On Vishvamitra's performing severe ascesis Brahma accords the sageship of 'Great-sage' to him, whereas Vishvamitra's ambition is to acquire the sageship of a 'Brahma-sage' Absolute-sageship. In the meanwhile, the celestial wench Menaka arrives at that place and Vishvamitra is enticed by her beauty and spends some years with her. Later, on realising the he should have won over lust, he further undertakes severe ascesis, by which gods are perturbed.
pūrṇe varṣha sahasre tu vrata snātam mahāmunim |
abhyāgachchan surāḥ sarve tapaḥ phala chikīrṣhavaḥ || 1-63-1
1. varSa sahasre puurNe = years, thousand, while being completed; sarve suraaH = all, gods; tapaH phala cikiirSavaH = ascesis, fruit, wishing [to accord to Vishvamitra]; vrata snaatam mahaamunim = solemnity, bath of, great-saint; abhyaagacchan came towards.
"When thousand years are completed in ascesis and when that great saint Vishvamitra took a bath of solemnity, all the gods have come forward wishing to accord the fruit of that ascesis to Vishvamitra." Thus Sage Shataananda continued the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-63-1]
abravīt su mahātejā brahmā su ruchiram vachaḥ |
ṛṣhiḥ tvam asi bhadram te sva arjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śhubhaiḥ || 1-63-2
2. su mahaatejaa brahmaa = very, highly, resplendent, Brahma; su ruciram vacaH abraviit = highly, palatable, words, spoke; tvam = you; sva arjitaiH = on your own, acquired - undertaken; shubhaiH karmabhiH = with auspicious, deeds; R^iSiH asi = sage, you are - you have become; te bhadram = to you, let there be safety.
"The very highly resplendent Brahma spoke to him with highly palatable words, 'you have now become a kingly sage by virtue of auspicious deeds you have personally undertaken, let safeness betide you.' [1-63-2]
Vividly: 'so far, you are a king and by your auspicious deeds now you have become a 'kingly sage' raajaSi and to attain a still higher brahmarSi 'Absolute sageship' you are not yet merited... as the Absolute sageship will be endowed to those who are above the negative traits of humans, like greed, anger, lust, jealousy etc.'
tam evam uktvā deveśhaḥ tridivam punaḥ abhyagāt |
viśhvāmitro mahātejā bhūyaḥ tepe mahat tapaḥ || 1-63-3
3. deveshaH = god of gods [Brahma]; tam evam uktvaa = to him, in that way, on speaking; punaH tridivam abhyagaat [abhi aagaat] = again, towards, to heaven came [came back]; mahaatejaaH vishvaamitraH = a highly vigorous one, Vishvamitra; bhuuyaH mahat tapaH tepe = again, great, ascesis, performed.
"On speaking to Vishvamitra in that way Brahma returned to heaven, and that highly vigorous Vishvamitra again performed a great ascesis. [1-63-3]
The word vi in the name of Vishvamitra is taken as the third syllable in Gayatri Hymn.
tataḥ kālena mahatā menakā parama apsarāḥ |
puṣhkareṣhu nara śhreṣhṭha snātum samupachakrame || 1-63-4
4. nara shreSTha = oh, man, the best, Rama; tataH = then; mahataa kaalena = a great, after time - at a long lost time; menakaa parama apsaraaH = Menaka, high [prominent, apsara -celestial wench; puSkareSu snaatum samupacakrame = in holy lake, to take bath, started to - started a swimming for sport.
Then at a long lost time Menaka, the prominent apsara, celestial wench, has arrived and started to swim for sport in that holy lake. [1-63-4]
tām dadarśha mahātejā menakām kuśhika ātmajaḥ |
rūpeṇa apratimām tatra vidyutam jalade yathā || 1-63-5
5. mahaatejaaH kushika aatmajaH = great resplendent, Kushi's, son - Vishvamitra; tatra = there - in holy lake; jalade vidyutam yathaa = in black-cloud, electric-flash, as with; ruupeNa a pratimaam = by mien, not, matchabe - an incomparable one; taam menakaam dadarsha = at her, Menaka, he has seen.
"That great resplendent sage Vishvamitra has seen Menaka who is incomparable in her mien and comparable to an electric-flash in a black-cloud, while she is swimming in the holy lake. [1-63-5]
dṛṣhṭvā kandarpa vaśhago muniḥ tām idam abravīt |
apsaraḥ svāgatam te astu vasa cha iha mama āśhrame || 1-63-6
anugṛhṇīṣhva bhadram te madanena su mohitam |
6, 7a. dR^iSTvaa muniH = having seen, the sage; kandarpa vasha gaH = Love-god's, control, on going into; taam idam abraviit = to her, this, said; apsaraH te svaagatam astu = oh, apsara, to you, welcome, is there; mama iha aashrame vasa ca = mine, here, in hermitage, you stay, also; madanena su mohitam = by Love-god, bewitched [for you]; [maam = me]; anugR^ihNiiSva = oblige me; te bhadram = you be safe.
