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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 64: Story of Viśvāmitra: Restraint and recognition as brahmarṣi
Summary. A thousand years of silence and restraint win Brahmā’s recognition as brahmarṣi, Vasiṣṭha confirms the attainment and Śatānanda’s account ends
Sequence
- Viśvāmitra leaves the Himālaya for the east and undertakes a thousand-year vow of silence (1.64.1–2)
- despite becoming as motionless as wood and enduring repeated obstacles, he gives anger no opening (1.64.3)
- his growing power overwhelms Devas, gandharvas, pannagas, asuras and rākṣasas → they tell Brahmā that every attempt to tempt or provoke him has failed and that his unfulfilled wish now threatens the world's stability → oceans churn, mountains crumble, the earth trembles, and the winds are disturbed (1.64.4–9)
- Brahmā and the Suras approach, address him as brahmarṣi, acknowledge that he has attained brāhmaṇa status, and grant long life (1.64.10–12)
- delighted, Viśvāmitra asks that Oṃ, Vaṣaṭ, and the Vedas accept him and that Vasiṣṭha personally acknowledge his status (1.64.13–15)
- at the Devas' request, Vasiṣṭha reconciles with him and confirms the attainment (1.64.16–17)
- Viśvāmitra honors Vasiṣṭha and thereafter wanders the earth established in austerity. Śatānanda's long account now ends, returning the narrative to Janaka's assembly with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa present (1.64.18–21)
- Janaka praises Viśvāmitra's life, power, and visit → although he would gladly hear more, sunset and the ritual duties require him to leave (1.64.22–27)
- he asks to see Viśvāmitra again in the morning, circles him respectfully, and departs with his household → Viśvāmitra and the princes return to their quarters. (1.64.28–30)
Verses 1.64.1–30
1.64.1
atha haimavatīṃ rāma diśaṃ tyaktvā mahāmuniḥ
pūrvāṃ diśam anuprāpya tapas tepe sudāruṇam
Then, O Rāma, the great sage, forsaking the Himālayan region (the north), reached the eastern quarter and performed most terrible austerity.
Words: atha — then; haimavatīṃ — Himālayan, of the Himālaya; rāma — O Rāma; diśaṃ — region, quarter; tyaktvā — having forsaken; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; pūrvāṃ — eastern; diśam — quarter; anuprāpya — having reached; tapas — austerity; tepe — performed; sudāruṇam — most terrible
1.64.2
maunaṃ varṣasahasrasya kṛtvā vratam anuttamam
cakārāpratimaṃ rāma tapaḥ paramaduṣkaram
Making a peerless vow of silence for a thousand years, he performed, O Rāma, incomparable and exceedingly difficult austerity.
Words: maunaṃ — silence; varṣasahasrasya — of a thousand years; kṛtvā — having made; vratam — vow; anuttamam — peerless; cakārāpratimaṃ — performed incomparable; rāma — O Rāma; tapaḥ — austerity; paramaduṣkaram — exceedingly difficult
1.64.3
pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu kāṣṭhabhūtaṃ mahāmunim
vighnair bahubhir ādhūtaṃ krodho nāntaram āviśat
When the thousand years were complete, though the great sage, become like a log of wood, was shaken by many obstacles, anger found no opening in him.
Words: pūrṇe — complete; varṣasahasre — a thousand years; tu — and; kāṣṭhabhūtaṃ — become like a log of wood; mahāmunim — the great sage; vighnair — by obstacles; bahubhir — many; ādhūtaṃ — shaken, agitated; krodho — anger; nāntaram — no opening, no interval; āviśat — entered
1.64.4
tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ pannagāsurarākṣasāḥ
mohitās tejasā tasya tapasā mandaraśmayaḥ
kaśmalopahatāḥ sarve pitāmaham athābruvan
Then the gods together with the gandharvas, serpents, asuras, and rākṣasas, bewildered by his energy, their own radiance dimmed by his austerity, all overcome with faintness, spoke to the Grandsire:
Words: tato — then; devāḥ — the gods; sagandharvāḥ — together with the gandharvas; pannagāsurarākṣasāḥ — the serpents, asuras and rākṣasas; mohitās — bewildered; tejasā — by the energy; tasya — his; tapasā — by the austerity; mandaraśmayaḥ — with dimmed radiance; kaśmalopahatāḥ — overcome with faintness; sarve — all; pitāmaham — to the Grandsire; athābruvan — then said
1.64.5
bahubhiḥ kāraṇair deva viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
lobhitaḥ krodhitaś caiva tapasā cābhivardhate
“O god, by many means the great sage Viśvāmitra has been enticed and provoked to anger, yet he only grows greater through his austerity.
