srivalmikiramayanam - balakanda - sarga 53 to 55

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,   Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 53

Introduction

Vishvamitra tries to gain Kaamadhenu, but Sage Vashishta persistently refuses Vishvamitra's bargains and barters. 'When an ordinary cow alone is held sacred and it is an un-marketable commodity, how then can Shabala, a milker of any wish, be given away or bartered for other riches...' is the argument of Vashishta. Yet, Vishvamitra goes on his bidding, but in vain.

evam uktaa vasiSThena shabalaa shatru suudana |
vidadhe kaamadhuk kaamaan yasya yasya iipsitam yathaa || 1-53-1

.

"Oh, enemy-chastener Rama, when the Divine Cow Shabala is spoken in this way by Sage Vashishta, then that milker bestowed each and every fancy, fancied by each and every fancier, according to one's own fancy." Thus Sage Shataananda continued the legend of Shabala or Kaamadhenu, as a part of the legend of Vishvamitra to Rama and others. [1-53-1]

ikSuun madhuun tathaa laajaan maireyaan ca vara aasavaan |
paanaani ca mahaaar.hhaaNi bhakSyaan ca ucca avacaan tathaa || 1-53-2

Shabala bestowed dishes of sugar cane and honey, and flakes of all sorts, like cornflakes, rice-flakes, also best arracks and liquors in best wineglasses, further, the drinks and foodstuffs that are very diverse and verily apposite to royalties and army-men. [1-53-2]

uSNa aaDhyasya odanasya api raashayaH parvatopamaaH |
mR^iSTa annaani ca suupaaH ca dadhi kulyaaH tathaiva ca || 1-53-3
naanaa svaadu rasaanaam ca khaaNDavanaam - SaaDabaanaam - tathaiva ca |
bhaajanaani -bhojanaani - supuur.hNaani gauDaani ca sahasrashaH || 1-53-4

There emerged mountainous stacks of steamy foodstuffs, palatable side-dishes and desserts of rice etc., also the dumplings of cooked pulses, like that the cascades of curds and the other milk products likes butter, ghee, cheese etc. Thousands of silver dishes and hollowware fully replete with daintily soft drinks, like that full with sugar-candy preparations, and with preparations that comprise all the six tastes have come up together with delectable foodstuffs made out of treacly dumplings of cane sugar. [1-53-3, 4]

sarvam aasiit susa.ntuSTam hR^iSTa puSTa jana aayutam |
vishvaamitra balam raama vasiSThena sutarpitam || 1-53-5

"Oh, Rama, all of the men in the forces of Vishvamitra, who are already rejoiced and regaled by the regular feasts accorded by their king Vishvamitra, are now comparatively well gladdened when feasted by Sage Vashishta, in which they rejoiced and regaled, for a good measure. [1-53-5]

vishvaamitro api raajarSiH hR^iSTa puSTaH tadaa abhavat |
sa antaH pura varo raajaa sa braahmaNa purohitaH || 1-53-6

"Partaking that feast together with the best royal ladies of palace chambers, and with the court-scholars and the court-priests even the king Vishvamitra, who by his nature is a kingly sage, became exultant and energetic. [1-53-6]

sa amaatyo ma.ntri sahitaH sa bhR^ityaH puujitaH tadaa |
yuktaH parama harSeNa vasiSTham idam abraviit || 1-53-7

"When honoured along with his advisers, ministers and attendants by way of receiving a royal banquet, king Vishvamitra then in high admiration spoke this to Vashishta. [1-53-7]

puujito aham tvayaa brahman puuja arheNa susatkR^itaH |
shruuyataam abhidhaasyaami vaakyam vaakya vishaarada || 1-53-8

.

" 'You showed me a generous hospitality whereby I am esteemed by an estimable sage like you, oh, expert in sententiousness, now I wish to say for myself to which you may please listen. [1-53-8]

gavaam shata sahasreNa diiyataam shabalaa mama |
ratnam hi bhagavan etat ratna haarii ca paarthivaH || 1-53-9
tasmaat me shabalaam dehi mama eSaa dharmato dvija |

" 'Oh, godly sage, this Shabala may be given to me for a barter of a lakh, a hundred thousand, cows. Indeed this do-all cow is a treasure, and the kings are the gatherers of treasures. Therefore bestow this cow to me. As rule this cow also belongs to me.' Thus Vishvamitra said to Vashishta. [1-53-9, 10a]

evam uktaH tu bhagavaan vasiSTho muni sattamaH || 1-53-10
vishvaamitreNa dharmaatmaa pratyuvaaca mahiipatim |

.

