Arshtishena and Vishvamitra Win Brahminhood

Verse 1 (9.41.1)

आर्ष्टिषेणस्तथा ब्रह्मन्विपुलं तप्तवांस्तपः । सिन्धुद्वीपः कथं चापि ब्राह्मण्यं लब्धवांस्तदा ॥

ārṣṭiṣeṇastathā brahmanvipulaṃ taptavāṃstapaḥ | sindhudvīpaḥ kathaṃ cāpi brāhmaṇyaṃ labdhavāṃstadā

Brahmin, how did Arshtishena perform his vast austerity, and how did Sindhudvipa come then to win brahminhood?

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: the page is the right adhyaya (its table rows are labelled 9-41-1a to 9-41-32b, the colophon reads एकचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः । 41, and it is not a copy of 40 or 42); the input's 32 verses agree with the page's table row for row. The critical edition's 9.39 is this page (9.39.1-32). Not added: the three chapter-summary heading lines above the table, and nothing follows the colophon except the footer (the table is left unclosed on this page; there is no gloss block). Page headings: जनमेजय उवाच (1), वैशम्पायन उवाच (3). Recension variant of CE 9.39.1 (katham ārṣṭiṣeṇo bhagavān vipulaṃ taptavāṃs tapaḥ); kept.

Verse 2 (9.41.2)

देवापिश्च कथं ब्रह्मन्विश्वामित्रश्च सत्तम । तन्ममाचक्ष्व भगवन्परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥

devāpiśca kathaṃ brahmanviśvāmitraśca sattama | tanmamācakṣva bhagavanparaṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

And how did Devapi, brahmin, and how did Vishvamitra, best of men? Tell me that, revered sir, for my curiosity is very great.

Verse 3 (9.41.3)

पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्नार्ष्टिषेणो द्विजोत्तमः । वसन्गुरुकुले नित्यं नित्यमध्ययने रतः ॥

purā kṛtayuge rājannārṣṭiṣeṇo dvijottamaḥ | vasangurukule nityaṃ nityamadhyayane rataḥ

Long ago, in the Krita age, O king, Arshtishena, the best of brahmins, lived in his teacher's house, always intent on study.

Verse 4 (9.41.4)

तस्य राजन्गुरुकुले वसतो नित्यमेव च । समाप्तिं नागमद्विद्या नापि वेदा विशाम्पते ॥

tasya rājangurukule vasato nityameva ca | samāptiṃ nāgamadvidyā nāpi vedā viśāmpate

Though he lived always in his teacher's house, O king, his learning did not reach completion, nor did the Vedas, O lord of the people.

Verse 5 (9.41.5)

स निर्विण्णस्ततो राजंस्तपस्तेपे महातपाः । ततो वै तपसा तेन प्राप्य वेदाननुत्तमान् ॥

sa nirviṇṇastato rājaṃstapastepe mahātapāḥ | tato vai tapasā tena prāpya vedānanuttamān

Disheartened, O king, that man of great austerity then practised austerity; and by that austerity he then obtained the supreme Vedas.

Verse 6 (9.41.6)

स विद्वान्वेदयुक्तश्च सिद्धश्चाप्यृषिसत्तमः । तत्र तीर्थे वरान्प्रादात्त्रीनेव सुमहातपाः ॥

sa vidvānvedayuktaśca siddhaścāpyṛṣisattamaḥ | tatra tīrthe varānprādāttrīneva sumahātapāḥ

Learned, master of the Veda, and perfected, that best of sages of great austerity gave three boons at that tirtha.

Note on the text: The critical edition has between the two lines a star passage (9.39.6b*0245_01, tatāpa rājan saṃprāpya tīrthaṃ vai sumahātapāḥ) that the page does not have.

Verse 7 (9.41.7)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे महानद्या अद्यप्रभृति मानवः । आप्लुतो वाजिमेधस्य फलं प्राप्स्यति पुष्कलम् ॥

asmiṃstīrthe mahānadyā adyaprabhṛti mānavaḥ | āpluto vājimedhasya phalaṃ prāpsyati puṣkalam

"From today, any man who bathes in this tirtha of the great river shall win the abundant fruit of the horse sacrifice.

