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
tatah taan aakulaan dristvaa vishvaamitra astra mohitaan |
vasisthah codayaamaasa kaama dhuk srija yogatah || 1-55-1
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]
tasyaa humkaarato jaataah kaa.mbojaa ravi sannibhaah |
uudhasah tu atha sa.njaataah pahlavaah shastra paanayah || 1-55-2
yoni deshaat ca yavanah shakri deshaat shakaah tathaa |
roma kuupesu mlecchaah ca haariitaah sa kiraatakaah || 1-55-3
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]
taih tat nisuuditam sainyam vishvamitrasya tat ksanaat |
sa padaati gajam sa ashvam sa ratham raghuna.ndana || 1-55-4
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]
dristvaa nisuuditam sainyam vasisthena mahaatmanaa |
vishvaamitra sutaanaam tu shatam naanaa vidha aayudham || 1-55-5
abhyadhaavat susa.mkruddham vasistham japataam varam |
hum kaarena eva taan sarvaan nir.hdadaaha mahaan risih || 1-55-6
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]
te sa ashva ratha paadaataa vasisthena mahaatmanaa |
bhasmii kritaa muhuurtena vishvaamitra sutaah tadaa || 1-55-7
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]
dristvaa vinaashitaan putraan balam ca sumahaa yashaah |
sa vriidah cintayaa aavisto vishvaamitro abhavat tadaa || 1-55-8
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]
samudra iva nir.hvego bhagna da.nstra iva uragah |
uparakta iva aadityah sadyo nis.hprabhataam gatah || 1-55-9
hata putra balo diino luuna paksa iva dvijah |
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]
hata sarva bala utsaaho nirvedam samapadyata || 1-55-10
sa putram ekam raajyaaya paalaya iti niyujya ca |
prithiviim ksatra dharmena vanam eva anvapadyata || 1-55-11
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]
sa gatvaa himavat paarshvam ki.nnara uraga sevitam |
mahaadeva prasaada artham tapah tepe mahaatapaah || 1-55-12
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]
kenacit tu atha kaalena devesho vrisabha dhvajah |
darshayaamaasa varado vishvaamitram mahaamunim || 1-55-13
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]
kim artham tapyase raajan bruuhi yat te vivakshitam |
varado asmi varo yah te kaa.nkshitah so abhidhiiyataam || 1-55-14
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]
evam uktah tu devena vishvaamitro mahaatapaah |
pranipatya mahaadevam vishvaamitro abraviit idam || 1-55-15
Thus said by God Shiva to Vishvamitra of great asceticism, Vishvamitra on reverencing that Great God Shiva said this way. [1-55-15]
yadi tusto mahaadeva dhanur vedo mama anagha |
saa anga upa a.nga upanisadah sa rahasyah pradiiyataam || 1-55-16
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]
yaani devesu ca astraani daanavesu maharsisu |
ga.ndharva yaksha rakshassu pratibhaa.ntu mama anagha || 1-55-17
tava prasaadaat bhavatu devadeva mama iipsitam |
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]
evam astu iti devesho vaakyam uktvaa gatah tadaa || 1-55-18
So be it!' On sanctifying Vishvamitra and his aspiration thus, the God of Gods, Shiva disappeared. [1-55-18b]
praapya ca astraani deveshaat vishvaamitro mahaabalah |
darpena mahataa yukto darpapuurno abhavat tadaa || 1-55-19
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]
vivardhamaano viiryena samudra iva par.hvani |
hatam mene tadaa raama vasistham risi sattamam || 1-55-20
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]
tato gatvaa aashramapadam mumoca astraani paarthivah |
yaih tat tapo vanam sarvam nir.hdagdham ca astra tejasaa || 1-55-21
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]
udiiryamaanam astram tat vishvaamitrasya dhiimatah |
dristvaa vipradrutaa bhiitaa munayah shatasho dishah || 1-55-22
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]
vasisthasya ca ye shisyaah ye ca vai mriga pakshinah |
vidravanti bhayaat bhiitaa naanaa dik.hbhyah sahasrashah || 1-55-23
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]
vasisthasya aashramapadam shuunyam aasiit mahaatmanah |
muhuurtam iva nihshabdam aasiit iirina sa.mnibham || 1-55-24
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]
vadato vai vasisthasya maa bhai iti muhur.hmuhuh |
naashayaami adya gaadheyam niihaaram iva bhaaskarah || 1-55-25
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]
evam uktvaa mahaatejaa vasistho japataam varah |
vishvaamitram tadaa vaakyam sa rosam idam abraviit || 1-55-26
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]
aashramam cira sa.mvriddham yat vinaashitavaan asi |
duraacaaro hi yat muudha tasmaat tvam na bhavisyasi || 1-55-27
'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]
iti uktvaa parama kruddho dandam udyamya satvarah |
vidhuuma iva kaala agnih yama dandam iva aparam || 1-55-28
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]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande pa.nca pancaashah sargah
Thus, this is the 55th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate