Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
The legend of Trishanku is narrated to Rama, which forms a part of Vishvamitra's legend. When Brahma blesses Vishvamitra to be a kingly-saint, rather than a Brahman-saint, Vishvamitra continues his ascesis in southerly parts of country. In the meantime, one king named Trishanku desired to go to heaven with mortal body and approaches Vashishta who rejects that very suggestion. Then that king approaches the sons of the same Vashishta with the same idea.
tataḥ saṃtapta hṛdayaḥ smaran nigraham ātmanaḥ |
viniḥśhvasya viniḥśhvasya kṛta vairo mahātmanā ||
1-57-1
sa dakṣhiṇām diśham gatvā mahiṣhyā saha rāghava |
tatāpa paramam ghoram viśhvāmitro mahātapāḥ
|| 1-57-2
phala mūla aśhano dāntaiḥ chachāra mahat tapaḥ |
1, 2, 3a: raaghava = oh, Raghava; tataH = then; kR^ita vairaH = on making, enemy; mahaatmanaa = with great-souled Vashishta; mahaatapaaH = that great-ascetic; saH vishvaamitraH = he, that Vishvamitra; santapta hR^idayaH = with seething, heart; aatmanaH nigraham smaran = his, subdual, [whenever] reminisced; viniHshvasya viniHshvasya = suspiring, suspiring; mahiSyaa saha = prime queen, along with; dakSiNaam disham gatvaa = to southern, quarter, on going; paramam ghoram = a highly, astounding; mahat tapaH tataapa = supreme, ascesis, practised; phala muula ashanaH = fruits, tubers, eating [subsisting on]; daantaiH = self-collectedly; [su mahat tapaH = very, high, ascesis]; cacaara = conducted.
"Oh, Raghava, on making that great-souled Vashishta an enemy, whenever Vishvamitra reminisced over his subdual by Vashishta, he is seethed at heart and heaved sighs repeatedly. Then on going to southern quarter with his prime queen, that great-ascetic Vishvamitra self-collectedly conducted a highly astounding ascesis subsisting only on fruits and tubers." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-57-1, 2, 3a]
atha asya jajñire putrāḥ satya dharma parāyaṇāḥ || 1-57-3
haviṣhpando madhuṣhyando dṛḍhanetro mahārathaḥ
|
3b, 4a: atha asya = then, to him; haviSpandaH = Havispanda; madhuSpandaH = Madhuspanda; dR^iDhanetraH = Dhridhanetra; mahaarathaH = Mahaaratha; satya dharma paraayaNaaH = in candour, chivalry, conducting; putraaH jaGYire = sons, birthed.
"Then Vishvamitra begot sons named Havispanda, Madhuspnada, Dhridhanetra and Mahaaratha, who conduct themselves in candour and chivalry. [1-57-3]
pūrṇe varṣha sahasre tu brahmā loka pitāmahaḥ || 1-57-4
abravīt madhuram vākyam viśhvāmitram tapo
dhanam |
jitā rājarṣhi lokāḥ te tapasā kuśhika ātmaja || 1-57-5
4b, 5. varSa sahasre puurNe = years, thousand, at the close of; loka pitaamahaH brahmaa = world's, grandparent, Brahma; tapaH dhanam vishvaamitram = ascesis, wealthy, to Vishvamitra; madhuram vaakyam abraviit = mellowly, words spoke; kushika aatmaja = oh, Kushika's, son; te tapasaa = your, by ascesis; raajarSi lokaaH jitaaH = kingly-sages', worlds, won over.
