The Legend of Siddhashrama

Shloka 1 (bala.29.1)

अथ तस्याप्रमेयस्य वचनं परिपृच्छतः । विश्वामित्रो महातेजा व्याख्यातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ २९-१ ॥

atha tasyāprameyasya vacanaṃ paripṛcchataḥ | viśvāmitro mahātejā vyākhyātumupacakrame || 29.1 ||

Then, to Rama — of immeasurable might — who was asking about it, the greatly radiant Vishvamitra began to explain.

Shloka 2 (bala.29.2)

इह राम महाबाहो विष्णुर्देवनमस्कृतः । वर्षाणि सुबहूनीह तथा युगशतानि च ॥ २९-२ ॥

iha rāma mahābāho viṣṇurdevanamaskṛtaḥ | varṣāṇi subahūnīha tathā yugaśatāni ca || 29.2 ||

Here, O mighty-armed Rama, Vishnu, revered by the gods, once dwelt for a great many years — indeed, for hundreds of ages.

Shloka 3 (bala.29.3)

तपश्चरणयोगार्थमुवास सुमहातपाः । एष पूर्वाश्रमो राम वामनस्य महात्मनः ॥ २९-३ ॥

tapaścaraṇayogārthamuvāsa sumahātapāḥ | eṣa pūrvāśramo rāma vāmanasya mahātmanaḥ || 29.3 ||

Here he dwelt, deep in austerity, for the practice of penance and yoga. This, O Rama, is the ancient hermitage of the great-souled Vamana.

Shloka 4 (bala.29.4)

सिद्धाश्रम इति ख्यातः सिद्धो ह्यत्र महातपाः । एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु राजा वैरोचनिर्बलिः ॥ २९-४ ॥

siddhāśrama iti khyātaḥ siddho hyatra mahātapāḥ | etasminneva kāle tu rājā vairocanirbaliḥ || 29.4 ||

It is known as Siddhashrama, for here that great ascetic attained his accomplishment. Now, at that very time, King Bali, son of Virochana —

Shloka 5 (bala.29.5)

निर्जित्य दैवतगणान् सेन्द्रान् समरुद्गणान् । कारयामास तद्राज्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः ॥ २९-५ ॥

nirjitya daivatagaṇān sendrān samarudgaṇān | kārayāmāsa tadrājyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ || 29.5 ||

— having conquered the hosts of the gods, together with Indra and the Maruts, ruled over that realm, and became renowned throughout the three worlds.

Shloka 6 (bala.29.6)

यज्ञं चकार सुमहानसुरेन्द्रो महाबलः । बलेस्तु यजमानस्य देवाः साग्निपुरोगमाः । समागम्य स्वयं चैव विष्णुमूचुरिहाश्रमे ॥ २९-६ ॥

yajñaṃ cakāra sumahānasurendro mahābalaḥ | balestu yajamānasya devāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ | samāgamya svayaṃ caiva viṣṇumūcurihāśrame || 29.6 ||

That mighty lord of the asuras then performed a very great sacrifice. And while Bali was thus officiating, the gods, led by Agni, came together in person to this very hermitage and spoke to Vishnu.

Shloka 7 (bala.29.7)

बलिर्वैरोचनिर्विष्णो यजते यज्ञमुत्तमम् । असमाप्तव्रते तस्मिन् स्वकार्यमभिपद्यताम् ॥ २९-७ ॥

balirvairocanirviṣṇo yajate yajñamuttamam | asamāptavrate tasmin svakāryamabhipadyatām || 29.7 ||

'O Vishnu, Bali son of Virochana is performing a supreme sacrifice; before that vow is completed, let our task now be achieved.'

Shloka 8 (bala.29.8)

ये चैनमभिवर्तन्ते याचितार इतस्ततः । यच्च यत्र यथावच्च सर्वं तेभ्यः प्रयच्छति ॥ २९-८ ॥

ye cainamabhivartante yācitāra itastataḥ | yacca yatra yathāvacca sarvaṃ tebhyaḥ prayacchati || 29.8 ||

'For whatever suppliant approaches him from any quarter, whatever he asks and however he asks, that Bali grants him fully.'

