09.039
Library: Sage Ārṣṭiṣeṇa's great austerities and attainment of Brahminhood by Sindhudvīpa.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said:
katham ārṣṭiṣeṇo bhagavān vipulaṃ taptavāṃs tapaḥ। sindhudvīpaḥ kathaṃ cāpi brāhmaṇyaṃ labdhavāṃs tadā ॥9-39-1॥
How did the revered sage Ārṣṭiṣeṇa perform great austerities, and how did Sindhudvīpa attain Brahminhood at that time?
devāpiśca kathaṃ brahmanviśvāmitraśca sattama। tanmamācakṣva bhagavanparaṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me ॥9-39-2॥
O Brahman, please tell me how the gods and Viśvāmitra, the best among them, are involved, as I am indeed very curious about it.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana said:
purā kṛtayuge rājannārṣṭiṣeṇo dvijottamaḥ। vasangurukule nityaṃ nityamadhyayane rataḥ ॥9-39-3॥
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.
tasya rājan gurukule vasato nityam eva ha। samāptiṁ nāgamad vidyā nāpi vedā viśāṁ pate ॥9-39-4॥
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.
sa nirviṇṇastato rāṁstapastepe mahātapāḥ। tato vai tapasā tena prāpya vedānuttamān ॥9-39-5॥
Disenchanted, the great ascetic performed penance, O king. Through his penance, he attained the supreme Vedas.
sa vidvānvedayuktaśca siddhaścāpyṛṣisattamaḥ। tatra tīrthe varānprādāttrīneva sumahātapāḥ ॥9-39-6॥
The wise sage, well-versed in the Vedas and accomplished in his practices, granted three boons at the sacred site.
asmiṁstīrthe mahānadyā adyaprabhr̥ti mānavaḥ। āpluto vājimedhasya phalaṁ prāpnoti puṣkalam ॥9-39-7॥
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.
adyaprabhr̥ti naivātra bhayaṃ vyālādbhaviṣyati। api cālpena yatnena phalaṃ prāpsyati puṣkalam ॥9-39-8॥
From today onwards, there will be no fear of the serpent here. Even with little effort, one will gain abundant rewards.
evamuktvā mahātejā jagāma tridivaṃ muniḥ। evaṃ siddhaḥ sa bhagavānārṣṭiṣeṇaḥ pratāpavān ॥9-39-9॥
After speaking thus, the greatly radiant sage ascended to heaven. The divine Arṣṭiṣeṇa, having achieved perfection, was glorious.
tasminneva tadā tīrthe sindhudvīpaḥ pratāpavān। devāpiśca mahārāja brāhmaṇyaṃ prāpturmahat ॥9-39-10॥
At that very holy site, Sindhudvipa and Devapi, both illustrious figures, achieved the esteemed status of Brahminhood, O great king.
tathā ca kauśikastāta taponityo jitendriyaḥ। tapasā vai sutaptena brāhmaṇatvamavāptavān ॥9-39-11॥
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.
gādhirnāma mahānāsītkṣatriyaḥ prathito bhuvi। tasya putro'bhavadrājanviśvāmitraḥ pratāpavān ॥9-39-12॥
Gadhi, a renowned Kshatriya on earth, had a mighty son named Vishwamitra, O king.
sa rājā kauśikastāta mahāyogyabhavatkila। sa putramabhiṣicyātha viśvāmitraṃ mahātapāḥ ॥9-39-13॥
King Kausika, who was very capable, indeed became a great ascetic. He then anointed his son Visvamitra.
dehanyāse manaścakre tamūcuḥ praṇatāḥ prajāḥ। na gantavyaṃ mahāprājña trāhi cāsmānmahābhayāt ॥9-39-14॥
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."
evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca tato gādhiḥ prajāstadā। viśvasya jagato goptā bhaviṣyati suto mama ॥9-39-15॥
Upon hearing this, Gadhi replied, "Then my son will become the protector of the universe and all its subjects."
ityuktvā tu tato gādhirviśvāmitraṃ niveśya ca। jagāma tridivaṃ rājanviśvāmitro'bhavannṛpaḥ ॥ na ca śaknoti pṛthivīṃ yatnavānapi rakṣitum ॥9-39-16॥
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.
tataḥ śuśrāva rājā sa rākṣasebhyo mahābhayam। niryayau nagarāccāpi caturaṅgabalānvitaḥ ॥9-39-17॥
Then the king heard about a great threat from the demons and left the city with his fourfold army.