Words: bahubhiḥ — by many; kāraṇair — means, causes; deva — O god; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; lobhitaḥ — enticed; krodhitaś — provoked to anger; caiva — and; tapasā — through austerity; cābhivardhate — and grows greater
1.64.6
na hy asya vṛjinaṃ kiṃ cid dṛśyate sūkṣmam apy atha
na dīyate yadi tv asya manasā yad abhīpsitam
vināśayati trailokyaṃ tapasā sacarācaram
vyākulāś ca diśaḥ sarvā na ca kiṃ cit prakāśate
Not the least fault, even a subtle one, is to be seen in him; but if what his heart desires is not granted him, he will destroy by his austerity the three worlds with all that moves and moves not. All the quarters are in turmoil, and nothing shines forth.
Words: na — not; hy — indeed; asya — in him, his; vṛjinaṃ — fault, sin; kiṃ cid — any; dṛśyate — is seen; sūkṣmam — subtle, slight; apy — even; atha — now, indeed; na — not; dīyate — is given; yadi — if; tv — but; asya — to him; manasā — with the mind; yad — what; abhīpsitam — desired; vināśayati — destroys; trailokyaṃ — the three worlds; tapasā — by austerity; sacarācaram — with all that moves and moves not; vyākulāś ca — and in turmoil; diśaḥ — the quarters; sarvā — all; na ca — and not; kiṃ cit — anything; prakāśate — shines forth
1.64.7
sāgarāḥ kṣubhitāḥ sarve viśīryante ca parvatāḥ
prakampate ca pṛthivī vāyur vāti bhṛśākulaḥ
All the oceans are agitated, and the mountains crumble; the earth trembles, and the wind blows greatly disturbed.
Words: sāgarāḥ — the oceans; kṣubhitāḥ — agitated; sarve — all; viśīryante — crumble, fall apart; ca — and; parvatāḥ — the mountains; prakampate — trembles; ca — and; pṛthivī — the earth; vāyur — the wind; vāti — blows; bhṛśākulaḥ — greatly disturbed
1.64.8
buddhiṃ na kurute yāvan nāśe deva mahāmuniḥ
tāvat prasādyo bhagavān agnirūpo mahādyutiḥ
Before the great sage sets his mind upon destruction, O god, the venerable one, fire-formed and of great brilliance, must be propitiated.
Words: buddhiṃ — his mind, intent; na kurute — does not set, before he sets; yāvan — as long as, before; nāśe — upon destruction; deva — O god; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; tāvat — so long, meanwhile; prasādyo — to be propitiated; bhagavān — the venerable one; agnirūpo — fire-formed; mahādyutiḥ — of great brilliance
1.64.9
kālāgninā yathā pūrvaṃ trailokyaṃ dahyate 'khilam
devarājye cikīrṣeta dīyatām asya yan matam
Lest, as of old the three worlds are burned entire by the fire of doomsday, he should seek to seize the sovereignty of the gods — let whatever is his wish be granted to him.”
Words: kālāgninā — by the fire of doomsday; yathā — as; pūrvaṃ — of old, before; trailokyaṃ — the three worlds; dahyate — is burned; 'khilam — entire; devarājye — the sovereignty of the gods; cikīrṣeta — he might seek to take, do; dīyatām — let it be given; asya — to him; yan matam — whatever is his wish
1.64.10
tataḥ suragaṇāḥ sarve pitāmahapurogamāḥ
viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānaṃ vākyaṃ madhuram abruvan
Then all the hosts of gods, led by the Grandsire, spoke a gentle word to the great-souled Viśvāmitra:
Words: tataḥ — then; suragaṇāḥ — the hosts of gods; sarve — all; pitāmahapurogamāḥ — led by the Grandsire; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; vākyaṃ — word; madhuram — gentle, sweet; abruvan — spoke
1.64.11
brahmarṣe svāgataṃ te 'stu tapasā sma sutoṣitāḥ
brāhmaṇyaṃ tapasogreṇa prāptavān asi kauśika
“O brahmarṣi, welcome to you! We are well pleased by your austerity. By your fierce austerity you have attained brahminhood, O Kauśika.