"At the close of one thousand years of ascesis Brahma, the Grandparent of all worlds, revealed Himself to Vishvamitra and spoke these words mellowly to ascetically wealthy Vishvamitra, 'oh, son of Kushika, Vishvamitra, you have won the worlds of kingly-sages by your ascesis. [1-57-4b, 5]
anena tapasā tvām hi rāja ṛṣhir iti vidmahe |
evam uktvā mahātejā jagāma saha daivataiḥ || 1-57-6
triviṣhṭapam brahma lokam lokānām parama īśhvaraḥ |
6, 7a. anena tapasaa = by this, ascesis; tvaam = you; raaja R^iSiH iti vidmahe = kingly, sage, thus, [we] acquiesce [you]; mahaatejaaH = great resplendent [Brahma]; lokaanaam parama iishvaraH = for worlds, supreme, ruler [Brahma]; evam uktvaa = that way, on speaking; daivataiH saha = gods [in convoy,] along with; brahma lokam = to Brahma's, abode; triviSTapam = to Heaven; jagaama = went away.
" 'We indeed acquiesce you as a kingly-sage by your ascesis.' saying so that great resplendent Brahma, the Supreme Ruler of the Worlds, went away to his Abode of Brahma, while the gods in Brahma's convoy went to Indra's Heaven. [1-57-6, 7a]
viśhvāmitro api tat śhrutvā hriyā kiṃchit avāṅmukhaḥ || 1-57-7
duḥkhena mahatā āviṣhṭaḥ sa manyuḥ
idam abravīt |
7b, 8a. vishvaamitraH api tat shrutvaa = Vishvamitra, even, that, on hearing; hriyaa kincit avaa~N mukhaH = by disgrace, down, faced; mahataa duHkhena aaviSTaH = with high, anguish, prevailing over; sa manyuH idam abraviit = with, rancour, this, spoke [soliloquised.]
"On hearing that Vishvamitra is down-faced with disgrace, and while high anguish prevailed over him, he rancorously soliloquised this. [1-57-7b, 8a]
tapaḥ cha sumahat taptam rāja ṛṣhir iti mām viduḥ || 1-57-8
devāḥ sa ṛṣhi gaṇāḥ sarve na asti manye
tapaḥ phalam |
8b, 9a. su mahat tapaH taptam = very, high, practised [even though]; maam raaja R^iSiH iti = me, kingly, sage, thus as; sa R^iSi gaNaaH sarve devaaH = with, hermits' observances, all, gods; viduH = are recognising; tapaH phalam na asti manye = of ascesis, fruition, not, is there, I deem.
" 'Even though I have practised a very high ascesis, the gods together with the observances of hermits are recognising me just as a 'kingly-sage.' Thereby I deem that there is no fruition to my ascesis.' Thus Vishvamitra thought. [8b, 9a]
evam niśhchitya manasā bhūya eva mahātapāḥ || 1-57-9
tapaḥ chachāra kākutstha paramam parama ātmavān
|
9b, 10a. kaakutstha = oh, Rama of Kakutstha; mahaatapaaH = great-ascetic; parama aatmavaan = obstinate, souled one - self-willed Vishvamitra; evam manasaa nishcitya = thus, in heart, on deciding; bhuuya eva = again, that way; paramam tapaH cacaara = supreme, ascesis, undertook.
"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, deciding in this way in his heart of hearts that self-willed Vishvamitra again undertook a supreme ascesis as he is a great-ascetic. [1-57-9]
etasmin eva kāle tu satya vādī jita indriyaḥ || 1-57-10
triśhaṃkuḥ iti vikhyāta ikṣhvāku kula vardhanaḥ
|
10b, 11a. etasmin eva kaale tu = in this, only, time, but; satya vaadii = truth, advocate of - veracious one; jita indriyaH = conquered, senses; ikSvaaku kula vardhanaH = Ikshvaku, dynasty, enhancer; trishankuH iti vikhyaata = Trishanku, thus, renowned; such a king is there.
"In this meantime there is a veracious king named Trishanku, an enhancer of Ikshvaku dynasty, and one renowned for his self-conquest. [1-57-10b, 11a]
tasya buddhiḥ samutpannā yajeyam iti rāghava || 1-57-11
gachchheyam sva śharīreṇa devānām paramām
gatim |
vasiṣhṭham sa samāhūya kathayāmāsa chintitam || 1-57-12
11b, 12. raaghava = oh, Raghava; sva shariireNa = own, with body; devaanaam paramaam gatim = of god's, ultimate, course [to heaven]; gacCheyam = I will go; yajeyam = I perform ritual; iti = thus; tasya buddhiH sam utpannaa = to his, mind, well, cropped up [idea sprang in the mind of Trishanku]; saH = he [Trishanku]; vasiSTham sam aahuuya = Vashishta is, well [sincerely,] calling [inviting]; cintitam kathayaamaasa = what he thought [by Trishanku]; started to tell.
