṣhiḥ || 1-55-6
5. mahaa aatmanaa vasiSThena = by great souled one, by Vashishta; niSuuditam sainyam dR^iSTvaa = utterly slaughtered, army, on seeing; vishvaamitra sutaanaam = Vishvamitra's, sons; shatam = [a band of] hundred; naanaa vidha aayudham = diverse, sorts of, weapons wielding; su sam kruddham = very, highly, angering; japataam varam vasiSTham = among meditators, supreme one, towards Vashishta; abhyadhaavat = [that band of hundred sons] sprinted forth; mahaan R^iSiH = [that] great, sage; taan sarvaan = them, all; kaareNa eva = by 'hum' [blasting,] only; nir dadaaha = completely, burnt down.
"On seeing their army utterly slaughtered by the vital spirit of Vashishta, a band of hundred sons of Vishvamitra wielding divers weapons exasperatedly sprinted forth towards that supreme meditator among all meditators. But that great sage Vashishta completely burnt all of them down just by blasting 'hum' sounds. [1-55-5, 6]
te sa aśhva ratha pādātā vasiṣhṭhena mahātmanā |
bhasmī kṛtā muhūrtena viśhvāmitra sutāḥ tadā || 1-55-7
7. tadaa = then; sa ashva ratha paadaataaH = with, horses, chariots, foot-soldiers; te vishvaamitra sutaaH = those, Vishvamitra's, sons; mahaatmanaa vasiSThena = by the one who has vital spirit, by Vashishta; muhuurtena = in a wink; bhasmii kR^itaa = to ashes, rendered.
"That sage with vital spirit, Vashishta, then in a wink rendered those sons of Vishvamitra, along with their horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers to ashes. [1-55-7]
dṛṣhṭvā vināśhitān putrān balam cha sumahā yaśhāḥ |
sa vrīḍaḥ chiṃtayā āviṣhṭo viśhvāmitro abhavat tadā || 1-55-8
8. tadaa = then; su mahaa yashaaH = very, highly, glorious one; vishvaamitraH = Vishvamitra; vinaashitaan putraan = at utterly ruined, sons; balam ca = at forces, also; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; sa vriiDaH = with, disgrace; cintayaa aaviSTaH = with distress, beset by; abhavat = he became.
"On seeing his sons and his forces are utterly ruined, that very highly glorious Vishvamitra was disgraced and beset by distress. [1-55-8]
samudra iva nirvego bhagna daṃṣhṭra iva uragaḥ |
uparakta iva ādityaḥ sadyo niṣhprabhatām gataḥ || 1-55-9
hata putra balo dīno lūna pakṣha iva dvijaḥ |
9, 10a. nir vegaH = without, speed [tideless]; samudra iva = ocean, as with; bhagna danSTra uragaH iva = broken, fang, serpent, as with; upa rakta aadityaH iva = less, coloured [shineless, while being eclipsed,] sun, as with; sadyaH = immediately; hata putra balaH = one with - ruined, sons, forces; diinaH luuna pakSa dvijaH iva = pitiable, clipped, wing [wingless,] bird, as with; niS prabhataam gataH = less of, lustre, gone in - plunged into a state.
"Like a tideless ocean his warfare did not tide him over, like a fangless serpent his hiss of warring could not fang any, like a wingless bird pitiable is his flightless plight of fightback, like a shineless sun in an eclipse, Vishvamitra plunged into a lustreless state of his own illustriousness, when his forces are ruined along with his sons. [1-55-9, 10a]
hata sarva bala utsāho nirvedam samapadyata || 1-55-10
sa putram ekam rājyāya pālaya iti niyujya cha |
pṛthivīm kṣhatra dharmeṇa vanam eva anvapadyata || 1-55-11
10b, 11 hata sarva bala utsaahaH = ruined, all, intrepidity, impetuosity; nir vedam samapadyata = down, heartedness [indolence,] he obtained; saH = he; pR^ithiviim = earth; kSatra dharmeNa paalaya = by kingcraft's, duties, you rule; iti = saying so; ekam putram raajyaaya niyujya = one, son, for kingdom, on bidding; vanam eva anvapadyata = to forests, thus, took recourse.
