Shatananda Begins the Tale of Vishvamitra

Shloka 1 (bala.51.1)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः। हृष्टरोमा महातेजाः शतानन्दो महातपाः ॥ १-५१-१ ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ| hṛṣṭaromā mahātejāḥ śatānando mahātapāḥ || 1-51-1 ||

Hearing that speech of the wise Vishvamitra, the greatly resplendent and greatly austere Shatananda felt his hair stand on end with joy.

Shloka 2 (bala.51.2)

गौतमस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभः। रामसंदर्शनादेव परं विस्मयमागतः ॥ १-५१-२ ॥

gautamasya suto jyeṣṭhastapasā dyotitaprabhaḥ| rāmasaṃdarśanādeva paraṃ vismayamāgataḥ || 1-51-2 ||

The eldest son of Gautama, his splendor kindled by ascesis, was struck with the greatest wonder at the mere sight of Rama.

Shloka 3 (bala.51.3)

एतौ निषण्णौ संप्रेक्ष्य सुखासीनौ नृपात्मजौ। शतानन्दो मुनिश्रेष्ठं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत् ॥ १-५१-३ ॥

etau niṣaṇṇau samprekṣya sukhāsīnau nṛpātmajau| śatānando muniśreṣṭhaṃ viśvāmitramathābravīt || 1-51-3 ||

Beholding those two princes, seated at ease with heads bowed low, Shatananda then spoke to Vishvamitra, the foremost of sages.

Shloka 4 (bala.51.4)

अपि ते मुनिशार्दूल मम माता यशस्विनी। दर्शिता राजपुत्राय तपो दीर्घमुपागता ॥ १-५१-४ ॥

api te munisārdūla mama mātā yaśasvinī| darśitā rājaputrāya tapo dīrghamupāgatā || 1-51-4 ||

O tiger among sages, is it true that you showed to this prince my glorious mother, who underwent such long ascesis?

Shloka 5 (bala.51.5)

अपि रामे महातेजो मम माता यशस्विनी। वन्यैरुपाहरत् पूजां पूजार्हे सर्वदेहिनाम् ॥ १-५१-५ ॥

api rāme mahātejo mama mātā yaśasvinī| vanyairupāharat pūjāṃ pūjārhe sarvadehinām || 1-51-5 ||

O greatly radiant one, has my glorious mother worshipped Rama -- worthy of worship by every embodied being -- with the offerings of the forest?

Shloka 6 (bala.51.6)

अपि रामाय कथितं यथावृत्तं पुरातनम्। मम मातुर्महातेजो दैवेन दुरनुष्ठितम् ॥ १-५१-६ ॥

api rāmāya kathitaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ purātanam| mama māturmahātejo daivena duranuṣṭhitam || 1-51-6 ||

O resplendent one, was Rama told, exactly as it happened, of that ancient misfortune inflicted on my mother by fate?

Shloka 7 (bala.51.7)

अपि कौशिक भद्रं ते गुरुणा मम संगता। माता मम मुनिश्रेष्ठ रामसंदर्शनादितः ॥ १-५१-७ ॥

api kauśika bhadraṃ te guruṇā mama saṃgatā| mātā mama muniśreṣṭha rāmasaṃdarśanāditaḥ || 1-51-7 ||

O Kaushika, may you be blessed -- O best of sages, has my mother, since beholding Rama, now been reunited with my father?

Shloka 8 (bala.51.8)

अपि मे गुरुणा रामः पूजितः कुशिकात्मज। इहागतो महातेजाः पूजां प्राप्य महात्मनः ॥ १-५१-८ ॥

api me guruṇā rāmaḥ pūjitaḥ kuśikātmaja| ihāgato mahātejāḥ pūjāṃ prāpya mahātmanaḥ || 1-51-8 ||

O son of Kushika, has my father here worshipped Rama, the greatly resplendent one who came to this place, and has that great soul in turn received honor from him?

Shloka 9 (bala.51.9)

अपि शान्तेन मनसा गुरुर्मे कुशिकात्मज। इहागतेन रामेण पुजितेनाभिवादितः ॥ १-५१-९ ॥

api śāntena manasā gururme kuśikātmaja| ihāgatena rāmeṇa pūjitenābhivāditaḥ || 1-51-9 ||

O son of Kushika, has my father, on Rama's arrival here, been reverently greeted by him with a tranquil heart, Rama himself having first been duly honored?

Shloka 10 (bala.51.10)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। प्रत्युवाच शतानन्दं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यगोविदम् ॥ १-५१-१० ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ| pratyuvāca śatānandaṃ vākyajño vākyagovidam || 1-51-10 ||

Hearing his words, the great sage Vishvamitra, himself skilled in speech, replied to Shatananda, who was likewise expert in speech.