"Oh, Raghava, an idea sprang up in the mind of Trishanku to perform a ritual by which he will go to heaven with his own body. Then he sincerely invited Vashishta and told him what his thinking is. [1-57-11b, 12]
aśhakyam iti cha api ukto vasiṣhṭhena mahātmanā |
pratyākhyāto vasiṣhṭhena sa yayau dakṣhiṇām
diśham || 1-57-13
tataḥ tat karma siddhi artham putrān tasya gato nṛpaḥ |
13, 14a. mahaatmanaa vasiSThena = by great-souled one, Vashishta; a shakyam itiuktaH = not, possible, thus, said [to Trishanku]; vasiSThena = by Vashishta; prati aakhyaataH = contra, dictum - contradicted, repudiated; saH = he [Trishanku]; dakSiNaam disham yayau = to southern, quarter, journeyed; tataH = then; nR^ipaH = king; tat karma siddhi artham = that, task, realising, purpose of; tasya = his [Vashishta's]; putraan = to sons; gataH = gone to.
"But the great-souled Vashishta said it as impossible. Thus repudiated Trishanku went to southerly direction in search of orchestrators for the purpose of realising that task, such a phantasmal ritual that enables him to go to heaven with his body, and that king hjas gone to the sons of Vashishta. [1-57-13, 14a]
vāsiṣhṭhā dīrgha tapasaḥ tapo yatra hi tepire || 1-57-14
triśhaṃkuḥ sumahātejāḥ śhatam parama bhāsvaram
|
vasiṣhṭha putrān dadṛśhe tapyamānān yaśhasvinaḥ || 1-57-15
14b, 15. diirgha tapasaH = protractedly, expiating; vaasiSThaa = sons of Vashishta; yatra = where; su mahaa tejaaH = very, greatly [supremely,] luminescent ones; parama bhaasvaram = highly [superbly,] refulgent ones; tapaH tepire hi = ascesis, practising, indeed; shatam manasvinaH = hundred, noble-souled ones; tapyamaanaan = while expiating; vasiSTha putraan = Vashishta's, sons; trishankuH [gatvaa] = Trishanku [having gone to that place]; dadR^ishe = he has seen [visited.]
"Trishanku has indeed gone to the place where the sons of Vashishta are protractedly expiating, and there he visited the hundred noble-souled sons of Vashishta, who are supremely self-luminescent and superbly self-refulgent by their ascesis. [1-57-14b, 15]
so abhigaṃya mahātmānaḥ sarvān eva guroḥ sutān |
abhivādya ānupūrvyeṇa hriyā kiṃchit avāṅmukhaḥ ||
1-57-16
abravīt sa mahātmanaḥ sarvān eva kṛtāṃjaliḥ |
16, 17a: saH = he Trishanku; mahaatmaanaH = of noble-souled ones; sarvaan eva = all, thus; guroH sutaan = indoctrinator's, at sons; abhi gamya = to near, on reaching; aanu puurvyeNa = later, earlier - on observing - observing eldership and younger-hood, sequentially]; abhivaadya = reverenced; hriyaa kimcit avaa~N mukhaH = with abashment, a little, down, faced; kR^ita anjaliH = on making, palm-fold; sarvaan eva mahaatmanaH = to all of them, thus, to great-souled ones; saH abraviit = he, spoke.