"When Vishvamitra addressed him in that way, the reverential sage Vashishta, who is a virtue-souled eminent saint, on his part replied the king in this way. [1-53-10b, 11a]

na aham shata sahasreNa na api koTi shataiH gavaam || 1-53-11
raajan daasyaami shabalaam raashibhii rajatasya vaa |

" 'I cannot afford Shabala, neither by the barter of a hundred thousand cows, nor by hundreds of millions of cows, nor by lots and lots of silver, either. [1-53-11b, 12a]

na parityaagam arhaa iyam mat sakaashaat arindama || 1-53-12
shaashvatii shabalaa mahyam kiirtir aatmavato yathaa |

" 'Abandoning her from my proximity is unmeet for her, oh, enemy-subjugator, you cannot even subjugate me terroristically and try to wean this cow away from me, as Shabala is everlastingly and inseparably mine, as with the everlasting and inseparable respectability of a self-respectful person. [1-53-12b, 13a]

asyaam havyam ca kavyam ca praaNa yaatraa tathaiva ca || 1-53-13
aayattam agni hotram ca baliH homaH tathaiva ca |

"This cow makes the journey of my life possible. Oblations to gods or manes, enkindling of Ritual-fire, religious sacrifices, homa-s, the sacred rituals conducted as darsha, paurNa maasi, all are dependent on her. [1-53-13b, 14a]

svaahaa kaara vaSaT kaarau vidyaaH ca vividhaaH tathaa || 1-53-14
aayattam atra raaja R^iSe sarvam etan na sa.nshayaH |

"This cow is the bedrock for everything in its entirety, and regarding diverse and numerous indoctrinations, and even for add-on syllabics like svaaha, vaSaT, they are all dependent on this cow, there is no doubt about it. [1-53-14b 15a]

When the Fire-Ritual, or homa is conducted each pouring of fluid oblation or each dropping of solid oblation into Fire-Altar is associated with Vedic-hymns addressing the particular receiver-deity, annexed with syllabics like: svaahaa, svaahaa kaaraaH at the end of each chant like indraaya svaahaa, indraaya idam na mama... varuNaaya svaahaa, varuNaaya idam na mama... 'to Indra this is scarified, this is for Indra, not mine... to Rain-god this is sacrificed, this is for Rain-god, not mine...' So also the vaSaT is annexed to the hymns addressed to manes. To learn Veda-s one shall be eligible to perform a Fire-ritual, and if Fire-ritual is performed, some basic Vedic hymns are to be learnt, and all this is a cyclic affair, requiring much paraphernalia. This cow supplies everything at wish, without a hassle, either to the teacher or to the taught.

sarvasvam etat satyena mama tuSTi karii tathaa || 1-53-15
kaaraNaiH bahubhii raajan na daasye shabalaam tava |

" "In truth, this cow is everything to me and ever-gratifier, that way by so many reasons, oh, king, I cannot afford Shabala to you or to anyone." So said Vashishta to Vishvamitra. [1-53-15b, 16a]

vasiSThena evam uktaH tu vishvaamitro abraviit tadaa || 1-53-16
sa.mrabdhataram atyartham vaakyam vaakya vishaaradaH |

Though Vashishta spoke thus Vishvamitra being an expert in sententiousness then spoke this sentence compellingly and argumentatively. [1-53-16b, 17a]

hairaNya kakSyaa graiveyaan suvarNa a.nkusha bhuuSitaan || 1-53-17
dadaami ku.njaraaNaam te sahasraaNi catur dasha |

" 'I bestow upon you fourteen thousand elephants adorned with golden girdles, golden necklets and golden goads. [1-53-17b, 18a]

hairaNyaanaam rathaanaam ca shveta ashvaanaam catur yujaam || 1-53-18
dadaami te shataani aSTau kinkiNiika vibhuuSitaan |

" 'I will grant you eight hundred golden chariots whichever can be yoked on with four whitely-white horses trimmed up with the sets of tintinnabulating bells. [1-53-18b, 19a]

hayaanaam desha jaataanaam kula jaanaam mahaujasaam |
sahasram ekam dasha ca dadaami tava suvrata || 1-53-19

" 'I grant you, oh, superbly vowed sage, eleven thousand fleetly galloping horses of high pedigree born in best countries of best horse breeding. [1-53-19b, c]

naanaa varNa vibhaktaanaam vayaHsthaanaam tathaiva ca |
dadaami ekaam gavaam koTim shabalaa diiyataam mama || 1-53-20

" 'I award ten million diversely coloured and differently divisionalized cows, whichever of them will be came of age as milker, thereby, let this do-all cow Shabala be given to me. [1-53-20]

yaavat icChasi ratnaani hiraNyam vaa dvijottama |
taavat dadaami te sarvam diiyataam shabalaa mama || 1-53-21

