Vashishtha's Hospitality and the Wish-Granting Cow

Shloka 1 (bala.52.1)

तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रो महाबलः। प्रणतो विनयाद्वीरो वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम् ॥ १-५२-१ ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā paramaprīto viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ| praṇato vinayādvīro vasiṣṭhaṃ japatāṃ varam || 1-52-1 ||

Seeing him, the mighty and valiant Vishvamitra, greatly delighted, bowed down in humility to Vashishtha, foremost among those devoted to sacred recitation.

Shloka 2 (bala.52.2)

स्वागतं तव चेत्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। आसनं चास्य भगवान् वसिष्ठो व्यादिदेश ह ॥ १-५२-२ ॥

svāgataṃ tava cetyukto vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā| āsanaṃ cāsya bhagavān vasiṣṭho vyādideśa ha || 1-52-2 ||

The great-souled Vashishtha said, "Welcome to you," and the venerable sage indeed offered him a seat.

Shloka 3 (bala.52.3)

उपविष्टाय च तदा विश्वामित्राय धीमते। यथान्यायं मुनिवरः फलमूलमुपाहरत् ॥ १-५२-३ ॥

upaviṣṭāya ca tadā viśvāmitrāya dhīmate| yathānyāyaṃ munivaraḥ phalamūlamupāharat || 1-52-3 ||

Then, to the wise Vishvamitra who had taken his seat, that excellent sage duly offered fruits and roots.

Shloka 4 (bala.52.4)

प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां वसिष्ठाद्राजसत्तमः। तपोऽग्निहोत्रशिष्येषु कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत ॥ १-५२-४ ॥

pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ vasiṣṭhādrājasattamaḥ| tapo'gnihotraśiṣyeṣu kuśalaṃ paryapṛcchata || 1-52-4 ||

Having received that honor from Vashishtha, the eminent king inquired after the welfare of his austerities, his fire-rituals, and his disciples.

Shloka 5 (bala.52.5)

विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वनस्पतिगणे तथा। सर्वत्र कुशलं चाह वसिष्ठो राजसत्तमः ॥ १-५२-५ ॥

viśvāmitro mahātejā vanaspatigaṇe tathā| sarvatra kuśalaṃ cāha vasiṣṭho rājasattamaḥ || 1-52-5 ||

The mighty Vishvamitra likewise asked after the well-being of the trees and plants; and Vashishtha in turn told that excellent king that all was well everywhere.

Shloka 6 (bala.52.6)

सुखोपविष्टं राजानं विश्वामित्रं महातपाः। पप्रच्छ जपतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः ॥ १-५२-६ ॥

sukhopaviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ viśvāmitraṃ mahātapāḥ| papraccha japatāṃ śreṣṭho vasiṣṭho brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ || 1-52-6 ||

Then Vashishtha, the great ascetic, foremost among those devoted to sacred recitation and son of Brahma, questioned King Vishvamitra, who now sat at ease.

Shloka 7 (bala.52.7)

कच्चित्ते कुशलं राजन् कच्चिद्धर्मेण रंजयन्। प्रजाः पालयसे राजन् राजवृत्तेन धार्मिक ॥ १-५२-७ ॥

kaccitte kuśalaṃ rājan kacciddharmeṇa raṃjayan| prajāḥ pālayase rājan rājavṛttena dhārmika || 1-52-7 ||

I hope you are well, O king; O righteous king, I hope you govern your subjects, gratifying them through righteousness, in accordance with kingly conduct.

Shloka 8 (bala.52.8)

कच्चित्ते सुभृता भृत्याः कच्चित्तिष्ठन्ति शासने। कच्चित्ते विजिताः सर्वे रिपवो रिपुसूदन ॥ १-५२-८ ॥

kaccitte subhṛtā bhṛtyāḥ kaccittiṣṭhanti śāsane| kaccitte vijitāḥ sarve ripavo ripusūdana || 1-52-8 ||

I hope your servants are well provided for, I hope they abide by your rule, and O vanquisher of foes, I hope all your enemies have been subdued.

