# Bāla Kāṇḍa 50 — Story of Viśvāmitra: Śatānanda introduces the former King *Śatānanda confirms Ahalyā’s release, then recounts how King Viśvāmitra’s travels with his army brought him to Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage* Portion: Story of Viśvāmitra · Verses: 28 · Ref format: 1.50. ## Sequence - Śatānanda, Gautama and Ahalyā's eldest son, is overwhelmed with joy at the report and at seeing Rāma (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 (50.4–9) - Viśvāmitra assures him that everything required was done and the couple reunited (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 (50.12–16). 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 (50.17–20) - traveling through countries, cities, mountains, rivers, and hermitages with a full army division, he reached Vasiṣṭha's retreat (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 (50.23–28). ## Verses **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 — **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. **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: **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? **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? **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? **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? **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? **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?” **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: **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).” **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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 — **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, **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, **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, **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, **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, **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.