Sloka & Translation

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[Viswamitra's sons and soldiers get destroyed in the clash--Viswamitra performs austerities and acquires divine weapons by pleasing Lord Siva.]

tatastānākulān dṛṣṭvā viśvāmitrāstramōhitān.

vasiṣṭhaścōdayāmāsa kāmadhuk sṛja yōgata:৷৷1.55.1৷৷


tata: thereafter, vasiṣṭha: Vasishta, viśvāmitrāstramōhitān stupefied by weapons of Visvamitra, ākulān agitated, tān them, dṛṣṭvā having seen, kāmadhuk O! Kamadhenu, yōgata: through yogic power, sṛja create, cōdayāmāsa thus he directed.

Thereafter, Vasishta having seen the forces tortured and overpowered by the weapons of Viswamitra said, "O Kamadhenu! create additional forces through your yogic power."
tasyāhumbhāravājjātā: kāmbhōjā ravisannibhā:.

ūdhasastvatha sañjātā: paplavāśśastrapāṇaya:৷৷1.55.2৷৷

yōnidēśācca yavanāśśakṛddēśācchakā stathā.

rōmakūpēṣu ca mlēcchā hārītāssakirātakā:৷৷1.55.3৷৷


tasyā: her, humbhāravāt from the sound of 'Humba", ravisannibhā: equal to Sun (in brightness), kāmbhōjā: Kambhojas, jātā: were born, atha and, ūdhasa: from udder, śastrapāṇaya: with weapons in their hands, paplavā: Paplavas, sañjātā: were born, yōnidēśāt ca from womb, yavanā: Yavanas, tathā and, śakṛddēśāt from anus, śakā: Sakas, rōmakūpēṣu from roots of hair , mlēcchā: mlecchas, sakirātā: alomg with kiratas, hārītā: Haritas, were born.

"From her lowing Kambhojas bright like the Sun, from the udder Paplavas, weapons in hand, from the vagina Yavanas, from the anus Sakas, from the roots of the hair Mlecchas along with Kiratas and Haritas were born.
taistairniṣūditaṅ sarvaṅ viśvāmitrasya tatkṣaṇāt.

sapadātigajaṅ sāśvaṅ sarathaṅ raghunandana!৷৷1.55.4৷৷


raghunandana O! Descendent of Raghu's, taistai: those and those, tatkṣaṇāt instantly, viśvāmitrasya Visvamitra's, sapadātigajam with infantry and elephants, sāśvam with horses, saratham with chariots, sarvam entire(army), niṣūditam has been destroyed.

O descendant of the Raghus, Viswamitra's army consisting of infantry, elephants, horses, chariots has been entirely destroyed by them instantly.
dṛṣṭvā niṣūditaṅ sainyaṅ vasiṣṭhēna mahātmanā.

viśvāmitrasutānāṅ ca śataṅ nānāvidhāyudham৷৷1.55.5৷৷

abhyadhāvatsusaṅkṛddhaṅ vasiṣṭhaṅ japatāṅ varam.

huṅkārēṇaiva tān sarvān dadāha bhagavān ṛṣi:৷৷1.55.6৷৷


mahātmanā by the magnanimous, vasiṣṭhēna by Vasishta, niṣūditam destroyed, sainyam army, dṛṣṭvā having seen, viśvāmitrasutānām sons of Visvamitra, śatam one hundred, nānāvidhāyudham armed with various kinds of weapons, susaṅkṛddham extremely furious, japatāṅ varam best among ascetics practising Japa, vasiṣṭham towards Vasishta, abhyadhāvat rushed towards him, bhagavān adorable, ṛṣi: sage Vasishta, tān sarvān all of them, huṅkārēṇaiva with 'Humkara" alone, dadāha burnt.

Having seen the army destroyed by the powerful Vasishta, one hundred sons of Viswamitra became extremely furious and armed with various kinds of weapons rushed towards Vasishta, the best among ascetics. Adorable sage Vasishta, reduced them to ashes with just a 'humkara' (the loud 'hum' sound produced with the mouth)
tē sāśvarathapādātā vasiṣṭhēna mahātmanā.

bhasmīkṛtā muhūrtēna viśvāmitrasutā stadā৷৷1.55.7৷৷


tadā then, sāśvarathapādātā: together with horses, chariots and foot-soldiers, tē viśvāmitrasutā: those sons of Visvamitra, mahātmanā by the magnanimous, vasiṣṭhēna by Vasishta, muhūrtēna in a moment, bhasmīkṛtā: were reduced to ashes.