Words: brahmarṣe — O brahmarṣi; svāgataṃ te 'stu — welcome to you; tapasā — by (your) austerity; sma — (emphatic particle); sutoṣitāḥ — well pleased; brāhmaṇyaṃ — brahminhood; tapasogreṇa — by (your) fierce austerity; prāptavān asi — you have attained; kauśika — O Kauśika
1.64.12
dīrgham āyuś ca te brahman dadāmi samarudgaṇaḥ
svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṃ te gaccha saumya yathāsukham
I, together with the hosts of Maruts, grant you long life, O brahmin; win well-being, blessings on you, go as you please, gentle one.”
Words: dīrgham — long; āyuś ca — and life; te — to you; brahman — O brahmin; dadāmi — I grant; samarudgaṇaḥ — together with the hosts of Maruts; svasti — well-being; prāpnuhi — obtain, win; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; gaccha — go; saumya — gentle one; yathāsukham — as you please, at ease
1.64.13
pitāmahavacaḥ śrutvā sarveṣāṃ ca divaukasām
kṛtvā praṇāmaṃ mudito vyājahāra mahāmuniḥ
Having heard the word of the Grandsire and of all the dwellers of heaven, the great sage, delighted, made obeisance and said:
Words: pitāmahavacaḥ — the word of the Grandsire; śrutvā — having heard; sarveṣāṃ ca — and of all; divaukasām — of the dwellers of heaven; kṛtvā — having made; praṇāmaṃ — obeisance, a bow; mudito — delighted; vyājahāra — spoke, uttered; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
1.64.14
brāhmaṇyaṃ yadi me prāptaṃ dīrgham āyus tathaiva ca
oṃkāro 'tha vaṣaṭkāro vedāś ca varayantu mām
“If brahminhood has been attained by me, and long life likewise, then let the syllable Oṃ, the exclamation Vaṣaṭ, and the Vedas choose me (as their own).
Words: brāhmaṇyaṃ — brahminhood; yadi — if; me — by me; prāptaṃ — attained; dīrgham — long; āyus — life; tathaiva ca — and likewise; oṃkāro — the syllable Oṃ; 'tha — then; vaṣaṭkāro — the exclamation Vaṣaṭ; vedāś ca — and the Vedas; varayantu — let them choose, accept; mām — me
1.64.15
kṣatravedavidāṃ śreṣṭho brahmavedavidām api
brahmaputro vasiṣṭho mām evaṃ vadatu devatāḥ
yady ayaṃ paramaḥ kāmaḥ kṛto yāntu surarṣabhāḥ
Let Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahmā, best of those who know the Kṣatra-veda and of those who know the Brahma-veda, address me thus, O gods. If this, my highest wish, has been fulfilled, let the bulls among the gods depart.”
Words: kṣatravedavidāṃ — of the knowers of the Kṣatra-veda; śreṣṭho — the best; brahmavedavidām — of the knowers of the Brahma-veda; api — also; brahmaputro — the son of Brahmā; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; mām — me; evaṃ — thus; vadatu — let him address, say; devatāḥ — O gods; yady — if; ayaṃ — this; paramaḥ — highest; kāmaḥ — wish; kṛto — fulfilled, done; yāntu — let them go; surarṣabhāḥ — the bulls among gods
1.64.16
tataḥ prasādito devair vasiṣṭho japatāṃ varaḥ
sakhyaṃ cakāra brahmarṣir evam astv iti cābravīt
Then, propitiated by the gods, Vasiṣṭha, the best of those who mutter prayers, the brahmarṣi, made friendship with him and said, “So be it.”
Words: tataḥ — then; prasādito — propitiated; devair — by the gods; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; japatāṃ — of those who mutter prayers; varaḥ — the best; sakhyaṃ — friendship; cakāra — made; brahmarṣir — the brahmarṣi; evam astv — so be it; iti — thus; cābravīt — and said
1.64.17
brahmarṣitvaṃ na saṃdehaḥ sarvaṃ saṃpatsyate tava
ity uktvā devatāś cāpi sarvā jagmur yathāgatam
“The rank of brahmarṣi is yours — no doubt of it; everything shall come to pass for you.” Having said this, all the gods too departed as they had come.