"When all his intrepidity and impetuosity are ruined an indolence bechanced upon him, and then on bidding one son for the kingdom, 'you rule the earth with the duties of kingcraft...' thus saying Vishvamitra took recourse to forests. [1-55-10b, 11]
sa gatvā himavat pārśhvam kiṃnara uraga sevitam |
mahādeva prasāda artham tapaḥ tepe mahātapāḥ || 1-55-12
12. mahaatapaaH = great, practiser of ascesis; saH = he [Vishvamitra]; kinnara uraga sevitam = by kinnaraa-s, uragaa-s, adored by; himavat paarshvam = Himalayas, side of; gatvaa = on going; mahaadeva prasaada artham = Great God's [Shiva's,] beneficence, for the sake of; tapaH tepe = [austere] ascesis, undertook,.
"On going to the mountainsides of Himalayas, whereat it is adored by kinnaraa-s and uragaa-s, the nymphs and nymphean serpents, he that great practiser of ascesis, Vishvamitra, undertook an austere ascesis for the sake of beneficence of the Great God, Shiva. [1-55-12]
kenachit tu atha kālena deveśho vṛṣhabha dhvajaḥ |
darśhayāmāsa varado viśhvāmitram mahāmunim || 1-55-13
13. atha = then; kenacit kaalena tu = at long lost, after time, but; deva iishaH = gods', god; vR^iSabha dhvajaH = Bull, on his flag; vara daH = boon, giver; vishvaamitram mahaamunim = to Vishvamitra, great-sainted darshayaamaasa = shown Himself -revealed himself.
"After a long lost time, Shiva, the God of Gods whose flag bears the sign of Holy Bull, has shown himself to that great-saint Vishvamitra, for He is a ready boon-giver. [1-55-13]
kim artham tapyase rājan brūhi yat te vivakṣhitam |
varado asmi varo yaḥ te kāṃkṣhitaḥ so abhidhīyatām || 1-55-14
14. raajan = oh, king; kim artham tapyase = for which, purpose, you undertook ascesis; te = by you; yat = what is; vi vakshitam = tellable - what is intended by you; that; bruuhi = you tell; vara daH asmi = boon, giver, I am; yaH varaH te kaankshitaH = what, boon, by you, beseeched; saH abhi dhiiyataam = that, may be made known.
" 'Oh, king, for which purpose you undertook this ascesis that you may tell me. What is it really intended by you and what boon you seek that be made known to me for I am the boon-giver.' Shiva said so to Vishvamitra. [1-55-14]
evam uktaḥ tu devena viśhvāmitro mahātapāḥ |
praṇipatya mahādevam viśhvāmitro abravīt idam || 1-55-15
15. devena evam uktaH = by god, thus, said; mahaa tapaaH vishvaamitra = one with great ascesis, Vishvamitra; mahaadevam praNipatya = Great God Shiva, on reverencing; vishvaamitraH idam abraviit = Vishvamitra, this, said.
"Thus said by God Shiva to Vishvamitra of great ascesis, Vishvamitra on reverencing that Great God Shiva said this way. [1-55-15]
yadi tuṣhṭo mahādeva dhanur vedo mama anagha |
sā aṃga upa aṃga upaniṣhadaḥ sa rahasyaḥ pradīyatām || 1-55-16
16. anagha = oh, impeccable one; mahaadeva = oh, Great God Shiva; tuSTaH yadi = you are gladdened, if [providing that]; sa anga upa anga upaniSadaH = with, complemental, supplemental Writs, summational, Writs [Upanishad-s]; sa rahasyaH = together with, preternatural [doctrines]; dhanuH vedaH = Archery, Holy Writs of; mama = to me; pra diiyataam = verily [kindly,] be bestowed.
" 'Oh! Mahadeva, the Impeccable Great God... providing that you are gladdened by my ascetic devotion, dhanur veda, the Holy Writ of Archery, with its complemental and supplemental Writs, and along with its summational Upanishad-s, together with its preternatural doctrines... they may kindly be bestowed upon me... [1-55-16]
yāni deveṣhu cha astrāṇi dānaveṣhu maharṣhiṣhu |
gaṃdharva yakṣha rakṣhassu pratibhāṃtu mama anagha || 1-55-17
tava prasādāt bhavatu devadeva mama īpsitam |
17, 18a. anagha = oh, exquisite god; deveSu = in [with] gods; daanaveSu maharSiSu = with fiends, with great-sages; gandharva yaksha rakshassu = with gandharva-s, yaksha-s, demons; yaani astraaNi = whichever, missiles; are there, they; tava prasaadaat = by your, blessings; mama = to me; prati bhaantu = dawn upon [me]; deva deva = oh, God of Gods; mama iipsitam bhavatu = my, aspiration, become - let it be fulfilled.
