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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 51: Story of Viśvāmitra: Vasiṣṭha’s hospitality

Summary. Vasiṣṭha insists on hosting the whole army and asks Śabalā to provide a feast satisfying every guest’s tastes

Sequence

  1. King Viśvāmitra bows to Vasiṣṭha and receives a seat, roots, and fruit (1.51.1–3)
  2. he asks about Vasiṣṭha's austerity, offerings, pupils, and woodland → Vasiṣṭha asks in return about the Kingdom's government, servants, enemies, army, treasury, allies, and family → both report that all is well and enjoy a long conversation (1.51.4–11)
  3. Vasiṣṭha offers full hospitality to the King and his army (1.51.12–14)
  4. Viśvāmitra says the welcome, water, and simple food have already honored him sufficiently and asks leave to depart (1.51.15–17)
  5. Vasiṣṭha repeats the invitation until he accepts (1.51.18–19)
  6. Vasiṣṭha summons his dappled wish-yielding cow, Śabalā → he asks her to provide a magnificent feast with whatever each guest desires among all six tastes, including food, drink, and delicacies. (1.51.20–23)

Verses 1.51.1–23

1.51.1

sa dṛṣṭvā paramaprīto viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ
praṇato vinayād vīro vasiṣṭhaṃ japatāṃ varam

Seeing him, the mighty hero Viśvāmitra, highly delighted, bowed out of humility to Vasiṣṭha, the best of those who mutter prayers.

Words: sa — he; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; paramaprīto — highly delighted; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahābalaḥ — of great strength; praṇato — bowed; vinayād — out of humility; vīro — the hero; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; japatāṃ varam — the best of those who mutter prayers

1.51.2

svāgataṃ tava cety ukto vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā
āsanaṃ cāsya bhagavān vasiṣṭho vyādideśa ha

Addressed by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha with 'Welcome to you,' the venerable Vasiṣṭha also assigned him a seat.

Words: svāgataṃ — welcome; tava — to you; cety — and thus; ukto — addressed; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; mahātmanā — by the great-souled one; āsanaṃ — a seat; cāsya — and for him; bhagavān — the venerable one; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; vyādideśa — assigned, directed; ha — indeed

1.51.3

upaviṣṭāya ca tadā viśvāmitrāya dhīmate
yathānyāyaṃ munivaraḥ phalamūlam upāharat

And then to the wise Viśvāmitra, who had seated himself, the best of sages duly offered fruit and roots.

Words: upaviṣṭāya — to the seated one; ca — and; tadā — then; viśvāmitrāya — to Viśvāmitra; dhīmate — to the wise one; yathānyāyaṃ — duly, according to propriety; munivaraḥ — the best of sages; phalamūlam — fruit and roots; upāharat — offered, presented

1.51.4

pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ vasiṣṭhād rājasattamaḥ
tapo'gnihotraśiṣyeṣu kuśalaṃ paryapṛcchata

And having received that honour from Vasiṣṭha, the best of kings inquired after the welfare of his austerities, his fire-offering, and his pupils.

Words: pratigṛhya — having received; ca — and; tāṃ pūjāṃ — that honour; vasiṣṭhād — from Vasiṣṭha; rājasattamaḥ — the best of kings; tapo'gnihotraśiṣyeṣu — regarding his austerity, fire-offering and pupils; kuśalaṃ — welfare, well-being; paryapṛcchata — inquired about

1.51.5

viśvāmitro mahātejā vanaspatigaṇe tathā
sarvatra kuśalaṃ cāha vasiṣṭho rājasattamam

Viśvāmitra of great splendour asked likewise about the host of forest-trees; and Vasiṣṭha told the best of kings that all was well everywhere.

Words: viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātejā — of great splendour; vanaspatigaṇe — about the host of forest-trees; tathā — likewise, too; sarvatra — everywhere; kuśalaṃ — well; cāha — and said; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; rājasattamam — to the best of kings

1.51.6

sukhopaviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ viśvāmitraṃ mahātapāḥ
papraccha japatāṃ śreṣṭho vasiṣṭho brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ

Then Vasiṣṭha, the great ascetic, the best of those who mutter prayers, the son of Brahmā, questioned King Viśvāmitra, comfortably seated:

Words: sukhopaviṣṭaṃ — comfortably seated; rājānaṃ — the king; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic; papraccha — questioned, asked; japatāṃ śreṣṭho — the best of those who mutter prayers; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; brahmaṇaḥ — of Brahmā; sutaḥ — the son

1.51.7

kaccit te kuśalaṃ rājan kaccid dharmeṇa rañjayan
prajāḥ pālayase rājan rājavṛttena dhārmika

'Is it well with you, O king? Do you, O righteous king, protect your subjects by kingly conduct, delighting them with dharma?'

