Sarga 55: The Hermitage Burnt
Ashrama Dahana
Shabala's newly created armies annihilate Vishvamitra's forces and hundred sons; devastated, Vishvamitra retreats to austerity, wins divine weapons from Shiva, and returns to burn Vashishtha's hermitage, provoking the sage's wrath.
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ततस्तानाकुलान् दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रास्त्रमोहितान्। वसिष्ठश्चोदयामास कामधुक् सृज योगत:।।1.55.1।।
Meaning
Then, seeing them confused and stupefied by Vishvamitra's missiles, Vashishtha urged the wish-fulfilling cow: create more, by your yogic power.
तस्याहुम्भारवाज्जाता: काम्भोजा रविसन्निभा:। ऊधसस्त्वथ सञ्जाता: पप्लवाश्शस्त्रपाणय:।।1.55.2।। योनिदेशाच्च यवनाश्शकृद्देशाच्छका स्तथा। रोमकूपेषु च म्लेच्छा हारीतास्सकिरातका:।।1.55.3।।
Meaning
From her lowing sound were born the sun-bright Kambojas; from her udder sprang forth Pahlavas bearing weapons in hand; from her place of generation came Yavanas, from her hindquarters Shakas, and from her hair-pores Mlecchas together with Haritas and Kiratas.
तैस्तैर्निषूदितं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य तत्क्षणात्। सपदातिगजं साश्वं सरथं रघुनन्दन।।1.55.4।।
Meaning
By these, delight of Raghu, the entire force of Vishvamitra was instantly destroyed, together with its foot-soldiers, elephants, horses, and chariots.
दृष्ट्वा निषूदितं सैन्यं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। विश्वामित्रसुतानां च शतं नानाविधायुधम्।।1.55.5।। अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्कृद्धं वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्। हुङ्कारेणैव तान् सर्वान् ददाह भगवान् ऋषि:।।1.55.6।।
Meaning
Seeing their army destroyed by the great-souled Vashishtha, a hundred sons of Vishvamitra, armed with weapons of every kind, rushed furiously at Vashishtha, foremost of those who murmur prayer; but the venerable sage burned them all to ashes with a mere sound of 'hum.'
ते साश्वरथपादाता वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। भस्मीकृता मुहूर्तेन विश्वामित्रसुता स्तदा।।1.55.7।।
Meaning
Those sons of Vishvamitra, together with their horses, chariots, and infantry, were reduced to ashes in an instant by the great-souled Vashishtha.
दृष्ट्वा विनाशितान् पुत्रान् बलं च सुमहायशा:। सव्रीडश्चिन्तयाऽविष्टो विश्वामित्रोऽभवत्तदा।।1.55.8।।
Meaning
Seeing his sons and his army destroyed, the greatly renowned Vishvamitra was overcome with shame and consumed by anxious thought.
समुद्र इव निर्वेगो भग्नदंष्ट्र इवोरग:। उपरक्त इवादित्यस्सद्यो निष्प्रभतां गत:।।1.55.9।।
Meaning
Like an ocean drained of its surge, like a serpent with broken fangs, like the sun in sudden eclipse, he instantly lost his splendor.
हतपुत्रबलो दीनो लूनपक्ष इव द्विज:। हतदर्पो हतोत्साहो निर्वेदं समपद्यत।।1.55.10।।
Meaning
Wretched, his sons and army slain, like a bird with clipped wings, his pride broken and his zeal extinguished, he fell into deep despondency.
स पुत्रमेकं राज्याय पालयेति नियुज्य च। पृथिवीं क्षत्रधर्मेण वनमेवान्वपद्यत।।1.55.11।।
Meaning
Charging his one remaining son to protect the kingdom, he then withdrew to the forest, leaving the earth to be ruled by the duties of a kshatriya.
स गत्वा हिमवत्पार्श्वं किन्नरोरगसेवितम्। महादेवप्रसादार्थं तपस्तेपे महातपा:।।1.55.12।।
Meaning
Going to the side of the Himalayas, frequented by Kinnaras and serpents, that greatly ascetic one performed austerity for the favor of Mahadeva.