Vishvamitra undertakes Trishanku's Vedic ritual and sends disciples to invite all Vedic-scholars. Many sages have come except for Vashishta and his sons. Further, the sons of Vashishta have ridiculed this ritual of Vishvamitra and Trishanku. Vishvamitra gets irritated and hurls curses at the sons of Vashishta.
उक्त वाक्यम् तु राजानम् कृपया कुशिक आत्मजः |
अब्रवीत् मधुरम् वाक्यम् साक्षात् चण्डालताम् गतम् ||
१-५९-१
1. ukta vaakyam tu = spoken, word - one who spoke thus, Trishanku, but; saakSaat caNDaalataam gatam = in reality, profaner-hood, attained one; raajaanam = to king; kR^ipayaa kushika aatmajaH = piteously, Kushi's, son [Vishvamitra]; madhuram vaakyam abraviit = mellowly, sentence, spoke.
"Vishvamitra, the son of Kushi, piteously spoke this mellowly sentence to king Trishanku who spoke thus, and who in reality attained a state of profaner." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration. [1-59-1]
इक्ष्वाको स्वागतम् वत्स जानामि त्वाम् सुधार्मिकम् |
शरणम् ते भविष्यामि मा भैषीः नृप पुंगव || १-५९-२
2. ikSvaakoH vatsa = oh, Ikshvaku-s, progeny, [oh, Trishanku]; svaagatam = welcome; tvaam su dhaarmikam jaanaami = you, as highly, righteous [king,] I am aware; nR^ipa pungava = oh, king, the best; maa bhaiSiiH = do not, fear; [aham = I]; te sharaNam bhaviSyaami = to you, haven, I accord.
" 'Oh, Trishanku, the legatee of Ikshvaku-s, you are welcome. I am aware that you are a highly righteous king. Oh, the best king, you need not be dismayed, for I accord you haven. [1-59-2]
अहम् आमंत्रये सर्वान् महर्षीन् पुण्य कर्मणः |
यज्ञ साह्य करान् राजन् ततो यक्ष्यसि निर्वृतः || १-५९-३
3. aham = I will; puNya karmaNaH = of pious, activities; yaj~na saahya karaan = ritual, assistance, renderers; sarvaan maharSiin aamantraye = all, great-sages, I will invite; tataH raajan = then, oh, king; nirvR^itaH yakSyasi = composedly, you can perform ritual.
" 'I will invite all the sages with pious activities who will render assistance in the ritual, oh, king, then you can perform the ritual self-composedly. [1-59-3]
गुरु शाप कृतम् रूपम् यत् इदम् त्वयि वर्तते |
अनेन सह रूपेण स शरीरो गमिष्यसि || १-५९-४
4. guru shaapa kR^itam = by mentor, curse, made; yat idam ruupam = which, this, form; tvayi vartate = in you, is there - which you got by curse; anena ruupeNa saha = with this, form, along with; sa shariiraH gamiSyasi = with, body, you can go - to heaven.
" 'You can go to heaven with this body of yours, as well as with the form which is deformed by the curse of mentor Vashishta through his sons. [1-59-4]
हस्त प्राप्तम् अहम् मन्ये स्वर्गम् तव नरेश्वर |
यः त्वम् कौशिकम् आगंय शरण्यम् शरणागतः || १-५९-५
5. nareshvara = oh, subject's, king; yaH tvam = which, you; sharaNyam kaushikam aagamya = [all] sheltering one, to Kaushika [to Vishvamitra,] having approached; sharaNa aagataH = for shelter, you came; such a one like you; tava = to you; svargam hasta praaptam = heaven, in hand, obtained [handy]; aham manye = I, deem.
" 'I deem that heaven is handy to you, oh, king of subjects, as you have approached the all-sheltering Vishvamitra and sought shelter.' Thus Vishvamitra solaced Trishanku. [1-59-5]
एवम् उक्त्वा महातेजाः पुत्रान् परम धार्मिकान् |
व्यादिदेश महाप्राज्ञान् यज्ञ संभार कारणात् || १-५९-६
6. mahaatejaaH = great-resplendent Vishvamitra; evam uktvaa = thus, on saying; parama dhaarmikaan = highly, righteous ones; mahaa praaj~naan = astutely, brilliant ones; putraan = sons; yaj~na sambhaara kaaraNaat = ritual, arrangements, to cause [to organise]; vyaadidesha [vi aadi desha] = ordered.