" 'Or, oh, eminent Brahman, if you yearn either for gems or gold, I gift that much of everything as much as you can yearn, let Shabala be given to me." Thus Vishvamitra entreated again. [1-53-21]

evam uktaH tu bhagavaan vishvaamitreNa dhiimataa |
na daasyaami iti shabalaam praaha raajan katha.mcana || 1-53-22

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When the shrewd king Vishvamitra spoke to the reverential sage Vashishta, that sage has clearly said, 'whatever it is oh, king, I do not surrender Shabala, the cow.' [1-53-22]

etadeva hi me ratnam etadeva hi me dhanam |
etadeva hi sarvasvam etadeva hi jiivitam || 1-53-23

.

" 'Really this alone is my gemmy cow, thus I do not require your jewels or gems... truly, this alone is my treasure, thus I do not require your gilded chariots, horses or elephants... really, this alone is my everything, thus I need nothing from you... and actually, this alone is my alter-ego, thus you cannot separate me from myself. [1-53-23]

darshaH ca paurNa maasaH ca yaj~naaH caiva aapta dakSiNaaH |
etadeva hi me raajan vividhaaH ca kriyaaH tathaa || 1-53-24

.

" 'This alone is my darsha, puurNa maasa rituals, and like that this alone is all my Vedic-rituals with worthwhile donations and oh, king, this essentially is of service in diverse activities of mine. [1-53-24]

ato muulaaH kriyaaH sarvaa mama raajan na sa.nshayaH |
bahuunaa kim pralaapena na daasye kaama dohiniim || 1-53-25

" 'Oh, king, all of my activities are instated in this cow, then wherefore a lot of palavering a bargain or barter? I do not give away this milker any wish." So said VashishtaT to Vishvamitra, and thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration of the legend of Sacred Cow. [1-53-25]

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Sacredness of the Cow

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If cow is held sacred in India it is held precious all over the world. Whatever is given by a cow, from its milk to cow-dung, it is put to use, even for medicinal purposes, which is evident from insulin and smallpox vaccines. Regarding go mahaatmyam 'sacredness of cow' Bheeshma speaks at length about the sacredness of cow to Yudhishtar, in Anushaashanika Parva of Maha Bharata.

anena saklaa vaidika karma vidy˜ jŸvan˜di karatvena ati pavitratena ca gav˜m ati mahatmyam gav˜m vikrayato pary˜pta v®ttik˜n˜m aty˜þ˜ niÿedha× ca trayam api s¨citam - dk yajñai× av˜pyate soma× sa ca goÿu pratiÿ÷ita× | goÿu soma× pratiÿ÷ita× - tattarŸya þruti havyam kavyam tarpaõam þ˜nti karma y˜nam v˜so v®ddha b˜lasya tuÿ÷i× | sv˜h˜ k˜ra vaÿa÷ k˜rau goÿu nityam pratiÿ÷itau | g˜vo yajñasya hi phalam goÿu yajñ˜× pratiÿ÷it˜× | gav˜m m¨tra purŸÿasya nodvijeta kathamcana | na ca ˜s˜m m˜msam aþnŸy˜t gav˜m puÿ÷im tath˜ ˜pnuy˜t | n˜ ata× para taram d˜nam na ata× puõya taram phalam | tvac˜ lomn˜ atha þ®ngai× v˜lai× kÿŸreõa medas˜ | yajñam vahati sambh¨yakim asya tat abhyadhikam tata× || mah˜ bh˜rate anuþ˜þanika parv˜õi yudhiÿ÷aram prati bhŸÿma uv˜ca - evam þruti sm®ti itih˜sa pur˜õa ˜diÿu bahu prak˜reõa pratip˜dyam˜nam - go mah˜tmyam - v˜c˜ma gocaram iti dikpradarþana m˜tram kýitv˜ - vasiÿ÷a× - viramyate - dk

Here, on hinting in an indirect way about go mahaatmyam 'the sacredness of the cow...' and its un-marketability, Sage Vashishta paused his negation, hoping that Vishvamitra will realise, as he is also well-versed in scriptures.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe tri pa.ncaashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 53rd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 54

Introduction

The seizure of Kaamadhenu, the Sacred Cow, causes anxiety in her and she urges Vashishta to counteract the atrocity of Vishvamitra. Agreeing to her, the sage asks the Cow to create a force that can subdue the forces of Vishvamitra. Accordingly, that Cow generates newer forces and a war ensues.

kaamadhenum vasiSTho api yadaa na tyajate muniH |
tadaa asya shabalaam raama vishvaamitro anvakarSata || 1-54-1

