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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 50: Story of Viśvāmitra: Śatānanda introduces the former King
Summary. Śatānanda confirms Ahalyā’s release, then recounts how King Viśvāmitra’s travels with his army brought him to Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage
Sequence
- Śatānanda, Gautama and Ahalyā's eldest son, is overwhelmed with joy at the report and at seeing Rāma (1.50.1–3)
- he asks whether his mother was seen and received Rāma, whether her history was told, whether his parents reunited, and whether Rāma and Gautama exchanged honors (1.50.4–9)
- Viśvāmitra assures him that everything required was done and the couple reunited (1.50.10–11)
- Śatānanda welcomes Rāma and tells him how fortunate he is to have Viśvāmitra as protector → he offers to explain Viśvāmitra's power and the austerities by which he attained it. Śatānanda now begins a long account of Viśvāmitra's past: descended through Kuśa, Kuśanābha, and Gādhi, Viśvāmitra was once a learned, righteous King who ruled for thousands of years (1.50.12–20)
- traveling through countries, cities, mountains, rivers, and hermitages with a full army division, he reached Vasiṣṭha's retreat (1.50.21–22)
- its flowering and fruiting trees, peaceful deer, heavenly visitors, sacred fires, and tapasvins of many disciplines made it seem a second world of Brahmā. (1.50.23–28)
Verses 1.50.1–28
1.50.1
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ
hṛṣṭaromā mahātejāḥ śatānando mahātapāḥ
Hearing that speech of the wise Viśvāmitra, the mighty great ascetic Śatānanda, his hair bristling with joy —
Words: tasya — that, his; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; dhīmataḥ — of the wise; hṛṣṭaromā — with bristling hair (thrilled); mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; śatānando — Śatānanda; mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic
1.50.2
gautamasya suto jyeṣṭhas tapasā dyotitaprabhaḥ
rāmasaṃdarśanād eva paraṃ vismayam āgataḥ
the eldest son of Gautama, his radiance kindled by austerity, came to the utmost astonishment at the very sight of Rāma.
Words: gautamasya — of Gautama; suto — son; jyeṣṭhas — eldest; tapasā — by austerity; dyotitaprabhaḥ — with kindled radiance; rāmasaṃdarśanād — from the sight of Rāma; eva — very, indeed; paraṃ — utmost, supreme; vismayam — astonishment, wonder; āgataḥ — came to, attained
1.50.3
sa tau niṣaṇṇau saṃprekṣya sukhāsīnau nṛpātmajau
śatānando muniśreṣṭhaṃ viśvāmitram athābravīt
Beholding those two princes seated comfortably, Śatānanda then said to the best of sages, Viśvāmitra:
Words: sa — he; tau — those two; niṣaṇṇau — seated; saṃprekṣya — having beheld; sukhāsīnau — comfortably seated; nṛpātmajau — the two princes; śatānando — Śatānanda; muniśreṣṭhaṃ — to the best of sages; viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; athābravīt — then said
1.50.4
api te muniśārdūla mama mātā yaśasvinī
darśitā rājaputrāya tapo dīrgham upāgatā
“O tiger among sages, was my illustrious mother, who had undertaken long austerity, shown by you to the prince?
Words: api — (interrogative particle); te — by you; muniśārdūla — O tiger among sages; mama — my; mātā — mother; yaśasvinī — illustrious, famed; darśitā — shown; rājaputrāya — to the prince; tapo — austerity; dīrgham — long; upāgatā — having undertaken, entered upon
1.50.5
api rāme mahātejo mama mātā yaśasvinī
vanyair upāharat pūjāṃ pūjārhe sarvadehinām
O mighty one, did my illustrious mother offer worship with forest-produce to Rāma, who is worthy of worship by all embodied beings?
Words: api — (interrogative particle); rāme — to Rāma; mahātejo — O mighty one; mama — my; mātā — mother; yaśasvinī — illustrious; vanyair — with forest-produce; upāharat — offered, presented; pūjāṃ — worship, honour; pūjārhe — to the one worthy of worship; sarvadehinām — of all embodied beings
1.50.6
api rāmāya kathitaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ purātanam
mama mātur mahātejo devena duranuṣṭhitam
O mighty one, was the ancient event, just as it happened — that ill deed done to my mother by the god (Indra) — told to Rāma?
