Sarga 63: Viswamitra's Austerities & Menaka
Vishvamitra Tapas
Viswamitra's severe penance interrupted by the divine apsara Menaka.
Jump to a shloka · 24 in this sarga
विनिश्श्वसन्मुनिवर: पश्चात्तापेन दु:खित:। भीतामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा वेपन्तीं प्राञ्जलिं स्थिताम्||1.63.12|| मेनकां मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्विसृज्य कुशिकात्मज:। उत्तरं पर्वतं राम विश्वामित्रो जगाम ह||1.63.13||
Meaning
'O Rama Viswamitra, the best of ascetics sighed with repentance, distressed with grief. On seeing him, the apsara started trembling in fear. She stood before him with folded palms. (But) with sweet words the son of Kushika left her and proceeded towards the northern mountains.
स कृत्वा नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं जेतुकामो महायशा:। कौशिकीतीरमासाद्य तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्||1.63.14||
Meaning
Illustrious Viswamitra took a vow of celibacy in order to control his senses. And performed rigid austerities on reaching the bank of river Kausiki.
तस्य वर्षसहस्रं तु घोरं तप उपासत:। उत्तरे पर्वते राम देवतानामभूद्भयम्||1.63.15||
Meaning
O Rama while he was performing rigorous penance for a thousand years on the northern mountains, the gods were gripped with fear. (lest he should exceed them).
आमन्त्रयन् समागम्य सर्वे सर्षिगणा स्सुरा:। महर्षिशब्दं लभतां साध्वयं कुशिकात्मज:||1.63.16||
Meaning
After consultations the gods and sages decided that this son of Kushika (Viswamitra) deserved the status of a Maharshi".
देवतानां वच श्शृत्वा सर्वलोकपितामह:। अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्||1.63.17||
Meaning
Having heard the gods, the Grandsire of the worlds (Brahma) addressed Viswamitra whose wealth was his ascetism in these sweet words.
महर्षे स्वागतं वत्स तपसोग्रेण तोषित:। महत्त्वमृषिमुख्यत्वं ददामि तव कौशिक ||1.63.18||
Meaning
'O Maharshi O Child welcome Pleased with your intense austerities, O Son of Kushika I confer upon you the eminent rank of a great rishi (maharshi)'.
ब्रह्मणस्स वचश्श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकेश्वरस्य ह। न विषण्णो न सन्तुष्टो विश्वामित्रस्तपोधन:||1.63.19||
Meaning
Having heard the words Brahman, the lord of all the worlds, Viswamitra whose wealth was his asceticism was neither dejected nor delighted.
प्राञ्जलि: प्रणतो भूत्वा सर्वलोकपितामहम्। प्रत्युवाच ततो वाचं विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:||1.63.20||
Meaning
Then the mighty ascetic Viswamitra bowed to Brahma, the Grandsire of all the worlds with folded hands and replied:
महर्षिशब्दमतुलं स्वार्जितै: कर्मभिश्शुभै:। यदि मे भगवानाह ततोऽहं विजितेन्द्रिय:||1.63.21||
Meaning
'O Adorable one, if you have conferred the incomparable title of 'Maharshi' earned by my auspicious deeds, I feel I have conquered the senses.'
तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा न तावत् त्त्वं जितेन्द्रिय:। यतस्व मुनिशार्दूल इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदिवं गत:||1.63.22||
Meaning
Then Brahma said to him, 'You have not conquered the senses yet. O Tiger among ascetics, strive still.' Having said this he went toward heaven.