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading; the verse is Arshtishena's boon, introduced by the previous verse (varān prādāt), so it is given to Arshtishena (the critical edition also has no heading). Line 2 is a recension variant (CE phalaṃ prāpnoti puṣkalam); kept.

Verse 8 (9.41.8)

अद्यप्रभृति नैवात्र भयं व्यालाद्भविष्यति । अपि चाल्पेन कालेन फलं प्राप्स्यति पुष्कलम् ॥

adyaprabhṛti naivātra bhayaṃ vyālādbhaviṣyati | api cālpena kālena phalaṃ prāpsyati puṣkalam

From today there shall be no fear here from beasts of prey, and in a short time one will gain abundant fruit."

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading; Arshtishena's boons continue, so the verse is given to him. Line 2 differs from CE 9.39.8c by one word (page कालेन, CE yatnena); recension variant, kept.

Verse 9 (9.41.9)

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा जगाम त्रिदिवं मुनिः । एवं सिद्धः स भगवानार्ष्टिषेणः प्रतापवान् ॥

evamuktvā mahātejā jagāma tridivaṃ muniḥ | evaṃ siddhaḥ sa bhagavānārṣṭiṣeṇaḥ pratāpavān

Having spoken thus, the greatly radiant sage went to heaven; so the glorious and mighty Arshtishena became a perfected one.

Note on the text: Corrected सिद्वः → सिद्धः (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध; the critical edition reads siddhaḥ).

Verse 10 (9.41.10)

तस्मिन्नेव तदा तीर्थे सिन्धुद्वीपः प्रतापवान् । देवापिश्च महाराज ब्राह्मण्यं प्रापतुर्महत् ॥

tasminneva tadā tīrthe sindhudvīpaḥ pratāpavān | devāpiśca mahārāja brāhmaṇyaṃ prāpaturmahat

At that very tirtha then the mighty Sindhudvipa and Devapi, O great king, attained great brahminhood.

Verse 11 (9.41.11)

तथाच कौशिकस्तात तपोनित्यो जितेन्द्रियः । तपसा वै सुतप्तेन ब्राह्मणत्वमवाप्तवान् ॥

tathāca kauśikastāta taponityo jitendriyaḥ | tapasā vai sutaptena brāhmaṇatvamavāptavān

So too Kaushika, dear one, constant in austerity and master of his senses, attained brahminhood by well-practised austerity.

Verse 12 (9.41.12)

गाधिर्नाम महानासीत्क्षत्रियः प्रथितो भुवि । तस्य पुत्रोऽभवद्राजन्विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् ॥

gādhirnāma mahānāsītkṣatriyaḥ prathito bhuvi | tasya putro'bhavadrājanviśvāmitraḥ pratāpavān

There was a great kshatriya named Gadhi, famed on earth; his son, O king, was the mighty Vishvamitra.

Verse 13 (9.41.13)

स राजा कौशिकस्तात महायोग्यभवत्किल । स पुत्रमभिषिच्याथ विश्वामित्रं महातपाः ॥

sa rājā kauśikastāta mahāyogyabhavatkila | sa putramabhiṣicyātha viśvāmitraṃ mahātapāḥ

That king, the Kaushika, dear one, is said to have become a great yogi; having anointed his son Vishvamitra, that man of great austerity

Verse 14 (9.41.14)

देहन्यासे मनश्चक्रे तमूचुः प्रणताः प्रजाः । न गन्तव्यं महाप्राज्ञ त्राहि चास्मान्महाभयात् ॥

dehanyāse manaścakre tamūcuḥ praṇatāḥ prajāḥ | na gantavyaṃ mahāprājña trāhi cāsmānmahābhayāt

set his mind on laying down the body. The people bowed to him and said, "Do not go, greatly wise one; save us from great danger."

Verse 15 (9.41.15)

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच ततो गाधिः प्रजास्ततः । विश्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता भविष्यति सुतो मम ॥

evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca tato gādhiḥ prajāstataḥ | viśvasya jagato goptā bhaviṣyati suto mama

Thus addressed, Gadhi then answered his people, "My son will be the protector of the whole world."

Verse 16 (9.41.16)

इत्युक्त्वा तु ततो गाधिर्विश्वामित्रं निवेश्य च । जगाम त्रिदिवं राजन्विश्वामित्रोऽभवन्नृपः ॥

ityuktvā tu tato gādhirviśvāmitraṃ niveśya ca | jagāma tridivaṃ rājanviśvāmitro'bhavannṛpaḥ

Having said this, Gadhi installed Vishvamitra and went to heaven, O king; and Vishvamitra became king.