Words: api — (interrogative particle); rāmāya — to Rāma; kathitaṃ — told, related; yathāvṛttaṃ — just as it happened; purātanam — ancient, of old; mama — my; mātur — of the mother; mahātejo — O mighty one; devena — by the god (Indra); duranuṣṭhitam — ill done, wrongly performed
1.50.7
api kauśika bhadraṃ te guruṇā mama saṃgatā
mātā mama muniśreṣṭha rāmasaṃdarśanād itaḥ
O Kauśika, blessings on you — was my mother reunited with my father, O best of sages, as a result of Rāma's appearing?
Words: api — (interrogative particle); kauśika — O Kauśika; bhadraṃ — blessing; te — to you; guruṇā — with the father/teacher; mama — my; saṃgatā — reunited, joined; mātā — mother; mama — my; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; rāmasaṃdarśanād — from the appearing of Rāma; itaḥ — hence, thereupon
1.50.8
api me guruṇā rāmaḥ pūjitaḥ kuśikātmaja
ihāgato mahātejāḥ pūjāṃ prāpya mahātmanaḥ
O son of Kuśika, was Rāma honoured by my father? Did the mighty one come here after receiving the honour of that great soul?
Words: api — (interrogative particle); me — my; guruṇā — by the father/teacher; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pūjitaḥ — honoured; kuśikātmaja — O son of Kuśika; ihāgato — come here; mahātejāḥ — the mighty one; pūjāṃ — honour; prāpya — having received; mahātmanaḥ — of the great soul (Gautama)
1.50.9
api śāntena manasā gurur me kuśikātmaja
ihāgatena rāmeṇa prayatenābhivāditaḥ
O son of Kuśika, was my father reverently saluted by Rāma, who came here with a tranquil mind?”
Words: api — (interrogative particle); śāntena — with tranquil, calm; manasā — mind; gurur — the father/teacher; me — my; kuśikātmaja — O son of Kuśika; ihāgatena — by (Rāma) come here; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; prayatenābhivāditaḥ — reverently saluted
1.50.10
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
pratyuvāca śatānandaṃ vākyajño vākyakovidam
Hearing that speech of his, the great sage Viśvāmitra, knowing (the art of) speech, replied to the eloquent Śatānanda:
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacanaṃ — speech, words; tasya — his; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; pratyuvāca — replied; śatānandaṃ — to Śatānanda; vākyajño — knower of speech; vākyakovidam — skilled in speech
1.50.11
nātikrāntaṃ muniśreṣṭha yat kartavyaṃ kṛtaṃ mayā
saṃgatā muninā patnī bhārgaveṇeva reṇukā
“Nothing has been omitted, O best of sages; what ought to be done has been done by me; the wife was reunited with the sage, as Reṇukā with the Bhārgava (Jamadagni).”
Words: nātikrāntaṃ — nothing overstepped/omitted; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; yat — what; kartavyaṃ — to be done; kṛtaṃ — done; mayā — by me; saṃgatā — reunited, joined; muninā — with the sage; patnī — the wife; bhārgaveṇeva — as with the Bhārgava (Jamadagni); reṇukā — Reṇukā
1.50.12
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ
śatānando mahātejā rāmaṃ vacanam abravīt
Hearing that speech of the wise Viśvāmitra, the mighty Śatānanda spoke these words to Rāma:
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacanaṃ — speech; tasya — his; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; dhīmataḥ — of the wise; śatānando — Śatānanda; mahātejā — of great splendour; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke
1.50.13
svāgataṃ te naraśreṣṭha diṣṭyā prāpto 'si rāghava
viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya maharṣim aparājitam
“Welcome to you, O best of men! By good fortune you have come, O Rāghava, placing before you the invincible great sage Viśvāmitra.
Words: svāgataṃ — welcome; te — to you; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; diṣṭyā — by good fortune, luckily; prāpto — arrived, come; 'si — you are; rāghava — O Rāghava; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; puraskṛtya — placing in front; maharṣim — the great sage; aparājitam — invincible, unconquered
1.50.14
acintyakarmā tapasā brahmarṣir amitaprabhaḥ
viśvāmitro mahātejā vetsy enaṃ paramāṃ gatim
Of deeds inconceivable through austerity, a brahmin-seer of boundless splendour — this mighty Viśvāmitra you should know as the highest refuge.
