STORY OF VISHWAMITRA - 5

(This is the latter half of Chapter 52 in Balakanda, Sri Valmeeki Ramayana, where King Kaushika and Sage Vasishtha exchange pleasantries. Please read, comment and share it. Happy reading to all readers. SDN)  

Vasishtha replied:

“Maharaja, meditation, penance, rituals and other activities are going on without any physical or mental trouble. My disciples are also completely focused on the discharge of six basic duties (Shatkarma) ¹. In this hermitage, all types of herbs, medicinal plants and trees are in abundance.”

Later, Vasishtha, a person engaged in long and arduous penance, meditation and son born out of the psyche of Brahma, questioned Vishwamitra, who was sitting comfortably:

“Oh pious Vishwamitra, are you happy and comfortable? How are your wife, son, relatives and friends doing? Are you following the four types of royal circles or duties² (Raja vruttas or circles) and looking after your subjects in a cultured manner? Are you nurturing and nourishing your subordinates and feudal lords by awarding them with monthly payments and prizes? Because of the care you are bestowing upon them, are they all obedient and duty-bond? Have you vanquished the foes that create problems to the kingdom? Has your strong four-pronged army (Chaturangabala) developed comprehensively as it is instrumental for victory against enemies? Have you made your soldiers obedient to you by disbursing their monthly remuneration from time to time? Is your treasury always filled with riches? Are you filling the treasury by collecting the revenue from subjects without troubling them and without causing any displeasure to them? Are your friends keeping well? Are all you children and grandchildren doing well?”

In reply to the questions asked by Vasishtha pertaining to his pleasantness, most vibrant Vishwamitra replied to Vasishtha, who was like an ocean of modesty and most revered:

“Maharshi, with your blessings and grace, everything is pleasant.” Thus, exchanging pleasantries and discussing over several subjects related to State, exchequer, penance and spiritual practices, Vishwamitra and Vasishtha, who were very much delighted for their mutual meeting, spent a very long time. After completing that exchange of pleasantries of common interest, Vasishtha told Vishwamitra with a smiling face:  

“Oh valiant king Vishwamitra, I want to host a party to you and huge army to the best of my capacity. Kindly accept this felicitation. You are a great King as well as a distinguished guest. I am duty bound to offer worship and treat you well as you have arrived here accidentally.”

Hearing that, very wise Vishwamitra said:  

“Maharshi, I am fully pleased with the kind words you are saying. This is equal to your having treated me well. I am fully satisfied with the fruits, vegetables and roots that are available in your Ashram. I am fully honored by the Padya and Achamana that is very essential for a guest to be treated with. Moreover, seeing a great sage, who is rich the wealth of penance, has delighted me. I have been certainly honored by you and you deserve to be worshipped. May your unhindered grace and kind blessings be on me, incessantly. I submit my infinite salutations to you. I will now take leave of you.”

In response to that, broad-minded Vasishtha told Vishwamitra several time to depart only after getting treated by him well.

Raghava, Vishwamitra had to finally bow to the request of Vasishtha.

“Great sage, as you please,” said Vishwamitra.

Raghava, after Vishwamitra agreed to receive the felicitation offered by Vasishtha, the latter, who was the greatest of meditators, passionately invoked unerring, strange-colored cow called Shabale, which was serving the needs of sacrifice:  

“Shabale, my daughter, please come running.”   

As soon as Vasishtha called, Shabale came and stood near Vasishtha, who caressed it affectionately and said:

“Listen to me, my daughter. Emperor Vishwamitra has come to our hermitage, along with his entire army. I have decided to give him and his army a treat to the best possible extent and thereby felicitate him. Please prepare all the items required to host an astonishing and memorable treat, instantly. Oh divine cow, who can everything that is desired, please pour in front of me the food items with distinct taste in accordance with the eating habits of each and every person to make me happy. You should place the items in front of each person. You my kindly produce heaps of rice, juice and other forms food.”

