# Bāla Kāṇḍa 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* Portion: Story of Viśvāmitra · Verses: 30 · Ref format: 1.64. ## Sequence - Viśvāmitra leaves the Himālaya for the east and undertakes a thousand-year vow of silence (64.1–2) - despite becoming as motionless as wood and enduring repeated obstacles, he gives anger no opening (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 (64.4–9) - Brahmā and the Suras approach, address him as brahmarṣi, acknowledge that he has attained brāhmaṇa status, and grant long life (64.10–12) - delighted, Viśvāmitra asks that Oṃ, Vaṣaṭ, and the Vedas accept him and that Vasiṣṭha personally acknowledge his status (64.13–15) - at the Devas' request, Vasiṣṭha reconciles with him and confirms the attainment (64.16–17) - Viśvāmitra honors Vasiṣṭha and thereafter wanders the earth established in austerity (64.18–20). Śatānanda's long account now ends, returning the narrative to Janaka's assembly with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa present (64.21) - Janaka praises Viśvāmitra's life, power, and visit → although he would gladly hear more, sunset and the ritual duties require him to leave (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 (64.28–30). ## Verses **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. **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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: **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. **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.” **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: **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). **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.” **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.” **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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.