"When Sage Vashishta did not yield Kaamadhenu, the milker of any desire, oh, Rama, then Vishvamitra started to seize it." Sage Shataananda continued the narration of the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-54-1]

niiyamaanaa tu shabalaa raama raaj~naa mahaatmanaa |
duHkhitaa cintayaamaasa ruda.ntii shoka karshitaa || 1-54-2

"While the determined king Vishvamitra dragged her away from Vashishta, oh, Rama, Shabala is saddened and tearfully mulled over stung by the anguish of her secession from the sage. [1-54-2]

parityaktaa vasiSThena kim aham sumahaatmanaa |
yaa aham raaja bhR^itaiH diinaa hriyeyam bhR^isha duHkhitaa || 1-54-3

" 'A pitiable and highly anguished one, such as I am. I am being dragged away by the servants of the king. Has this great souled Sage Vashishta abandoned me, or what? [1-54-3]

kim mayaa apakR^itam tasya maharSeH bhaavita aatmanaH |
yan maam anaagasam bhaktaam iSTaam tyajati dhaarmikaH || 1-54-4

" 'Or, did I do any misdeed towards that great sage of sacred soul whereby he is leaving me off. I have always been reverent and a cherished cow to that pietist and am I no errant.' That cow eulogised in this manner. [1-54-4]

iti sa.ncintayitvaa tu niHshvasya ca punaH punaH |
jagaama vegena tadaa vasiSTham parama ojasam || 1-54-5
nirdhuuya taam tadaa bhR^ityaan shatashaH shatrusuudana |
jagaama anila vegena paada muulam mahaatmanaH || 1-54-6

"On thinking thus and suspiring repeatedly, oh, enemy-subjugator, Rama, then she that Sacred Cow hastily rushed with the speed a gust and went to that highly energetic Vashishta on utterly shoving off hundreds of attendants of the king who are roping her, and then she straight went to the base of the feet of the great-souled Vashishta. [1-54-5, 6]

shabalaa saa rudantii ca kroshantii ca idam abraviit |
vasiSThasya agrataH sthitvaa megha niHsvanaa || 1-54-7

.

"She that moaning and groaning Shabala staying before the Sage Vashishta spoke this bellowing like a thunderous cloud. [1-54-7]

bhagavan kim parityaktaa tvayaa aham brahmaNaH suta |
yasmaat raaja bhaTaa maam hi nayante tvat sakaashataH || 1-54-8

" 'Oh, Son of Brahma, why I am discarded by you, whereby oh, god, the king's attendants are weaning me away from your proximity.' So Shabala urged Vashishta. [1-54-8]

evam uktaH tu brahmarSir idam vacanam abraviit |
shoka sa.ntapta hR^idayaam sva saaram iva duHkhitaam || 1-54-9

"When he is spoken thus, then that Brahma-sage spoke this sentence to worrisome Shabala, whose heart is worrying with worry, as he would speak with his own sister in her worriment. [1-54-9]

na tvaam tyajaami shabale na api me apakR^itam tvayaa |
eSa tvaam nayate raajaa balaat mat.htaH mahaabalaH || 1-54-10

10. shabale= oh, Shabala; tvaam na tyajaami= you, not, I am forswearing; tvayaa me na apakR^itam api = by you, to me, not, misdeed done, even - you too have not fouled me; mahaabalaH= great-mighty one; eSa raajaa= this, king is; mattaH [mat taH= from me; or, matta= ecstatic by his own might - king]; balaat= forcibly; tvaam nayate = you, weaning away.

" 'Neither I forswear you nor you fouled me, oh, Shabala, this king is forcibly weaning you away from me as he is beside himself with kingly arrogance. [1-54-10]

na hi tulyam balam mahyam raajaa tu adya visheSataH |
balii raajaa kSatriyaH ca pR^ithivyaaH patiH eva ca || 1-54-11

" 'My ability is not balanceable with his, isn't it. Above all, on his part he is a king now, and a king will be mighty, he is the lord of the land and a Kshatriya, and thus we have to be subservient to a Kshatriya, isn't it. [1-54-11]

iyam akSauhiNii puurNaa gaja vaaji ratha aakulaa |
hasti dhvaja samaakiirNaa tena asau balavattaraH || 1-54-12

" 'This akshauhini unit of army is plethoric, overcrowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, and overspread with flags and elephants, thereby he is mightier than me.' Thus Vashishta tried to pacify that Sacred-Cow. [1-54-12]

evam uktaa vasiSThena pratyuvaaca viniitavat |
vacanam vacanaj~naa saa brahmarSim atula prabham || 1-54-13

