VISHWAMITRA LAUNCHES LONG PENANCE

Vishwamitra launches long penance
(This is the Chapter 55 in Balakanda of Sri Valmeeki Ramayana. Here King Kaushika begins penance in pursuit of Brahmarshi status. Please read, comment and share.) 
TatastAnAkulAndruShTwA VishwAmitrAstramOhitAn|
VasiShThashchOdayAmAsa kAmadhuksruja yOgataha||1||

TasyA humBhAravAjjAtAha kAmBhOjA ravisanniBhAha|
OoDhasashchATha samBhUtA BarbarAha shastrapANayaha||2||

YOnidEshAshcha yavanAha shakruddEshAchChakAstaThA|
ROmakUpEShu mlEchChAshcha hAreetAha sakirAtakAha||3||

TaistanniShUditam sainyam VishwAmitrasya tatkShaNAt|
SapadAtigajam sAshwam saraTham RaGhunandana||4||

DruShTwA niShUditam sainyam VasiShThEna mahAtmanA|
VishwAmitrasutAnAm tu shatam nAnAviDhAyuDham|
ABhyaDhAvatsusankrudhDham VasiShTham japatAm varam||5||

HunkArENaiva tAnsarvAndadAha BhagavAnruShihi||6||

Rama, noticing that Yavanas had become anxious due to the incessant onslaught by most valorous Vishwamitra with his Astras, Vasishtha prompted Shabala to create many more soldiers with her mystic powers. As motivated by Vasishtha, Shabala made another roaring sound as “Humbha” to produce soldiers and immediately, soldiers called Kambhoja, who matched Sun for brightness. From her udder came a weapon-beholding army of Barbaras. From her vagina were born Yavanas and from the ass came out the Shakas. Accompanied by Kiratakas, the Mlechchas came out of the pores at the root of her hairs. All these forces instantaneously demolished the entire armed force of Vishwamitra, including the horses, chariots and elephant-mounted army. As soon as their whole army, which consisted of four different divisions, was precipitated by the forces created by Shabala, the 100 children of Vishwamitra, who became very furious, rushed towards Vasishtha, who was excellent, dedicated and committed to his meditation, recitation and penance, beholding different types of weapons. As soon as they came in front of him, Vasishtha, who was adorned with a divine radiation, burnt them into ashes by merely producing “hoom” sound from his throat. With his four divisions of the huge army and one hundred children having been completely destroyed instantaneously by Vasishtha without shaking a bit from his seat, highly successful Vishwamitra felt ashamed and began thinking seriously. At that moment, Vishwamitra was like a calm sea without waves, a snake with its tooth removed and he lost his shin like the Sun loses when he is gripped by Rahu. With all his one hundred children and the entire force of one Akshauhini army having been smashed to pieces by Brahmarshi Vasishtha, Vishwamitra became dejected and desperate like a bird whose wings had been cut. With all his strength, pride, self-esteem

, ego and head weight having been submerged, he became very unhappy. He instantly decided about his next course of action, summoned one of his sons, ordered him to look after the kingdom in accordance with the norms prescribed for Kshatriyas and went away to the forest to do penance. Passing from one forest to another, he finally reached Mount Himalaya, the abode of Kinnaras and Serpents. He launched a fierce penance at the bottom of the mountain with the sole purpose of securing a boon from Mahadeva. After a few days passed by, Lord of deities, Mahesha, whose flag bears the emblem of Bullock and the Lord who always bestows upon his devotees the desired boons, appeared in front of Kaushika and asked: 

“Maharaja, what is the reason for your penance? I am impressed with your penance and I have come here to give you the boon. Tell what boon do you want from me?”