"On seeing her the sage having gone under the sway o Love-god said this to her, 'oh, apsara, you are welcome, I invite you to bide in my hermitage. Oblige me who am bewitched by Love-god for you. You be safe. [1-63-6, 7a]
iti uktā sā varārohā tatra vāsam atha akarot || 1-63-7
tapaso hi mahāvighno viśhvāmitram upāgatam |
tasyām vasantyām varṣhāṇi paṃcha paṃcha cha rāghava || 1-63-8
viśhvāmitra āśhrame sauṃya sukhena vyatichakramuḥ |
7b, 8, 9a. Raaghava = oh, Raghava; saa varaarohaa iti uktaa = she, that beautiful nymph, thus, she who is spoken to; atha tatra vaasam akarot = then, there, stopover, she made; saumya = oh, gentle Rama; tasyaam vishvaamitra aashrame vasantyaam = by her, in Vishvamitra's, hermitage, while staying; panca panca ca = five, five [ten,] also; varSaaNi sukhena vyaticakramuH = years, comfortably, elapsed; vishvaamitram = to Vishvamitra; tapasaH mahaa vighnaH = for ascesis, great, hindrance; upaagatam hi = came near [faced with,] indeed.
"When he said thus to her, oh, Raghava, then she made a stopover there and ten years rolled by comfortably, and oh, gentle Rama, because of her staying Vishvamitra is indeed faced with a great hindrance in his ascesis. [1-63-7b, 8, 9a]
atha kāle gate tasmin viśhvāmitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-63-9
sa vrīḍa iva saṃvṛttaḥ chintā śhoka parāyaṇaḥ |
buddhir muneḥ samutpannā sa amarṣhā raghunaṃdana || 1-63-10
9b, 10. atha tasmin kaale gate = then, that [ten years,] time, having elapsed; mahaamuniH vishvaamitraH cintaa shoka paraayaNaH = great-saint, Vishvamitra, with distress, doleful, he became; sa vriiDa iva = with, humiliation, as it were; samvR^ittaH = enwrapped in; raghunandana = oh, Raghu's, legatee; muneH = to saint; sa amarSaa = with, resentment; buddhiH samutpannaa = thought, occurred.
"Then after the lapse of that ten year period Vishvamitra became doleful with distress and he is enwrapped in humiliation, as it were, and, oh, Rama, Raghu's legatee, then a resentful thought occurred to him. [1-63-9b, 10]
sarvam surāṇām karma etat tapo apaharaṇam mahat |
aho rātrā apadeśhena gatāḥ saṃvatsarā daśha || 1-63-11
kāma moha abhibhūtasya vighno ayam pratyupasthitaḥ |
11, 12a. etat sarvam = this, all - all this is; mahat tapaH apaharaNam = great [merit,] of ascesis, to defraud; suraaNaam karma = all, gods', deed [mischief]; kaama moha abhibhuutasya = lust, lure, one who is influenced [i.e., me]; dasha samvatsaraa = ten, years; ahaH raatraa apadeshena = days, night, in the name of - as if they are one day and one night; gataaH = rolled by; ayam vighnaH = this, hindrance; pratyupasthitaH [prati upa sthitaH] = above all, to near, came - encountered.
" 'All this is the mischief of gods to defraud me of the great merit of my ascesis. Ten years have rolled by as if they are just a day and a night. Furthermore, I who am under the influence of lust and lure had to encounter this hindrance in my ascesis. [1-63-11, 12a]
sa viniḥśhvasan munivaraḥ paśhchāttāpena duḥkhitaḥ || 1-63-12
bhītām apsarasam dṛṣhṭvā vepantīm prāṃjalim sthitām |
menakām madhuraiḥ vākyaiḥ visṛjya kuśhika ātmajaḥ || 1-63-13
uttaram parvatam rāma viśhvāmitro jagāma ha |
12b, 13, 14a. raama = oh, Rama;munivaraH = saint, the best; kushika aatmajaH = Kushika's, son Vishvamitra; pashcaattaapena duHkhitaH viniHshvasan = with reparation, becoming emotional, [and] suspiring; bhiitaam praanjalim sthitaam = one who is scared, with well-adjoined palms, staying [waiting]; vepantiim = one who is shivering; apsarasam menakaam dR^iSTvaa = celestial wench, Menaka, on seeing; madhuraiH vaakyaiH = with pleasant, words; visR^ijya = released [sending her away]; saH vishvaamitraH = he, Vishvamitra; uttaram parvatam = northern, [Himalayan mountain]; jagaama ha = went to, indeed.