Then one hundred sons of Viswamitra together with their horses, chariots and foot- soldiers were reduced to ashes in a moment by the powerful Vasishta.
dṛṣṭvā vināśitān putrān balaṅ ca sumahāyaśā:.

savrīḍaścintayā.viṣṭō viśvāmitrō.bhavattadā৷৷1.55.8৷৷


tadā then, sumahāyaśā: possessing high fame, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, vināśitān destroyed, putrān sons, balaṅ ca army, dṛṣṭvā having seen, savrīḍa: was filled with shame, cintayā in thought, āviṣṭa: abhavat pondered over.

Seeing his sons and army destroyed the illustrious Viswamitra was filled with shame and anxiety.
samudra iva nirvēgō bhagnadaṅṣṭra ivōraga:.

uparakta ivādityassadyō niṣprabhatāṅ gata:৷৷1.55.9৷৷


nirvēga: without speed (waves), samudra: iva like ocean, bhagnadaṅṣṭra: bereft of fangs, uraga: iva like snake, uparakta: eclipsed by Rahu, āditya: iva like Sun, sadya: suddenly, niṣprabhatām devoid of his effulgence, gata: obtained.

Like the ocean without waves or the snake bereft of fangs or the Sun eclipsed by Rahu, suddenly (Viswamitra) looked cheerless and dull.
hataputrabalō dīnō lūnapakṣa iva dvija:.

hatadarpō hatōtsāhō nirvēdaṅ samapadyata৷৷1.55.10৷৷


hataputrabala: with sons and army having been killed, lūnapakṣa: with wings cut off, dvija: iva like the bird, dīna: wretched, hatadarpa: with vanished pride, hatōtsāha: with shattered confidence, nirvēdam despondency, samapadyata obtained.

Having lost his sons and the army, like a bird with wings clipped, wretched, with pride vanished and confidence shattered Viswamitra fell into despondency.
sa putramēkaṅ rājyāya pālayēti niyujya ca.

pṛthivīṅ kṣatradharmēṇa vanamēvānvapadyata৷৷1.55.11৷৷


sa: he, pṛthivīm the earth, kṣatradharmēṇa in accordance with the tradition of Kshatriya, pālaya rule, iti thus, ēkam one, putram son, rājyāya for the kingdom, niyujya having appointed, vanamēva forest, anvapadyata reached.

Viswamitra, having entrusted one of his remaining sons to rule the kingdom in accordance with the kshatriya tradition reached the forest.
sa gatvā himavatpārśvaṅ kinnarōragasēvitam.

mahādēvaprasādārthaṅ tapastēpē mahātapā:৷৷1.55.12৷৷


mahātapā: mighty ascetic, sa: he, kinnarōragasēvitam inhabited by kinnaras and urgas, himavatpārśvaṅ on the slopes of Himavat mountain, gatvā having gone, mahādēvaprasādārtham with a view to propitiate lord Mahadeva, tapa: austerities, tēpē performed.

Mighty ascetic Viswamitra, reached the slopes of the Himavat mountain inhabited by kinnaras and uragas (serpents) and performed austerities in order to propitiate lord Mahadeva.
kēnacittvatha kālēna dēvēśō vṛṣabhadhvaja:.

darśayāmāsa varadō viśvāmitraṅ mahābalam৷৷1.55.13৷৷


atha thereafter, kēnacitkālēna after some time, dēvēśa: lord of devatas, vṛṣabhadhvaja: with bull as his symbol (banner), varada: bestower of boons, mahābalam possessing great strength, viśvāmitram Visvamitra, darśayāmāsa showed himself.

After some time, lord of the gods, bestower of boons, Maheswara with the symbol of the bull on the banner appeared before mighty Viswamitra.
kimarthaṅ tapyasē rājan brūhi yattē vivakṣitam.

varadō.smi varō yastē kāṅkṣitassō.bhidhīyatām৷৷1.55.14৷৷


rājan O! King, kimarthaṅ what for, tapyasē are you performing penance? tē to you, yat which, vivakṣitam intended to be conveyed, (tat that one), brūhi tell, varada: asmi I am bestower of boons, ya: vara: which boon, tē by you, kāṅkṣita: desired, sa: that, abhidhīyatām let it be spoken.