Words: acintyakarmā — of inconceivable deeds; tapasā — through austerity; brahmarṣir — a brahmin-seer; amitaprabhaḥ — of boundless radiance; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātejā — of great splendour; vetsy — you should know; enaṃ — this one; paramāṃ — highest, supreme; gatim — goal, refuge
1.50.15
nāsti dhanyataro rāma tvatto 'nyo bhuvi kaś cana
goptā kuśikaputras te yena taptaṃ mahat tapaḥ
There is none else on earth more blessed than you, O Rāma, whose protector is the son of Kuśika, by whom great austerity has been performed.
Words: nāsti — there is not; dhanyataro — more blessed; rāma — O Rāma; tvatto — than you; 'nyo — other; bhuvi — on earth; kaś cana — anyone; goptā — protector; kuśikaputras — the son of Kuśika; te — your; yena — by whom; taptaṃ — performed (of austerity); mahat — great; tapaḥ — austerity
1.50.16
śrūyatāṃ cābhidāsyāmi kauśikasya mahātmanaḥ
yathābalaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu
And let it be heard — I shall relate the might and the deeds of the great-souled Kauśika; hear that from me as I tell it.
Words: śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; cābhidāsyāmi — and I shall relate; kauśikasya — of Kauśika; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; yathābalaṃ — according to his might; yathāvṛttaṃ — as it happened, his deeds; tan — that; me — of me, from me; nigadataḥ — of (me) telling; śṛṇu — hear
1.50.17
rājābhūd eṣa dharmātmā dīrgha kālam ariṃdamaḥ
dharmajñaḥ kṛtavidyaś ca prajānāṃ ca hite rataḥ
This one was for a long time a righteous king, a subduer of foes, a knower of dharma, accomplished in learning, and devoted to the welfare of his subjects.
Words: rājābhūd — was a king; eṣa — this one; dharmātmā — righteous; dīrgha — long; kālam — time; ariṃdamaḥ — subduer of foes; dharmajñaḥ — knower of dharma; kṛtavidyaś ca — and accomplished in learning; prajānāṃ — of the subjects; ca — and; hite — in the welfare; rataḥ — devoted, intent
1.50.18
prajāpatisutas tv āsīt kuśo nāma mahīpatiḥ
kuśasya putro balavān kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ
There was a lord of the earth named Kuśa, son of Prajāpati; Kuśa's son was the mighty, most righteous Kuśanābha.
Words: prajāpatisutas — son of Prajāpati; tv — and; āsīt — there was; kuśo — Kuśa; nāma — by name; mahīpatiḥ — lord of the earth; kuśasya — of Kuśa; putro — son; balavān — mighty; kuśanābhaḥ — Kuśanābha; sudhārmikaḥ — most righteous
1.50.19
kuśanābhasutas tv āsīd gādhir ity eva viśrutaḥ
gādheḥ putro mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
Kuśanābha's son was famed as Gādhi; Gādhi's son was the mighty great sage Viśvāmitra.
Words: kuśanābhasutas — son of Kuśanābha; tv — and; āsīd — there was; gādhir — Gādhi; ity eva — thus indeed; viśrutaḥ — famed; gādheḥ — of Gādhi; putro — son; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
1.50.20
viśvamitro mahātejāḥ pālayām āsa medinīm
bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi rājā rājyam akārayat
The mighty Viśvāmitra ruled the earth; for many thousands of years the king exercised sovereignty.
Words: viśvamitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; pālayām āsa — protected, ruled; medinīm — the earth; bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi — for many thousands of years; rājā — the king; rājyam — sovereignty, kingdom; akārayat — exercised, carried on
1.50.21
kadā cit tu mahātejā yojayitvā varūthinīm
akṣauhiṇīparivṛtaḥ paricakrāma medinīm
Once the mighty one, having mustered an army, surrounded by an akṣauhiṇī (a full army-division), roamed about the earth.