Shloka 9 (bala.52.9)

कच्चित् बले च कोशे च मित्रेषु च परंतप। कुशलं ते नरव्याघ्र पुत्रपौत्रे तथानघ ॥ १-५२-९ ॥

kaccit bale ca kośe ca mitreṣu ca paraṃtapa| kuśalaṃ te naravyāghra putrapautre tathānagha || 1-52-9 ||

I hope, O scorcher of foes, O tiger among men, O sinless one, that all is well with your forces, your treasury, your allies, and likewise with your sons and grandsons.

Shloka 10 (bala.52.10)

सर्वत्र कुशलं राजा वसिष्ठं प्रत्युदाहरत्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठं विनयान्वितम् ॥ १-५२-१० ॥

sarvatra kuśalaṃ rājā vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyudāharat| viśvāmitro mahātejā vasiṣṭhaṃ vinayānvitam || 1-52-10 ||

The mighty King Vishvamitra respectfully replied to Vashishtha that all indeed was well.

Shloka 11 (bala.52.11)

कृत्वा तौ सुचिरं कालं धर्मिष्ठौ ताः कथास्तदा। मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेतां तौ परस्परम् ॥ १-५२-११ ॥

kṛtvā tau suciraṃ kālaṃ dharmiṣṭhau tāḥ kathāstadā| mudā paramayā yuktau prīyetāṃ tau parasparam || 1-52-11 ||

Those two righteous ones, having thus conversed for a long while, rejoiced in one another's company, filled with the greatest delight.

Shloka 12 (bala.52.12)

ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथान्ते रघुनंदन। विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव ॥ १-५२-१२ ॥

tato vasiṣṭho bhagavān kathānte raghunaṃdana| viśvāmitramidaṃ vākyamuvāca prahasanniva || 1-52-12 ||

Then, O delight of Raghu's line, at the end of their conversation, the venerable Vashishtha, as though smiling, spoke this word to Vishvamitra.

Shloka 13 (bala.52.13)

आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि बलस्यास्य महाबल। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य यथार्हं संप्रतीच्छ मे ॥ १-५२-१३ ॥

ātithyaṃ kartumicchāmi balasyāsya mahābala| tava caivāprameyasya yathārhaṃ saṃpratīccha me || 1-52-13 ||

O mighty one, I wish to offer fitting hospitality to this army of yours, and to you, O peerless one -- please accept it from me.

Shloka 14 (bala.52.14)

सत्क्रियां तु भवानेतां प्रतीच्छतु मया कृताम्। राजंस्त्वमतिथिश्रेष्ठः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः ॥ १-५२-१४ ॥

satkriyāṃ tu bhavānetāṃ pratīcchatu mayā kṛtām| rājaṃstvamatithiśreṣṭhaḥ pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ || 1-52-14 ||

Please accept, then, this hospitality I have prepared. O king, you are a most honored guest, one to be reverenced with every effort.

Shloka 15 (bala.52.15)

एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामतिः। कृतमित्यब्रवीद्राजा पूजावाक्येन मे त्वया ॥ १-५२-१५ ॥

evamukto vasiṣṭhena viśvāmitro mahāmatiḥ| kṛtamityabravīdrājā pūjāvākyena me tvayā || 1-52-15 ||

Thus addressed by Vashishtha, the wise King Vishvamitra said, "By your very words of honor, the hospitality is already accomplished."

