Bala Kanda: Chapter 55

ततस्तानाकुलान् दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रास्त्रमोहितान्। वसिष्ठश्चोदयामास कामधुक् सृज योगतः॥
And beholding them sore harassed, and overwhelmed by Visvāmitra's weapons, Vasistha directed (Sabala) saying, 'o cow of plenty, do you create (fresh troops), through your Yoga power.'

तस्या हुंकारतो जाताः काम्बोजा रविसंनिभाः। ऊधसश्चाथ सम्भूता बर्बराः शस्त्रपाणयः॥ योनिदेशाच्च यवनाः शकृद्देशाच्छकाः स्मृताः। रोमकूपेषु म्लेच्छाश्च हारीताः सकिरातकाः॥
And from her roar, there came into being Kamvojas, resembling the Sun. And from her udders sprang Barbaras, arms in hand; and from her mysterious parts, Yavanas; from her anus, Sakas; and from the pores of her skin, those barbarians, Hārītas and Kirātas.

तैस्तन्निषूदितं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य तत्क्षणात्। सपदातिगजं साश्वं सरथं रघुनन्दन॥
And, (descendant of Raghu, Viśvāmitra's entire host consisting of foot, and elephant, and horse, and car, was exterminated by them.

दृष्ट्वा निषूदितं सैन्यं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। विश्वामित्रसुतानां तु शतं नानाविधायुधम्॥ अभ्यधावत् सुसंक्रुद्धं वसिष्ठं जगतां वरम्। हुंकारेणैव तान् सर्वान् निर्ददाह महानृषिः॥
Seeing the army annihilated by the highsouled Vasiştha, the hundred sons of Viśvāmitra, equipped with various weapons, rushed in high ire against that best of mantra-reciting ones. Thereupon, uttering a roar, that mighty ascetic consumed them quite.

ते साश्वरथपादाता वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। भस्मीकृता मुहूर्तेन विश्वामित्रसुतास्तथा॥
In a moment, Viśvāmitra's sons together with horse and car and foot were reduced to ashes by the high-souled Vasistha.

दृष्ट्वा विनाशितान् सर्वान् बलं च सुमहायशाः। सव्रीडं चिन्तयाविष्टो विश्वामित्रोऽभवत् तदा॥
And witnessing them all destroyed, together with the army, the illustrious Viśvāmitra, covered with shame, became plunged in thought.

समुद्र इव निर्वेगो भग्नद्रष्ट्र इवोरगः। उपरक्त इवादित्यः सद्यो निप्रभतां गतः॥
And like to a tideless ocean or a fangless snake, he instantly became shorn of his effulgence, like to the sun overwhelmed by Rahu.* *A Daitya with the tail of a dragon, whose head was served from his body by Vişnu; but being immortal, the head and tail retained their separate existence, and being transferred to the stellar sphere, became the author of eclipses.

हतपुत्रबलो दीनो लूनपक्ष इव द्विजः। हतसर्वबलोत्साहो निर्वेदं समपद्यत॥
And deprived of his forces and sons, he appeared like a bird bereft of its wings; and losing his entire army and with it the high spirits that it had inspired him with, his heart died within him.

स पुत्रमेकं राज्याय पालयेति नियुज्य च। पृथिवीं क्षत्रधर्मेण वनमेवाभ्यपद्यत॥
Then entrusting one of his (remaining) sons with the sovereignty, with, 'Do you rule the earth agree ably to the duties of the Kșatriya,' he went into the forest.

स गत्वा हिमवत्पार्वे किंनरोरगसेवितम्। महादेवप्रसादार्थं तपस्तेपे महातपाः।.१२ ।।
And repairing to the side of the Himavat inhabited by Kinnaras and Serpents that one of mighty asceticism began to perform austerities with the view of propitiating Mahādeva.

केनचित् त्वथ कालेन देवेशो वृषभध्वजः। दर्शयामास वरदो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्॥
On a certain occasion the lord of the celestials, Vrsadhvaja,* intending to confer a boon, appeared before a mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra. *An appellation of Śiva: meaning who has the bull for his vehicle.

