Bala Kanda — Sarga 65

अथ हैमवतीं राम दिशं त्यक्त्वा महामुनिः। पूर्वां दिशमनुप्राप्य तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्॥

Forsaking the northern direction the mighty Muni, O Rāma, betaking himself to the Eastern quarter, became engaged in dreadful austerities.

Bala Kanda 65.1

मौनं वर्षसहस्रस्य कृत्वा व्रतमनुत्तमम्। चकाराप्रतिमं राम तपः परमदुष्करम्॥

Adopting the high vow of taciturnity for a thousand years, he, O Rāma began to perform the most signal and arduous austerities.

Bala Kanda 65.2

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु काष्ठभूतं महामुनिम्। विघ्नैर्बहुभिराधूतं क्रोधो नान्तरमाविशत्॥

When the thousand years had been complete, many an impediment tried the mighty Muni staying like the trunk of a tree, yet could not anger enter his heart.

Bala Kanda 65.3

स कृत्वा निश्चयं राम तप आतष्ठिताव्ययम्। तस्य वर्षसहस्रस्य वर्ते पूर्णे महाव्रतः॥ भोक्तुमारब्धवानन्नं तस्मिन् काले रघूत्तम। इन्द्रो द्विजातिभूत्वा तं सिद्धमन्नमयाचत ॥

And firmly deter mined to shut out anger, he, O Rāma, kept his asceticism from deterioration. And, O foremost of the Raghus, when his vow of a thousand years had been observed, that one of mighty vows became desirous of feeding on boiled rice. And it came to pass ( best of the Raghus that at this time Indra assuming the guise of a regenerate one, asked for the rice.

Bala Kanda 65.4

तस्मै दत्त्वा तदा सिद्धं सर्वं विप्राय निश्चितः। निःशेषितेऽने भगवानभुक्त्वैव महातपाः॥

Thereupon he gave it away to the Vipra; and when the rice had been thus exhausted, that worshipful one of mighty austerities went without foot.

Bala Kanda 65.5

न किंचिदवदद् विप्रं मौनव्रतमुपास्थितः। तथैवासीत् पुनर्मोनमनुच्छ्वासं चकार ह॥

Nor, abiding by the vow of reticence, did he say aught to the Vipra. And he then again resumed his dumb guise, restraining his breath at the same time.

Bala Kanda 65.6

अथ वर्षसहस्रं च नोच्छ्वसन् मुनिपुङ्गवः। तस्यानुच्छ्वसमानस्य मूर्ध्नि धूमो व्यजायत॥

And that puissant ascetic did not breathe for a you sand years. And as he restrained his breath, vapours began to issue out of his head.

Bala Kanda 65.7

त्रैलोक्यं येन सम्भ्रान्तमातापितमिवाभवत्। ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः पन्नगोरगराक्षसाः॥ मोहितास्तपसा तस्य तेजसा मन्दरश्मयः। कश्मलोपहताः सर्वे पितामहमथाब्रुवन्॥

And at this, the three worlds became afflicted with fear. And bewildered on account of the energy of his asceticisin, and shorn of their brightness, and afflicted with anguish, the Devarsis and the Gandharvas and the Pannagas and the Uragas and the Rakşasas in a body addressed the Pitāmaha, (Brahmā).

Bala Kanda 65.8

बहुभिः कारणैर्देव विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। लोभितः क्रोधितश्चैव तपसा चाभिवर्धते॥

O divine one, various were the means by which we endeavoured to affect the mighty Muni Viśvāmitra with covetousness and lust; but for all that he increase in asceticism.

Bala Kanda 65.9

नह्यस्य वृजिनं किंचिद् दृश्यते सूक्ष्ममप्युत। न दीयते यदि त्वस्य मनसा यदभीप्सितम्॥ विनाशयति त्रैलोक्यं तपसा सचराचरम्। व्याकुलाश्च दिशः सर्वा न च किंचित् प्रकाशते॥

Nor do we perceive in him ever so little of anger or lust. And if you do not confer upon him what his mind desire to have, he will annihilate the three worlds with all that is mobile and immobile in them. And the ten cardinal points are disconsolate: and nothing can be discovered therein.