"Oh, Rama, that best saint suspired heavily when he became emotional with reparation. But on seeing the scared celestial wench Menaka, who is shivering and waiting with suppliantly adjoined palms, he sent her away with pleasant words, and he that Vishvamitra indeed went to the northern Himalayan mountain. [1-63-12b, 13, 14a]
sa kṛtvā naiṣhṭhikīm buddhim jetu kāmo mahāyaśhāḥ || 1-63-14
kauśhikī tīram āsādya tapaḥ tepe durāsadam |
14b, 15a. mahaayashaaH = highly celebrated sage; saH = he; naiSThikiim buddhim kR^itvaa = for sang-froid temperament, resolve, on making; jetu = to vanquish; kaamaH= lust [or, his desire to vanquish Vashishta]; kaushikii tiiram aasaadya = River Kaushiki, riverbank, on getting at; duraasadam tapaH tepe = unsurpassable, ascesis, performed.
"He that highly celebrated sage who made a resolve to attain a sang-froid temperament and to vanquish lust, performed an unsurpassable ascesis on reaching the riverbank of River Kaushiki. [1-63-14b, 15a]
tasya varṣha sahasrāṇi ghoram tapa upāsataḥ || 1-63-15
uttare parvate rāma devatānām abhūt bhayam |
15b, 16a. raama = oh, Rama; tasya uttare parvate = his, at northern, mountain; varSa sahasraaNi = years, thousand; ghoram tapa upaasataH = unspeakable, ascesis, while performed reverently; devataanaam bhayam abhuut = for gods, fear, bechanced.
"Oh, Rama, while he reverently performed an unspeakable ascesis for a thousand years on the northern mountain, namely Himalayas, then fear occurred to gods. [1-63-15b, 16a]
amaṃtrayan samāgaṃya sarve sa ṛṣhi gaṇāḥ surāḥ || 1-63-16
maharṣhi śhabdam labhatām sādhu ayam kuśhika ātmajaḥ |
16b, 17a. sa R^iSi gaNaaH = with, sage's, assemblages; sarve suraaH = all of the, gods; [brahmaaNam = with Brahma]; samaagamya = approaching; ayam kushika aatmajaH = he this, Kushika's, son; saadhu = duly; maharSi shabdam = an exalted sage, sound [name, epithet]; labhataam = let him get, may be given; [iti = thus]; amantrayan = they conveyed.
"All gods coming together with assemblages of sages have approached Brahma and conveyed that, 'this Vishvamitra, the son of Kushika, may duly be given the epithet of 'Maharshi, Exalted Sage.' [1-63-16b, 17a]
devatānām vachaḥ śhrutvā sarva loka pitāmahaḥ || 1-63-17
abravīt madhuram vākyam viśhvāmitram tapo dhanam |
17b, 18a. sarva loka pitaamahaH = all, worlds', grandparent [Brahma]; devataanaam vacaH shrutvaa = gods', words [advice,] on listening; tapaH dhanam vishvaamitram = to ascetically, wealthy, to Vishvamitra; madhuram vaakyam abraviit = pleasant, words, spoke.
"On listening the advice of gods, Brahma, the Grandparent of all the worlds, spoke these pleasant words to the ascetically wealthy Vishvamitra. [1-63-17b, 18a]
maharṣhe svāgatam vatsa tapasā ugreṇa toṣhitaḥ || 1-63-18
mahattvam ṛṣhi mukhyatvam dadāmi tava kauśhika |
18b, 19a. maharSe = oh, Exalted Sage; vatsa = my dear; svaagatam = welcome; ugreNa tapasaa toSitaH = by stern, ascesis [of yours,] [I am] gladdened; kaushika = oh, Kaushika; tava = to you; mahattvam = sublimity; R^iSi mukhyatvam dadaami = among sages, supremacy, I bestow.
" 'Oh, exalted sage, I welcome you my dear, as I am gladdened by your stern ascesis, oh, Kaushika, I bestow upon you the sublimity and supremacy among sages.' [1-63-18b, 19a]
brahmaṇaḥ sa vachaḥ śhrutvā viśhvāmitraḥ tapo dhanaḥ || 1-63-19
prāṃjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā pratyuvācha pitāmaham |
19b, 20a. tapaH dhanaH saH vishvaamitraH = ascetically, wealthy, he, that Vishvamitra; brahmaNaH vacaH shrutvaa = Brahma's, word, on hearing; praanjaliH praNataH bhuutvaa = with well-adjoined palms, obeisant, on becoming; pitaamaham prati uvaaca = to grandparent, in turn, said - replied.