किमर्थं तप्यसे राजन् ब्रूहि यत् ते विवक्षितम्। वरदोऽस्मि वरो यस्ते काङ्क्षितः सोऽभिधीयताम्।।१४।
What for, O king, art you performing penance?. Do you unfold what you have to say. I am for conferring a boon: do you express what boon you would obtain.

एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन विश्वामित्रो महातपाः। प्रणिपत्य महादेवं विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्॥
Thus addressed by that god, that performer of mighty austerities, Viśvāmitra, bowing down to him, addressed him, saying.

यदि तुष्टो महादेव धनुर्वेदो ममानघ। साङ्गोपाङ्गोपनिषदः सरहस्यः प्रदीयताम्॥
If, O mighty god, you are pleased (with me), do you confer upon me the science of archery with all its mysteries and mantras, as well as its virtues of helping from far and near.

यानि देवेषु चास्त्राणि दानवेषु महर्षिषु । गन्धर्वयक्षरक्ष:सु प्रतिभान्तु ममानघ ॥
O sinless one, may all those weapons that are with the celestials and the Dānavas and the Maharșis and the Gandharvas and the Yakşas and the Rākşasa, shine on me ! May this my desire be granted me through your grace, O god of gods!

तव प्रसादाद् भवतु देवदेव ममेप्सुतम्। एवमस्त्विति देवेशो वाक्यमुक्त्वा गतस्तदा॥ प्राप्य चास्त्राणि देवेशाद् विश्वामित्रो महाबलः। दर्पण महता युक्तो दर्पपूर्णोऽभवत् तदा ॥
Thereupon, saying, 'Be it so' the lord of the celestials vanished. And obtaining the arms from the lord of the celestials, the mighty Viśvāmitra, naturally haughty, became swelled with insolence.

विवर्धमानो वीर्येण समुद्र इव पर्वणि। हतं मेने तदा राम वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्॥
Surcharged with energy, like to the sea during the equinox, he considered, O Rāma, as if that foremost of saints, Vasistha, was already slain.

ततो गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं मुमोचास्त्राणि पार्थिवः। यैस्तत् तपोवनं नाम निर्दग्धं चास्त्रतेजसा॥
And repairing to Vasistha's asylum, the king began to discharge weapons; and by their energy the hermitage began to burn.

उदीर्यमाणमस्त्रं तद् विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः। दृष्ट्वा विप्रदुता भीता मुनयः शतशो दिशः॥
Beholding those weapons discharged by the intelligent Viśvāmitra, the ascetics, overtaken by fear, by hundreds began to fly.

वसिष्ठस्य च ये शिष्या ये च वै मृगपक्षिणः। विद्रवन्ति भयाद् भीता नानादिग्भ्यः सहस्रशः॥
Vasiştha's disciples as well as the animals and birds inhabiting there, fled in all direction by thousands.

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं शून्यमासीन्महात्मनः। मुहूर्तमिव निःशब्दमासीदीरिणसंनिभम्॥
For a time the hermitage of the high souled Vasiştha was bare of living beings, and still like to a wilderness.

वदतो वै वसिष्ठस्य मा भैरिति मुहुर्मुहुः। नाशयाम्यद्य गाधेयं नाहारमिव भास्करः॥
And Vasistha cried momentarily, 'Do not fear. To day will I slay Gadhi's son, even as the sun (destroys) mist.'

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा वसिष्ठो जपतां वरः। विश्वामित्रं तदा वाक्यं सरोषमिदमब्रवीत्॥
Having said this, that best of mantra reciting ones, Vasistha, in high wrath, addressed Viśvāmitra, saying.

आश्रमं चिरसंवृद्धं यद् विनाशितवानसि। दुराचारो हि यन्मूढस्तस्मात् त्वं न भविष्यसि ॥
Since, O fool, you have destroyed this hermitage that had been prospering for a long time, you of execrable ways shall not live long.

इत्युक्त्वा परमक्रुद्धो दण्डमुद्यम्य सत्वरः। विधूम इव कालाग्निर्यमदण्डमिवापरम् ॥
Saying this, he, transported with wrath, and like the smoking flame at at universal dissolution, speedily upraised a staff resembling another mace of Yama itself.' to