"On saying thus to Trishanku that great-resplendent Vishvamitra ordered his highly righteous and astutely brilliant sons to organise the arrangements for the ritual. [1-59-6]
सर्वान् शिष्यान् समाहूय वाक्यम् एतत् उवाच ह |
सर्वान् ऋषि वरान् वशिष्ठान् आनयध्वम् मम आज्ञया || १-५९-७
स शिष्यान् सुहृदः चैव स ऋत्विजः सुबहु श्रुतान् |
7, 8a: sarvaan shiSyaan samaahuuya = all, disciples, calling forth; etat vaakyam uvaaca ha = this, sentence, said, indeed; [vatsaaH = oh, boys]; mama aaj~nayaa = by my, order; sa shiSyaan suhR^idaH caiva = with, [their] disciples, friends, also thus; sa R^itvijaH = with, ritwiks [conductors of rituals]; su bahu shrutaan = very, many, heard [well-read pundits in Veda-s]; sarvaan R^iSi varaan = all, sages, eminent one; and; vashiSThaan = [sons] of Vashishta; aanayadhvam = be invited.
"Vishvamitra calling forth all of his disciples said this sentence, 'invite all the eminent sages who are well-read in many Veda-s, along with their disciples and friends, and their ritwiks, the conductors of rituals, and even the sons of Vashishta, at my order. [1-59-7, 8a]
यत् अन्यो वचनम् ब्रूयात् मत् वाक्य बल चोदितः || १-५९-८
तत् सर्वम् अखिलेन उक्तम् मम आख्येयम् अनादृतम्
|
8b, 9a: anyaH = other [someone]; mat vaakya bala coditaH = my, word, forcefulness, incited by; yat vacanam bruuyaat = whichever, words, if speaks; akhilena = by all invitees [whoever]; uktam an aadR^itam = spoken, not, considerately; tat sarvam mama aakhyeyam = that [whatever,] all, to me, reported.
" 'If someone speaks inconsiderately incited by the forcefulness of my word, whoever speaks it, whichever word it may be, all that is to be reported to me, whatever it is.' Thus Vishvamitra ordered his disciples. [1-59-8]
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा दिशो जग्मुः तत् आज्ञया || १-५९-९
आजग्मुः अथ देशेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो ब्रह्म वादिनः
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9b, 10a. tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa = his [of Vishvamitra,] that, word, on listening; tat aaj~nayaa = by that, order; dishaH jagmuH = to [all] directions, [disciples] went; atha = then; sarvebhyaH deshebhyaH = from all, provinces; brahma vaadinaH = all, Brahma, advocators of [Vedic scholars]; aajagmuH = started to arrive.
"On listening that word of Vishvamitra his disciples went to all directions inviting all by his order, and then the Vedic scholars started to arrive from all provinces. [1-59-9 b, 10a]
ते च शिष्याः समागंय मुनिम् ज्वलित तेजसम् || १-५९-१०
ऊचुः च वचनम् सर्वे सर्वेषाम् ब्रह्म वादिनाम्
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10b, 11a. te shiSyaaH sarve samaagamya = they, disciples, all of them, on returning; jvalita tejasam munim = of fulgent, resplendence, to sage; sarveSaam brahma vaadinaam = of all, of Vedic, scholars; vacanam = words [spoken by scholars]; uucuH = = said - reported.
"All of the disciples have returned to the fulgently resplendent sage Vishvamitra, and reported the words spoken by all the Vedic scholars. [1-59-10b, 11a]
श्रुत्वा ते वचनम् सर्वे समायान्ति द्विजातयः || १-५९-११
सर्व देशेषु च अगच्छन् वर्जयित्वा महाउदयम्
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11b, 12a. te vacanam shrutvaa = your, sentence [invitation,] on listening; sarve dvijaatayaH samaayaanti = all, Brahmans, are coming; mahaaudayam varjayitvaa = Mahodaya, excepting for; sarva desheSu agacChan = from all, provinces, have came.