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"She who is spoken that way by Vashishta, that sententious Sacred Cow, Shabala, in her turn obediently spoke this sentence to that Brahma-sage of un-balanceable resplendence. [1-54-13]

na balam kSatriyasya aahuH braahmaNo balavattaraH |
brahman brahma balam divyam kSatraat tu balavattaram || 1-54-14

" 'Oh, Brahman, unstated is that the might of sovereignty as mightier than the might of sagacity. A sage is mightier than a sovereign. A sage's might is mightiest than the mightier sovereign, for a sage's might is angelic.' So Shabala started talking to the sage. [1-54-14]

This is the relevant stanza for the later time debates or essay competitions under the caption of 'pen vs. sword... which is mightier...' Here, though Vishvamitra is well aware that a sage's possession cannot be usurped, he resorted to the same. The Sacred Cow is telling the above with intolerance towards Vishvamitra's violation of the norms. s˜ api asaham˜n˜ k˜ma dohinŸ þ˜nty˜ kÿamay˜ yuktam vaþiÿ÷am avocat -

What a king has got to do with a sage's wealth? A sage acquires it with his ascesis and it is not another king's kingdom to conquer. sarva dhamajñasy˜ api viþv˜mitrasya et˜d®þŸ buddhi× ab¨t | yasmai dev˜ prayacchanti puruÿ˜ya par˜bhavam - bala avalepana viþvamitro vaþiÿ÷ha v˜kyam an˜d®tya brahmasva hareõa mah˜ doÿam j˜nan api bal˜t eva þabal˜m ˜cakarÿa - dk The scriptures, norms, ethics demand that a sagacious person shall not be robbed off his possession, which he acquires by his personal merit. But Vishvamitra's brain tilted this way because of his all-conquering avarice and he thought that this cow is also conquerable, and gods give such a mind only to see the greedy to fail and thus insulted of their might.

na tu eva kad˜cit svayam r˜j˜ brahmaõasva adadŸta - bodh˜yana s¨tra - atha api ud˜haranti - na viÿam viÿam iti ˜hu× brahmasvam viÿam ucya te | brahmasvam putra pautra ghnam viÿam ek˜kinam haret | 'a sagacious person's possession is not to be snatched away - bodhaayana suutraa-s; 'a poison if consumed kills one that consumes it... but the possession of a sagacious person, if tried for consumption, it consumes whole lot of the consumer's sons, grandsons and his clan itself, besides the consumer...for sage's possession in itself is a lethal poison...'

aprameya balam tubhyam na tvayaa balavattaraH |
vishvaamitro mahaaviiryaH tejaH tava duraasadam || 1-54-15

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" 'Immutable is your power as you are mightier than great-mighty Vishvamitra and invincible is your dynamism. [1-54-15]

niyu~NkSva maam mahaatejaH tvat brahma bala sa.mbhR^itaam |
tasya darpam balam yat.hnam naashayaami duraatmanaH || 1-54-16

" 'Ordain me, oh, highly resplendent sage, who am replete with the power of your sagacity, and I will disprove the vanity, valour, and venture of that injudicious king for this injudicious seizure.' Thus Shabala implored the sage Vashishta. [1-54-16]

iti uktaH tu tayaa raama vasiSThaH sumahaayashaaH |
sR^ijasva iti tadaa uvaaca balam para bala ardanam || 1-54-17

"Oh, Rama, when spoken by her thus, that highly glorious Vashishta said to Shabala, the do-all cow, 'create a power that can overpower the power of opponent.' Vashishta said so to Shabala.[1-54-17]

tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa surabhiH saa asR^ijat tadaa |
tasyaa hu.mbhaa rava ut.hsR^iSTaaH pahlavaaH shatasho nR^ipa || 1-54-18
naashayanti balam sarvam vishvaamitrasya pashyataH |

"On hearing his sentence, oh, Rama, that Sacred Cow Shabala then created Pahlava kings, sprang forth from her mooing 'hums', and hundreds of them annihilated the army of Vishvamitra in its entirety just while Vishvamitra is witnessing it. [1-54-18, 19a]

sa raajaa parama kruddhaH krodha visphaarita iikSaNaH || 1-54-19
pahlavaan naashayaamaasa shastraiH uccaavacaiH api |

"King Vishvamitra was utterly infuriated and with wide-eyed anger he started to destroy those Pahlava-s with many a kind of his weaponry. [1-54-19b, 20a]

vishvaamitra arditaan dR^iSTvaa pahlavaan shatashaH tadaa || 1-54-20
bhuuya eva asR^ijat ghoraan shakaan yavana mishritaan |

.