STORY OF VISHWAMITRA - 4

(In Chapter 52 of Balakanda, Sri Valmeeki Ramayana, the maiden visit of Kaushika Maharaja, who later became Vishwamitra, has been given. Due to space constraint, the narration has been cut in to two parts. The following portion is the first part. Please follow each and every issue to get a comprehensive idea. Please read, comment and share it. SDN)

Sa druShTwA paramapreetO VishwAmitrO mahAbalaha|

PraNamya viDhinA veerO VasiShTham japatAm varam||1||

SwAgatam tava chEtyuktO VasiShThEna mahAtmanA|

Aasanam chAsya bhagavAnwasiShThO vyAdidEsha ha||2||

UpaviShTAya cha tadA VishwAmitrAya dheematE|

YathAnyAyam munivaraha phalamUlAnyupAharat||3||

Pratigruhya cha tAm pUjAm VasiShThAdrAjasattamaha|

TapO(a)jnihOtrashiShyEShu kushalam paryapruchchata||4||

VishwAmitrO mahAtEjA vanaspatigaNE tathA|

Sarwatra kushalam chAha VasiShThO rAjasattamam||5||

Very powerful Vishwamitra was happy for meeting Vasishtha, who was among the greatest of sages known for penance, and saluted the Sage, in accordance with the norms. Vasishtha offered a warm welcome to the king Vishwamitra, who had politely saluted, and offered him a seat, akin to his status. After brave and brilliant Vishwamitra adorned the seat, Vasishtha treated him with roots, palms and fruits to the best of his capacity. Receiving the felicitation, Vishwamitra queried the sage on his wellbeing: 

“Maharshi, are your penance and obeisance going on without any impediment or trouble? Are your disciples concentrating on their studies and learning without any trouble? Are the forest products needed for performing the Homas to propitiate the Gods and Goddesses available in abundance?”

Vasishtha replied: 

“Maharaja, meditation, penance, rituals and other activities are going without any physical or mental trouble. My disciples are also completely focused on the discharge of six basic duties (Shatkarma) 1. In this hermitage, all types of herbs, medicinal plants and trees are in abundance.

GANGAVATARANA - CONCLUSION - ONE

GANGAVATARANA - CONCLUSION - 1

(Lord Brahma advises Bhageeratha to perform final rites of his ancestors in this part. Gangavatarana is a very precious, meritorious and sacred story to read or hear. Full details will be explained in the next issue. Plese read, comment and share. Happy Reading - by SDN)

Sa gatwA sAgaram rAjA gangayAnugatastadA|
PravivEsha talam bhUmEryatra tE bhasmasAtkrutAha||1||

BhasmanyathAplutE tE RAma gangAyAha saleelEna vai|
SarwalOkaprabhurbrhamA rAjAnamidamabraveet||2||

TAritA narashArdUla divam yAtAshcha dEvavat|
ShaShTihi putrasahasrANi sagarasya mahAtmanaha||3||

SAgarasya jalam lOkE yAvatsthAsyati PArthiva|
SagarasyAtmajAstAvatswargE sthAsyanti dEvavat||4||

Iyam cha duhitA jyEShThA tava gangA bhaviShyati|
TwatkrutEna cha nAmnAtha lOkE sthAsyati vishrutA||5||

Sitting in the chariot and being followed by Ganga, Bhageeratha passed through the ocean that had been dug by the sons of Sagara and went in the north-eastern direction to go to Rasatala, where the mountain-like heap of ashes of the 60,000 sons of Sagara was lying. When Ganga Devi, as requested by Bhageeratha, was about to immerse the heap of ashes into her waters, Lord of all the worlds, four-faced Brahma appeared there and told Bhageeratha:
“Oh great man, owing to the performance of Salilakriya, all 60,000 children of Sagara got relieved from their forms of apparition and went to Deva Loka, glittering like deities. As long as water (the Ganga waters) remains in the ocean dug by the children of Sagara, they will be remaining in the Deva Loka and enjoy all the comforts that the deities possess. Goddess Ganga, who has followed you, will be recognized as your eldest daughter. She will be called in this world after your name as Bhagirathi, which will commemorate the stupendous efforts you have put in. She will be popularly called as Tripathaga, Divya and Bhageerathi. The name Tripathaga1 has come to her only because due to your efforts, she has been made to flow in the three worlds of heaven, mortal world (Earth) and underworld. Perform the duty of offering water to your forefathers here. Similarly, as you and your ancestors had vouched earlier, you can perform the Salilakriya for your forefathers with the Ganga waters. Your ancestor, Emperor Sagara, who was quite victorious and pious, could not accomplish the task of bringing Ganga to Earth. In the same manner, Amshumanta, who was famous across the universe for exemplary radiation, could not realise his oath of carrying Ganga to Rasatala. Later, your father Dileepa, who was a Rajarshi, an epitome of all good virtues, a powerhouse of penance and a person with radiation that was equal to my radiation, could not think about his oath of undertaking a penance to take Ganga to Rasatala. You have succeeded in realising the oath your ancestors had failed to realise. Therefore, you have secured the grand glory that good persons love to secure. A very large shelter of Dharma has come to you due to the arrival of Ganga. Oh distinguished human, take bath with the holy waters of Ganga, which is highly meritorious to do for ever. By doing so, sanctify and purify yourself, besides guiding the entire universe in acquiring sanity2. Offer Tarpana to your father, grandfather, great grandfather and other ancestors with the sacred Ganga waters. I wish you good luck. I will go back to my World. You may also go back to your country after completing the Salilakriya.”

