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.”