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Library: Sage Ārṣṭiṣeṇa's great austerities and attainment of Brahminhood by Sindhudvīpa.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
कथमार्ष्टिषेणो भगवान्विपुलं तप्तवांस्तपः। सिन्धुद्वीपः कथं चापि ब्राह्मण्यं लब्धवांस्तदा ॥९-३९-१॥
How did the revered sage Ārṣṭiṣeṇa perform great austerities, and how did Sindhudvīpa attain Brahminhood at that time?
देवापिश्च कथं ब्रह्मन्विश्वामित्रश्च सत्तम। तन्ममाचक्ष्व भगवन्परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥९-३९-२॥
O Brahman, please tell me how the gods and Viśvāmitra, the best among them, are involved, as I am indeed very curious about it.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्नार्ष्टिषेणो द्विजोत्तमः। वसन्गुरुकुले नित्यं नित्यमध्ययने रतः ॥९-३९-३॥
Once upon a time, in the Krita Yuga, there was a sage named Shena, who was the best among the twice-born. He lived in the guru's abode and was always dedicated to his studies.
तस्य राजन्गुरुकुले वसतो नित्यमेव ह। समाप्तिं नागमद्विद्या नापि वेदा विशां पते ॥९-३९-४॥
O king, while he was living in the guru's house, he never attained completion of his studies, neither in knowledge nor in the Vedas, O lord of men.
स निर्विण्णस्ततो राजंस्तपस्तेपे महातपाः। ततो वै तपसा तेन प्राप्य वेदाननुत्तमान् ॥९-३९-५॥
Disenchanted, the great ascetic performed penance, O king. Through his penance, he attained the supreme Vedas.
स विद्वान्वेदयुक्तश्च सिद्धश्चाप्यृषिसत्तमः। तत्र तीर्थे वरान्प्रादात्त्रीनेव सुमहातपाः ॥९-३९-६॥
The wise sage, well-versed in the Vedas and accomplished in his practices, granted three boons at the sacred site.
अस्मिंस्तीर्थे महानद्या अद्यप्रभृति मानवः। आप्लुतो वाजिमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोति पुष्कलम् ॥९-३९-७॥
In this sacred place by the great river, from today onwards, a person who bathes here will receive the full benefits of the horse sacrifice.
अद्यप्रभृति नैवात्र भयं व्यालाद्भविष्यति। अपि चाल्पेन यत्नेन फलं प्राप्स्यति पुष्कलम् ॥९-३९-८॥
From today onwards, there will be no fear of the serpent here. Even with little effort, one will gain abundant rewards.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा जगाम त्रिदिवं मुनिः। एवं सिद्धः स भगवानार्ष्टिषेणः प्रतापवान् ॥९-३९-९॥
After speaking thus, the greatly radiant sage ascended to heaven. The divine Arṣṭiṣeṇa, having achieved perfection, was glorious.
तस्मिन्नेव तदा तीर्थे सिन्धुद्वीपः प्रतापवान्। देवापिश्च महाराज ब्राह्मण्यं प्रापतुर्महत् ॥९-३९-१०॥
At that very holy site, Sindhudvipa and Devapi, both illustrious figures, achieved the esteemed status of Brahminhood, O great king.
तथा च कौशिकस्तात तपोनित्यो जितेन्द्रियः। तपसा वै सुतप्तेन ब्राह्मणत्वमवाप्तवान् ॥९-३९-११॥
Thus, dear Kausika, who was always engaged in penance and had conquered his senses, indeed achieved the status of a Brahmin through his well-performed penance.
गाधिर्नाम महानासीत्क्षत्रियः प्रथितो भुवि। तस्य पुत्रोऽभवद्राजन्विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् ॥९-३९-१२॥
Gadhi, a renowned Kshatriya on earth, had a mighty son named Vishwamitra, O king.
स राजा कौशिकस्तात महायोग्यभवत्किल। स पुत्रमभिषिच्याथ विश्वामित्रं महातपाः ॥९-३९-१३॥
King Kausika, who was very capable, indeed became a great ascetic. He then anointed his son Visvamitra.
देहन्यासे मनश्चक्रे तमूचुः प्रणताः प्रजाः। न गन्तव्यं महाप्राज्ञ त्राहि चास्मान्महाभयात् ॥९-३९-१४॥
As the body was being laid down, the subjects, bowing down, said to him: "O great wise one, do not leave, save us from this great fear."
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच ततो गाधिः प्रजास्तदा। विश्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता भविष्यति सुतो मम ॥९-३९-१५॥
Upon hearing this, Gadhi replied, "Then my son will become the protector of the universe and all its subjects."