Shloka 9 (bala.29.9)

स त्वं सुरहितार्थाय मायायोगमुपाश्रितः । वामनत्वं गतो विष्णो कुरु कल्याणमुत्तमम् ॥ २९-९ ॥

sa tvaṃ surahitārthāya māyāyogamupāśritaḥ | vāmanatvaṃ gato viṣṇo kuru kalyāṇamuttamam || 29.9 ||

'Therefore, for the welfare of the gods, resort to your power of illusion, and taking the form of a dwarf, O Vishnu, bring about this supreme good.'

Shloka 10 (bala.29.10)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राम काश्यपोऽग्निसमप्रभः । अदित्या सहितो राम दीप्यमान इवौजसा ॥ २९-१० ॥

etasminnantare rāma kāśyapo'gnisamaprabhaḥ | adityā sahito rāma dīpyamāna ivaujasā || 29.10 ||

Meanwhile, O Rama, the sage Kashyapa, radiant as fire, was there together with Aditi, seeming to blaze with his own splendour —

Shloka 11 (bala.29.11)

देवीसहायो भगवान् दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रकम् । व्रतं समाप्य वरदं तुष्टाव मधुसूदनम् ॥ २९-११ ॥

devīsahāyo bhagavān divyaṃ varṣasahasrakam | vrataṃ samāpya varadaṃ tuṣṭāva madhusūdanam || 29.11 ||

— that venerable sage, with the goddess at his side, having completed a divine vow of a thousand years, offered praise to the boon-granting Madhusudana.

Shloka 12 (bala.29.12)

तपोमयं तपोराशिं तपोमूर्तिं तपात्मकम् । तपसा त्वां सुतप्तेन पश्यामि पुरोषोत्तमम् ॥ २९-१२ ॥

tapomayaṃ taporāśiṃ tapomūrtiṃ tapātmakam | tapasā tvāṃ sutaptena paśyāmi puroṣottamam || 29.12 ||

'O Supreme Being, wholly made of austerity, a very mass and embodiment of it — through my own hard-won austerity I now behold you before me.'

Shloka 13 (bala.29.13)

शरीरे तव पश्यामि जगत्सर्वमिदं प्रभो । त्वमनादिरनिर्देश्यस्त्वामहं शरणं गतः ॥ २९-१३ ॥

śarīre tava paśyāmi jagatsarvamidaṃ prabho | tvamanādiranirdeśyastvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ || 29.13 ||

'In your form, O lord, I see this whole universe; you are without beginning, beyond all description — in you alone have I taken refuge.'

Shloka 14 (bala.29.14)

तमुवाच हरिः प्रीतः कश्यपं धूतकल्मषम् । वरं वरय भद्रं ते वरार्होऽसि मतो मम ॥ २९-१४ ॥

tamuvāca hariḥ prītaḥ kaśyapaṃ dhūtakalmaṣam | varaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te varārho'si mato mama || 29.14 ||

Hari, well pleased, said to Kashyapa, now cleansed of all taint: 'Choose your boon; blessings upon you — I hold you worthy of one.'

Shloka 15 (bala.29.15)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मारीचः कश्यपोऽब्रवीत् । अदित्या देवतानां च मम चैवानुयाचितम् ॥ २९-१५ ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya mārīcaḥ kaśyapo'bravīt | adityā devatānāṃ ca mama caivānuyācitam || 29.15 ||

Hearing this, Kashyapa, son of Marichi, replied: 'That very boon which Aditi, the gods, and I myself have all been begging of you —

Shloka 16 (bala.29.16)

वरं वरद सुप्रीतो दातुमर्हसि सुव्रत । पुत्रत्वं गच्छ भगवन्नदित्या मम चानघ ॥ २९-१६ ॥

varaṃ varada suprīto dātumarhasi suvrata | putratvaṃ gaccha bhagavannadityā mama cānagha || 29.16 ||

— O granter of boons, being pleased with us you should grant it, O you of noble vows. O sinless lord, become the son of Aditi and of me.'