STORY OF VISHWAMITRA - 3

(This is the second half of Chapter 51 in Balakanda of Sri Valmeeki Ramayana where Shatananda, the virtuous Minister of Janaka Maharaja, divulges the story of Sage Vishwmitra. It is an interesting story. Hope it meets with the approval of all my Facebook friends. Read it, comment and share it, if you like) 
Hearing the pleasant words of knowledgeable Vishwamitra, most radiant Shatananda told Rama: 
“Supreme human Raghava, it is our good fortune that you have arrived here along with indefatigable sage Vishwamitra. You are welcome. Vishwamitra can do impossible and unbelievable tasks with ease. He can do things that others can hardly imagine. He has become a Brahmarshi through penance alone. His influence is infinite. His power is immensurable. Please be aware that most radiant Vishwamitra, who is an outstanding performer of penance, can do the best of fa

vour to you. He is your protector. Certainly, you are the luckiest person on earth. What is the power of this great person’s penance? What a divine history he has? I will tell all these things in detail, please listen to me.” 
“In the past, he was a spirituous, scholarly, learned king thinking always about the welfare of his subjects. For several years, he was ruling his kingdom, destroying all his enemies. I will now tell you his family tree, please listen. Rama, Prajapati Brahma had a son called Kusha, who was born out of the mind of Lord Brahma, He had been created by Lord Brahma exclusive for looking after the subjects and therefore, he had become the emperor of the world. Virtuous, powerful and strong Kushanabha was his son. A famous person called Gadhi was born to Kushanabha as the son. ThE son of that great Gadhi is none other this Maharshi Vishwamitra. As I told you earlier, being a very strong and powerful king, he was ruling over this land, which he inherited from his predecessors, with good culture and tradition. Once, he got his Akshauhini army ready and began an expedition of travelling around the world. After crossing many towns, cities, countries, rivers and rivulets, mountains, hills, valleys, dense forest and hermitages which were the abodes of great Maharshis, before finally landing in the hermitage of sage Vasishtha. The charm of that Ashram was inexplicably enchanting. It was covered with a variety of flower-yielding plants and creepers of pleasant and rare fragrance and charm. That ashram was adorned with Sidhdhas, Gandharvas, Charanas, Kinnaras and other celestial beings. It was covered with calm deer. Several outstanding Brahmins were living there. Many Brahmrshis, Devarshis were doing penance in that hermitage. Outstanding students of Veda, who were as radiant as fire, were there. That hermitage was entirely filled with great persons, who were equal to four-faced Lord Brahma. Some of them were consuming water as food; some were inhaling the air as food and indulging in penance; some were eating the withered leaves of trees as food and a few were consuming roots and fruits. All of them had control over external and internal organs; they had overpowered anger. That hermitage was adorned with Valakhilyas1 and Vaikhanasas, who were engaged in meditation and penance. What else can I say, Rama, the hermitage of Vasishtha was certainly existing like another Brahma Loka. Vishwamitra, who was the greatest of victorious persons and was very strong, visited such a wonderful and divine hermitage.

GANGAVATARANA - SUBSTANTIATION

There were five superscriptions in Chapter 43 of Balakanda in Valmeeki Ramayana and their explanations are given hereunder, without which the understanding may become slightly lopsided. 