Shloka 16 (bala.52.16)

फलमूलेन भगवन्विद्यते यत्तवाश्रमे। पाद्येनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च ॥ १-५२-१६ ॥

phalamūlena bhagavanvidyate yattavāśrame| pādyenācamanīyena bhagavaddarśanena ca || 1-52-16 ||

O venerable one, with whatever is found in your hermitage -- with fruits and roots, with water for washing the feet and rinsing the mouth, and with the very sight of you --

Shloka 17 (bala.52.17)

सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजार्हेण सुपूजितः। नमस्तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा ॥ १-५२-१७ ॥

sarvathā ca mahāprājña pūjārheṇa supūjitaḥ| namaste'stu gamiṣyāmi maitreṇekṣasva cakṣuṣā || 1-52-17 ||

-- I have, in every way, O highly wise one, already been well honored, since you yourself are worthy of worship. My salutations to you; now I shall take my leave -- look upon me with a friendly eye.

Shloka 18 (bala.52.18)

एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं वसिष्ठः पुनरेव हि। न्यमंत्रयत धर्मात्मा पुनः पुनरुदारधीः ॥ १-५२-१८ ॥

evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ vasiṣṭhaḥ punareva hi| nyamaṃtrayata dharmātmā punaḥ punarudāradhīḥ || 1-52-18 ||

Though the king spoke thus, the righteous and magnanimous Vashishtha entreated him again and yet again.

Shloka 19 (bala.52.19)

बाढमित्येव गाधेयो वसिष्ठं प्रत्युवाच ह। यथा प्रियं भगवतस्तथास्तु मुनिसत्तम ॥ १-५२-१९ ॥

bāḍhamityeva gādheyo vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyuvāca ha| yathā priyaṃ bhagavatastathāstu munisattama || 1-52-19 ||

Then Gadhi's son replied to Vashishtha, "So be it -- O foremost of sages, let it be as pleases you."

Shloka 20 (bala.52.20)

एवमुक्तस्तथा तेन वसिष्ठो जपतां वरः। आजुहाव ततः प्रीतः कल्माषीं धूतकल्मषः ॥ १-५२-२० ॥

evamuktastathā tena vasiṣṭho japatāṃ varaḥ| ājuhāva tataḥ prītaḥ kalmāṣīṃ dhūtakalmaṣaḥ || 1-52-20 ||

When he had spoken so, Vashishtha, foremost among those devoted to recitation, his sins washed away, was gladdened, and called out to his dappled cow.

Shloka 21 (bala.52.21)

एह्येहि शबले क्षिप्रं शृणु चापि वचो मम। सबलस्यास्य राजर्षेः कर्तुं व्यवसितोऽस्म्यहम्। भोजनेन महार्हेण सत्कारं संविधत्स्व मे ॥ १-५२-२१ ॥

ehyehi śabale kṣipraṃ śṛṇu cāpi vaco mama| sabalasyāsya rājarṣeḥ kartuṃ vyavasito'smyaham| bhojanena mahārheṇa satkāraṃ saṃvidhatsva me || 1-52-21 ||

Come, come quickly, Shabala, and listen to my words as well. I have resolved to honor this royal sage, together with all his army, with a most sumptuous feast -- arrange it for me.

Shloka 22 (bala.52.22)

यस्य यस्य यथाकामं षड्रसेष्वभिपूजितम्। तत्सर्वं कामधुक् दिव्ये अभिवर्ष कृते मम ॥ १-५२-२२ ॥

yasya yasya yathākāmaṃ ṣaḍraseṣvabhipūjitam| tatsarvaṃ kāmadhuk divye abhivarṣa kṛte mama || 1-52-22 ||

Whatever, among the six flavors, is savored by each according to his own desire -- all of that, O divine wish-granting cow, do you now shower forth for my sake.

Shloka 23 (bala.52.23)

रसेनान्नेन पानेन लेह्यचोष्येण संयुतम्। अन्नानां निचयं सर्वं सृजस्व शबले त्वर ॥ १-५२-२३ ॥

rasenānnena pānena lehyacoṣyeṇa saṃyutam| annānāṃ nicayaṃ sarvaṃ sṛjasva śabale tvara || 1-52-23 ||

Shabala, make haste and create a heap of every kind of food -- comprising savory drinks, solid foods, beverages, and dishes both to be licked and to be sucked.