Words: brahmarṣitvaṃ — the rank of brahmarṣi; na saṃdehaḥ — (there is) no doubt; sarvaṃ — everything; saṃpatsyate — shall come to pass, succeed; tava — for you; ity uktvā — having said this; devatāś cāpi — and the gods too; sarvā — all; jagmur — departed, went; yathāgatam — as they had come
1.64.18
viśvāmitro 'pi dharmātmā labdhvā brāhmaṇyam uttamam
pūjayām āsa brahmarṣiṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ japatāṃ varam
And Viśvāmitra, the righteous one, having gained the highest brahminhood, honored the brahmarṣi Vasiṣṭha, the best of those who mutter prayers.
Words: viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'pi — too, also; dharmātmā — the righteous one; labdhvā — having gained; brāhmaṇyam — brahminhood; uttamam — highest; pūjayām āsa — honored; brahmarṣiṃ — the brahmarṣi; vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; japatāṃ — of those who mutter prayers; varam — the best
1.64.19
kṛtakāmo mahīṃ sarvāṃ cacāra tapasi sthitaḥ
evaṃ tv anena brāhmaṇyaṃ prāptaṃ rāma mahātmanā
His wish fulfilled, he wandered over all the earth, established in austerity. Thus was brahminhood attained by this great-souled one, O Rāma.
Words: kṛtakāmo — his wish fulfilled; mahīṃ — the earth; sarvāṃ — all, whole; cacāra — wandered; tapasi — in austerity; sthitaḥ — established, abiding; evaṃ — thus; tv — and, indeed; anena — by this (one); brāhmaṇyaṃ — brahminhood; prāptaṃ — attained; rāma — O Rāma; mahātmanā — by the great-souled one
1.64.20
eṣa rāma muniśreṣṭha eṣa vigrahavāṃs tapaḥ
eṣa dharmaḥ paro nityaṃ vīryasyaiṣa parāyaṇam
This, O Rāma, is the best of sages; this is austerity embodied; this is ever the supreme dharma; this is the very abode of heroic power.
Words: eṣa — this (one); rāma — O Rāma; muniśreṣṭha — the best of sages; eṣa — this; vigrahavāṃs — embodied, having a form; tapaḥ — austerity; eṣa — this; dharmaḥ — dharma; paro — supreme; nityaṃ — ever, eternal; vīryasyaiṣa — this of heroic power; parāyaṇam — the abode, refuge
1.64.21
śatānandavacaḥ śrutvā rāmalakṣmaṇasaṃnidhau
janakaḥ prāñjalir vākyam uvāca kuśikātmajam
Having heard Śatānanda's words in the presence of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, Janaka, with palms joined, spoke to the son of Kuśika:
Words: śatānandavacaḥ — Śatānanda's words; śrutvā — having heard; rāmalakṣmaṇasaṃnidhau — in the presence of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; janakaḥ — Janaka; prāñjalir — with palms joined; vākyam — word; uvāca — spoke; kuśikātmajam — to the son of Kuśika
1.64.22
dhanyo 'smy anugṛhīto 'smi yasya me munipuṃgava
yajñaṃ kākutstha sahitaḥ prāptavān asi dhārmika
“I am blessed, I am favored, O bull among sages, in that you, righteous one, together with the Kākutstha (Rāma), have come to my sacrifice.
Words: dhanyo — blessed; 'smy — I am; anugṛhīto — favored; 'smi — I am; yasya me — in that, of whom (namely) my; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; yajñaṃ — the sacrifice; kākutstha — (with) the Kākutstha (Rāma); sahitaḥ — accompanied, together; prāptavān asi — you have come, reached; dhārmika — O righteous one
1.64.23
pāvito 'haṃ tvayā brahman darśanena mahāmune
guṇā bahuvidhāḥ prāptās tava saṃdarśanān mayā
I have been purified by you, O brahmin, by your sight, O great sage; many kinds of merit have I gained from beholding you.