Bala Kanda 65.10

सागराः क्षुभिताः सर्वे विशीर्यन्ते व पर्वताः। प्रकम्पते च वसुधा वायुर्वातीह संकुल॥

And the seas are vexed, and the mountains, riven. And the earth shake, and the winds keep steadily blowing.

Bala Kanda 65.11

ब्रह्मन् न प्रतिजानीमो नास्तिको जायते जनः। सम्मूढमिव त्रैलोक्यं सम्प्रक्षुभितमानसम्॥

O Brahmana, we do not know how to remedy, this. And every one is inactive like an infidel. And the three worlds look as if stupefied, with their minds exceedingly exercised.

Bala Kanda 65.12

भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चैव महर्षेस्तस्य तेजसा। बुद्धिं न कुरुते यावत्राशे देव महामुनिः॥ तावत् प्रसाद्यो भगवत्रग्निरूपो महाद्युतिः।

By virtue of that mighty saint's energy, the sun itself has been deprived of his splendour.

Bala Kanda 65.13

कालाग्निना यथा पूर्वं त्रैलोक्यं दह्यतेऽखिलम्॥ देवराज्यं चिकीर्षेत दीयतामस्य यन्मनः।

Therefore, O god, against the mighty Muni bending his mind upon destruction, and consuming the three entire worlds like to the fire raging at the universal dissolution, that exalted one of exceeding effulgence resembling a flame, should be pacified.

Bala Kanda 65.14

ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे पितामहपुरोगमाः॥ विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं वाक्यं मधुरमब्रुवन्।

Even should he desires the dominion of the celestial regions, do you grant him his wish.

Bala Kanda 65.15

ब्रह्मर्षे स्वागतं तेऽस्तु तपसा स्म सुतोषिताः॥ ब्राह्मण्यं तपसोग्रेण प्राप्तवानसि कौशिक।

Then the celestials with Pitamaha at their head, addressed the high-souled Viśvāmitra in sweet-words, saying, "Welcome, O Brahmarşi! Well pleased have we been with your penances. And, O son of Kusika, in consideration of your fiery asceticism, you have obtained Brāhmaṇahood.'

Bala Kanda 65.16

दीर्घमायुश्च ते ब्रह्मन् ददामि समरुद्गणः॥ स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते गच्छ सौम्य यथासुखम्। पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम्॥ कृत्वा प्रणामं मुदितो व्याजहार महामुनिः।

O Brāhmaṇa, I will in company with the Maruts confer on you long life. hail to you! Do you accept this, good betide you. Go you, O gentle ascetic, bowing down to the celestials, said in delight,

Bala Kanda 65.17

ब्राह्मण्यं यदि मे प्राप्तं दीर्घमायुस्तथैव च॥ ॐकारोऽथ वषट्कारो देवाश्च वरयन्तु माम्। क्षत्रवेदविदां श्रेष्ठो ब्रह्मवेदविदामपि ॥ ब्रह्मपुत्रो वसिष्ठो मामेवं वदतु देवताः। यद्येवं परमः कामः कृतो यान्तु सुरर्षभाः॥

If Brāhmaṇa-hood has really been obtained by e together with length of days, let Omkâra and Vaşaļkāra and the Vedas crown me; and let, you gods, that foremost of those versed in Kștra Veda ad well as of those cognizant of the Brahmaveda, even Brahma's son, Vasistha, recognise me. Having granted this prime desire of mine, do you go away, you gods.

Bala Kanda 65.18

ततः प्रसादिते देवैर्वसिष्ठो जपतां वरः। सख्यं चकार ब्रह्मर्षिरेवमस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्॥

Then pacified by the celestials, that best of reciters, the Brahmarsi Vasistha, made friends (with Viśvāmitra), saying,

Bala Kanda 65.19

ब्रह्मर्षिस्त्वं न संदेहः सर्वं सम्पद्यते तव। इत्युक्त्वा देवताश्चापि सर्वा जग्मुर्यथागतम्॥

'So be it.' You are a Brahmarsi. There is no doubt about this. And everything has been compassed in your behalf, having said this, the deities went to their respective regions.