Shloka 17 (bala.29.17)

भ्राता भव यवीयांस्त्वं शक्रस्यासुरसूदन । शोकार्तानां तु देवानां साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ २९-१७ ॥

bhrātā bhava yavīyāṃstvaṃ śakrasyāsurasūdana | śokārtānāṃ tu devānāṃ sāhāyyaṃ kartumarhasi || 29.17 ||

'Be born as the younger brother of Indra, O destroyer of asuras, and grant your aid to the gods who are stricken with sorrow.'

Shloka 18 (bala.29.18)

अयं सिद्धाश्रमो नाम प्रसादात्ते भविष्यति । सिद्धे कर्मणि देवेश उत्तिष्ठ भगवन्नितः ॥ २९-१८ ॥

ayaṃ siddhāśramo nāma prasādātte bhaviṣyati | siddhe karmaṇi deveśa uttiṣṭha bhagavannitaḥ || 29.18 ||

'By your grace this hermitage will come to be known as Siddhashrama; and once your task is accomplished, O lord of the gods, rise up and depart from here.'

Shloka 19 (bala.29.19)

अथ विष्णुर्महातेजा अदित्यां समजायत । वामनं रूपमास्थाय वैरोचनिमुपागमत् ॥ २९-१९ ॥

atha viṣṇurmahātejā adityāṃ samajāyata | vāmanaṃ rūpamāsthāya vairocanimupāgamat || 29.19 ||

Then the mighty Vishnu was born of Aditi; and, taking the form of a dwarf, went forth to Bali, the son of Virochana.

Shloka 20 (bala.29.20)

त्रीन्पदानथ भिक्षित्वा प्रतिगृह्य च मेदिनीम् । आक्रम्य लोकान् लोकार्थो सर्वलोकहिते रतः ॥ २९-२० ॥

trīnpadānatha bhikṣitvā pratigṛhya ca medinīm | ākramya lokān lokārtho sarvalokahite rataḥ || 29.20 ||

Then, begging for the space of just three strides, and having received the earth granted him, for the sake and welfare of all the worlds, he strode across them all.

Shloka 21 (bala.29.21)

महेन्द्राय पुनः प्रादात् नियम्य बलिमोजसा । त्रैलोक्यं स महातेजाश्चक्रे शक्रवशं पुनः ॥ २९-२१ ॥

mahendrāya punaḥ prādāt niyamya balimojasā | trailokyaṃ sa mahātejāścakre śakravaśaṃ punaḥ || 29.21 ||

Restraining Bali by his own might, he gave the earth back again to great Indra; that mighty being thus brought the three worlds once more under Indra's rule.

Shloka 22 (bala.29.22)

तेनैष पूर्वमाक्रान्त आश्रमः श्रमनाशनः । मयापि भक्त्या तस्यैष वामनस्योपभुज्यते ॥ २९-२२ ॥

tenaiṣa pūrvamākrānta āśramaḥ śramanāśanaḥ | mayāpi bhaktyā tasyaiṣa vāmanasyopabhujyate || 29.22 ||

By him this hermitage, dispeller of all weariness, was once inhabited; and I too, out of devotion to that Vamana, now dwell here and make use of it.

Shloka 23 (bala.29.23)

एनमाश्रममायान्ति राक्षसा विघ्नकारिणः । अत्र ते पुरुषव्याघ्र हन्तव्या दुष्टचारिणः ॥ २९-२३ ॥

enamāśramamāyānti rākṣasā vighnakāriṇaḥ | atra te puruṣavyāghra hantavyā duṣṭacāriṇaḥ || 29.23 ||

It is to this hermitage that obstructive rakshasas come; and here, O tiger among men, those evil-doers must be destroyed.

Shloka 24 (bala.29.24)

अद्य गच्छामहे राम सिद्धाश्रममनुत्तमम् । तदाश्रमपदं तात तवाप्येतद्यथा मम ॥ २९-२४ ॥

adya gacchāmahe rāma siddhāśramamanuttamam | tadāśramapadaṃ tāta tavāpyetadyathā mama || 29.24 ||

Today, Rama, we shall reach that peerless Siddhashrama; and that hermitage, dear child, is as much yours as it is mine.