Words: pāvito — purified; 'haṃ — I; tvayā — by you; brahman — O brahmin; darśanena — by the sight; mahāmune — O great sage; guṇā — merits, virtues; bahuvidhāḥ — of many kinds; prāptās — gained, obtained; tava — your; saṃdarśanān — from beholding; mayā — by me
1.64.24
vistareṇa ca te brahman kīrtyamānaṃ mahat tapaḥ
śrutaṃ mayā mahātejo rāmeṇa ca mahātmanā
And your great austerity, recounted at length, O brahmin, has been heard by me, O greatly resplendent one, and by the great-souled Rāma.
Words: vistareṇa — at length, in detail; ca — and; te — your; brahman — O brahmin; kīrtyamānaṃ — being recounted, celebrated; mahat — great; tapaḥ — austerity; śrutaṃ — heard; mayā — by me; mahātejo — O greatly resplendent one; rāmeṇa ca — and by Rāma; mahātmanā — the great-souled
1.64.25
sadasyaiḥ prāpya ca sadaḥ śrutās te bahavo guṇāḥ
And having reached the assembly-hall, your many virtues were heard by the members of the assembly.
Words: sadasyaiḥ — by the members of the assembly; prāpya — having reached; ca — and; sadaḥ — the assembly-hall; śrutās — were heard; te — your; bahavo — many; guṇāḥ — virtues
1.64.26
aprameyaṃ tapas tubhyam aprameyaṃ ca te balam
aprameyā guṇāś caiva nityaṃ te kuśikātmaja
Immeasurable is your austerity, immeasurable your strength, and ever immeasurable your virtues too, O son of Kuśika.
Words: aprameyaṃ — immeasurable; tapas — austerity; tubhyam — of you, yours; aprameyaṃ — immeasurable; ca — and; te — your; balam — strength; aprameyā — immeasurable; guṇāś caiva — and virtues too; nityaṃ — ever; te — your; kuśikātmaja — O son of Kuśika
1.64.27
tṛptir āścaryabhūtānāṃ kathānāṃ nāsti me vibho
karmakālo muniśreṣṭha lambate ravimaṇḍalam
There is no satiety for me in these marvelous tales, O lord; but the time of the rite (has come), O best of sages — the orb of the sun is sinking.
Words: tṛptir — satiety; āścaryabhūtānāṃ — of the marvelous; kathānāṃ — tales; nāsti — there is not; me — for me; vibho — O lord; karmakālo — the time of the rite; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; lambate — sinks, hangs down; ravimaṇḍalam — the orb of the sun
1.64.28
śvaḥ prabhāte mahātejo draṣṭum arhasi māṃ punaḥ
svāgataṃ tapasāṃ śreṣṭha mām anujñātum arhasi
Tomorrow at dawn, O greatly resplendent one, you should see me again; welcome, O best of ascetics — now you should grant me leave.”
Words: śvaḥ — tomorrow; prabhāte — at dawn; mahātejo — O greatly resplendent one; draṣṭum — to see; arhasi — you should; māṃ — me; punaḥ — again; svāgataṃ — welcome; tapasāṃ — of ascetics, of austerities; śreṣṭha — O best; mām — me; anujñātum — to grant leave, to permit; arhasi — you should
1.64.29
evam uktvā muniśreṣṭhaṃ vaideho mithilādhipaḥ
pradakṣiṇaṃ cakārāśu sopādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ
Having thus addressed the best of sages, the Videha king, lord of Mithilā, together with his priests and kinsmen, quickly circumambulated him.
Words: evam uktvā — having thus spoken; muniśreṣṭhaṃ — the best of sages; vaideho — the Videha (king); mithilādhipaḥ — lord of Mithilā; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation; cakārāśu — quickly performed; sopādhyāyaḥ — with his priests; sabāndhavaḥ — with his kinsmen
1.64.30
viśvāmitro 'pi dharmātmā saharāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ
svaṃ vāṭam abhicakrāma pūjyamāno maharṣibhiḥ
And Viśvāmitra, the righteous one, together with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, went off to his own quarters, honored by the great seers.
Words: viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'pi — too, also; dharmātmā — the righteous one; saharāmaḥ — together with Rāma; salakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; svaṃ — his own; vāṭam — quarters, enclosure; abhicakrāma — went to, proceeded; pūjyamāno — being honored; maharṣibhiḥ — by the great seers
← 1.63 Story of Viśvāmitra: Rambhā and the failure to master anger · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.65 Story of Sītā & Śiva’s bow: Birth, suitors and Janaka’s condition →
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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