Verse 17 (9.41.17)

न स शक्नोति पृथिवीं यत्नवानपि रक्षितुम् । ततः शुश्राव राजा स राक्षसेभ्यो महाभयम् ॥

na sa śaknoti pṛthivīṃ yatnavānapi rakṣitum | tataḥ śuśrāva rājā sa rākṣasebhyo mahābhayam

But though he tried, he could not protect the earth. Then the king heard of great danger from the rakshasas.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 9.39.16e (na ca śaknoti pṛthivīṃ yatnavān api rakṣitum), line 2 = CE 9.39.17a (tataḥ śuśrāva rājā sa rākṣasebhyo mahābhayam).

Verse 18 (9.41.18)

निर्ययौ नगराच्चापि चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः । स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं वसिष्ठाश्रममभ्ययात् ॥

niryayau nagarāccāpi caturaṅgabalānvitaḥ | sa gatvā dūramadhvānaṃ vasiṣṭhāśramamabhyayāt

He set out from the city, accompanied by an army of four divisions, and having travelled a long way, came to Vasishtha's hermitage.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 9.39.17c, line 2 = CE 9.39.18a (sa gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ vasiṣṭhāśramam abhyayāt).

Verse 19 (9.41.19)

तस्य ते सैनिका राजंश्चक्रुस्तत्रानयान्बहून् । ततस्तु भगवान्विप्रो वसिष्ठोऽश्रममभ्ययात् । ददृशेऽथ ततः सर्वं भज्यमानं महावनम् ॥

tasya te sainikā rājaṃścakrustatrānayānbahūn | tatastu bhagavānvipro vasiṣṭho'śramamabhyayāt | dadṛśe'tha tataḥ sarvaṃ bhajyamānaṃ mahāvanam

His soldiers there, O king, did many wrongs. Then the revered brahmin Vasishtha came to the hermitage and saw the great forest being broken up on every side.

Note on the text: Corrected वसिष्ठो श्रममभ्ययात् → वसिष्ठोऽश्रममभ्ययात् (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha and a are dropped; the critical edition reads vasiṣṭho ''śramam abhyayāt) and महाव्रनम् → महावनम् (misprint in Wikisource; व्र for व; the critical edition reads mahāvanam). Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 9.39.18c, lines 2-3 = CE 9.39.19a,c.

Verse 20 (9.41.20)

तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः । सृजस्व शबरान्घोरानिति स्वां गामुवाच ह ॥

tasya kruddho mahārāja vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ | sṛjasva śabarānghorāniti svāṃ gāmuvāca ha

Angered at this, O great king, Vasishtha, the best of sages, said to his cow, "Create fierce Shabaras."

Verse 21 (9.41.21)

तथोक्ता साऽसृजद्धेनुः पुरुषान्घोरदर्शनान् । ते तु तद्बलमासाद्य बभञ्जुः सर्वतोदिशम् ॥

tathoktā sā'sṛjaddhenuḥ puruṣānghoradarśanān | te tu tadbalamāsādya babhañjuḥ sarvatodiśam

So told, the cow created men of fearsome appearance, who fell upon that army and scattered it in every direction.

Verse 22 (9.41.22)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विद्रुतं सैन्यं विश्वामित्रस्तु गाधिजः । तपः परं मन्यमानस्तपस्येव मनो दधे ॥

tacchrutvā vidrutaṃ sainyaṃ viśvāmitrastu gādhijaḥ | tapaḥ paraṃ manyamānastapasyeva mano dadhe

Hearing that his army was routed, Vishvamitra, son of Gadhi, thought austerity supreme and set his mind on austerity alone.

Verse 23 (9.41.23)

सोऽस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे राजन्सरस्वत्याः समाहितः । नियमैश्चोपवासैश्च कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः ॥

so'smiṃstīrthavare rājansarasvatyāḥ samāhitaḥ | niyamaiścopavāsaiśca karśayandehamātmanaḥ

At this best of tirthas on the Sarasvati, O king, with composed mind, he wasted his body with observances and fasts.