Shloka 25 (bala.29.25)

इत्युक्त्वा परमप्रीतो गृह्य रामं सलक्ष्मणम् । प्रविशन्नाश्रमपदं व्यरोचत महामुनिः । शशीव गतनीहारः पुनर्वसुसमन्वितः ॥ २९-२५ ॥

ityuktvā paramaprīto gṛhya rāmaṃ salakṣmaṇam | praviśannāśramapadaṃ vyarocata mahāmuniḥ | śaśīva gatanīhāraḥ punarvasusamanvitaḥ || 29.25 ||

So saying, greatly delighted, the great sage took Rama and Lakshmana with him and, entering the hermitage, shone forth like the moon freed of mist and joined with the star Punarvasu.

Shloka 26 (bala.29.26)

तं दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे सिद्धाश्रमनिवासिनः । उत्पत्योत्पत्य सहसा विश्वामित्रमपूजयन् ॥ २९-२६ ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve siddhāśramanivāsinaḥ | utpatyotpatya sahasā viśvāmitramapūjayan || 29.26 ||

Seeing him arrive, all the sages dwelling in Siddhashrama sprang up at once and honoured Vishvamitra.

Shloka 27 (bala.29.27)

यथार्हं चक्रिरे पूजां विश्वामित्राय धीमते । तथैव राजपुत्राभ्यामकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम् ॥ २९-२७ ॥

yathārhaṃ cakrire pūjāṃ viśvāmitrāya dhīmate | tathaiva rājaputrābhyāmakurvannatithikriyām || 29.27 ||

They paid fitting homage to the wise Vishvamitra, and likewise offered the rites of hospitality to the two princes.

Shloka 28 (bala.29.28)

मुहूर्तमथ विश्रान्तौ राजपुत्रावरिन्दमौ । प्रांजली मुनिशार्दूलमूचतू रघुनंदनौ ॥ २९-२८ ॥

muhūrtamatha viśrāntau rājaputrāvarindamau | prāṃjalī muniśārdūlamūcatū raghunaṃdanau || 29.28 ||

Then, having rested for a while, the two foe-subduing princes, the delight of the Raghu line, folded their hands and addressed that tiger among sages.

Shloka 29 (bala.29.29)

अद्यैव दीक्षां प्रविश भद्रं ते मुनिपुंगव । सिद्धाश्रमोऽयं सिद्धः स्यात् सत्यमस्तु वचस्तव ॥ २९-२९ ॥

adyaiva dīkṣāṃ praviśa bhadraṃ te munipuṃgava | siddhāśramo'yaṃ siddhaḥ syāt satyamastu vacastava || 29.29 ||

'Undertake the sacrificial consecration this very day, blessings upon you, O foremost of sages; let this Siddhashrama live up to its name, and let your word come true.'

Shloka 30 (bala.29.30)

एवमुक्तो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महानृषिः । प्रविवेश तदा दीक्षां नियतो नियतेन्द्रियः ॥ २९-३० ॥

evamukto mahātejā viśvāmitro mahānṛṣiḥ | praviveśa tadā dīkṣāṃ niyato niyatendriyaḥ || 29.30 ||

Thus addressed, the mighty seer Vishvamitra then entered upon the sacrificial vow, disciplined and with his senses fully mastered.

Shloka 31 (bala.29.31)

कुमारावेव तां रात्रिमुषित्वा सुसमाहितौ । प्रभातकाले चोत्थाय पूर्वां संध्यामुपास्य च ॥ २९-३१ ॥

kumārāveva tāṃ rātrimuṣitvā susamāhitau | prabhātakāle cotthāya pūrvāṃ saṃdhyāmupāsya ca || 29.31 ||

The two young princes, having passed that night in deep composure, rose at dawn and performed the morning twilight rites —

Shloka 32 (bala.29.32)

प्रशुची परं जप्यं समाप्य नियमेन च । हुताग्निहोत्रमासीनं विश्वामित्रमवन्दताम् ॥ २९-३२ ॥

praśucī paraṃ japyaṃ samāpya niyamena ca | hutāgnihotramāsīnaṃ viśvāmitramavandatām || 29.32 ||

— being fully purified, and having completed their disciplined recitation of the sacred verses, bowed before Vishvamitra, who sat there having just completed the fire-oblation.