← 1.61 Story of Viśvāmitra: Two verses save Śunaḥśepa · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.63 Story of Viśvāmitra: Rambhā and the failure to master anger →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 62: Story of Viśvāmitra: Menakā and the unfinished mastery of desire

Summary. Menakā interrupts his austerity for ten years, renewed effort wins the rank of maharṣi, but Brahmā withholds brahmarṣi until his senses are mastered

Sequence

  1. After the thousand years, Brahmā recognizes Viśvāmitra as a ṛṣi → Viśvāmitra continues his austerities (1.62.1–3)
  2. later he sees Menakā bathing at Puṣkara, beautiful like lightning in a cloud → overcome by desire, he invites her to live with him (1.62.4–6)
  3. she stays, and ten happy years pass (1.62.7–8)
  4. realizing how much time he has lost, he becomes ashamed and interprets the interruption as the Suras' design against his austerity (1.62.9–12)
  5. seeing Menakā trembling before him, he dismisses her gently → he moves north to the Kauśikī and resolves to master his senses. (1.62.13–14)
  1. After another thousand years, the alarmed Suras ask Brahmā to recognize him as a maharṣi → Brahmā grants that distinction (1.62.15–18)
  2. Viśvāmitra asks for the higher standing of brahmarṣi and confirmation of mastery over his senses → Brahmā says he has not yet conquered them and must continue (1.62.19–21)
  3. Viśvāmitra stands with raised arms, lives on air, endures five fires in summer, stays exposed to the rains, and stands in water day and night through winter (1.62.22–23)
  4. after a thousand years of this ordeal, the Suras grow deeply alarmed → Indra turns to Rambhā to interrupt him. (1.62.24–26)

Verses 1.62.1–26

1.62.1

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu vratasnātaṃ mahāmunim
abhyāgacchan surāḥ sarve tapaḥphalacikīrṣavaḥ

When a full thousand years had passed, all the gods, wishing to grant the fruit of his austerity, approached the great sage who had completed his vows.

Words: pūrṇe — full, complete; varṣasahasre — a thousand years; tu — and; vratasnātaṃ — who had completed his vows; mahāmunim — the great sage; abhyāgacchan — approached; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; tapaḥphalacikīrṣavaḥ — wishing to grant the fruit of his austerity

1.62.2

abravīt sumahātejā brahmā suruciraṃ vacaḥ
ṛṣis tvam asi bhadraṃ te svārjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ

Brahmā of very great splendor spoke a most lovely word: “You are (now) a ṛṣi — blessings on you! — by reason of your well-earned holy deeds.”

Words: abravīt — spoke; sumahātejā — of very great splendor; brahmā — Brahmā; suruciraṃ — most lovely, pleasing; vacaḥ — word; ṛṣis — a ṛṣi, seer; tvam — you; asi — are; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; svārjitaiḥ — by well-earned; karmabhiḥ — by deeds; śubhaiḥ — holy, auspicious

1.62.3

tam evam uktvā deveśas tridivaṃ punar abhyagāt
viśvāmitro mahātejā bhūyas tepe mahat tapaḥ

Having thus spoken to him, the lord of the gods went back again to heaven; and Viśvāmitra of great splendor once more performed great austerity.

Words: tam — him; evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; deveśas — the lord of the gods; tridivaṃ — to heaven; punar — again; abhyagāt — went (back); viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātejā — of great splendor; bhūyas — again, further; tepe — performed austerity; mahat — great; tapaḥ — austerity

1.62.4

tataḥ kālena mahatā menakā paramāpsarāḥ
puṣkareṣu naraśreṣṭha snātuṃ samupacakrame

Then, after a long time, Menakā, the foremost of apsarases, O best of men, set about bathing in the Puṣkara lakes.

Words: tataḥ — then; kālena mahatā — after a long time; menakā — Menakā; paramāpsarāḥ — the foremost apsaras; puṣkareṣu — in the Puṣkara lakes; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; snātuṃ — to bathe; samupacakrame — set about, began

1.62.5

tāṃ dadarśa mahātejā menakāṃ kuśikātmajaḥ
rūpeṇāpratimāṃ tatra vidyutaṃ jalade yathā

The greatly resplendent son of Kuśika saw that Menakā there, unequalled in beauty, like lightning in a cloud.