इत्युक्त्वा तु ततो गाधिर्विश्वामित्रं निवेश्य च। जगाम त्रिदिवं राजन्विश्वामित्रोऽभवन्नृपः ॥ न च शक्नोति पृथिवीं यत्नवानपि रक्षितुम् ॥९-३९-१६॥
After speaking thus, Gadhi appointed Viswamitra and ascended to heaven, O king. Viswamitra became a king, but despite his efforts, he could not protect the earth.
ततः शुश्राव राजा स राक्षसेभ्यो महाभयम्। निर्ययौ नगराच्चापि चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः ॥९-३९-१७॥
Then the king heard about a great threat from the demons and left the city with his fourfold army.
स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं वसिष्ठाश्रममभ्ययात्। तस्य ते सैनिका राजंश्चक्रुस्तत्रानयान्बहून् ॥९-३९-१८॥
He traveled a long distance to reach the hermitage of Vasishtha. There, his soldiers caused many disturbances, O king.
ततस्तु भगवान्विप्रो वसिष्ठोऽऽश्रममभ्ययात्। ददृशे च ततः सर्वं भज्यमानं महावनम् ॥९-३९-१९॥
Then the revered sage Vasiṣṭha went to the hermitage and saw that the entire great forest was being destroyed.
तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः। सृजस्व शबरान्घोरानिति स्वां गामुवाच ह ॥९-३९-२०॥
The great king Vasistha, best of sages, in his anger, instructed his own cow to create terrible Shabaras, indeed.
तथोक्ता सासृजद्धेनुः पुरुषान्घोरदर्शनान्। ते च तद्बलमासाद्य बभञ्जुः सर्वतोदिशम् ॥९-३९-२१॥
Upon being instructed, the cow created men who were terrifying to behold. These men, empowered by that strength, caused destruction in every direction.
तद्दृष्ट्वा विद्रुतं सैन्यं विश्वामित्रस्तु गाधिजः। तपः परं मन्यमानस्तपस्येव मनो दधे ॥९-३९-२२॥
Upon witnessing the army's retreat, Viśvāmitra, son of Gādhi, resolved his mind towards supreme penance, as if he were already engaged in it.
सोऽस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे राजन्सरस्वत्याः समाहितः। नियमैश्चोपवासैश्च कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः ॥९-३९-२३॥
In this excellent pilgrimage site of Sarasvati, O king, he concentrated himself with strict observances and fasts, emaciating his own body.
जलाहारो वायुभक्षः पर्णाहारश्च सोऽभवत्। तथा स्थण्डिलशायी च ये चान्ये नियमाः पृथक् ॥९-३९-२४॥
He adopted a lifestyle of consuming only water, air, and leaves, and also slept on the ground, adhering to various other distinct rules.
असकृत्तस्य देवास्तु व्रतविघ्नं प्रचक्रिरे। न चास्य नियमाद्बुद्धिरपयाति महात्मनः ॥९-३९-२५॥
The gods repeatedly tried to create obstacles to his vow, but the great soul's determination and intellect never wavered from his commitment.
ततः परेण यत्नेन तप्त्वा बहुविधं तपः। तेजसा भास्कराकारो गाधिजः समपद्यत ॥९-३९-२६॥
Then, with great effort and after performing various penances, the son of Gadhi became as brilliant as the sun.
तपसा तु तथा युक्तं विश्वामित्रं पितामहः। अमन्यत महातेजा वरदो वरमस्य तत् ॥९-३९-२७॥
The grandsire, with great splendor, recognized Viśvāmitra, who was engaged in penance, as worthy of receiving a boon.
स तु वव्रे वरं राजन्स्यामहं ब्राह्मणस्त्विति। तथेति चाब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः ॥९-३९-२८॥
He chose the boon to become a Brahmin, and Brahma, the great-grandfather of all worlds, granted it, saying, "So be it."
स लब्ध्वा तपसोग्रेण ब्राह्मणत्वं महायशाः। विचचार महीं कृत्स्नां कृतकामः सुरोपमः ॥९-३९-२९॥
Having achieved the esteemed status of a Brahmin through intense penance, he, renowned for his great fame, roamed the entire earth, his desires fulfilled, and appeared god-like.
तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे रामः प्रदाय विविधं वसु। पयस्विनीस्तथा धेनूर्यानानि शयनानि च ॥९-३९-३०॥
In that sacred place, Rama bestowed various kinds of wealth, including milch cows, cows, vehicles, and beds.
तथा वस्त्राण्यलङ्कारं भक्ष्यं पेयं च शोभनम्। अददान्मुदितो राजन्पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् ॥९-३९-३१॥
Thus, joyfully, O king, he offered splendid garments, ornaments, food, and drink to honor the best of the Brahmins.
ययौ राजंस्ततो रामो बकस्याश्रममन्तिकात्। यत्र तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दाल्भ्यो बक इति श्रुतिः ॥९-३९-३२॥
Then, O king, Rama went near the hermitage of Baka, where it is said that Dalbhya Baka performed intense penance.