Words: kaccit — is it well that (particle of anxious inquiry); te — with you, your; kuśalaṃ — well-being; rājan — O king; kaccid — is it that; dharmeṇa — with dharma; rañjayan — delighting, pleasing; prajāḥ — the subjects; pālayase — you protect; rājan — O king; rājavṛttena — by kingly conduct; dhārmika — O righteous one

1.51.8

kaccit te subhṛtā bhṛtyāḥ kaccit tiṣṭhanti śāsane
kaccit te vijitāḥ sarve ripavo ripusūdana

'Are your servants well provided for? Do they abide by your command? Are all your foes conquered, O slayer of foes?'

Words: kaccit — is it that; te — your; subhṛtā — well maintained; bhṛtyāḥ — the servants; kaccit — is it that; tiṣṭhanti — they stand, abide; śāsane — in (your) command; kaccit — is it that; te — your; vijitāḥ — conquered, subdued; sarve — all; ripavo — the enemies; ripusūdana — O slayer of foes

1.51.9

kaccid bale ca kośe ca mitreṣu ca paraṃtapa
kuśalaṃ te naravyāghra putrapautre tathānagha

'Is all well in your army, treasury, and allies, O scorcher of foes? And with your sons and grandsons, O tiger among men, O sinless one?'

Words: kaccid — is it that; bale — in the army; ca — and; kośe — in the treasury; ca — and; mitreṣu — among the allies; ca — and; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes; kuśalaṃ — well; te — your; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; putrapautre — with sons and grandsons; tathānagha — and, O sinless one

1.51.10

sarvatra kuśalaṃ rājā vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyudāharat
viśvāmitro mahātejā vasiṣṭhaṃ vinayānvitaḥ

King Viśvāmitra of great splendour, filled with humility, replied to Vasiṣṭha that all was well everywhere.

Words: sarvatra — everywhere; kuśalaṃ — well; rājā — the king; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; pratyudāharat — replied, answered; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātejā — of great splendour; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; vinayānvitaḥ — filled with humility

1.51.11

kṛtvobhau suciraṃ kālaṃ dharmiṣṭhau tāḥ kathāḥ śubhāḥ
mudā paramayā yuktau prīyetāṃ tau parasparam

The two most righteous ones, having carried on those auspicious conversations for a very long while, filled with supreme joy, delighted in one another.

Words: kṛtvobhau — the two having carried on; suciraṃ — for a very long; kālaṃ — time; dharmiṣṭhau — the two most righteous; tāḥ kathāḥ — those talks; śubhāḥ — auspicious; mudā — with joy; paramayā — supreme; yuktau — joined, filled with; prīyetāṃ — the two delighted; tau — the two; parasparam — in one another, mutually

1.51.12

tato vasiṣṭho bhagavān kathānte raghunandana
viśvāmitram idaṃ vākyam uvāca prahasann iva

Then, O delight of the Raghus, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, at the end of the conversation, spoke these words to Viśvāmitra, as if smiling:

Words: tato — then; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; bhagavān — the venerable one; kathānte — at the end of the talk; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus; viśvāmitram — to Viśvāmitra; idaṃ vākyam — these words; uvāca — said; prahasann iva — as if smiling

1.51.13

ātithyaṃ kartum icchāmi balasyāsya mahābala
tava caivāprameyasya yathārhaṃ saṃpratīccha me

'I wish to show hospitality to this army, O mighty one, and to you, the immeasurable one, as befits; accept it from me duly.'

Words: ātithyaṃ — hospitality; kartum — to do, offer; icchāmi — I wish; balasyāsya — to this army; mahābala — O mighty one; tava — to you; caivāprameyasya — and to the immeasurable one; yathārhaṃ — as is fitting; saṃpratīccha — accept fully; me — from me

1.51.14

satkriyāṃ tu bhavān etāṃ pratīcchatu mayodyatām
rājaṃs tvam atithiśreṣṭhaḥ pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ

'Let your honour accept this hospitable welcome prepared by me; O king, you are the most excellent of guests, to be honoured with all care.'

Words: satkriyāṃ — the hospitable reception; tu — indeed; bhavān — your honour; etāṃ — this; pratīcchatu — let (him) accept; mayodyatām — prepared, offered by me; rājaṃs — O king; tvam — you; atithiśreṣṭhaḥ — the best of guests; pūjanīyaḥ — to be honoured; prayatnataḥ — with effort, carefully

1.51.15

evam ukto vasiṣṭhena viśvāmitro mahāmatiḥ
kṛtam ity abravīd rājā pūjāvākyena me tvayā

Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, the wise King Viśvāmitra said, 'It has already been done for me by you with these words of honour.'

Words: evam ukto — thus addressed; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmatiḥ — the wise one; kṛtam — (it is) done; ity — thus; abravīd — said; rājā — the king; pūjāvākyena — by the words of honour; me — for me; tvayā — by you

1.51.16

phalamūlena bhagavan vidyate yat tavāśrame
pādyenācamanīyena bhagavaddarśanena ca

'With the fruit and roots that are found in your hermitage, O venerable one, with water for the feet and water for sipping, and with the sight of your reverence—'

Words: phalamūlena — with fruit and roots; bhagavan — O venerable one; vidyate — is found, is available; yat — which; tavāśrame — in your hermitage; pādyenācamanīyena — with foot-water and sipping-water; bhagavaddarśanena — by the sight of your reverence; ca — and

1.51.17

sarvathā ca mahāprājña pūjārheṇa supūjitaḥ
gamiṣyāmi namas te 'stu maitreṇekṣasva cakṣuṣā

'—in every way, O greatly wise one, I have been well honoured with what is worthy of honour; I shall now go. Salutation to you! Look upon me with a friendly eye.'

