Sarga 52: Vashishtha's Feast
Vasishtha Atithya
Vishvamitra visits Vashishtha's hermitage; despite the king's reluctance, Vashishtha insists on hosting him and his army, and summons his wish-fulfilling cow Shabala to prepare a lavish feast.
Jump to a shloka · 21 in this sarga
ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथाऽन्ते रघुनन्दन। विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव।।1.52.12।।
Meaning
Then, delight of Raghu, when the conversation had ended, the venerable Vashishtha spoke this word to Vishvamitra, smiling as he did.
आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि बलस्यास्य महाबल। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य यथार्हं सम्प्रतीच्छ मे।।1.52.13।।
Meaning
Greatly mighty one, I wish to offer hospitality to this army of yours and to you, immeasurable one; kindly accept it from me as is fitting.
सत्क्रियां तु भवानेतां प्रतीच्छतु मयोद्यताम्। राजा त्वमतिथिश्रेष्ठ: पूजनीय: प्रयत्नत:।।1.52.14।।
Meaning
Kindly accept this hospitality that I offer; you, king, are a most honored guest and ought to be reverenced with effort.
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामति:। कृतमित्यब्रवीद्राजा प्रियवाक्येन मे त्वया।।1.52.15।।
Meaning
Thus addressed by Vashishtha, the greatly wise king Vishvamitra said: hospitality is deemed done through your kind words alone.
फलमूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत्तवाश्रमे। पाद्येनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च।।1.52.16।। सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजार्हेण सुपूजित:। गमिष्यामि नमस्तेऽस्तु मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा।।1.52.17।।
Meaning
Lord, I am well entertained by the fruits and roots found in your hermitage, by the water for feet and mouth, and by the very sight of you; greatly wise one, honored in every way as is fitting, I shall now take my leave — may my salutation be to you, look upon me with a friendly eye.
एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं वसिष्ठ: पुनरेव हि। न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मात्मा पुन:पुनरुदारधी:।।1.52.18।।
Meaning
Though the king spoke thus, the righteous, magnanimous Vashishtha invited him yet again, again and again.
बाढमित्येव गाधेयो वसिष्ठं प्रत्युवाच ह। यथा प्रियं भगवतस्तथाऽस्तु मुनिपुङ्गव।।1.52.19।।
Meaning
Then Gadhi's son replied to Vashishtha: so be it, foremost of sages, as pleases the venerable one.
एवमुक्तो महातेजा वसिष्ठो जपतां वर:। आजुहाव तत: प्रीत: कल्माषीं धूतकल्मष:।।1.52.20।।
Meaning
Thus addressed, the greatly splendid Vashishtha, foremost of those who murmur prayer, his own faults washed away, delightedly summoned the dappled cow Kalmashi.
एह्येहि शबले क्षिप्रं श्रृणु चापि वचो मम। सबलस्यास्य राजर्षे: कर्तुं व्यवसितोऽस्म्यहम्।।1.52.21।। भोजनेन महार्हेण सत्कारं संविधत्स्व मे।
Meaning
Come, come quickly, Shabala, and hear my words; I have resolved to offer hospitality to this royal sage together with his army — arrange for me a most worthy meal.
यस्य यस्य यथाकामं षड्रसेष्वभिपूजितम्। तत्सर्वं कामधुक्क्षिप्रमभिवर्ष कृते मम।।1.52.22।।
Meaning
Whatever each one desires, honored among the six tastes, all of that, wish-granting one, rain down swiftly for my sake.