Vishvamitra and Menaka

Shloka 1 (bala.63.1)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु व्रतस्नातं महामुनिम्। अभ्यागच्छन् सुराः सर्वे तपःफलचिकीर्षवः ॥ १-६३-१ ॥

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu vratasnātaṃ mahāmunim| abhyāgacchan surāḥ sarve tapaḥphalacikīrṣavaḥ || 1-63-1 ||

When a thousand years had been completed, and the great sage had bathed on concluding his vow, all the gods came to him, wishing to grant him the fruit of his austerity.

Shloka 2 (bala.63.2)

अब्रवीत् सुमहातेजा ब्रह्मा सुरुचिरं वचः। ऋषिस्त्वमसि भद्रं ते स्वार्जितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः ॥ १-६३-२ ॥

abravīt sumahātejā brahmā suruciraṃ vacaḥ| ṛṣistvamasi bhadraṃ te svārjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ || 1-63-2 ||

The greatly resplendent Brahma spoke this gracious word: 'By your own auspicious deeds you have become a Rishi; may good befall you.'

Shloka 3 (bala.63.3)

तमेवमुक्त्वा देवेशस्त्रिदिवं पुनरभ्यगात्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा भूयस्तेपे महत्तपः ॥ १-६३-३ ॥

tamevamuktvā deveśastridivaṃ punarabhyagāt| viśvāmitro mahātejā bhūyastepe mahattapaḥ || 1-63-3 ||

Having spoken thus to him, the lord of the gods returned again to heaven; and Vishvamitra of great splendour once more undertook a great penance.

Shloka 4 (bala.63.4)

ततः कालेन महता मेनका परमाप्सराः। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ स्नातुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ १-६३-४ ॥

tataḥ kālena mahatā menakā paramāpsarāḥ| puṣkareṣu naraśreṣṭha snātuṃ samupacakrame || 1-63-4 ||

Then, after a long time, the supremely beautiful celestial nymph Menaka, O best of men, came to bathe in the Pushkara lakes.

Shloka 5 (bala.63.5)

तां ददर्श महातेजा मेनकां कुशिकात्मजः। रूपेणाप्रतिमां तत्र विद्युतं जलदे यथा ॥ १-६३-५ ॥

tāṃ dadarśa mahātejā menakāṃ kuśikātmajaḥ| rūpeṇāpratimāṃ tatra vidyutaṃ jalade yathā || 1-63-5 ||

The greatly resplendent son of Kushika saw that Menaka, matchless in beauty, there, like a flash of lightning within a rain-cloud.

Shloka 6 (bala.63.6)

दृष्ट्वा कन्दर्पवशगो मुनिस्तामिदमब्रवीत्। अप्सरः स्वागतं तेऽस्तु वस चेह ममाश्रमे ॥ १-६३-६ ॥

dṛṣṭvā kandarpavaśago munistāmidamabravīt| apsaraḥ svāgataṃ te'stu vasa ceha mamāśrame || 1-63-6 ||

On seeing her, the sage, overpowered by the god of love, spoke to her thus: 'O nymph, welcome to you; abide here in my hermitage.'

Shloka 7 (bala.63.7)

अनुगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते मदनेन सुमोहितम्। इत्युक्ता सा वरारोहा तत्र वासमथाकरोत् ॥ १-६३-७ ॥

anugṛhṇīṣva bhadraṃ te madanena sumohitam| ityuktā sā varārohā tatra vāsamathākarot || 1-63-7 ||

'Show your favour to me, who am utterly bewildered by desire; may you be blessed.' Thus addressed, that lovely nymph made her stay there.

Shloka 8 (bala.63.8)

तपसो हि महाविघ्नो विश्वामित्रमुपागतम्। तस्यां वसन्त्यां वर्षाणि पंच पंच च राघव ॥ १-६३-८ ॥

tapaso hi mahāvighno viśvāmitramupāgatam| tasyāṃ vasantyāṃ varṣāṇi paṃca paṃca ca rāghava || 1-63-8 ||

Thus a great obstacle to his austerity befell Vishvamitra; and while she stayed there, O descendant of Raghu, ten years

Shloka 9 (bala.63.9)

विश्वामित्राश्रमे सौम्य सुखेन व्यतिचक्रमुः। अथ काले गते तस्मिन् विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ १-६३-९ ॥

viśvāmitrāśrame saumya sukhena vyaticakramuḥ| atha kāle gate tasmin viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-63-9 ||

passed pleasantly, O gentle Rama, in Vishvamitra's hermitage. Then, when that time had elapsed, the great sage Vishvamitra