Words: tāṃ — her; dadarśa — saw; mahātejā — the greatly resplendent one; menakāṃ — Menakā; kuśikātmajaḥ — the son of Kuśika; rūpeṇāpratimāṃ — unequalled in beauty; tatra — there; vidyutaṃ — lightning; jalade — in a cloud; yathā — like, as

1.62.6

dṛṣṭvā kandarpavaśago munis tām idam abravīt
apsaraḥ svāgataṃ te 'stu vasa ceha mamāśrame
anugṛhṇīṣva bhadraṃ te madanena sumohitam

Seeing her and falling under the sway of Kandarpa (the god of love), the sage said this to her: “O apsaras, welcome to you! Dwell here in my hermitage, and favor me — blessings on you — who am utterly bewildered by love.”

Words: dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kandarpavaśago — fallen under the sway of Kandarpa (love); munis — the sage; tām — to her; idam — this; abravīt — said; apsaraḥ — O apsaras; svāgataṃ te 'stu — welcome to you; vasa — dwell, stay; ceha — and here; mamāśrame — in my hermitage; anugṛhṇīṣva — favor (me), be gracious; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; madanena — by love, by Madana; sumohitam — (me who am) utterly bewildered

1.62.7

ity uktā sā varārohā tatrāvāsam athākarot
tapaso hi mahāvighno viśvāmitram upāgataḥ

Addressed thus, that fair-hipped one then made her dwelling there; and indeed a great obstacle to his austerity had come upon Viśvāmitra.

Words: ity uktā — thus addressed; sā — she; varārohā — the fair-hipped one; tatrāvāsam — a dwelling there; athākarot — then made; tapaso — of (his) austerity; hi — indeed; mahāvighno — a great obstacle; viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; upāgataḥ — came upon, befell

1.62.8

tasyāṃ vasantyāṃ varṣāṇi pañca pañca ca rāghava
viśvāmitrāśrame saumya sukhena vyaticakramuḥ

While she dwelt (there), O Rāghava, ten years (five and five) passed happily in Viśvāmitra's hermitage, gentle one.

Words: tasyāṃ vasantyāṃ — while she was dwelling; varṣāṇi — years; pañca — five; pañca ca — and five; rāghava — O Rāghava; viśvāmitrāśrame — in Viśvāmitra's hermitage; saumya — gentle one; sukhena — happily, pleasantly; vyaticakramuḥ — passed, went by

1.62.9

atha kāle gate tasmin viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
savrīḍa iva saṃvṛttaś cintāśokaparāyaṇaḥ

Then, when that time had passed, the great sage Viśvāmitra became as if ashamed, given over to anxiety and grief.

Words: atha — then; kāle gate tasmin — when that time had passed; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; savrīḍa — ashamed, abashed; iva — as if; saṃvṛttaś — became; cintāśokaparāyaṇaḥ — given over to anxiety and grief

1.62.10

buddhir muneḥ samutpannā sāmarṣā raghunandana
sarvaṃ surāṇāṃ karmaitat tapo'paharaṇaṃ mahat

A thought, full of indignation, arose in the sage, O delight of the Raghus: “All this is the work of the gods, a great robbing of my austerity.

Words: buddhir — a thought; muneḥ — in the sage; samutpannā — arose; sāmarṣā — full of indignation; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus; sarvaṃ — all; surāṇāṃ — of the gods; karmaitat — this is the work; tapo'paharaṇaṃ — the robbing of (my) austerity; mahat — great

1.62.11

ahorātrāpadeśena gatāḥ saṃvatsarā daśa
kāmamohābhibhūtasya vighno 'yaṃ pratyupasthitaḥ

Under the guise of days and nights, ten years have gone by; this obstacle has befallen me, overcome by the delusion of desire.

Words: ahorātrāpadeśena — under the guise of day and night; gatāḥ — gone; saṃvatsarā — years; daśa — ten; kāmamohābhibhūtasya — of one overcome by the delusion of desire; vighno — obstacle; 'yaṃ — this; pratyupasthitaḥ — has presented itself, befallen

1.62.12

viniḥśvasan munivaraḥ paścāt tāpena duḥkhitaḥ

Sighing deeply, the best of sages, afterward pained by remorse...

Words: viniḥśvasan — sighing deeply; munivaraḥ — the best of sages; paścāt — afterward; tāpena — by burning remorse; duḥkhitaḥ — pained, grieved

1.62.13

bhītām apsarasaṃ dṛṣṭvā vepantīṃ prāñjaliṃ sthitām
menakāṃ madhurair vākyair visṛjya kuśikātmajaḥ
uttaraṃ parvataṃ rāma viśvāmitro jagāma ha

Seeing the apsaras Menakā frightened, trembling, standing with palms joined, the son of Kuśika dismissed her with gentle words; and Viśvāmitra went, O Rāma, to a mountain in the north.