Verse 24 (9.41.24)

जलाहारो वायुभक्षः पर्णाहारश्च सोऽभवत् । तथा स्थण्डिलशायी च ये चान्ये नियमाः पृथक् ॥

jalāhāro vāyubhakṣaḥ parṇāhāraśca so'bhavat | tathā sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca ye cānye niyamāḥ pṛthak

He lived on water, on air, and on leaves, and slept on bare ground, and kept all the other observances as well.

Note on the text: Inserted a space in नियमाःपृथक् → नियमाः पृथक् (two words run together in Wikisource; the critical edition reads niyamāḥ pṛthak).

Verse 25 (9.41.25)

असकृत्तस्य देवास्तु व्रतविघ्नं प्रचक्रिरे । न चास्य नियमाद्बुद्धिरपयाति महात्मनः ॥

asakṛttasya devāstu vratavighnaṃ pracakrire | na cāsya niyamādbuddhirapayāti mahātmanaḥ

Again and again the gods obstructed his vows, but the mind of that great soul never swerved from his discipline.

Verse 26 (9.41.26)

ततः परेण यत्नेन तप्त्वा बहुविधं तपः । तेजसा भास्कराकारो गाधिजः समपद्यत ॥

tataḥ pareṇa yatnena taptvā bahuvidhaṃ tapaḥ | tejasā bhāskarākāro gādhijaḥ samapadyata

Then, with great effort, after practising austerity of many kinds, the son of Gadhi came to shine with a radiance like the sun.

Verse 27 (9.41.27)

तपसा तु तथायुक्तं विश्वामित्रं पितामहः । अमन्यत महातेजा वरदोऽदर्शयत्तदा ॥

tapasā tu tathāyuktaṃ viśvāmitraṃ pitāmahaḥ | amanyata mahātejā varado'darśayattadā

Seeing Vishvamitra so endowed with austerity, the greatly radiant Grandfather took notice and appeared to him as the giver of boons.

Note on the text: Line 2 is a recension variant (CE amanyata mahātejā varado varam asya tat); kept.

Verse 28 (9.41.28)

स तु वव्रे वरं राजन्स्यामहं ब्राह्मणस्त्विति । तथेति चाब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः ॥

sa tu vavre varaṃ rājansyāmahaṃ brāhmaṇastviti | tatheti cābravīdbrahmā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ

He chose his boon, O king: "May I become a brahmin." And Brahma, Grandfather of all the worlds, said, "So be it."

Verse 29 (9.41.29)

स लब्ध्वा तपसोग्रेण ब्राह्मणत्वं महायशाः । विचचार महीं कृत्स्नां कृतकामः सुरोपमः ॥

sa labdhvā tapasogreṇa brāhmaṇatvaṃ mahāyaśāḥ | vicacāra mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ kṛtakāmaḥ suropamaḥ

Having won brahminhood by fierce austerity, that man of great renown wandered over the whole earth, his wishes fulfilled, like a god.

Verse 30 (9.41.30)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे रामः प्रदाय विविधं वसु । पयस्विनीस्तथा धेनूर्यानानि शयनानि च ॥

tasmiṃstīrthavare rāmaḥ pradāya vividhaṃ vasu | payasvinīstathā dhenūryānāni śayanāni ca

At that best of tirthas Rama gave away wealth of many kinds, milch cows, vehicles and beds,

Verse 31 (9.41.31)

अथ वस्त्राण्यलङ्कारं भक्ष्यं पेयं च शोभनम् । अददन्मुदितो राजन्पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् ॥

atha vastrāṇyalaṅkāraṃ bhakṣyaṃ peyaṃ ca śobhanam | adadanmudito rājanpūjayitvā dvijottamān

and clothes, ornaments, and fine food and drink; O king, he gave them gladly, after honouring the best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Line 1 and the verb are recension variants (अथ; अददन्; CE tathā; adadān); kept.

Verse 32 (9.41.32)

ययौ राजंस्ततो रामो बकस्याश्रममन्तिकात् । यत्र तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दाल्भ्यो बक इति श्रुतिः ॥

yayau rājaṃstato rāmo bakasyāśramamantikāt | yatra tepe tapastīvraṃ dālbhyo baka iti śrutiḥ

Then, O king, Rama went from there to the nearby hermitage of Baka, where, as tradition has it, Baka Dalbhya practised fierce austerity.