Bala Kanda 65.20

विश्वामित्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा लब्ध्वा ब्राह्मण्यमुत्तमम्। पूजयामास ब्रह्मर्षि वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्॥

And that Brahmarși, the righteous Viśvāmitra also, having attained excellent Brāhmaṇa-hood, paid his homage to that best of reciters, Vasistha.

Bala Kanda 65.21

कृतकामो महीं सर्वां चचार तपसि स्थितः। एवं त्वनेन ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्तं राम महात्मना॥

And, having secured his end, began to range the entire world, staying in asceticism. In this wise, O Rāma, was Brāhmanya actually obtained by the high-souled one.

Bala Kanda 65.22

एष राम मुनिश्रेष्ठ एष विग्रहवांस्तपः। एष धर्मः परो नित्यं वीर्यस्यैष परायणम्॥

This, O Rāma, is the foremost of ascetics, this one is Asceticism incarnate. This one ever abide by duty; and he is the stay of ascetic energy.

Bala Kanda 65.23

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम द्विजोत्तमः। शतानन्दवचः श्रुत्वा रामलक्ष्मणसंनिधौ॥ जनकः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमुवाच कुशिकात्मजम्।

Having said this, that best of regenerate persons paused. Hearing Satānanda's narration delivered in the presence of Rāma and Laks maņa, Janaka with clasped hands addressed the son of Kusika.

Bala Kanda 65.24

धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुङ्गव॥ यज्ञं काकुत्स्थसहितः प्राप्तवानसि कौशिक। पावितोऽहं त्वया ब्रह्मन् दर्शनेन महामुने ॥

Blessed and beholden am I, that you, O Kausika, accompanied with Kākutstha, hast arrived at my sacrifice, O puissant anchorite. Purified am I, O Brāhmaṇa, by your very sight.

Bala Kanda 65.25

गुणा बहुविधाः प्राप्तास्तव संदर्शनान्मया। विस्तरेण च वै ब्रह्मन् कीर्त्यमानं महत्तपः॥ श्रुतं मया महातेजो रामेण च महात्मना। सदस्यैः प्राप्य च सदः श्रुतास्ते बहवो गुणाः॥

O mighty Muni. And from your sight have I received various qualities. O Brāhmaṇa, your mighty austerities have been related in detail; and myself as well as he high-souled Rāma have listened to the narration relative to your formidable ascetic energy; and the assembled courtiers have heard of your various perfections.

Bala Kanda 65.26

अप्रमेयं तपस्तुभ्यमप्रमेयं च ते बलम्। अप्रमेया गुणाश्चैव नित्यं ते कुशिकात्मज ॥

Immeasurable is your asceticism; and ever immeasurable your power; and immeasurable your qualities,

Bala Kanda 65.27

तृप्तिराश्चर्यभूतानां कथानां नास्ति मे विभो। कर्मकालो मुनिश्रेष्ठ लम्बते रविमण्डलम्॥

O Kusika's son. I never, O lord, am tired of listening to that wonderful narration. Now, O foremost of ascetics, the hour for performing the daily devotions has arrived, and the solar disc hangs aslope.

Bala Kanda 65.28

श्वः प्रभाते महातेजो द्रष्टुमर्हसि मां पुनः। स्वागतं जपतां श्रेष्ठ मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥

To-morrow morning, O highly energetic one, you will see me again. Welcome, best of reciters. It behove you to favour me.

Bala Kanda 65.29

एवमुक्तो मुनिवरः प्रशस्य पुरुषर्षभम्। विससर्जाशु जनकं प्रीतं प्रीतमनास्तदा॥

Thus addressed, that best of ascetics, extolling that powerful one, well pleased, dismissed the delighted Janaka.

Bala Kanda 65.30

एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठं वैदेहो मिथिलाधिपः। प्रदक्षिणां चकाराशु सोपाध्यायः सबान्धवः॥

Thus accosted, Mithila's lord, Vaideha, in company with his priests and friends, went round that foremost of ascetics,

Bala Kanda 65.31

विश्वामित्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा सहरामः सलक्ष्मणः। स्ववासमभिचक्राम पूज्यमानो महात्मभिः॥

And the righteous Viśvāmitra also together with Rāma and Lakşmaņa, having been honoured by the high-souled ones, took up their quarters there.

Bala Kanda 65.32