Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
Vashishta nullifies Vishvamitra's missiles just by his Brahma's baton. All missiles are defused when Vashishta consumed them. Vishvamitra launches the highest missile, namely Brahma-missile, which too is consumed by Vashishta, whereby the body of Vashishta becomes a Brahma missile and starts to emit radiation. Then, upon the prayer of gods and saints, Vashishta withdraws the effect of that missile. Vishvamitra on seeing this concludes that mere missiles are of no use and thus he embarks on a sublime ascesis for Brahma-hood.
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महाबलः |
आग्नेयमस्त्रमुत्क्षिप्य तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् || १-५६-१
1. mahaabalaH vishvaamitraH = great-mighty, Vishvamitra; vasiSThena evam uktaH = Vashishta spoken in this way; aagneyam astram utkSipya = brandishing fiery missile; tiSTha tiSTha = withstand, withstand [this missile]; iti abraviit ca = thus, said [challenged,] also.
When Vashishta spoke in this way, the great-mighty Vishvamitra brandishing Fiery-missile challenged Vashishta saying, "withstand this, withstand this..." Thus, sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-56-1]
ब्रह्मदण्डं समुद्यम्य कालदण्डमिवापरम् |
वसिष्ठो भगवान् क्रोधादिदं वचनमब्रवीत् || १-५६-२
2. bhagavaan vasiSThaH = reverential one, Vashishta; aparam kaaladaNDam iva = like the other Terminator's baton; brahmadaNDam samudyamya = well raising up Brahma's baton; krodhaat idam vacanam abraviit = furiously, spoke this sentence.
That reverential sage Vashishta then upraising his Brahma-baton, which is like the other baton of the Terminator, spoke this sentence furiously. [1-56-2]
क्षत्रबन्धो स्थितोऽस्म्येष यद्बलं तद्विदर्शय |
नाशयाम्यद्य ते दर्पं शस्त्रस्य तव गाधिज || १-५६-३
3. kShatrabandhaH = oh meritless Kshatriya; eSaH = this me; sthitaH asmi = I am staying; yat balam = which, prowess - you have; tat vidarshaya = that, you display entirely; gaadhija = oh one born to Gaadhi - Vishvamitra; adya te darpam = now, your, vanity; tava shastrasya [darpam] = your, missile's, [vanity]; naashayaami = I will ruin.
I am staying here only, you meritless Kshatriya, you may clearly display whatever prowess you have, oh, Gaadhi's son Vishvamitra, I will now ruin whatever vanity you or your missiles have. [1-56-3]
क्व च ते क्षत्रियबलं क्व च ब्रह्मबलं महत् |
पश्य ब्रह्मबलं दिव्यं मम क्षत्रियपांसन || १-५६-४
4. kshatriyapaamsana = oh abased Kshatriya; te kSatriyabalam kva = where is your Kshatriya's force [force of belligerence's] ; mahat brahmabalam kva ca = where is supreme Brahma's [sagacity's] force; mama divyam brahmabalam pashya = you watch my seraphic Brahma's [sagacity's] strength.
"Where stands the force of belligerence when compared to the supreme force of sagacity, you abased Kshatriya, watch out for my strength of seraphic sagacity." So said Vashishta to Vishvamitra. [1-56-4]
तस्यास्त्रं गाधिपुत्रस्य घोरमाग्नेयमुत्तमम् |
ब्रह्मदण्डेन तच्छान्तमग्नेर्वेग इवाम्भसा || १-५६-५
5. tasya gaadhiputrasya = his, Gaadhi son's; uttamam ghoram tat aagneyam astram = matchless, deadly, that, Fire, missile; [udyatam = projected, bolted]; ambhasaa agneH vega iva = by water, fire's, speed [rage,] as [silenced] with; brahmadaNDena shaantam = that is silenced by Brahma's baton [of Vashishta].
With his baton of Brahma Vashishta silenced that matchless and deadly Fiery-missile of Gaadhi's son, namely Vishvamitra, as a deluge of water silencing a rage of fire. [1-56-5]
वारुणं चैव रौद्रं च ऐन्द्रं पाशुपतं तथा |
ऐषीकं चापि चिक्षेप रुषितो गाधिनंदनः || १-५६-६
6. ruSitaH gaadhinandanaH = rancorously, Gaadhi's son; vaaruNam ca eva = Varuna missile, also thus; raudram ca = Rudra missile, also; aindram = Indra missile; tathaa = like that; paashupatam = Paashupata missile; aiSiikam ca api = Ishiika, also, even; cikSepa = fusilladed.