1The first stanza of this chapter reads as under: 

DEvadEvE gatE tasminsO(a)nguShThAgranipeeditAm|

KrutwA vasumateem RAma samwatsaramupAsata

The second word in the first line is “AnguShThAgranipeeDitAm”, which literally means “Bhageeratha was torturing the Earth with his right toe-end. Scholars clarify that tormenting the earth with right toe-end only means that Bhageeratha was standing on his right toe-end while doing the penance. Because of the sharpness of the nail, perhaps, the Goddess Earth was being pained, though it was not the intention of Bhageeratha. He was standing on the right toe-end as a means of concentration. Because of the power of his penance, the toe-end had become so strong that it could bear the whole weight of the body of Bhageeratha. Taking explanations provided in Bhagavata and other Puranas, the interpretation of Sri Madhwacharya, it can be said that Lord Vishnu had provided Bhageeratha with that power, strength, patience and perseverance to press for his demand. 

2Ganga is also known as Tripathage which means a river which flows in three paths (Tri = three and Patha means paths). Some scholars state that since Ganga flew in all the three worlds of Heaven, Earth and the Underworld, she has been called as Tripathage. Some others say that since three streams of Ganga flew towards West, three towards East and one followed Bhageeratha, she has been named as Tripathage. There is no harm in accepting both the arguments. 

3Jahnu was born in the royal family of Chandra or the dynasty of Moon to Ajameedha, who was the son of Suhotra. His mother’s name was Keshini. He is also the originator of a dynasty called Kushika to which Vishwamitra belongs. Even in Ramayana, Valmeeki addresses Vishwamitra as Kaushika or Kushika. 

4 According to scriptures, the oceans, initially, consisted of Ganga waters and was therefore it was sweet. Once, when the deities were battling with demons, the demons suddenly vanished and hid in an ocean. The deities appealed to Sage Agastya to help them. Sage Agastya obliged, drank the

ocean waters at once and emptied the whole region to expose the demons. Deities could then destroy the demons and emerge victorious. From then on, Sage Agastya is also known as Samudrachuluka. Later, Agastya released the water in the form of urine and that is why the sea waters became salty. 

5The significance of the immersion of the ashes of corpses in holy waters of Ganga, Kaveri or union of sacred rivers called Sangam is established with the incident of Bhageeratha immersing the ashes of his ancestors in Ganga waters, which cleared their sins and empowered them to enter the Heavens, say scholars. 

(The merits of reading this story of Gangavatarana will be furnished next time, because of the length and also significance. It is highly meritorious to read or hear the story of Gangavatarana. Please read, attract the Punya, peace and prosperity, comment and share it if you like it. Thank you.- SDN)

STORY OF SAGE VISHWAMITRA - 1

Sage Vishwamitra is one of the Saptarishis who have formed the Saptarishi Mandala as Stars. This Saptarishi Mandala has been named as Great Bear by the scientists.

Other sages of Saptarishi Mandala are Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni and Vasishtha, as mentioned in Shalya Parva of Mahabharata. However, there is a slight change in the names of these sages in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, where the names have been mentioned as: Mareechi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Kratu and Vasishtha. Scholars are of the opinion that due to change in the Kalpa, which denotes a complete cycle of Kruta Yuga, Treta Yua, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. The first set of Saptarishis belong to the present Vaivaswata Manvantara. The variation in the names only indicates that the other set belong to another Manvantara.

The story of Vishwamitra is mentioned in Mahabharata and Ramayana. In Ramayana, Shatananda, Chief Minister of Janaka Maharaja, narrates the transformation of King Vishwaratha, a descendant of Kushika dynasty and hence addressed as Kaushika in some places, and his father was Gadhi. The origin of Vishwaratha finds mention in Hari Vamsha and Vayu Purana, besides Mahab

harata. Wife of Vishwaratha was Haimavati. He had several other wives, including Shalavati, Drushadwati, Renu, Madhavi and so on. Madhuchchandana, Kati, Panina, Yajnavalkya, Sankruti, Gala, Mudgala, Devala, Ashtaka, Devarata and his most beloved Shunashyepa were among his over one hundred children. As the king in the lineage of Chandra Vamsha or dynasty, he once goes on a hunting spree and chances to enter the hermitage of Vasishtha, another sage among the Saptarishis, and then attains the Brahmarshi status through penance, which is a very thrilling, meritorious and interesting story. This is an introduction to that thrilling story, which will be narrated here from the next issue for my dear FACEBOOK friends. This portion is also an excerpt of Chapter 50 onwards in Balakanda of Sri Ramayana. Please go through, comment and share it if you like it. HAPPY READING