Bala Kanda — Sarga 63

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु व्रतस्नातं महामुनिम्। अभ्यगच्छन् सुराः सर्वे तप:फलचिकीर्षवः॥

When the thousand years had been completed and the mighty ascetic had accomplished his vow, the celestials in a body desirous of conferring upon him the fruit thereof, appeared before him.

Bala Kanda 63.1

अब्रवीत् सुमहातेजा ब्रह्मा सुरुचिरं वचः। ऋषिस्त्वमसि भद्रं ते स्वार्चितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः॥

The exceedingly effulgent Brahmă addressed him in soothing words, saying, “You are henceforth a saint, good to you, and (this. eminence) you have attained through your own laudable exertions.'

Bala Kanda 63.2

तमेवमुक्वा देवेशस्त्रिदिवं पुनरभ्यगात्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा भूयस्तेपे महत् तपः॥

Having spoken thus to him, the lord of celestials returned to heaven. And Viśvāmitra of mighty energy became again engaged in rigid austerities.

Bala Kanda 63.3

ततः कालेन महता मेनका परमाप्सराः। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ स्नातुं समुपचक्रमे॥ तां ददर्श महातेजा मेनकां कुशिकात्मजः। रूपेणाप्रतिमां तत्र विद्युतं जलदे यथा ॥ कन्दर्पदर्पवशगो मुनिस्तामिदमब्रवीत्। अप्सरः स्वागतं तेऽस्तु वस चेह ममाश्रमे॥

And, O foremost of men, it came to pass that after a long lapse of time that prime of Apsaras, Menaka, was at that time perforining her ablutions in Puskara, and she was observed by Kusika's son like to lighting among clouds. And coming under the control of Kandarpa, (Cupid) the anchorite spoke to her, saying, 'O Apsari, has your journey been a pleasant one? Do you abide in my asylum.'

Bala Kanda 63.4

अनुगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते मदनेन विमोहितम्। इत्युक्ता सा वरारोहा तत्र वासमथाकरोत् ॥

Do you favour me; for, good betide you, I have been rendered senseless by Madana. Thus addressed, that one of shapely hips began to dwell there.

Bala Kanda 63.5

तपसो हि महाविघ्नो विश्वामित्रमुपागमत्। तस्यां वसन्त्यां वर्षाणि पञ्च पञ्च च राघव॥ विश्वामित्राश्रमे सौम्ये सुखेन व्यतिचक्रमुः।

And mighty was the hindrance that befell Viśvāmitra as regarded his asceticism, as she, O Rāghava, staying in that asylum of his, pleasantly spent five and five years, O gentle one.

Bala Kanda 63.6

अथ काले गते तस्मिन् विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः॥ सव्रीड इव संवृत्तश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः।

And after this period had gone by, overwhelmed with shame and afflicted with anxiety and grief, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra impatiently thought,

Bala Kanda 63.7

बुद्धिर्मुनेः समुत्पन्ना सामर्षा रघुनन्दन॥ सर्वं सुराणां कर्मैतत् तपोऽपहरणं महत्।

O son of Raghu, that all this mighty loss of austerities was the work of the celestials.

Bala Kanda 63.8

अहोरात्रापदेशेन गताः संवत्सरा दश ॥ काममोहाभिभूतस्य विघ्नोऽयं प्रत्युपस्थितः।

And deprived of his senses by lust, the decade had passed away imperceptibly as if it were one day and night; and this impediment stood in the way of his austerities.

Bala Kanda 63.9

स निःश्वसन्मुनिवरः पश्चात्तापेन दुःखितः॥ भीतामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा वेपन्तीं प्राञ्जलिं स्थिताम्। मेनकां मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्विसृज्य कुशिकात्मजः॥ उत्तरं पर्वतं राम विश्वामित्रो जगाम ह।

Having a sigh, that best of ascetics burned in repentance. And with sweet words renouncing the terrified and trembling Menaka standing with clasped hands, Kusika's son, Visvamitra, O Rāma, went to the northern mountains.

Bala Kanda 63.10

स कृत्वा नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिं जेतुकामो महायशाः॥ कौशिकीतीरमासाद्य तपस्तेपे दुरासदम्।

And practising the Brahmacarya mode of life with the intention of subduing lust, that highly famous one engaged in arduous austerities on the banks of the Kausiki.

Bala Kanda 63.11

तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरं तप उपासतः॥ उत्तरे पर्वते राम देवतानामभूद् भयम्।

And as he was thus engaged in profound austerities on the northern mountain, a thousand years, O Rāma passed away.

Bala Kanda 63.12

आमन्त्रयन् समागम्य सर्वे सर्षिगणाः सुराः॥ महर्षिशब्दं लभतां साध्वयं कुशिकात्मजः।

Then taking counsel together, the celestials and the saints appeared before (Brahma), saying, 'Let Kusika's son obtain the title of Maharsi.'

Bala Kanda 63.13

देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकपितामहः॥ अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। महर्षे स्वागतं वत्स तपसोग्रेण तोषितः॥

Hearing the words of the celestials, the Grand sire of all addressed the ascetic Viśvāmitra, in these sweet words, 'O mighty saint, hast you had a pleasant journey? Satisfied with your fierce austerities, O Kausika, I confer upon you the eminence of the foremost saintship.'

Bala Kanda 63.14

महत्त्वमृषिमुख्यत्वं ददामि तव कौशिक। ब्रह्मणस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्तपोधनः॥ प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच पितामहम्। ब्रह्मर्षिशब्दमतुलं स्वार्चितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः॥ यदि मे भगवन्नाह ततोऽहं विजितेन्द्रियः।

Hearing Brahma's speech, the anchorite Viśvāmitra bowing down thus answered the Grandsire with clasped hands, The incomparable title of Brahmarși is to be won by one by performing sterling works. And since you have not addressed me (by that title), it appears that I have not yet succeeded in subduing my senses. *The text is very faulty. The literal meaning would be, since you have not.....I have subdued my senses, which would be absurd. I have therefore rendered the passage freely.

Bala Kanda 63.15

तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा न तावत् त्वं जितेन्द्रियः॥ यतस्व मुनिशार्दूल इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदिवं गतः।

Thereupon Brahmā said to him, 'Do you exert thyself until you conquer your senses?' Saying this, Brahmā went to heaven.

Bala Kanda 63.16

विप्रस्थितेषु देवेषु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः॥ ऊर्ध्वबाहुनिरालम्बो वायुभक्षस्तपश्चरन्।

And when the celestials had gone, the mighty ascetic, Viśvāmitra, with upraised arms, and without any support, and subsisting on air, began to perform penances.

Bala Kanda 63.17

धर्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशसंश्रयः॥ शिशिरे सलिलेशायी रात्र्यहानि तपोधनः। एवं वर्षसहस्रं हि तपो घोरमुपागमत्॥

And in summer, the ascetic surrounded himself with five fires, and in rains remained in an uncovered place, and in winter day and night stood submerged in water. Thus passed by a thousand years of terrible penances.

Bala Kanda 63.18

तस्मिन् संतप्यमाने तु विश्वामित्रे महामुनौ। संतापः सुमहानासीत् सुराणां वासवस्य च ॥

And on the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra being engaged in austerities, great was the agitation that exercised the celestials and Indra, in particular.

Bala Kanda 63.19

रम्भामप्सरसं शक्रः सर्वैः सह मरुद्गणैः। उवाचात्महितं वाक्यमहितं कौशिकस्य च॥

Śakra together with the Maruts spoke to Rambha these words, fraught with weal to himself, and woe to Kausika.'

Bala Kanda 63.20