sa gatvā dūramadhvānaṃ vasiṣṭhāśramamabhyayāt। tasya te sainikā rājaṃścakrustatrānayānbahūn ॥9-39-18॥
He traveled a long distance to reach the hermitage of Vasishtha. There, his soldiers caused many disturbances, O king.
tatastu bhagavānvipro vasiṣṭho''śramamabhyayāt। dadṛśe ca tataḥ sarvaṃ bhajyamānaṃ mahāvanam ॥9-39-19॥
Then the revered sage Vasiṣṭha went to the hermitage and saw that the entire great forest was being destroyed.
tasya kruddho mahārāja vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ। sṛjasva śabarānghorāniti svāṃ gāmuvāca ha ॥9-39-20॥
The great king Vasistha, best of sages, in his anger, instructed his own cow to create terrible Shabaras, indeed.
tathoktā sāsṛjaddhenuḥ puruṣānghoradarśanān। te ca tadbalamāsādya babhañjuḥ sarvatodiśam ॥9-39-21॥
Upon being instructed, the cow created men who were terrifying to behold. These men, empowered by that strength, caused destruction in every direction.
taddṛṣṭvā vidrutaṃ sainyaṃ viśvāmitrastu gādhijaḥ। tapaḥ paraṃ manyamānastapasyeva mano dadhe ॥9-39-22॥
Upon witnessing the army's retreat, Viśvāmitra, son of Gādhi, resolved his mind towards supreme penance, as if he were already engaged in it.
so'smiṁstīrthavare rājansarasvatyāḥ samāhitaḥ। niyamaiścopavāsaiśca karśayandehamātmanaḥ ॥9-39-23॥
In this excellent pilgrimage site of Sarasvati, O king, he concentrated himself with strict observances and fasts, emaciating his own body.
jalāhāro vāyubhakṣaḥ parṇāhāraśca so'bhavat। tathā sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca ye cānye niyamāḥ pṛthak ॥9-39-24॥
He adopted a lifestyle of consuming only water, air, and leaves, and also slept on the ground, adhering to various other distinct rules.
asakṛttasya devāstu vratavighnaṃ pracakrire। na cāsya niyamādbuddhirapayāti mahātmanaḥ ॥9-39-25॥
The gods repeatedly tried to create obstacles to his vow, but the great soul's determination and intellect never wavered from his commitment.
tataḥ pareṇa yatnena taptvā bahuvidhaṃ tapaḥ। tejasā bhāskarākāro gādhijaḥ samapadyata ॥9-39-26॥
Then, with great effort and after performing various penances, the son of Gadhi became as brilliant as the sun.
tapasā tu tathā yuktaṃ viśvāmitraṃ pitāmahaḥ। amanyata mahātejā varado varamasya tat ॥9-39-27॥
The grandsire, with great splendor, recognized Viśvāmitra, who was engaged in penance, as worthy of receiving a boon.
sa tu vavre varaṃ rājansyāmahaṃ brāhmaṇastviti। tatheti cābravīdbrahmā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ ॥9-39-28॥
He chose the boon to become a Brahmin, and Brahma, the great-grandfather of all worlds, granted it, saying, "So be it."
sa labdhvā tapasogreṇa brāhmaṇatvaṃ mahāyaśāḥ। vicacāra mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ kṛtakāmaḥ suropamaḥ ॥9-39-29॥
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.
tasmiṁs tīrthavare rāmaḥ pradāya vividhaṁ vasu। payasvinīs tathā dhenūr yānāni śayanāni ca ॥9-39-30॥
In that sacred place, Rama bestowed various kinds of wealth, including milch cows, cows, vehicles, and beds.
tathā vastrāṇy alaṅkāraṃ bhakṣyaṃ peyaṃ ca śobhanam। adadān mudito rājan pūjayitvā dvijottamān ॥9-39-31॥
Thus, joyfully, O king, he offered splendid garments, ornaments, food, and drink to honor the best of the Brahmins.
yayau rājanstato rāmo bakasyāśramamantikāt। yatra tepe tapastīvraṃ dālbhyō baka iti śrutiḥ ॥9-39-32॥
Then, O king, Rama went near the hermitage of Baka, where it is said that Dalbhya Baka performed intense penance.
