Sarga 63: Viswamitra's Austerities & Menaka
Vishvamitra Tapas
Viswamitra's severe penance interrupted by the divine apsara Menaka.
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पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु व्रतस्नातं महामुनिम्। अभ्यागच्छन् सुरास्सर्वे तप: फलचिकीर्षव:||1.63.1||
Meaning
All the gods wanted to bestow the fruits of austerties on the mighty ascetic (Viswamitra). They approached him after a thousand years of penace and his final ritual bath.
अब्रवीत्सुमहातेजा ब्रह्मा सुरुचिरं वच:। ऋषिस्त्वमसि भद्रं ते स्वार्जितै: कर्मभिश्शुभै:||1.63.2||
Meaning
Exceedingly effulgent Brahma spoke to him, 'You have become a rishi through the selfearned sacred deeds. Fare you well'.
तमेवमुक्त्वा देवेशस्त्रिदिवं पुनरभ्यगात् । विश्वामित्रो महातेजा भूयस्तेपे महत्तप:||1.63.3||
Meaning
Brahma, the lord of the gods, having said this returned to heaven. The brilliant Viswamitra continues his austerities.
तत: कालेन महता मेनका परमाऽप्सरा:। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ स्नातुं समुपचक्रमे||1.63.4||
Meaning
'O Foremost of men after a long lapse of time a chief nymph called Menaka came to bathe at Pushkara.
तां ददर्श महातेजा मेनकां कुशिकात्मज:। रूपेणाप्रतिमां तत्र विद्युतं जलदे यथा||1.63.5||
Meaning
There the most brilliant son of Kusika Viswamitra saw Menaka whose beauty was incomparable. She looked like lightning in the clouds.
दृष्ट्वा कन्दर्पवशगो मुनिस्तामिदमब्रवीत्। अप्सरस्स्वागतं तेऽस्तु वस चेह ममाश्रमे||1.63.6||
Meaning
On seeing her (Menaka) Viswamitra came under the influence of the god of love (fell in love with her). He said, O Apsara welcome to my hermitage stay here. I am infatuated with you: Oblige me. Wish you well.
इत्युक्ता सा वरारोहा तत्र वासमथाकरोत्||1.63.7|| तस्यां वसन्त्यां वर्षाणि पञ्च पञ्च च राघव । विश्वामित्राश्रमे राम सुखेन व्यतिचक्रमु:||1.63.8||
Meaning
'O Descendant of Raghu while that woman of an exalted race lived in the hermitage of Viswamitra, ten years rolled by happily'.
अथ काले गते तस्मिन्विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। सव्रीड इव सम्वृत्तश्चिन्ताशोकपरायण:||1.63.9||
Meaning
As the period passed, Viswamitra the mighty ascetic was filled with grief, anxiety and remorse.
बुद्धिर्मुनेस्समुत्पन्ना सामर्षा रघुनन्दन। सर्वं सुराणां कर्मैतत्तपोपहरणं महत्||1.63.10||
Meaning
O Delight of the Raghus (Rama) a sense of indignation filled the mind of the ascetic. 'All this is the conspiracy of the gods to deprive me of my great austerities', he thought.
अहोरात्रापदेशेन गतास्संवत्सरा दश। काममोहाभिभूतस्य विघ्नोऽयं समुपस्थित:||1.63.11||
Meaning
Night and day deluded by lust I have wasted ten years. A hindrance has been posed (to my tapas).