O King! what are you performing the penance for? Tell me what you want? I am bestower of boons. Speak out you desire (said Lord Siva).
ēvamuktastu dēvēna viśvāmitrō mahātapā:.

praṇipatya mahādēvamidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷1.55.15৷৷


dēvēna by that god, ēvam thus, ukta: spoken, mahātapā: performer of mighty austerities, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, mahādēvam to Mahadeva, praṇipatya having prostrated, idam this, vacanam word, abravīt spoke.

Having heard this from the god, Viswamitra who performed the great austerities prostrated before Mahadeva and said these words.
yadi tuṣṭō mahādēva dhanurvēdō mamānagha!.

sāṅgōpāṅgōpaniṣadassarahasya: pradīyatām৷৷1.55.16৷৷


anagha O! Irreproachable one, mahādēva Mahadeva, tuṣṭa: yadi if pleased, sāṅgōpāṅgōpaniṣada: with angas (branches), upangas (sub-divisions), upanishads, sarahasya: with secrets, dhanurvēda: Dhanurveda, the science of archery, mama to me, pradīyatām let it be given.

O Irreproachable one! O Mahadeva! if you are pleased with me, make me an expert in Dhanurveda, the science of archery with all it secrets, angas (branches), upangas (sub-divisions) and Upanishads.
yāni dēvēṣu cāstrāṇi dānavēṣu maharṣiṣu.

gandharvayakṣarakṣassu pratibhāntu mamānagha৷৷1.55.17৷৷


anagha O! Irreproachable one, dēvēṣu in devatas, dānavēṣu in danavas, maharṣiṣu in maharshis, gandharvayakṣarakṣassu In gandharvas, yakshas, rakashas, yāni astrāṇi whatever weapons are known, mama pratibhāntu let them be present in my mind (let them flash in my mind).

O Irreproachable one! whatever weapons are known to devatas, danavas, maharshis, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, be revealed to me.
tava prasādādbhavatu dēvadēvamamēpsitam.

ēvamastviti dēvēśō vākyamuktvā gatastadā৷৷1.55.18৷৷


dēvadēva O! Lord of gods, tava by your, prasādāt favour, mama my, īpsitam desire, bhavatu be fulfilled, ēvam astu "Be it so", iti thus, dēvēśa: lord of devatas, Mahadeva, (vākyaṅ )uktvā having spoken, tadā then, gata: returned (to bis abode).

O Lord of the gods! by your favour let my desire be fulfilled. Lord Mahadeva having said: 'Be it so' vanished.
prāpya cāstrāṇi rājarṣirviśvāmitrō mahābala:.

darpēṇa mahatā yuktō darpapūrṇō.bhavattadā৷৷1.55.19৷৷


mahābala: endowed with supreme power, rājarṣi: rajarshi, mahatā by great, darpēṇa pride, yukta: endowed with, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, tadā then, astrāṇi weapons, prāpya having obtained, darpapūrṇa: abhavat filled with insolence.

Rajarshi Viswamitra endowed with supreme power became very haughty. Having obtained the weapons, his insolence was greatly accentuated.
vivardhamānō vīryēṇa samudra iva parvaṇi.

hatamēva tadā mēnē vasiṣṭhamṛṣisattamam৷৷1.55.20৷৷


parvaṇi on the day of the full Moon and new Moon, samudra iva like sea, vīryēṇa with energy, vivardhamāna: growing, ṛṣisattamam foremost of ascetics, vasiṣṭham Vasishta, tadā then, hatamēva slain only, mēnē thought over.

Like the sea during the full moon, with his increased power (blessed with the invincible strength of the weapons) Viswamitra thought the foremost of ascetics Vasishta was (already) slain. (It shows the height of the king's ignorance and arrogance).
tatō gatvā৷৷śramapadaṅ mumōcāstrāṇi pārthiva:.

yaistattapōvanaṅ sarvaṅ nirdagdhaṅ cāstratējasā৷৷1.55.21৷৷


tata: there after, pārthiva: king, āśramapadam towards hermitage (of Vasishta), gatvā having gone, astrāṇi weapons, mumōca released, yai: by their energy, tat sarvam all that, tapōvanam forest of ascetics (for carrying austerities ), astratējasā by the power of those weapons, nirdagdham was burnt.