Shloka 10 (bala.63.10)

सव्रीड इव संवृत्तश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः। बुद्धिर्मुनेः समुत्पन्ना सामर्षा रघुनंदन ॥ १-६३-१० ॥

savrīḍa iva saṃvṛttaścintāśokaparāyaṇaḥ| buddhirmuneḥ samutpannā sāmarṣā raghunaṃdana || 1-63-10 ||

became as it were overcome with shame, given over to anxiety and grief; and, O delight of Raghu's line, an indignant thought arose in the sage's mind:

Shloka 11 (bala.63.11)

सर्वं सुराणां कर्मैतत्तपोऽपहरणं महत्। अहो रात्रापदेशेन गताः संवत्सरा दश ॥ १-६३-११ ॥

sarvaṃ surāṇāṃ karmaitattapo'paharaṇaṃ mahat| aho rātrāpadeśena gatāḥ saṃvatsarā daśa || 1-63-11 ||

'All this is the doing of the gods, to rob me of the great merit of my penance. Ten years have slipped away as if they were but a single day and night!'

Shloka 12 (bala.63.12)

काममोहाभिभूतस्य विघ्नोऽयं प्रत्युपस्थितः। विनिःश्वसन् मुनिवरः पश्चात्तापेन दुःखितः ॥ १-६३-१२ ॥

kāmamohābhibhūtasya vighno'yaṃ pratyupasthitaḥ| viniḥśvasan munivaraḥ paścāttāpena duḥkhitaḥ || 1-63-12 ||

'This obstacle has befallen me, overpowered as I was by desire and delusion.' Sighing heavily, the eminent sage, tormented with remorse,

Shloka 13 (bala.63.13)

भीतामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा वेपन्तीं प्रांजलिं स्थिताम्। मेनकां मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्विसृज्य कुशिकात्मजः ॥ १-६३-१३ ॥

bhītāmapsarasaṃ dṛṣṭvā vepantīṃ prāṃjaliṃ sthitām| menakāṃ madhurairvākyairvisṛjya kuśikātmajaḥ || 1-63-13 ||

seeing the nymph Menaka standing there fearful, trembling, with joined palms — the son of Kushika dismissed her with gentle words,

Shloka 14 (bala.63.14)

उत्तरं पर्वतं राम विश्वामित्रो जगाम ह। स कृत्वा नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं जेतुकामो महायशाः ॥ १-६३-१४ ॥

uttaraṃ parvataṃ rāma viśvāmitro jagāma ha| sa kṛtvā naiṣṭhikīṃ buddhiṃ jetukāmo mahāyaśāḥ || 1-63-14 ||

and, O Rama, Vishvamitra went to the northern mountain. Having formed a firm and resolute purpose, that highly renowned sage, desiring to conquer his senses,

Shloka 15 (bala.63.15)

कौशिकीतीरमासाद्य तपस्तेपे दुरासदम्। तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरं तप उपासतः ॥ १-६३-१५ ॥

kauśikītīramāsādya tapastepe durāsadam| tasya varṣasahasrāṇi ghoraṃ tapa upāsataḥ || 1-63-15 ||

reached the bank of the river Kaushiki and performed an austerity hard to equal. While he thus practised terrible penance for a thousand years,

Shloka 16 (bala.63.16)

उत्तरे पर्वते राम देवतानामभूद्भयम्। आमंत्रयन् समागम्य सर्वे सर्षिगणाः सुराः ॥ १-६३-१६ ॥

uttare parvate rāma devatānāmabhūdbhayam| āmaṃtrayan samāgamya sarve sarṣigaṇāḥ surāḥ || 1-63-16 ||

O Rama, on that northern mountain, fear arose among the gods. All the gods, together with the assemblies of sages, came and conferred,

Shloka 17 (bala.63.17)

महर्षिशब्दं लभतां साध्वयं कुशिकात्मजः। देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकपितामहः ॥ १-६३-१७ ॥

maharṣiśabdaṃ labhatāṃ sādhvayaṃ kuśikātmajaḥ| devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ || 1-63-17 ||

saying: 'Let this worthy son of Kushika duly obtain the title of Maharshi.' Hearing the words of the gods, the Grandsire of all the worlds

Shloka 18 (bala.63.18)

अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। महर्षे स्वागतं वत्स तपसोग्रेण तोषितः ॥ १-६३-१८ ॥

abravīnmadhuraṃ vākyaṃ viśvāmitraṃ tapodhanam| maharṣe svāgataṃ vatsa tapasogreṇa toṣitaḥ || 1-63-18 ||

spoke this gracious word to Vishvamitra, whose wealth was austerity: 'O great seer, welcome, my child; I am gratified by your fierce penance.'

