Bala Kanda — Sarga 52

तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रो महाबलः। प्रणतो विनयाद् वीरो वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्॥

Upon seeing that foremost of these reciting mantras, the highly powerful and heroic Viśvāmitra, exceedingly delighted, bowed to him in humility.

Bala Kanda 52.1

स्वागतं तव चेत्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। आसनं चास्य भगवान् वसिष्ठो व्यादिदेश ह॥

Having enquired as to the pleasantness of Viśvāmitra's journey, the high-souled and adorable Vasiştha ordered a seat for the former.

Bala Kanda 52.2

उपविष्टाय च तदा विश्वामित्राय धीमते। यथान्यायं मुनिवरः फलमूलमुपाहरत्॥

And on the intelligent Viśvāmitra having been seated, that best of ascetics properly entertained him with fruits and roots.

Bala Kanda 52.3

प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां वसिष्ठाद् राजसत्तमः। तपोऽग्निहोत्रशिष्येषु कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत ॥ विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वनस्पतिगणे तदा। सर्वत्र कुशलं प्राह वसिठो राजसत्तमम्॥

And having accepted Vasiştha's hospitality, that foremost of monarchs, the exceedingly energetic Viśvāmitra then enquired of Vasiştha as to the welfare of his asceticism, his Agnihotras, and his disciples, and his trees. Thereupon Vasiştha of fierce austerities communicated the welfare of all to that best of king, Viśvāmitra, seated at his ease.

Bala Kanda 52.4

सुखोपविष्टं राजानं विश्वामित्रं महातपाः। पप्रच्छ जपतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः॥

Then Brahma's son, Vasistha, the best of those reciting mantras, asked Visvāmitra, saying.

Bala Kanda 52.5

कच्चित्ते कुशलं राजन् कच्चिद् धर्मेण रञ्जयन्। प्रजाः पालयसे राजन् राजवृत्तेन धार्मिक॥

O king, is it well with you? And, O king, do you rule your subjects pleasing them consistently with morality?

Bala Kanda 52.6

कच्चित्ते सम्भृता भृत्याः कच्चित् तिष्ठन्ति शासने। कच्चित्ते विजिताः सर्वे रिपवो रिपुसूदन॥

O virtuous one, are your retainers maintained on salaries from the kingdom? Do they abode by your mandates? And, O destroyer of foes, hast you vanquished your enemies?

Bala Kanda 52.7

कच्चिद् बलेषु कोशेषु मित्रेषु च परंतप। कुशलं ते नरव्याघ्र पुत्रपौत्रे तथानघ॥

And O repressor of foes, is it well with you as to, O most powerful of men, your forces; exchequer, and friends, and, O sinless one, sons and grandsons?'

Bala Kanda 52.8

सर्वत्रं कुशलं राजा वसिष्ठं प्रत्युदाहरत्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठं विनयान्वितम्॥

Thereupon the highly powerful king, Viśvāmitra, with humility communicated to Vasiștha his complete welfare.

Bala Kanda 52.9

कृत्रा तौ सुचिरं कालं धर्मिष्ठौ ताः कथास्तदा। मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेतां तौ परस्परम्॥

Having conversed for a long time, those virtuous ones, experiencing exceeding joy, ministered to each other's delight.

Bala Kanda 52.10

ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथान्ते रघुनन्दन। विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव॥

Then, O descendant of Raghu, after the conversation had ended, the adorable Vasiştha, smiling, addressed Viśvāmitra, saying.

Bala Kanda 52.11

आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि बलस्यास्य महाबल। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य यथार्ह सम्प्रतीच्छ मे॥

O highly powerful one, I desire to properly entertain you of immeasurable power, as well as your forces, do you, therefore, accept my hospitality.

Bala Kanda 52.12

सत्क्रियां हि भवानेतां प्रतीच्छतु मया कृताम्। राजंस्त्वमतिथिश्रेष्ठः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः॥

Do you receive the hospitality which I extend to you. O king, you are the foremost of guests, and art worthy of assiduous homage.'

Bala Kanda 52.13

एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामतिः। कृतमित्यब्रवीद् राजा पूजावाक्येन मे त्वया॥

Being thus addressed by Vasiştha, that mighty ascetic, king Viśvāmitra; said, 'Even by this word of your relative to receiving me, hast you in fact done so.'

Bala Kanda 52.14

फलमूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत् तवाश्रमे। पाद्यनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च॥

And, O worshipful one, even with the fruits and roots that are in your asylum, with the water for washing my feet, and for sipping, you, with the sight of your revered self, have I been.

Bala Kanda 52.15

सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजाहेण सुपूजितः। नमस्तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा ॥

O profoundly wise one, excellently entertained by you, who art yourself worthy of homage. I how to you. I will go now. Do you regard me with a friendly eye.'

Bala Kanda 52.16

एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं वसिष्ठः पुनरेव हि। न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मात्मा पुनः पुनरुदारधीः॥

As the king was speaking thus, the righteous souled and generous Vasiştha again and again pressed him to accept his hospitality.

Bala Kanda 52.17

बाढमित्येव गाधेयो वसिष्ठं प्रत्युवाच ह। यथाप्रियं भगवतस्तथास्तु मुनिपुङ्गव॥

Then Gadhi's son answered Vasistha, Very well. O potent ascetic, let that be which find favour in your sight.'

Bala Kanda 52.18

एवमुक्तस्तथा तेन वसिष्ठो जपतां वरः। आजुहाव ततः प्रीतः कल्माषीं धूतकल्मषाम्॥

This having been said by him, Vasistha, the best of those reciting mantras, joyfully called his sacrificial dappled cow, capable of purging away sins.

Bala Kanda 52.19

एह्येहि शबले क्षिप्रं शृणु चापि वचो मम। सबलस्यास्य राजर्षेः कर्तुं व्यवसितोऽस्म्यहम्। भोजनेन महाहेण सत्कारं संविधत्स्व मे॥

O Śabala! do you come soon; and hear my words. I intend to entertain this royal saint together with his forces. Do you enable me to entertain him, by yielding excellent viands.

Bala Kanda 52.20

यस्य यस्य यथाकामं षड्रसेष्वभिपूजितम्। तत्सर्वं कामधुग् दिव्ये अभिवर्षकृते मम॥

And, O divine one, O you that confer everything that is desired, do you grant everyone whatever be ask among edibles impregnated with the six tastes.

Bala Kanda 52.21

रसेनान्नेन पानेन लेह्यचोष्येण संयुतम्। अन्नानां निचयं सर्वं सृजस्व शबले त्वर ॥

And do you, O Śabala, speedily create sapid viands to be chewed, sucked, licked, or drunk.

Bala Kanda 52.22