Summary
Vishvamitra ruins Vashishta's hermitage on acquiring missiles at the grace of God Shiva by practicing a paramount asceticism. When the forces generated by Wish-Milk-er 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.
Chapter [Sarga] 55 – in Detail
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-milk-er, generate more forces by your yogic capacity.' Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration about the legend of Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-55-1]
From the 'hums' of her mooing Kaambhoja-s similar to sunshine are born, from her udder [mammary gland] 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]
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]
On seeing their army utterly slaughtered by the vital spirit of Vashishta, a band of hundred sons of Vishvamitra wielding divers weapons exasperatedly [angrily] sprinted forth towards that supreme mediator among all mediators. But that great sage Vashishta completely burnt all of them down just by blasting 'hum' sounds. [1-55-5, 6]
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]
On seeing his sons and his forces are utterly ruined, that very highly glorious Vishvamitra was disgraced and beset [set upon] by distress. [1-55-8]
Like a tide-less 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 fight back, like a shine-less sun in an eclipse, Vishvamitra plunged into a lusterless state of his own illustriousness, when his forces are ruined along with his sons. [1-55-9, 10a]
When all his intrepidity [fearlessness] and impetuosity [force] are ruined indolence [laziness] bechanced [befell] 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]
On going to the mountainsides of Himalayas, whereat it is adored by Kinnaras-s and uragaa-s, the nymphs [beautiful maidens dwelling in the mountains, forests, trees, and waters] and nymphean serpents, he that great practicer of asceticism, Vishvamitra, undertook an austere asceticism for the sake of beneficence of the Great God, Shiva. [1-55-12]
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]
Oh, king, for which purpose you undertook this asceticism 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]
Thus said by God Shiva to Vishvamitra of great asceticism, Vishvamitra on reverencing that Great God Shiva said this way. [1-55-15]
Oh! Mahadeva, the Impeccable Great God... providing that you are gladdened by my ascetic devotion, Dhanur Veda, the Holy Writ [writing] of Archery, with its complemental and supplemental Writs [writings], and along with its summational Upanishad-s, together with its preternatural [extraordinary] doctrines... they may kindly be bestowed upon me... [1-55-16]
Oh, Exquisite God, whichever missile is there either with Gods, or fiends [demons], Gandharva-s, Yaksha-s, and demons, let it dawn upon me. For you alone are the God of Gods your blessings alone can fulfill my aspiration.' Thus Vishvamitra entreated [treated] God Shiva. [1-55-17, 18a]
So be it!' On sanctifying Vishvamitra and his aspiration thus, the God of Gods, Shiva disappeared. [1-55-18b]
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 [full] ocean? [1-55-19]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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 [empty]. [1-55-24]
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]
On saying that way to the evacuees, Vashishta, the great-resplendent sage and a best one among best mediators rancorously [bitterly] said this word to Vishvamitra. [1-55-26]
'You senseless king, by which reason you have havocked [destroyed] this hermitage that is well nourished for a long time by me, for that reason you have become a reprehensible [guilty or blameworthy] one, and thereby you will not survive any longer. [1-55-27]
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 [confronted] Vishvamitra. Thus, Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-55-28]
Thus, this is the 55th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