" Oh, Exquisite God, whichever missile is there either with gods, or fiends, gandharva-s, yaksha-s, and demons, let it dawn upon me. For you alone are the God of Gods your blessings alone can fulfil my aspiration.' Thus Vishvamitra entreated God Shiva. [1-55-17, 18a]
evam astu iti deveśho vākyam uktvā gataḥ tadā || 1-55-18
18b. evam astu = so, be it; iti = thus; deveshaH = God of Gods, Shiva; vaakyam uktvaa = sentence, said [on sanctifying Vishvamitra]; tadaa gataH = then, went away -disappeared.
" 'So be it!' On sanctifying Vishvamitra and his aspiration thus, the God of Gods, Shiva disappeared. [1-55-18b]
prāpya cha astrāṇi deveśhāt viśhvāmitro mahābalaḥ |
darpeṇa mahatā yukto darpapūrṇo abhavat tadā || 1-55-19
19. mahaabalaH = [who is already a] great-mighty one; mahataa darpeNa yuktaH = [now] greatest, conceit, conjoined with;such a; vishvaamitraH = Vishvamitra; tadaa = then; deva iishaat = from God of Gods, Shiva; astraaNi praapya = missiles, on acquiring; darpa puurNaH abhavat = conceitedness, plethoric with, he became.
"Vishvamitra who is already a mightier Kshatriya, now on acquiring missiles from the God of Gods, Shiva, will he not come forth paired up with mightiest conceit, and then will not his conceitedness be plethoric like a plethoric ocean? [1-55-19]
vivardhamāno vīryeṇa samudra iva parvaṇi |
hatam mene tadā rāma vasiṣhṭham ṛṣhi sattamam || 1-55-20
20. parvaNi = on an auspicious day [in Full Moon day]; samudra iva = ocean, as with; viiryeNa vivardhamaanaH = by vitality, on the rise; raama = oh, Rama; R^iSi sattamam vasiSTham = sage, sagaciously mighty one, Vashishta; tadaa = now; hatam mene = dead, deemed as.
"By vitality Vishvamitra is like an ocean with rough riptide on a Full Moon day, and oh, Rama, he deemed that sagaciously mighty sage Vashishta is now 'dead.' [1-55-20]
tato gatvā āśhramapadam mumocha astrāṇi pārthivaḥ |
yaiḥ tat tapo vanam sarvam nirdagdham cha astra tejasā || 1-55-21
21. tataH = then; paarthivaH = king - Vishvamitra; aashramapadam gatvaa = to hermitage's threshold [of Vashishta,] on going; astraaNi mumoca = missiles, released [propelled]; yaiH = by which [missiles]; tat sarvam tapaH vanam = that, in entirety, ascetic, woodland; astra tejasaa = by missiles', fire [holocaust]; nir dagdham = completely, burnt down.
Then on going to the threshold of Vashishta 's hermitage that king propelled his missiles, by the holocaust of which missiles that ascetic woodland is completely burnt down in its entirety. [1-55-21]
udīryamāṇam astram tat viśhvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ |
dṛṣhṭvā vipradrutā bhītā munayaḥ śhataśho diśhaḥ || 1-55-22
22. dhii mataH = courage, minded [one with sparkling intellect]; vishvaamitrasya = of Vishvamitra; tat udiiryamaaNam astram = that, turbo-jetting, missile; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; shatashaH munayaH = hundreds of, saints; bhiitaa = are frightened; [shatasaH] dishaH = in hundreds, of ways; vi pra drutaa = very, speedily, fled.
"On seeing the turbo-jetting missiles of Vishvamitra jetted by his sparkling intellect, hundreds of saints were frightened and they very speedily fled in hundreds of ways. [1-55-22]
vasiṣhṭhasya cha ye śhiṣhyāḥ ye cha vai mṛga pakṣhiṇaḥ |
vidravanti bhayāt bhītā nānā dikbhyaḥ sahasraśhaḥ || 1-55-23
23. vasiSThasya ye shiSyaaH = of Vashishta , whoever, disciples; are there, they; mR^iga pakshiNaH = animals, birds; bhayaat bhiitaa = from fear, frightened; sahasrashaH = in thousands; naanaa dikbhyaH = to numerous, directions; vi dravanti = hastily, fleeing.