"On seeing the subdual of hundreds of Pahlava-s by Vishvamitra, then the Sacred Cow again generated deadly Shaka-s hobnobbed with Yavana-s through her mooing 'hums'. [1-54-20b, 21a]

These Shaka-s and Yavana-s are the Shakas, or the Scythians, or the Indo-Scythians of Max Muller. Some discussion about this is included in the endnote of Kishkindha, Ch. 43. Dharmaakuutam says: tadanu vaþiÿ÷ha abhyanujñ˜t˜ þabal˜ nirmita pahlava ˜di - nik®ÿ÷a j˜ti - niÿ¨ditam svam balam viþv˜mitra - iti - dk These are viewed as deadly, lowly, ruffian class of warriors in Indian viewpoint and created out of thin air by this Sacred Cow.

taiH aasiit sa.mvR^itaa bhuumiH shakaiH yavana mishritaiH || 1-54-21
prabhaavadbhirmahaaviiryairhemaki.njalkasannibhaiH |- yadvaa -
prabhaavadbhiH mahaaviiryaiH hema ki.njalka sa.mnibhaiH |

"Then the earth was pervaded with the Shaka-s associated with Yavana-s, who have effectuation and bravery in overcoming their enemy forces, and who are golden in bodily colour similar to the golden pistils of flowers which complexion is outlandish.  [1-54- 21b, 22a]

diirghaasipaTTishadharairhemavarNaambaraaavR^itaiH || - yadvaa -
diirgha asi paTTisha dharaiH hema varNa a.mbara aavR^itaiH || 1-54-22
nir.hdagdham tat balam sarvam pradiiptaiH iva paavakaiH |

"Yavana-s and Shaka-s, who are wielding bowie knives and broad lances and who are clad in golden coloured dresses, and who looked like glowing fires have completely burnt down entire force of Vishvamitra. [1-54-22, 23a]

tato astraaNi mahaatejaa vishvaamitro mumoca ha |
taiH taiH yavana kaa.mbhojaa barbaraaH ca akulii kR^itaaH || 1-54-23

"Then that great-resplendent Vishvamitra indeed released his missiles, by which Yavana-s, Kaambhoja-s, and the Barbara-s, are rendered helter-skelter." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra. [1-54-23b,c.]

The Barbara-s are said in this text whereas other mms contain it as "Pahlava-s'. Even on taking Barbara-s, they are an outlandish clan and the word 'Barbara' might have been the ancestor word of the present day 'Barbarian.'

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe catuH pa.ncaashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 54th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 55

Introduction

Vishvamitra ruins Vashishta's hermitage on acquiring missiles at the grace of God Shiva by practising a paramount ascesis. When the forces generated by Wish-Milker Sacred Cow, namely Kaamadhenu, have eliminated Vishvamitra's army and his hundred sons, he felt indignant and pray Shiva for bestowal of unusual missiles. On getting them, he again comes to Sage Vashishta's hermitage and ruins it completely. Then extremely infuriated Sage Vashishta resorts to his Brahma-baton to confront Vishvamitra.

tataH taan aakulaan dR^iSTvaa vishvaamitra astra mohitaan |
vasiSThaH codayaamaasa kaama dhuk sR^ija yogataH || 1-55-1

"Then on seeing the flurrying warriors earlier created by the Sacred Cow, Shabala, who are perplexed by the missiles of Vishvamitra, Vashishta started to motivate her, 'oh, wish-milker, generate more forces by your yogic capacity.' Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration about the legend of Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-55-1]

tasyaa hu.mkaarato jaataaH kaa.mbojaa ravi sannibhaaH |
uudhasaH tu atha sa.njaataaH pahlavaaH shastra paaNayaH || 1-55-2
yoni deshaat ca yavanaH shakR^i deshaat shakaaH tathaa |
roma kuupeSu mlecChaaH ca haariitaaH sa kiraatakaaH || 1-55-3

"From the 'hums' of her mooing Kaamboja-s similar to sunshine are born, from her udder Pahlava-s wielding weaponry are born, from the area of her privates Yavana-s, likewise from her rectal area Shaka-s, and from her hair-roots Mleccha-s, Haariitaa-s along with Kirataka-s are issued forth. [1-55-2, 3]

taiH tat niSuuditam sainyam vishvamitrasya tat kSaNaat |
sa padaati gajam sa ashvam sa ratham raghuna.ndana || 1-55-4

"At that very moment, oh, Rama the legatee of Raghu, Vishvamitra's army comprising foot-soldiers, elephants, chariots and horses is utterly slaughtered by the Yavana, Mleccha etc., forces generated by the Sacred Cow. [1-55-4]

dR^iSTvaa niSuuditam sainyam vasiSThena mahaatmanaa |
vishvaamitra sutaanaam tu shatam naanaa vidha aayudham || 1-55-5
abhyadhaavat susa.mkruddham vasiSTham japataam varam |
hum kaareNa eva taan sarvaan nir.hdadaaha mahaan R^iSiH || 1-55-6