Shloka 11 (bala.51.11)

नातिक्रान्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठ यत् कर्तव्यं कृतं मया। संगता मुनिना पत्नी भार्गवेणेव रेणुका ॥ १-५१-११ ॥

nātikrāntaṃ muniśreṣṭha yat kartavyaṃ kṛtaṃ mayā| saṃgatā muninā patnī bhārgaveṇeva reṇukā || 1-51-11 ||

O best of sages, nothing that was to be done has been left undone by me; the sage's wife has been reunited with her husband, just as Renuka was reunited with the descendant of Bhrigu.

Shloka 12 (bala.51.12)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः। शतानन्दो महातेजा रामं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १-५१-१२ ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ| śatānando mahātejā rāmaṃ vacanamabravīt || 1-51-12 ||

Hearing these words of the wise Vishvamitra, the greatly resplendent Shatananda spoke thus to Rama.

Shloka 13 (bala.51.13)

स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य महर्षिमपराजितम् ॥ १-५१-१३ ॥

svāgataṃ te naraśreṣṭha diṣṭyā prāptosi rāghava| viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya maharṣimaparājitam || 1-51-13 ||

Welcome, O best of men, Raghava. It is by good fortune that you have arrived here, with the unconquerable great sage Vishvamitra leading the way.

Shloka 14 (bala.51.14)

अचिन्त्यकर्मा तपसा ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वेत्स्येनं परमां गतिम् ॥ १-५१-१४ ॥

acintyakarmā tapasā brahmarṣiramitaprabhaḥ| viśvāmitro mahātejā vetsyenaṃ paramāṃ gatim || 1-51-14 ||

Of inconceivable deeds, of immeasurable radiance through his ascesis -- this great and resplendent Brahmarshi Vishvamitra -- you shall come to know him as the highest refuge.

Shloka 15 (bala.51.15)

नास्ति धन्यतरो राम त्वत्तोऽन्यो भुवि कश्चन। गोप्ता कुशिकपुत्रस्ते येन तप्तं महत्तपः ॥ १-५१-१५ ॥

nāsti dhanyataro rāma tvattonyo bhuvi kaścana| goptā kuśikaputraste yena taptaṃ mahattapaḥ || 1-51-15 ||

O Rama, there is none more fortunate than you on this earth, for the son of Kushika who has performed such great austerity is your protector.

Shloka 16 (bala.51.16)

श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामि कौशिकस्य महात्मनः। यथा बलं यथा तत्त्वं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ १-५१-१६ ॥

śrūyatāṃ cābhidhāsyāmi kauśikasya mahātmanaḥ| yathā balaṃ yathā tattvaṃ tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu || 1-51-16 ||

Listen, I shall now tell of the great-souled Kaushika. Hear from me, as I relate it, the truth of his power and his essential nature.

Shloka 17 (bala.51.17)

राजाऽसीदेष धर्मात्मा दीर्घकालमरिंदमः। धर्मज्ञः कृतविद्यश्च प्रजानां च हिते रतः ॥ १-५१-१७ ॥

rājāsīdeṣa dharmātmā dīrghakālamariṃdamaḥ| dharmajñaḥ kṛtavidyaśca prajānāṃ ca hite rataḥ || 1-51-17 ||

This righteous-souled one, subduer of enemies, was for a long time a king -- knowing the law, accomplished in learning, and devoted to the welfare of his subjects.

Shloka 18 (bala.51.18)

प्रजापतिसुतस्त्वासीत् कुशो नाम महीपतिः। कुशस्य पुत्रो बलवान् कुशनाभः सुधार्मिकः ॥ १-५१-१८ ॥

prajāpatisutastvāsīt kuśo nāma mahīpatiḥ| kuśasya putro balavān kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ || 1-51-18 ||

There was a king named Kusha, son of Prajapati. Kusha's son was the mighty and deeply righteous Kushanabha.

Shloka 19 (bala.51.19)

कुशनाभसुतस्त्वासीद्गाधिरित्येव विश्रुतः। गाधेः पुत्रो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ १-५१-१९ ॥

kuśanābhasutastvāsīdgādhirityeva viśrutaḥ| gādheḥ putro mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-51-19 ||

Kushanabha's son was renowned by the name Gadhi. And Gadhi's son is this greatly resplendent sage, Vishvamitra.