" 'On listening your word all the Brahmans from all provinces have started to come and some have already come, leaving alone Mahodaya, the son of Vashishta.' Thus, the disciples have started to inform Vishvamitra. [1-59-11b, 12a]
वासिष्ठम् तत् शतम् सर्वम् क्रोध पर्याकुल अक्षरम् || १-५९-१२
यथा आह वचनम् सर्वम् शृणु त्वम् मुनि पुंगव
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12b, 13a. muni pungava = oh, sage, the eminent; sarvam = all [that is said]; tat vaasiSTham shatam = that, of Vashishta, hundred [sons]; krodha paryaakula akSaram = fury, explosive, with words; [yat = which]; vacanam aaha = words, [they] said; yathaa = as to how [they said]; [tat = that]; sarvam tvam shR^iNu = all, you, listen.
" 'What all said by those hundred sons of Vashishta is explosively worded in their fury, oh, eminent sage, and what all they have said that you may please listen. [1-59-12b, 13a]
क्षत्रियो याजको यस्य चण्डालस्य विशेषतः || १-५९-१३
कथम् सदसि भोक्तारो हविः तस्य सुर ऋषयः |
13b, 14a. yasya = to whom; kSatriyaH yaajakaH = a Kshatriya, officiator of ritual; visheSataH caNDaalasya = especially, of a profaner; tasya sadasi = in such a, ritual-assembly [of a profaner] ; sura R^iSayaH = gods, sages; haviH katham bhoktaaraH = oblation, how, one can partake of.
" 'A Kshatriya is the officiator, and a profaner is the performer. How then the gods or sages can partake of the remnants of oblations in that ritual-assembly, especially that of a profaner?' Thus, the sons of Vashishta exclaimed. [1-59-13b, 14a]
One who is uninitiated into any esoteric knowledge is venturing to perform a Vedic ritual and a king, who can perform a ritual, but who cannot officiate ritual or teach Veda-s like a Brahman, is officiating it. Thus both of these, officiator and performer have no Vedic sanctity.
ब्राह्मणा वा महात्मानो भुक्त्वा चण्डाल भोजनम् || १-५९-१४
कथम् स्वर्गम् गमिष्यन्ति विश्वामित्रेण पालिताः
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14b, 15a. vishvaamitreNa paalitaaH = by Vishvamitra, [even though] ruled over [rather, embarrassed]; mahaatmaanaH braahmaNaa vaa = great-souled [sages,] Brahmans, either; caNDaala bhojanam bhuktvaa = profaner's, food, by partaking of; svargam katham gamiSyanti = to heavens, how, they go.
" 'Though the Brahmans or the high-souled sages are now embarrassed by Vishvamitra, how can they go to heaven even after their demise, partaking of the food of a profaner? [1-59-14b, 15a]
एतत् वचनम् नैष्ठुर्यम् ऊचुः संरक्त लोचनाः || १-५९-१५
वासिष्ठा मुनि शार्दूल सर्वे सह महोदयाः |
15b, 16a. muni shaarduula = oh, sage, the tiger; saha mahodayaaH sarve = with, Mahodaya, all of them; vaasiSThaa = of Vashishta [his sons]; samrakta locanaaH = with reddennig, eyes - in anger; etat vacanam naiSThuryam = all these, sentences, derisive; uucuH = spoke.
" 'Oh, tigerly sage Vishvamitra, all the sons of Vashishta including Mahodaya spoke these derisive sentences with their eyes reddening in anger.' Thus, the disciples reported to Vishvamitra. [1-59-15b, 16a]
तेषाम् तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा सर्वेषाम् मुनि पुंगवः || १-५९-१६
क्रोध संरक्त नयनः स रोषम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
|
16b, 17a. muni pungavaH = sage, the eminent; teSaam sarveSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa = their, all of them, that, sentence, on listening; krodha samrakta nayanaH = with fury, bloodshot, eyes; sa roSam = with, rancour; idam abraviit = this, said.
"The eminent sage Vishvamitra having heard those words of the sons of Vashishta from all of his disciples, said this rancorously with bloodshot eyes. [1-59-16b, 17a]
यत् दूषयन्ति अदुष्टम् माम् तप उग्रम् संआस्थितम् || १-५९-१७
भस्मी भूता दुरात्मानो भविष्यन्ति न संशयः
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17b, 18a: ugram tapaH sam aasthitam = rigorous, ascesis, verily, abiding in; a duSTam = not, reprovable one; maam = me; yat duuSayanti = who, reproves; dura aatmaanaH = not, reverent minded; bhasmiibhuutaa bhaviSyanti = state of ashes, turns to; na samshayaH = no, doubt.