Words: sarvathā — in every way; ca — and; mahāprājña — O greatly wise one; pūjārheṇa — with what is worthy of worship; supūjitaḥ — well honoured; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; namas te — salutation to you; 'stu — let there be; maitreṇekṣasva — look with a friendly (eye); cakṣuṣā — with your eye

1.51.18

evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ vasiṣṭhaḥ punar eva hi
nyamantrayata dharmātmā punaḥ punar udāradhīḥ

To the king who spoke thus, the righteous and noble-minded Vasiṣṭha extended his invitation yet again, over and over.

Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvantaṃ — who was speaking; rājānaṃ — the king; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; punar eva hi — yet again, indeed; nyamantrayata — invited, entreated; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; punaḥ punar — again and again; udāradhīḥ — the noble-minded

1.51.19

bāḍham ity eva gādheyo vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyuvāca ha
yathā priyaṃ bhagavatas tathāstu munisattama

'So be it,' Gādheya (Viśvāmitra) replied to Vasiṣṭha; 'as is pleasing to your reverence, so let it be, O best of sages.'

Words: bāḍham — 'very well, so be it'; ity eva — just thus; gādheyo — Gādheya (son of Gādhi, i.e. Viśvāmitra); vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; pratyuvāca — replied; ha — indeed; yathā — as; priyaṃ — pleasing, dear; bhagavatas — to your reverence; tathāstu — so let it be; munisattama — O best of sages

1.51.20

evam ukto mahātejā vasiṣṭho japatāṃ varaḥ
ājuhāva tataḥ prītaḥ kalmāṣīṃ dhūtakalmaṣaḥ

Thus addressed, Vasiṣṭha of great splendour, the best of those who mutter prayers, his sins shaken off, then, delighted, summoned Kalmāṣī (the dappled cow).

Words: evam ukto — thus addressed; mahātejā — of great splendour; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; japatāṃ varaḥ — the best of those who mutter prayers; ājuhāva — summoned, called; tataḥ — then; prītaḥ — delighted; kalmāṣīṃ — Kalmāṣī (the dappled cow, i.e. Śabalā); dhūtakalmaṣaḥ — whose sins are shaken off

1.51.21

ehy ehi śabale kṣipraṃ śṛṇu cāpi vaco mama
sabalasyāsya rājarṣeḥ kartuṃ vyavasito 'smy aham
bhojanena mahārheṇa satkāraṃ saṃvidhatsva me

'Come, come quickly, Śabalā, and hear my word: I am resolved to make a feast for this royal seer together with his army; provide me a hospitable reception with the most costly food.'

Words: ehy ehi — come, come; śabale — O Śabalā; kṣipraṃ — quickly; śṛṇu — hear; cāpi — and also; vaco mama — my word; sabalasyāsya — of this one together with his army; rājarṣeḥ — of the royal seer; kartuṃ — to do, make; vyavasito 'smy aham — I am resolved; bhojanena — with food; mahārheṇa — most costly, precious; satkāraṃ — a hospitable reception; saṃvidhatsva — arrange, provide; me — for me

1.51.22

yasya yasya yathākāmaṃ ṣaḍraseṣv abhipūjitam
tat sarvaṃ kāmadhug divye abhivarṣakṛte mama

'Whatever each one desires, esteemed among the six flavours—all of that, O wish-yielding cow, produce for me in a divine outpouring.'

Words: yasya yasya — of each and every one; yathākāmaṃ — according to desire; ṣaḍraseṣv — among the six flavours; abhipūjitam — esteemed, highly valued; tat sarvaṃ — all that; kāmadhug — O wish-yielding cow (Kāmadhuk); divye — divine; abhivarṣakṛte — in the outpouring made; mama — for me, my

1.51.23

rasenānnena pānena lehyacoṣyeṇa saṃyutam
annānāṃ nicayaṃ sarvaṃ sṛjasva śabale tvara

'Produce a whole heap of foods furnished with savoury dishes, with drink, and with what is to be licked and sucked; make haste, Śabalā!'

Words: rasenānnena — with juice and food; pānena — with drink; lehyacoṣyeṇa — with what is to be licked and sucked; saṃyutam — furnished with, provided with; annānāṃ — of foods; nicayaṃ — a heap, collection; sarvaṃ — whole, all; sṛjasva — produce, bring forth; śabale — O Śabalā; tvara — make haste

← 1.50 Story of Viśvāmitra: Śatānanda introduces the former King · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.52 Story of Viśvāmitra: Śabalā’s feast and the rejected purchase →

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.

Plain text: /text/1/51.md · JSON: /data/1/51.json