Shloka 19 (bala.63.19)

महत्त्वमृषिमुख्यत्वं ददामि तव कौशिक। ब्रह्मणः स वचः श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्तपोधनः ॥ १-६३-१९ ॥

mahattvamṛṣimukhyatvaṃ dadāmi tava kauśika| brahmaṇaḥ sa vacaḥ śrutvā viśvāmitrastapodhanaḥ || 1-63-19 ||

'O Kaushika, I confer upon you greatness and the foremost rank among sages.' Hearing this word of Brahma, Vishvamitra, whose wealth was austerity,

Shloka 20 (bala.63.20)

प्रांजलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच पितामहम्। ब्रह्मर्षिशब्दमतुलं स्वार्जितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः ॥ १-६३-२० ॥

prāṃjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā pratyuvāca pitāmaham| brahmarṣiśabdamatulaṃ svārjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ || 1-63-20 ||

bowed with joined palms and replied to the Grandsire: 'If your Godhead were to say that I, through my own auspicious deeds, have earned the matchless title of Brahmarshi,'

Shloka 21 (bala.63.21)

यदि मे भगवानाह ततोऽहं विजितेन्द्रियः। तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा न तावत्त्वं जितेन्द्रियः ॥ १-६३-२१ ॥

yadi me bhagavānāha tato'haṃ vijitendriyaḥ| tamuvāca tato brahmā na tāvattvaṃ jitendriyaḥ || 1-63-21 ||

'—then indeed I would be one whose senses are truly conquered.' Then Brahma said to him: 'You have not yet so far conquered your senses.'

Shloka 22 (bala.63.22)

यतस्व मुनिशार्दूल इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदिवं गतः। विप्रस्थितेषु देवेषु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ १-६३-२२ ॥

yatasva muniśārdūla ityuktvā tridivaṃ gataḥ| viprasthiteṣu deveṣu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-63-22 ||

'Strive on, O tiger among sages.' Having said this, Brahma departed for heaven. When the gods had thus departed, the great sage Vishvamitra

Shloka 23 (bala.63.23)

ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्निरालंबो वायुभक्षस्तपश्चरन्। धर्मे पंचतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशसंश्रयः ॥ १-६३-२३ ॥

ūrdhvabāhurnirālaṃbo vāyubhakṣastapaścaran| dharme paṃcatapā bhūtvā varṣāsvākāśasaṃśrayaḥ || 1-63-23 ||

practised austerity with arms raised, standing without support, subsisting on air alone. In summer he became the ascetic of five fires; in the rains, the open sky was his only shelter;

Shloka 24 (bala.63.24)

शिशिरे सलिले शायी रात्र्यहानि तपोधनः। एवं वर्षसहस्रं हि तपो घोरमुपागमत् ॥ १-६३-२४ ॥

śiśire salile śāyī rātryahāni tapodhanaḥ| evaṃ varṣasahasraṃ hi tapo ghoramupāgamat || 1-63-24 ||

and in winter, whether by day or night, that man whose wealth was austerity lay in water. Thus, for a further thousand years, he underwent this terrible penance.

Shloka 25 (bala.63.25)

तस्मिन् संतप्यमाने तु विश्वामित्रे महामुनौ। संतापः सुमहानासीत् सुराणां वासवस्य च ॥ १-६३-२५ ॥

tasmin saṃtapyamāne tu viśvāmitre mahāmunau| saṃtāpaḥ sumahānāsīt surāṇāṃ vāsavasya ca || 1-63-25 ||

While the great sage Vishvamitra was thus consumed in penance, great anguish arose among the gods and Indra as well.

Shloka 26 (bala.63.26)

रंभामप्सरसं शक्रः सह सर्वैर्मरुद्गणैः। उवाचात्महितं वाक्यमहितं कौशिकस्य च ॥ १-६३-२६ ॥

raṃbhāmapsarasaṃ śakraḥ saha sarvairmarudgaṇaiḥ| uvācātmahitaṃ vākyamahitaṃ kauśikasya ca || 1-63-26 ||

Then Indra, together with all the assembled Marut gods, spoke to the nymph Rambha words that served his own interest but were harmful to the son of Kushika.