Words: bhītām — frightened; apsarasaṃ — the apsaras; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; vepantīṃ — trembling; prāñjaliṃ — with palms joined; sthitām — standing; menakāṃ — Menakā; madhurair — with gentle, sweet; vākyair — words; visṛjya — having dismissed, sent away; kuśikātmajaḥ — the son of Kuśika; uttaraṃ — northern; parvataṃ — mountain; rāma — O Rāma; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; jagāma — went; ha — indeed

1.62.14

sa kṛtvā naiṣṭhikīṃ buddhiṃ jetukāmo mahāyaśāḥ
kauśikītīram āsādya tapas tepe sudāruṇam

The greatly glorious one, having made a firm resolve and wishing to conquer (his senses), reached the bank of the Kauśikī and performed most terrible austerity.

Words: sa — he; kṛtvā — having made; naiṣṭhikīṃ — firm, resolute; buddhiṃ — resolve, mind; jetukāmo — wishing to conquer; mahāyaśāḥ — the greatly glorious one; kauśikītīram — the bank of the Kauśikī; āsādya — having reached; tapas — austerity; tepe — performed; sudāruṇam — most terrible

1.62.15

tasya varṣasahasraṃ tu ghoraṃ tapa upāsataḥ
uttare parvate rāma devatānām abhūd bhayam

As he practiced dreadful austerity for a thousand years on the northern mountain, O Rāma, fear arose among the gods.

Words: tasya — of him, as he; varṣasahasraṃ — for a thousand years; tu — and; ghoraṃ — dreadful; tapa — austerity; upāsataḥ — practicing; uttare — on the northern; parvate — mountain; rāma — O Rāma; devatānām — among the gods; abhūd — arose; bhayam — fear

1.62.16

amantrayan samāgamya sarve sarṣigaṇāḥ surāḥ
maharṣiśabdaṃ labhatāṃ sādhv ayaṃ kuśikātmajaḥ

All the gods, together with the hosts of seers, having assembled, took counsel: “Let this son of Kuśika rightly obtain the title of maharṣi.”

Words: amantrayan — took counsel, deliberated; samāgamya — having assembled; sarve — all; sarṣigaṇāḥ — with the hosts of seers; surāḥ — the gods; maharṣiśabdaṃ — the title of maharṣi; labhatāṃ — let him obtain; sādhv — rightly, well; ayaṃ — this; kuśikātmajaḥ — son of Kuśika

1.62.17

devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ
abravīn madhuraṃ vākyaṃ viśvāmitraṃ tapodhanam

Hearing the gods' word, the Grandsire of all the worlds spoke a gentle word to Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity:

Words: devatānāṃ — of the gods; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; sarvalokapitāmahaḥ — the Grandsire of all the worlds; abravīn — spoke; madhuraṃ — gentle, sweet; vākyaṃ — word; viśvāmitraṃ — to Viśvāmitra; tapodhanam — rich in austerity

1.62.18

maharṣe svāgataṃ vatsa tapasogreṇa toṣitaḥ
mahattvam ṛṣimukhyatvaṃ dadāmi tava kauśika

“Welcome, O maharṣi, my child! I am pleased by your fierce austerity; I grant you greatness and pre-eminence among seers, O Kauśika.”

Words: maharṣe — O maharṣi (great seer); svāgataṃ — welcome; vatsa — my child; tapasogreṇa — by (your) fierce austerity; toṣitaḥ — (I am) pleased, gratified; mahattvam — greatness; ṛṣimukhyatvaṃ — pre-eminence among seers; dadāmi — I grant; tava — to you; kauśika — O Kauśika

1.62.19

brahmaṇaḥ sa vacaḥ śrutvā viśvāmitras tapodhanaḥ
prāñjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā pratyuvāca pitāmaham

Hearing that word of Brahmā, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, with palms joined and bowing low, replied to the Grandsire:

Words: brahmaṇaḥ — of Brahmā; sa — that; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tapodhanaḥ — rich in austerity; prāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; praṇato — bowed low; bhūtvā — having become; pratyuvāca — replied; pitāmaham — to the Grandsire

1.62.20

brahmarṣi śabdam atulaṃ svārjitaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ
yadi me bhagavān āha tato 'haṃ vijitendriyaḥ

“If the venerable one declares me (to have won) the incomparable title of brahmarṣi by my well-earned holy deeds, then (may it be that) I have conquered my senses.”