"On reaching nigh of those noble-souled sons of the indoctrinator, namely Vashishta, Trishanku reverenced all of them sequentially according to their age, but with a little down- faced owing to abashment, and spoke to all of those great-souled ones making palm-fold in supplication. [1-57-16]
śharaṇam vaḥ prapadye aham śharaṇyān śharaṇāgataḥ || 1-57-17
pratyākhyāto asmi bhadram vo vasiṣhṭhena
mahātmanā |
17b, 18a. sharaNa aagataH = shelter, came; aham = I; sharaNyaan = you shelterers - of the needy; vaH = you; sharaNam prapadye = shelter, I seek; vaH bhadram = to you, let safety be there; mahaatmanaa vasiSThena pratyaakhyaataH asmi = by great-souled, Vashishta, repudiated, I am.
" 'I have come as a shelter-seeker seeking the shelter of yours as you are the shelterers of the needy, you all be safe, as the great-souled Vashishta has repudiated me. [1-57-17b, 18a]
yaṣhṭu kāmo mahāyajñam tat anujñātum arthatha || 1-57-18
guru putrān aham sarvān namas kṛtya prasādaye
|
18b, 19. mahaa yaGYam yaSTu kaamaH = a great [unusual,] ritual, to perform, I long to; tat = therefore; anuGYaatum arthatha = to give assent, apt of you; aham guru putraan sarvaan = I am, to mentor's, sons, to all; namaH kR^itya prasaadaye = reverence, on making, I am proposing;.
" 'I am longing to perform an unusual ritual and it will be apt of you to give assent to it. Reverencing all of the sons of my mentor Vashishta I am proposing this to you. [1-57-18b, 19]
śhirasā praṇato yāche brāhmaṇān tapasi sthitān || 1-57-19
te mām bhavantaḥ siddhi artham yājayaṃtu
samāhitāḥ |
sa śharīro yathā aham vai deva lokam avāpnuyām || 1-57-20
19b, 20. shirasaa praNataH = with head, I salute - I truckle to reverence; tapasi sthitaan braahmaNaan = in ascesis, abiding, Brahmans; yaace = I beg of you; te = such as you are; bhavantaH = you all; samaahitaaH = assiduously; maam = me; siddhi artham = achievement, for the purpose of; yaajayantu = get ritual performed through me; aham sa shariiraH = I, with, my body; yathaa = as to how; deva lokam = god's, abode [heaven]; avaapnuyaam = I can get to.
" 'With reverence I truckle before you all Brahmans who are abiding in ascesis. Such as you are I beg you to assiduously get a ritual performed through me, as to how I can get to heaven with my body. [1-57-19b, 20]
pratyākhyāto vasiṣhṭhena gatim anyām tapo dhanāḥ |
guru putrān ṛte sarvān na aham paśhyāmi kāṃchana
|| 1-57-21
21. tapaH dhanaaH = by ascesis, oh, wealthy ones; vasiSThena pratyaakhyaataH = by Vashishta, repudiated; aham = I; sarvaan guru putraan R^ite = all of you, mentor's, sons, except; anyaam gatim = another, recourse; kaamcana = in any way; na pashyaami = not, I am perceiving.
" 'Oh, ascetically wealthy Brahmans, as I am repudiated by Vashishta, I do not perceive another recourse excepting you, who are all the sons of mentor Vashishta. [1-57-21]
ikṣhvākūṇām hi sarveṣhām purodhāḥ paramā gatiḥ |
tasmāt anaṃtaram sarve bhavanto daivatam mama ||
1-57-22
22. sarveSaam ikSvaakuuNaam = for all, of Ikshvaku-s [kings]; purodhaaH paramaa gatiH hi = Priest, is ultimate, recourse, isn't it; tasmaat = than him [Vashishta;] anantaram = next-best; sarve bhavantaH = all, you; daivatam mama = gods, to me.
" 'The Priest is the ultimate recourse for all of the kings in Ikshvaku dynasty, isn't it. Therefore, next to Vashishta you are all the next-best gods to me.' Thus Trishanku entreated the hundred sons of Sage Vashishta." Sage Shataananda thus continued narration. [1-57-22]
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iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe sapta paṃchāśhaḥ sargaḥ
© Jan, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04]
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