Vishvamitra, the son of Gaadhi then rancorously fusilladed the missiles regulated by gods like Varuna, Rudra, Indra, Paashupata, and even a missile which is projectile through grass blade called Ishiika. [1-56-6]
The accounts of these missiles are narrated in chapters 27, 28 of this canto Bala, where Vishvamitra accords these very missiles to Rama. Hence, their details are not reiterated here but just catalogued.
मानवं मोहनं चैव गांधर्वं स्वापनं तथा |
जृंभणं मादनं चैव संतापनविलापने || १-५६-७
7. maanavam mohanam ca eva = Humane, Rager, also thus; gaandharvam svaapanam tathaa = Stupefier, Hypnotiser, thus; jR^imbhaNam maadanam ca eva = Yawner, Intoxicator, also thus; santaapanavilaapane = Humidifier, Weep-inducer.
Vishvamitra also launched missiles named Humane, Rager, Stupefier, Hypnotiser, Yawner, Intoxicator, also thus Humidifier, Weep-inducer. [1-56-7]
शोषणं दारणं चैव वज्रमस्त्रं सुदुर्जयम् |
ब्रह्मपाशं कालपाशं वारुणं पाशमेव च || १-५६-८
8. shoSaNam daaraNam ca eva = Drainer, Ripper, also thus; vajram astram sudurjayam = Thunderbolt, missile, highly not conquerable one; brahmapaasham kaalapaasham = Brahma's lasso, Time's lasso; vaaruNam paasham eva ca = Rain's, lasso, even, also.
He also launched the missiles called Drainer and Ripper, and the highly unconquerable Thunderbolt, even the lassos of Brahma, Time and Rain-gods. [1-56-8]
पैनाकास्त्रं च दयितं शुष्कार्द्रे अशनी तथा |
दण्डास्त्रमथ पैशाचं क्रौञ्चमस्त्रं तथैव च || १-५६-९
9. painaakaastram ca = Shiva's missile, also; dayitam = Baffler [of gandharva-s]; shuSkaardre ashanii tathaa = Drier, Drencher, Bolter, like that; daNDaastram atha paishaacam = Punisher missile, then, Monster; krauncam astram tathaa eva ca = Wrester, missile, like that, also.
Also missiles called Shiva, Monster, Punisher, Wrester and like that the Baffler, Bolter, Drier, Drencher are launched. [1-56-9]
धर्मचक्रं कालचक्रं विष्णुचक्रं तथैव च |
वायव्यं मथनं चैव अस्त्रं हयशिरस्तथा || १-५६-१०
10. dharmacakram = Virtue Disc; kaalacakram = Time Disc; viSNucakram tathaa eva ca = Vishnu's disc, like that, also; vaayavyam mathanam ca eva = Blower, Stirrer, also thus; astram hayashiraH tathaa = missile, like Horse Head.
And he launched discs called the Discs of Virtue, Time and Vishnu and he also launched other missiles like the Blower, Stirrer and like that the missile with Horse-head. [1-56-10]
शक्तिद्वयं च चिक्षेप कंकालं मुसलं तथा |
वैद्याधरं महास्त्रं च कालास्त्रमथ दारुणम् || १-५६-११
11. shaktidvayam ca cikSepa = hurled pair of [Power of Vishnu, and the Power of Rudra] power, also; kankaalam musalam tathaa = Impeller, Crowbar, like that; vaidyaadharam mahaaastram ca = Staggerer, great missile, also; kaalaastram atha daaruNam = Time missile, then, lethal one.
A pair of powers are launched, namely Power of Vishnu and the Power of Rudra, like that the Impeller, Crowbar, and a great missile called Staggerer, and then he launched the lethal missile of the Time. [1-56-11]
त्रिशूलमस्त्रं घोरं च कापालमथ कंकणम् |
एतान्यस्त्राणि चिक्षेप सर्वाणि रघुनंदन || १-५६-१२
वसिष्ठे जपतां श्रेष्ठे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् |
12, 13a. raghunandana = oh Raghu's descendent; etaani sarvaaNi astraaNi = these, all, missiles; atha = then; trishuulam astram ghoram ca = deadly Tri pronged spear [Trident] missile, also; kaapaalam kankaNam = Skull, Torque; japataam shreSThe vasiSThe = on among meditator's, Vashishta; cikSepa = triggered off; tat adbhutam iva abhavat = [all] that became like spectacle.
Oh, Rama, the descendent of Raghu, Vishvamitra on triggering off all these missiles then he launched the deadly Trident, Skull and Torque missiles on Vashishta, and whole thing has became a spectacular display of Vishvamitra's arsenal. [1-56-12, 13a]
तानि सर्वाणि दण्डेन ग्रसते ब्रह्मणः सुतः || १-५६-१३
तेषु शांतेषु ब्रह्मास्त्रं क्षिप्तवान् गाधिनंदनः |
13b, 14a. brahmaNaH sutaH = by Brahma's, son [Vashishta]; taani sarvaaNi = them [missiles,] all; daNDena grasate = consumed [defused] by baton; teSu shaanteSu = they [missiles,] [when] silenced; gaadhinandanaH = Gaadhi's son [Vishvamitra]; brahmaastram kSiptavaan = touched off Brahma's missile.