Words: kadā cit — once, at some time; tu — and; mahātejā — the mighty one; yojayitvā — having mustered, yoked; varūthinīm — an army, host; akṣauhiṇīparivṛtaḥ — surrounded by an akṣauhiṇī (army-division); paricakrāma — roamed about, traversed; medinīm — the earth
1.50.22
nagarāṇi ca rāṣṭrāṇi saritaś ca tathā girīn
āśramān kramaśo rājā vicarann ājagāmaha
The king, wandering in turn through cities and kingdoms, rivers and likewise mountains, and hermitages, came at length —
Words: nagarāṇi — cities; ca — and; rāṣṭrāṇi — kingdoms, realms; saritaś ca — and rivers; tathā — likewise; girīn — mountains; āśramān — hermitages; kramaśo — in turn, one by one; rājā — the king; vicarann — wandering; ājagāmaha — came indeed
1.50.23
vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṃ nānāpuṣpaphaladrumam
nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṃ siddhacāraṇasevitam
to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, with trees of various flowers and fruits, thronged with herds of various beasts, frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas,
Words: vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṃ — Vasiṣṭha's hermitage-ground; nānāpuṣpaphaladrumam — with trees of various flowers and fruits; nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṃ — thronged with herds of various beasts; siddhacāraṇasevitam — frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas
1.50.24
devadānavagandharvaiḥ kiṃnarair upaśobhitam
praśāntahariṇākīrṇaṃ dvijasaṃghaniṣevitam
graced by gods, demons, gandharvas, and kiṃnaras, thronged with peaceful deer, resorted to by hosts of brahmins,
Words: devadānavagandharvaiḥ — by gods, demons, and gandharvas; kiṃnarair — by kiṃnaras; upaśobhitam — adorned, graced; praśāntahariṇākīrṇaṃ — thronged with peaceful deer; dvijasaṃghaniṣevitam — resorted to by hosts of brahmins
1.50.25
brahmarṣigaṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ devarṣigaṇasevitam
tapaścaraṇasaṃsiddhair agnikalpair mahātmabhiḥ
crowded with hosts of brahmin-seers, frequented by hosts of divine seers, (thronged) with great souls perfected in the practice of austerity, resembling fire,
Words: brahmarṣigaṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ — crowded with hosts of brahmin-seers; devarṣigaṇasevitam — frequented by hosts of divine seers; tapaścaraṇasaṃsiddhair — perfected in the practice of austerity; agnikalpair — resembling fire; mahātmabhiḥ — with great souls
1.50.26
satataṃ saṃkulaṃ śrīmad brahmakalpair mahātmabhiḥ
abbhakṣair vāyubhakṣaiś ca śīrṇaparṇāśanais tathā
ever crowded and glorious with great souls resembling Brahmā, some feeding on water, some on air, and likewise on fallen leaves,
Words: satataṃ — ever, constantly; saṃkulaṃ — crowded, thronged; śrīmad — glorious, splendid; brahmakalpair — resembling Brahmā; mahātmabhiḥ — with great souls; abbhakṣair — feeding on water; vāyubhakṣaiś ca — and feeding on air; śīrṇaparṇāśanais — eating fallen leaves; tathā — likewise
1.50.27
phalamūlāśanair dāntair jitaroṣair jitendriyaiḥ
ṛṣibhir vālakhilyaiś ca japahomaparāyaṇaiḥ
with sages who ate fruit and root, self-controlled, having conquered anger and mastered their senses — with seers and Vālakhilyas devoted to muttered prayer and oblation,
Words: phalamūlāśanair — eating fruit and root; dāntair — self-controlled; jitaroṣair — having conquered anger; jitendriyaiḥ — having mastered the senses; ṛṣibhir — with seers; vālakhilyaiś ca — and with the Vālakhilyas; japahomaparāyaṇaiḥ — devoted to muttered prayer and oblation
1.50.28
vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṃ brahmalokam ivāparam
dadarśa jayatāṃ śreṣṭha viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ
— the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, like a second world of Brahmā, the mighty Viśvāmitra, O best of conquerors, beheld.
Words: vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṃ — Vasiṣṭha's hermitage-ground; brahmalokam — the world of Brahmā; ivāparam — like a second, like another; dadarśa — beheld, saw; jayatāṃ — of conquerors; śreṣṭha — O best; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahābalaḥ — the mighty
← 1.49 Arrival in Mithilā: Janaka receives the travellers · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.51 Story of Viśvāmitra: Vasiṣṭha’s hospitality →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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