"Whoever is the disciple of Vashishta and whichever is either animal or a bird, all are utterly frightened and thousands of them have hastily fled to numerous directions. [1-55-23]
vasiṣhṭhasya āśhramapadam śhūnyam āsīt mahātmanaḥ |
muhūrtam iva niḥśhabdam āsīt īriṇa saṃnibham || 1-55-24
24. mahaa aatmanaH = vasiSThasya aashrama padam = of broad-minded sage, Vashishta 's, hermitage, threshold; shuunyam aasiit = void, it has become; muhuurtam iva = in a wink, just in; iriNa samnibham = arid land - burial ground, alike; niHshabdam aasiit = silence, became.
"The threshold of that broad-minded Vashishta's hermitage fell void, and in a wink it has become silent like a burial ground as every shrub, herb and tree is cindery, and every bird, animal and stock is an evacuee. [1-55-24]
vadato vai vasiṣhṭhasya mā bhai iti muhurmuhuḥ |
nāśhayāmi adya gādheyam nīhāram iva bhāskaraḥ || 1-55-25
25. bhaaskaraH niihaaram iva = Sun, to mist, as with - like sun demisting the mist; gaadheyam = Gadhi's son - Vishvamitra will be; adya naashayaami = now, I will destroy; maa bhai = do not, fear; iti = thus; vasiSThasya = of Vashishta; muhuH muhuH = again, again; vadataH = [although] saying [shouting at the fleeing inmates of hermitage, they have; vi pra drutaa = very, speedily, fled.]
"Although Vashishta shouted at them saying time and again, 'do not fear, do not fear... now I will dissipate that son of Gaadhi, Vishvamitra, like Sun demisting the mist,' all the inmates of hermitage have hastily fled. [1-55-25]
evam uktvā mahātejā vasiṣhṭho japatām varaḥ |
viśhvāmitram tadā vākyam sa roṣham idam abravīt || 1-55-26
26. mahaatejaaH japataam varaH vasiSThaH = great-resplendent, among best meditators, the best one, Vashishta; evam uktvaa = that way, on saying [to evacuees]; tadaa = then; vishvaamitram = to Vishvamitra; sa roSam = with, rancour; idam vaakyam abraviit = this, sentence, said.
"On saying that way to the evacuees, Vashishta, the great-resplendent sage and a best one among best meditators rancorously said this word to Vishvamitra. [1-55-26]
āśhramam chira saṃvṛddham yat vināśhitavān asi |
durāchāro hi yat mūḍha tasmāt tvam na bhaviṣhyasi || 1-55-27
27. muuDha = oh, senseless one; cira sam vR^iddham aashramam = for a long time, well, nourished, hermitage; yat = by which reason; vinaashitavaan asi = havocked one, you have; yat = by which; dur aacaaraH hi = badly, in conduct [reprehensible one,] indeed you are; tasmaat = thereby; tvam na bhaviSyasi = you, will not, survive.
" 'You senseless king, by which reason you have havocked this hermitage that is well nourished for a long time by me, for that reason you have become a reprehensible one, and thereby you will not survive any longer. [1-55-27]
Vividly: 'when I have sensibly nourished the trees, birds and animals or disciples, saints and sages, in indoctrinating them the true dharma 'righteous duty...' observable by each of the birthed being, what necessitated you to harm the harmless 'fly anywhere' birds, 'new to world' calves and 'take what you need' trees and animals... you should have confronted me headlong, instead... but you on seeing such a beatitude of this hermitage, you have become envious in your self-aggrandisement... and as said in an old saying like, 'a senseless reprehensible being, may it be a human, animal, bird, or a reptile is unfit to survive for long...' you are now transposable with such a senseless being by this act of yours, which you have undertaken with the notion of 'survival of the fittest...' thereby I will now show you who is fit enough to survive, an instructor or an intruder, in effacing your survival...'
iti uktvā parama kruddho daṇḍam udyaṃya satvaraḥ |
vidhūma iva kāla agniḥ yama daṇḍam iva aparam || 1-55-28
28. iti uktvaa = thus, on saying; sa tvaraH = with, haste [post-hastily]; parama kruddhaH = extremely, infuriated; vi dhuuma kaala agniH iva = without, fumes, Time, Fire, as with; aparam yama daNDam iva = another, Yama's, baton, which is like; daNDam = a baton; udyamya = Vashishta up heaved.
"On saying thus that extremely infuriated Sage Vashishta post-hastily up-heaved his baton, which is alike the fumeless Ultimate Fire of End Time, and the other baton of Yama, the Terminator, and affronted Vishvamitra." Thus, Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-55-28]
..
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe paṃcha paṃchāśhaḥ sargaḥ
© Dec, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : November 04]