Shloka 20 (bala.51.20)

विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः पालयामास मेदिनीम्। बहुवर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत् ॥ १-५१-२० ॥

viśvāmitro mahātejāḥ pālayāmāsa medinīm| bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi rājā rājyamakārayat || 1-51-20 ||

The greatly radiant Vishvamitra ruled the earth; this king governed his kingdom for many thousands of years.

Shloka 21 (bala.51.21)

कदाचित्तु महातेजा योजयित्वा वरूथिनीम्। अक्षौहिणीपरिवृतः परिचक्राम मेदिनीम् ॥ १-५१-२१ ॥

kadācittu mahātejā yojayitvā varūthinīm| akṣauhiṇīparivṛtaḥ paricakrāma medinīm || 1-51-21 ||

Once, that greatly radiant king, having marshaled his forces, went round the earth surrounded by a full division -- an akshauhini -- of his army.

Shloka 22 (bala.51.22)

नगराणि च राष्ट्रानि सरितश्च तथा गिरीन्। आश्रमान् क्रमशो राजा विचरन्नाजगाम ह ॥ १-५१-२२ ॥

nagarāṇi ca rāṣṭrāni saritaśca tathā girīn| āśramān kramaśo rājā vicarannājagāma ha || 1-51-22 ||

Roaming in turn through cities, kingdoms, rivers, and mountains, and through hermitages, the king in due course arrived there.

Shloka 23 (bala.51.23)

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं नानापुष्पलताद्रुमम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं सिद्धचारणसेवितम् ॥ १-५१-२३ ॥

vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṃ nānāpuṣpalatādrumam| nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṃ siddhacāraṇasevitam || 1-51-23 ||

There stood the hermitage of Vashishtha, adorned with flowers, creepers and trees of every kind, thronging with many herds of deer, and frequented by siddhas and charanas.

Shloka 24 (bala.51.24)

देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किंनरैरुपशोभितम्। प्रशान्तहरिणाकिर्णं द्विजसंघनिषेवितम् ॥ १-५१-२४ ॥

devadānavagandharvaiḥ kiṃnarairupaśobhitam| praśāntahariṇākirṇaṃ dvijasaṃghaniṣevitam || 1-51-24 ||

It was graced by gods, danavas, gandharvas and kinnaras, filled with tranquil deer, and frequented by flocks of birds.

Shloka 25 (bala.51.25)

ब्रह्मर्षिगणसंकीर्णं देवर्षिगणसेवितम्। तपश्चरणसंसिद्धैरग्निकल्पैर्महात्मभिः ॥ १-५१-२५ ॥

brahmarṣigaṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ devarṣigaṇasevitam| tapaścaraṇasaṃsiddhairagnikalpairmahātmabhiḥ || 1-51-25 ||

It was thronged with hosts of brahmarshis and served by hosts of devarshis -- great souls perfected in the practice of austerity, radiant as fire.

Shloka 26 (bala.51.26)

सततं संकुलं श्रीमद्ब्रह्मकल्पैर्महात्मभिः। अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च शिर्णपर्णाशनैस्तथा ॥ १-५१-२६ ॥

satataṃ saṃkulaṃ śrīmadbrahmakalpairmahātmabhiḥ| abbhakṣairvāyubhakṣaiśca śirṇaparṇāśanaistathā || 1-51-26 ||

It was ever thronging with glorious great souls comparable to Brahma himself -- some subsisting on water alone, some on air alone, and others on withered leaves.

Shloka 27 (bala.51.27)

फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैर्जितदोषैर्जितेन्द्रियैः। ऋषिभिर्वालखिल्यैश्च जपहोमपरायणैः ॥ १-५१-२७ ॥

phalamūlāśanairdāntairjitadoṣairjitendriyaiḥ| ṛṣibhirvālakhilyaiśca japahomaparāyaṇaiḥ || 1-51-27 ||

-- and with self-controlled sages living on fruits and roots, free of blemish, their senses conquered, and with the Valakhilya sages devoted to prayer and oblation.

Shloka 28 (bala.51.28)

अन्यैर्वैखानसैश्चैव समन्तादुपशोभितम्। वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मलोकमिवापरम्। ददर्श जयतां श्रेष्ठो विश्वामित्रो महाबलः ॥ १-५१-२८ ॥

anyairvaikhānasaiścaiva samantādupaśobhitam| vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṃ brahmalokamivāparam| dadarśa jayatāṃ śreṣṭho viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ || 1-51-28 ||

-- and by other Vaikhanasa hermits too, it was resplendent on every side. And Vishvamitra, foremost among the victorious and mighty, beheld that hermitage of Vashishtha as though it were another Brahmaloka.