"On seeing their army utterly slaughtered by the vital spirit of Vashishta, a band of hundred sons of Vishvamitra wielding divers weapons exasperatedly sprinted forth towards that supreme meditator among all meditators. But that great sage Vashishta completely burnt all of them down just by blasting 'hum' sounds. [1-55-5, 6]

te sa ashva ratha paadaataa vasiSThena mahaatmanaa |
bhasmii kR^itaa muhuurtena vishvaamitra sutaaH tadaa || 1-55-7

"That sage with vital spirit, Vashishta, then in a wink rendered those sons of Vishvamitra, along with their horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers to ashes. [1-55-7]

dR^iSTvaa vinaashitaan putraan balam ca sumahaa yashaaH |
sa vriiDaH ci.ntayaa aaviSTo vishvaamitro abhavat tadaa || 1-55-8

.

"On seeing his sons and his forces are utterly ruined, that very highly glorious Vishvamitra was disgraced and beset by distress. [1-55-8]

samudra iva nir.hvego bhagna da.nSTra iva uragaH |
uparakta iva aadityaH sadyo niS.hprabhataam gataH || 1-55-9
hata putra balo diino luuna pakSa iva dvijaH |

"Like a tideless ocean his warfare did not tide him over, like a fangless serpent his hiss of warring could not fang any, like a wingless bird pitiable is his flightless plight of fightback, like a shineless sun in an eclipse, Vishvamitra plunged into a lustreless state of his own illustriousness, when his forces are ruined along with his sons. [1-55-9, 10a]

hata sarva bala utsaaho nirvedam samapadyata || 1-55-10
sa putram ekam raajyaaya paalaya iti niyujya ca |
pR^ithiviim kSatra dharmeNa vanam eva anvapadyata || 1-55-11

"When all his intrepidity and impetuosity are ruined an indolence bechanced upon him, and then on bidding one son for the kingdom, 'you rule the earth with the duties of kingcraft...' thus saying Vishvamitra took recourse to forests. [1-55-10b, 11]

sa gatvaa himavat paarshvam ki.nnara uraga sevitam |
mahaadeva prasaada artham tapaH tepe mahaatapaaH || 1-55-12

,.

"On going to the mountainsides of Himalayas, whereat it is adored by kinnaraa-s and uragaa-s, the nymphs and nymphean serpents, he that great practiser of ascesis, Vishvamitra, undertook an austere ascesis for the sake of beneficence of the Great God, Shiva. [1-55-12]

kenacit tu atha kaalena devesho vR^iSabha dhvajaH |
darshayaamaasa varado vishvaamitram mahaamunim || 1-55-13

lf.

"After a long lost time, Shiva, the God of Gods whose flag bears the sign of Holy Bull, has shown himself to that great-saint Vishvamitra, for He is a ready boon-giver. [1-55-13]

kim artham tapyase raajan bruuhi yat te vivakshitam |
varado asmi varo yaH te kaa.nkshitaH so abhidhiiyataam || 1-55-14

" 'Oh, king, for which purpose you undertook this ascesis that you may tell me. What is it really intended by you and what boon you seek that be made known to me for I am the boon-giver.' Shiva said so to Vishvamitra. [1-55-14]

evam uktaH tu devena vishvaamitro mahaatapaaH |
praNipatya mahaadevam vishvaamitro abraviit idam || 1-55-15

"Thus said by God Shiva to Vishvamitra of great ascesis, Vishvamitra on reverencing that Great God Shiva said this way. [1-55-15]

yadi tuSTo mahaadeva dhanur vedo mama anagha |
saa a.nga upa a.nga upaniSadaH sa rahasyaH pradiiyataam || 1-55-16

" 'Oh! Mahadeva, the Impeccable Great God... providing that you are gladdened by my ascetic devotion, dhanur veda, the Holy Writ of Archery, with its complemental and supplemental Writs, and along with its summational Upanishad-s, together with its preternatural doctrines... they may kindly be bestowed upon me... [1-55-16]

yaani deveSu ca astraaNi daanaveSu maharSiSu |
ga.ndharva yaksha rakshassu pratibhaa.ntu mama anagha || 1-55-17
tava prasaadaat bhavatu devadeva mama iipsitam |

" Oh, Exquisite God, whichever missile is there either with gods, or fiends, gandharva-s, yaksha-s, and demons, let it dawn upon me. For you alone are the God of Gods your blessings alone can fulfil my aspiration.' Thus Vishvamitra entreated God Shiva. [1-55-17, 18a]

evam astu iti devesho vaakyam uktvaa gataH tadaa || 1-55-18

.