Words: brahmarṣi — brahmarṣi (brahman-seer); śabdam — the title, word; atulaṃ — incomparable; svārjitaiḥ — by well-earned; karmabhiḥ — by deeds; śubhaiḥ — holy, auspicious; yadi — if; me — to me, of me; bhagavān — the venerable one; āha — declares, says; tato — then; 'haṃ — I; vijitendriyaḥ — one who has conquered his senses

1.62.21

tam uvāca tato brahmā na tāvat tvaṃ jitendriyaḥ
yatasva muniśārdūla ity uktvā tridivaṃ gataḥ

Then Brahmā said to him: “Not yet have you conquered your senses; strive on, O tiger among sages.” And having so spoken, he went to heaven.

Words: tam — him; uvāca — said; tato — then; brahmā — Brahmā; na — not; tāvat — yet, so far; tvaṃ — you; jitendriyaḥ — one who has conquered his senses; yatasva — strive, exert yourself; muniśārdūla — O tiger among sages; ity uktvā — having spoken thus; tridivaṃ — to heaven; gataḥ — went

1.62.22

viprasthiteṣu deveṣu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
ūrdhvabāhur nirālambo vāyubhakṣas tapaś caran

When the gods had departed, the great sage Viśvāmitra, with arms upraised, without support, feeding on air, practiced austerity —

Words: viprasthiteṣu deveṣu — when the gods had departed; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; ūrdhvabāhur — with arms upraised; nirālambo — without support; vāyubhakṣas — feeding on air; tapaś — austerity; caran — practicing

1.62.23

dharme pañcatapā bhūtvā varṣāsv ākāśasaṃśrayaḥ
śiśire salilasthāyī rātryahāni tapodhanaḥ

In the hot season practicing the five-fire penance, in the rains exposed to the open sky, in winter standing in water day and night — that treasury of austerity (persevered).

Words: dharme — in the hot season (of summer); pañcatapā — practicing the five-fire penance; bhūtvā — having become; varṣāsv — in the rains; ākāśasaṃśrayaḥ — exposed to the open sky; śiśire — in the cold season, winter; salilasthāyī — standing in water; rātryahāni — by night and day; tapodhanaḥ — the treasury of austerity

1.62.24

evaṃ varṣasahasraṃ hi tapo ghoram upāgamat
tasmin saṃtapyamāne tu viśvāmitre mahāmunau

Thus for a thousand years he underwent dreadful austerity; and while the great sage Viśvāmitra was mortifying himself so,

Words: evaṃ — thus; varṣasahasraṃ — for a thousand years; hi — indeed; tapo — austerity; ghoram — dreadful; upāgamat — underwent, undertook; tasmin saṃtapyamāne — while he was mortifying himself; tu — and; viśvāmitre — Viśvāmitra (loc.); mahāmunau — the great sage (loc.)

1.62.25

saṃbhramaḥ sumahān āsīt surāṇāṃ vāsavasya ca
rambhām apsarasaṃ śakraḥ saha sarvair marudgaṇaiḥ

A very great alarm came upon the gods and upon Vāsava (Indra); and Śakra, together with all the hosts of Maruts, (spoke) to the apsaras Rambhā —

Words: saṃbhramaḥ — alarm, agitation; sumahān — very great; āsīt — was, arose; surāṇāṃ — of the gods; vāsavasya ca — and of Vāsava (Indra); rambhām — Rambhā; apsarasaṃ — the apsaras; śakraḥ — Śakra (Indra); saha — together with; sarvair — all; marudgaṇaiḥ — the hosts of Maruts

1.62.26

uvācātmahitaṃ vākyam ahitaṃ kauśikasya ca

...spoke a word beneficial to himself but harmful to the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra).

Words: uvācātmahitaṃ — spoke (a word) beneficial to himself; vākyam — a word; ahitaṃ — harmful, unfavorable; kauśikasya ca — and to the son of Kuśika (Kauśika)

← 1.61 Story of Viśvāmitra: Two verses save Śunaḥśepa · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.63 Story of Viśvāmitra: Rambhā and the failure to master anger →

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/1/62.md · JSON: /data/1/62.json