" 'He who reproves me, who am abiding in rigorous ascesis, and who am an unreprovable one by my ascetic merit, that irreverent person will be reduced to ashes, and there is no doubt about it. [1-59-17b, 18a]
अद्य ते काल पाशेन नीता वैवस्तव क्षयम् || १-५९-१८
सप्त जाति शतानि एव मृतपाः सन्तु सर्वशः |
18b, 19a. te = they; adya kaala paashena = now, by Time's, lasso; vaivastava kSayam niitaa = Yama, [the Terminator's,] to house, dragged; sapta jaati shataani eva = seven, births, hundred, thus - for seven hundred births to come; sarvashaH = anywise - come what may; mR^ita paaH = dead, eaters [devourers of corpse]; santu = they will become.
" 'Now they will be dragged by the lasso of Time to the House of Yama, the Terminator, and from now to seven hundred births to come they take birth as devourers of corpses, come what may. [1-59-18b, 19a]
श्व मांस नियत आहारा मुष्टिका नाम निर्घृणाः || १-५९-१९
विकृताः च विरूपाः च लोकान् अनुचरन्तु इमान्
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19b, 20a. nir ghR^iNaaH = without, ruth - ruthless; muSTikaa naama = Mushtika, named - sect - taking birth in that sect; shva maamsa niyata aahaaraa = dog, flesh, always [staple,] as food - eating it; vikR^itaaH ca viruupaaH ca = disfigured, also, deformed, also; imaan lokaan anucarantu = these, [mortal] worlds [in them,] they wander about.
" 'Those who reprove me will be wandering about these mortal worlds on taking birth as disfigured and deformed beings in the ruthless sect of Mustika-s that always feed on dog's flesh. [1-59-19b, 20a]
महोदयः च दुर्बुद्धिः माम् अदूष्यम् हि अदूषयत् || १-५९-२०
दूषितः सर्व लोकेषु निषादत्वम् गमिष्यति |
20b, 21a. dur buddhiH mahodayaH ca = wrong, headed, Mahodaya, also; a duuSyam = not, reproachable one; maam = me; aduuSayat hi = he reproached, indeed; he; sarva lokeSu duuSitaH = by all, world, reproached; niSaadatvam gamiSyati = tribal-hood, obtains.
" 'That wrong-headed Mahodaya also reproached me, who am irreproachable on my part, hence he gets into tribal-hood and becomes a reproachable tribal for the entire world. [1-59-20b, 21a]
प्राण अतिपात निरतो निरनुक्रोशताम् गतः || १-५९-२१
दीर्घ कालम् मम क्रोधात् दुर्गतिम् वर्तयिष्यति |
21b, 22a. mama krodhaat = by my, fury; praaNa atipaata nirataH = lives, out falling [taking out, murderous bent,] occupied with; niranukroshataam [nir anu kroshataam] gataH = utter barbarity, on obtaining; diirgha kaalam = for a long, time; dur gatim vartayiSyati = worst, living, cycles through.
" 'By my fury he obtains an utter barbarity and he will be occupied with a murderous bent, and he cycles through a worst possible living for a long time. [1-59-21b, 22a]
एतावत् उक्त्वा वचनम् विश्वामित्रो महातपाः |
विरराम महातेजा ऋषि मध्ये महामुनिः || १-५९-२२
22b, c. mahaa tapaaH = great-ascetic; mahaatejaa = highly-resplendent; mahaamuniH = great-sage; vishvaamitraH = Vishvamitra; R^iSi madhye = sages, among; etaavat vacanam uktvaa = this much, sentence [of curse,] on saying; viraraama = paused.
"On saying this much sentence of curse among the sages who have already arrived, that great-resplendent, greatly ascetic, great sage Vishvamitra paused. [1-59-22]
The poet in the last line remembers the sages who have already arrived, only to say that, 'had they not come at the beck and call of Vishvamitra, they too are liable for the above curses, maybe some more curses too, from Vishvamitra. So, knowing this Vedic-ritual of ineligible Trishanku and unqualified Vishvamitra is an improper egotistical extravaganza of Vishvamitra, those who have already come, have come at the cost of their Brahman-hood.'
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इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एको न षष्टितमः सर्गः
© Feb, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04]
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