" 'So be it!' On sanctifying Vishvamitra and his aspiration thus, the God of Gods, Shiva disappeared. [1-55-18b]

praapya ca astraaNi deveshaat vishvaamitro mahaabalaH |
darpeNa mahataa yukto darpapuurNo abhavat tadaa || 1-55-19

"Vishvamitra who is already a mightier Kshatriya, now on acquiring missiles from the God of Gods, Shiva, will he not come forth paired up with mightiest conceit, and then will not his conceitedness be plethoric like a plethoric ocean? [1-55-19]

vivardhamaano viiryeNa samudra iva par.hvaNi |
hatam mene tadaa raama vasiSTham R^iSi sattamam || 1-55-20

.

"By vitality Vishvamitra is like an ocean with rough riptide on a Full Moon day, and oh, Rama, he deemed that sagaciously mighty sage Vashishta is now 'dead.' [1-55-20]

tato gatvaa aashramapadam mumoca astraaNi paarthivaH |
yaiH tat tapo vanam sarvam nir.hdagdham ca astra tejasaa || 1-55-21

.

Then on going to the threshold of Vashishta 's hermitage that king propelled his missiles, by the holocaust of which missiles that ascetic woodland is completely burnt down in its entirety. [1-55-21]

udiiryamaaNam astram tat vishvaamitrasya dhiimataH |
dR^iSTvaa vipradrutaa bhiitaa munayaH shatasho dishaH || 1-55-22

"On seeing the turbo-jetting missiles of Vishvamitra jetted by his sparkling intellect, hundreds of saints were frightened and they very speedily fled in hundreds of ways. [1-55-22]

vasiSThasya ca ye shiSyaaH ye ca vai mR^iga pakshiNaH |
vidravanti bhayaat bhiitaa naanaa dik.hbhyaH sahasrashaH || 1-55-23

.

"Whoever is the disciple of Vashishta and whichever is either animal or a bird, all are utterly frightened and thousands of them have hastily fled to numerous directions. [1-55-23]

vasiSThasya aashramapadam shuunyam aasiit mahaatmanaH |
muhuurtam iva niHshabdam aasiit iiriNa sa.mnibham || 1-55-24

.

"The threshold of that broad-minded Vashishta's hermitage fell void, and in a wink it has become silent like a burial ground as every shrub, herb and tree is cindery, and every bird, animal and stock is an evacuee. [1-55-24]

vadato vai vasiSThasya maa bhai iti muhur.hmuhuH |
naashayaami adya gaadheyam niihaaram iva bhaaskaraH || 1-55-25

"Although Vashishta shouted at them saying time and again, 'do not fear, do not fear... now I will dissipate that son of Gaadhi, Vishvamitra, like Sun demisting the mist,' all the inmates of hermitage have hastily fled. [1-55-25]

evam uktvaa mahaatejaa vasiSTho japataam varaH |
vishvaamitram tadaa vaakyam sa roSam idam abraviit || 1-55-26

"On saying that way to the evacuees, Vashishta, the great-resplendent sage and a best one among best meditators rancorously said this word to Vishvamitra. [1-55-26]

aashramam cira sa.mvR^iddham yat vinaashitavaan asi |
duraacaaro hi yat muuDha tasmaat tvam na bhaviSyasi || 1-55-27

" 'You senseless king, by which reason you have havocked this hermitage that is well nourished for a long time by me, for that reason you have become a reprehensible one, and thereby you will not survive any longer. [1-55-27]

Vividly: 'when I have sensibly nourished the trees, birds and animals or disciples, saints and sages, in indoctrinating them the true dharma 'righteous duty...' observable by each of the birthed being, what necessitated you to harm the harmless 'fly anywhere' birds, 'new to world' calves and 'take what you need' trees and animals... you should have confronted me headlong, instead... but you on seeing such a beatitude of this hermitage, you have become envious in your self-aggrandisement... and as said in an old saying like, 'a senseless reprehensible being, may it be a human, animal, bird, or a reptile is unfit to survive for long...' you are now transposable with such a senseless being by this act of yours, which you have undertaken with the notion of 'survival of the fittest...' thereby I will now show you who is fit enough to survive, an instructor or an intruder, in effacing your survival...'

iti uktvaa parama kruddho daNDam udyamya satvaraH |
vidhuuma iva kaala agniH yama daNDam iva aparam || 1-55-28

"On saying thus that extremely infuriated Sage Vashishta post-hastily up-heaved his baton, which is alike the fumeless Ultimate Fire of End Time, and the other baton of Yama, the Terminator, and affronted Vishvamitra." Thus, Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-55-28]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe pa.nca pa.ncaashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 55th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

(Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection)