# Bāla Kāṇḍa 51 — Story of Viśvāmitra: Vasiṣṭha’s hospitality

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

Portion: Story of Viśvāmitra · Verses: 23 · Ref format: 1.51.<verse>

## Sequence

- King Viśvāmitra bows to Vasiṣṭha and receives a seat, roots, and fruit (51.1–3)
- 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 (51.4–11)
- Vasiṣṭha offers full hospitality to the King and his army (51.12–14)
- Viśvāmitra says the welcome, water, and simple food have already honored him sufficiently and asks leave to depart (51.15–17)
- Vasiṣṭha repeats the invitation until he accepts (51.18–19)
- 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 (51.20–23).

## Verses

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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:

**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?'

**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?'

**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?'

**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.

**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.

**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:

**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.'

**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.'

**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.'

**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—'

**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.'

**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.

**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.'

**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).

**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.'

**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.'

**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!'