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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.64.9
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 64: Story of Viśvāmitra: Restraint and recognition as brahmarṣi. A thousand years of silence and restraint win Brahmā’s recognition as brahmarṣi, Vasiṣṭha confirms the attainment and Śatānanda’s account ends
In the sequence: 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
1.64.9
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
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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.