Brahma's son Vashishta defused all of those missiles just with his baton and when all of them are thus silenced, Gaadhi's son Vishvamitra touched off Brahma's missile. [1-56-13b, 14a]
तदस्त्रमुद्यतं दृष्ट्वा देवाः साग्निपुरोगमाः || १-५६-१४
देवर्षयश्च संभ्रांता गंधर्वाः समहोरगाः |
त्रैलोक्यमासीत् संत्रस्तं ब्रह्मास्त्रे समुदीरिते || १-५६-१५
14b, 15. udyatam tat astram dR^iSTvaa = on seeing uplifted [for launching] that missile; saagnipurogamaaH = with Fire-god, as their vanguard; devaaH = gods; devarSayaH ca = godly sages, also; samahoragaaH gandharvaaH = along with great reptiles, gandharva-s; sambhraantaaH = are perplexed; brahmaastre samudiirite = while being launched Brahma's missile ; trailokyam = triad of worlds; santrastam = highly perturbed; [santaptam = highly burnt]; aasiit = became.
When Vishvamitra brandished and set up Brahma missile for launching, seeing it all the gods keeping the Fire-god at their vanguard, godly sages, reptiles along with gandharva-s are perplexed, and the triad of worlds itself is perturbed. [1-56-14b, 15]
तदप्यस्त्रं महाघोरं ब्राह्मं ब्राह्मेण तेजसा |
वसिष्ठो ग्रसते सर्वं ब्रह्मदण्डेन राघव || १-५६-१६
16. raaghava = oh Raghava; vasiSThaH braahmeNa tejasaa = Vashishta, with seraphic, resplendence [of his baton]; brahmadaNDena = by Brahma's baton; mahaaghoram = deleteriously destructive; tat braahmam astram api = that, Brahma, missile, even; sarvam grasate = completely, consumed.
Even that deleteriously destructive Brahma's missile is completely consumed with the seraphic resplendence of Brahma-baton of Sage Vashishta. [1-56-16]
ब्रह्मास्त्रं ग्रसमानस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः |
त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रौद्रं रूपमासीत् सुदारुणम् || १-५६-१७
17. brahmaastram grasamaanasya = while being finished off Brahma missile ; mahaatmanaH vasiSThasya ruupam = appearance of great-souled Vashishta ; trailokyamohanam = perplexing for Tri-worlds; raudram = appalling; sudaaruNam aasiit = it became surely petrifying.
The appearance of that great-souled Vashishta became appallingly perplexing when he is finishing off that Brahma missile as if to surely petrify the Tri-world. [1-56-17]
रोमकूपेषु सर्वेषु वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः |
मरीच्य इव निष्पेतुरग्नेर्धूमाकुलार्चिषः || १-५६-१८
18. mahaatmanaH vasiSThasya = of great-souled Vashishta; sarveSu romakuupeSu = from all, hair pits; dhuumaakulaarciSaH = with fumes rolling up with radiated shafts; agneH mariicyaH = beams [radiational beams] of radiation ; niSpetuH iva = so to speak out fallen [ramified].
From all of the pits of hair of that great-souled Vashishta ramified are the raditional beams and those radiated shafts are rolling up with the fumes of radiation, so to speak. [1-56-18]
प्राज्वलत् ब्रह्मदण्डश्च वसिष्ठस्य करोद्यतः |
विधूम इव कालाग्निर्यमदण्ड इवापरः || १-५६-१९
19. vasiSThasya karodyataH = upraised by hand of Vashishta; brahmadaNDaH ca = Brahma's baton, also; vidhuumakaalaagniH iva = as if without fumes, Time's inferno; aparaH = another [or, earthly one]; yamadaNDaH iva = as if the baton of Yama; praajvalat = highly glowing.
The baton of Brahma gripped in his hand and upraised by Vashishta is highly glowing as if it is the fumeless inferno of Time, and as if it is the earthly baton of Yama, the Terminator. [1-56-19]
ततोऽस्तुवन् मुनिगणा वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम् |
अमोघं ते बलं ब्रह्मंस्तेजो धारय तेजसा || १-५६-२०
निगृहीतस्त्वया ब्रह्मन् विश्वामित्रो महातपाः |
प्रसीद जपतां श्रेष्ठलोकाः सन्तु गतव्यथाः || १-५६-२१
20,21. tataH = then; munigaNaaH = saint's assemblages; japataam varam vasiSTham astuvan = heve extolled the best among meditators Vashishta; brahman = oh Brahman; te balam amogham = your, prowess, is infallible; tejaH tejasaa dhaaraya = you bear combustion, [with your own] combustive power ; brahman = oh Brahman; tvayaa = by you; mahaatapaaH vishvaamitraH nigR^ihiitaH = supreme ascetic, Vishvamitra, is forestalled; japataam shreSTha = oh the best among meditators; prasiida = be gracious; lokaaH gatavyathaaH santu = [let] worlds survive with shooed away anguish.