" 'And on hearing the words of Brahma he that ascetically wealthy Vishvamitra became obeisant and replied the Grandparent adjoining his palms suppliantly. [1-63-19b, 20a]
brahmarṣhi śhabdam atulam sva arjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śhubhaiḥ || 1-63-20
yadi me bhagavān āha tato aham vijita indriyaḥ |
" 'If your Godhead had said that I am a Brahma-sage, a sageship acquired personally by my pious deeds, rather than an exalted sage, then I would have become one who is really self-conquered.' Thus Vishvamitra said to Brahma. [1-63-20, 21a]
tam uvācha tato brahmā na tāvat tvam jita indriyaḥ || 1-63-21
yatasva muni śhārdūla iti uktvā tridivam gataḥ |
21b, 22a. tataH brahmaa tam uvaaca = then, Brahma, to him, said; tvam jita indriyaH taavat na = you are, with conquered, senses, as such, not; muni shaarduula = oh, sage, the tiger; yatasva = make an effort - in that direction; iti uktvaa tridivam gataH = thus, on saying, to heavenward, went.
"Brahma then said to him, 'your senses remain unconquered as such, oh, tigerly sage, make an effort for it.' Saying so Brahma went heavenward. [1-63-21b, 22a]
viprasthiteṣhu deveṣhu viśhvāmitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-63-22
ūrdhva bāhuḥ nirālaṃbo vāyu bhakṣhaḥ tapaḥ charan |
22b, 23a. deveSu = gods; vi prasthiteSu satsu = verily, returning, while they are; mahaamuniH vishvaamitraH = great sage, Vishvamitra; uurdhva baahuH = upraised, arms; nir aalambaH = without, support - insecurely standing in levitation; vaayu bhakSaH = air, subsisting on; tapaH caran = ascesis, undertook.
"While the gods who came here along with Brahma have returned, that great sage Vishvamitra undertook another round of ascesis by standing in levitation, upraising his arms, and subsisting on air alone. [1-63-22b, 23a]
dharme paṃcha tapā bhūtvā varṣhāsu ākāśha saṃśhrayaḥ || 1-63-23
śhiśhire salile śhāyī rātri ahāni tapo dhanaḥ |
evam varṣha sahasram hi tapo ghoram upāgamat || 1-63-24
23b, 24. tapaH dhanaH = ascetically, wealthy one; dharme /gharme = in righteousness / in summer; panca tapaaH bhuutvaa = five, ascetic-fires, on becoming - among them; varSaasu aakaasha samshrayaH = in rain [rainy season,] [open] sky, taking shelter [as rooftop]; shishire = in winter; raatri ahaani salile shaayii = night, day, in water, reclining; evam varSa sahasram = this way, years, thousand; ghoram tapaH upaagamat hi = severe, ascesis, he obtained - he undertook, indeed.
"In summer he became the Five-Fire Ascetic, in rainy season open sky is his rooftop, and in winter water is his reclining bed even by day or by night, and thus that ascetically wealthy Vishvamitra indeed undertook a severe ascesis in this way, for another thousand years. [1-63-23b, 24]
Five fires are four Fires in four directions and the fifth one is the scorching sun, overhead. An ascetic staying among these five fires will become an ascetic fire. The first word in first foot dharme, will also used as gharme, as above, in some mms.
tasmin saṃtapyamāne tu viśhvāmitre mahāmunau |
saṃtāpaḥ sumahān āsīt surāṇām vāsavasya cha || 1-63-25
25. mahaa munau = of great saint; tasmin vishvaamitre = that, Vishvamitra; sam tapyamaane tu = while undertaking ascesis, but; suraaNaam vaasavasya ca = for gods, to Indra, even; su mahaan santaapaH = a very, high, burning [problem]; aasiit = it became.
"While that great saint is undertaking fervent ascesis it has become a very high burning problem to gods and even to Indra. [1-63-25]
raṃbhām apsarasam śhakraḥ saha sarvaiḥ marut gaṇaiḥ |
uvācha ātma hitam vākyam ahitam kauśhikasya cha || 1-63-26
26. shakraH = Indra; sarvaiH marut gaNaiH saha = with all, Air-gods', assemblages, along with; aatma hitam = for himself, advantageous; kaushikasya = to Kaushika's son Vishvamitra; a hitam ca = not, advantageous, also; vaakyam = words; rambhaam apsarasam uvaaca = to Rambha, apsara [celestial wench,] spoke.
"Then Indra along with all the assemblages of the Air-gods spoke to Rambha, the celestial wench, words that are advantageous to himself, but disadvantageous to the son of sage Kushi, namely Vishvamitra." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration. [1-63-26]
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iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe tri ṣhaṣhṭitamaḥ sargaḥ
© Mar, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04]