Thereafter king Viswamitra having proceeded towards the hermitage (of Vasishta) and released the weapons by the energy of which the entire forest of the ascetics was burnt down.
udīryamāṇamastraṅ tadviśvāmitrasya dhīmata:.

dṛṣṭvā vipradrutāssarvē munayaśśataśō diśa:৷৷1.55.22৷৷


dhīmata: by the sagacious, viśvāmitrasya Visvamitra's, tat that, udīryamāṇam being roused, astram weapons, dṛṣṭvā having seen, śataśa: in hundreds, munaya: saints, sarvē all, diśa: in all directions, vipradrutā: fled.

On seeing the weapons discharged by the intelligent Viswamitra saints in hundreds fled in all directions.
vasiṣṭhasya ca yē śiṣyāstathaiva mṛgapakṣiṇa:.

vidravanti bhayādbhītā nānādigbhyassahasraśa:৷৷1.55.23৷৷


vasiṣṭhasya Vasishta's, yē those, śiṣyā: disciples, tathaiva as well as, mṛgapakṣiṇa: animals and birds, bhayāt for the reason of fear, bhītā: terrified, sahasraśa: in thousands, nānādigbhya: in all directions, vidravanti fled.

The disciples of Vasishta as well as animals and birds got terrified by the fear and fled in their thousands in all directions.
vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṅ śūnyamāsīnmahātmana:.

muhūrtamiva niśśabdamāsīdiriṇasannibham৷৷1.55.24৷৷


mahātmana: of the magnanimous, vasiṣṭhasya Vasishta's, āśramapadam hermitage, śūnyam āsīt has become deserted, muhūrtamiva in an instant as though, iriṇasannibham like barren field, niśśabdam āsīt became silent.

The greatsoul Vasishta's hermitage became deserted and silent in an instant like a barren field.
vadatō vai vasiṣṭhasya mā bhairiti muhurmuhu:.

nāśayāmyadya gādhēyaṅ nīhāramiva bhāskara:৷৷1.55.25৷৷


bhāskara: Sun, nīhāramiva like mist, gādhēyam son of Gadhi, adya now, nāśayāmi I will destroy, mābhai: fear not, iti thus, vasiṣṭhasya Vasishta, muhurmuhu: repeatedly, vadata: while saying (they fled), not withstanding his assurance.

Even while Vasistha was repeatedly assuring the saints saying "Do not fear, I will now
destroy Viswamitra, son of Gadhi just as the Sun dispels the morning mist (they fled)".
ēvamuktvā mahātējā vasiṣṭhō japatāṅ vara:.

viśvāmitraṅ tadā vākyaṅ sarōṣamidamabravīt৷৷1.55.26৷৷


mahātējā: highly lustrous, japatāṅ vara: foremost among those who utter prayers, vasiṣṭha: Vasishta, ēvam thus, uktvā having said, tadā then, viśvāmitram Visvamitra, sarōṣam with anger, idam this, vākyam word, abravīt spoke.

The infuriated Vasishta who was highly brilliant, foremost among those who meditate said to Viswamitra:
āśramaṅ cirasamvṛddhaṅ yadvināśitavānasi.

durācārō.si tanmūḍha tasmāttvaṅ na bhaviṣyasi৷৷1.55.27৷৷


mūḍha O! Fool, cirasamvṛddham developed over long time, āśramam hermitage, yat for what reason, vināśitavān asi you have destroyed, tat for that reason, durācāra: asi you are ill-behaved, tasmāt for that reason, tvam you, na bhaviṣyasi will not live.

"O Fool! this hermitage has been developed over a long time. Why did you destroy it? On account of your wickedness you will not live long."
ityuktvā paramakruddhō daṇḍamudyamya satvara:.

vidhūmamiva kālāgniṅ yamadaṇḍamivāparam৷৷1.55.28৷৷


iti thus, uktvā having spoken, satvara: speedily, paramakruddha: exceedingly furious, vidhūmam smokeless, kālāgnimiva like fire at the destruction of the worlds, aparam another, yamadaṇḍamiva like the staff of death, daṇḍam staff, udyamya lifting up.

Exceedingly furious Vasishta quickly lifted up his staff which looked like the staff of Yama (the od of death), like smokeless fire at the time of destruction of the worlds.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē pañcapañcāśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyfifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.