'The assemblages of saints then extolled the best meditator Vashishta saying, 'oh, Brahman, infallible is your prowess, but bear this combustion of missile by your own combustive power. Though Vishvamitra is a supreme ascetic he is forestalled by you and your seraphic power, but this power of yours is equally anguishing all the worlds. Hence, let the worlds survive shooing away their anguish caused by your prowess. Oh, Brahman, be gracious, for you are the best among the best meditators...' So said saints to Vashishta. [1-56-20, 21]
एवमुक्तो महातेजाः शमं चक्रे महातपाः |
विश्वामित्रोऽपि निकृतो विनिःश्वस्येदमब्रवीत् || १-५६-२२
22. evam uktaH = thus, spoken to; mahaatejaaH mahaatapaaH = great-resplendent one, high-ascetic [Vashishta]; shamam cakre = brooked composure; nikR^itaH vishvaamitraH api = estranged, Vishvamitra, but; viniHshvasya = verily out breathing - suspiring heavily; idam abraviit = spoke this [to himself.]
When that great-resplendent Vashishta is spoken thus by saints and gods he composed himself, and then that estranged Vishvamitra spoke this to himself with heavy suspiration. [1-56-22]
धिग्बलं क्षत्रियबलं ब्रह्मतेजोबलं बलम् |
एकेन ब्रह्मदण्डेन सर्वास्त्राणि हतानि मे || १-५६-२३
23. kSatriyabalam dhik = fie Kshatriya's might; brahmatejaH balam balam = Brahman's resplendence's, might, is mightier; ekena brahmadaNDena = with only one, Brahma's baton; me sarvaastraaNi hataani = my, all missiles, defused.
Fie upon the might of Kshatriya, mightier is the might of Brahman's resplendence, only with one baton of Brahma all of my missiles are defused. [1-56-23]
तदेतत् समवेक्ष्याहं प्रसन्नेन्द्रियमानसः |
तपो महत् समास्थास्ये यद्वै ब्रह्मत्वकारणम् || १-५६-२४
24. tat = therefore; etat samavekSya = on analysing all this; aham prasannendriyamaanasaH = I, with quietened senses and heart; yat = which; brahmatvakaaraNam vai = causative of Bahaman-hood, really; [tat = that]; mahat tapaH samaasthaasye = I embark on sublime ascesis.
" 'Therefore on analysing this matter, I with my heart and senses quietened will embark on a sublime ascesis which really will be the causative factor for according Brahma-Sage-hood.' So thought Vishvamitra..." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-56-24]
.
brahmatva - brahaman-hood
Firstly the difference between a Brahmin and a Brahman may be differentiated, where a Brahmin is just by his birth in that caste and if he practises numerous ordeals he will attain Brahman-hood. Not all Brahmins are Brahmans and a real Brahman will not look back for his birth details.
Throughout this chapter Vashishta is called by Valmiki as japataam varaH, japataam shreSTaH and the like, only to remind us that Vashishta is an eminent meditator of Vedic hymns, all of which culminate into Gayatri hymn. Thus, Vashishta's only weapon is Gayatri hymn with which he subjugated all the arsenal of Vishvamitra. The fight between Vishvamitra and Vashishta is not just a fight between a sage and king, but between vidya - avidya; aatmavidya - anaatmavidya 'enlightenment and un-enlightenment...' An enlightened one does not spring up at any trivial inconvenience but becomes a horrid being, if that antagonistic assail becomes intolerable for living beings. This is the real essence and nature of a true Brahman, whose arsenal is just a wooden baton and heartfelt Gayatri hymn.
For this Bhagavad Gita says at Ch. 18, verse 42:
shamo damastapaH shaucam kShaantiH aarjavam eva ca |
j~naanam vij~naanam aastikyam
braahmam karmasvabhaavajam ||
'A Brahman's virtues, / Prince Born of his nature, are serenity / Self-mastery, religion, purity / Patience, uprightness, learning, and to know / The truth of things which be...' Sir Edwin Arnold.
Thus, Vashishta had never resorted to meaningless curses, menacing arsenal, mutinous retaliation but just swallowed the wrath of a wrathful king. This is brahmaNatva
----
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षट्पंचाशः सर्गः
© Jan, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04]
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