Monday, 23 April 2018

VISHWAMITRA REVIVES PENANCE, MENAKA DESCENDS
(In this first part of Chapter 63 of Balakanda in Sri Valmeeki Ramayana, Lord Brahma confers Rajarshi status on Vishwamitra and when he continued the penance, Menaka appears before him. Please read, comment and share. SDN)
PUrNE varShasahasrE tu vratasnAtam mahAmunim|
ABhyagachChansurAha sarvE tapahPhalachikeerShavaha||1||
AbraveetsumahAtEjA BrahmA suruchiram vachaha|
RuShistwamasi Bhadram tE swArjitaihi karmaBhihi shuBhaihi||2||
TamEvamuktwA dEvEshastridivam punaraBhyagAt|
VishwAmitrO mahAtEjA BhUyastEpE mahattapaha||3||
Tataha kAlEna mahatA MEnakA paramApsarAha|
PuShkarEShu narashrEShTha snAtum samupachakramE||4||
TAm dadarsha mahAtEjA MEnakAm KushikAtmajaha|
RUpENApratimAm tatra vidyutam jaladE yaThA||5||
Raghava, one thousand years elapsed after Vishwamitra began penance yet again. With the intention of obliging him for the penance, Lord Brahma and all other deities came to meet Vishwamitra, who had taken bath and paid obeisance.
Most radiant and head of deities Brahma told these kind words in a melodious voice:
“Vishwamitra, owing to the positive power you have acquired by doing penance and offering worship for one thousand years, you have now become a Rishi1. We wish you good luck and take leave of you now.”
Telling those words to Vishwamitra, Lord Brahma and other deities went back to the Deva Loka. Bent on attaining Brahmarshi status, Vishwamitra once again began penance.
Several years passed by in this way and on one day, a very distinguished Apsara called Menake was bathing in a Pushkara2 on the premises of the hermitage of Vishwamitra. Most radiant descendant of Kushika dynasty Vishwamitra saw most charming and beautiful Menaka, who was bathing in the pond, even as she appeared like lightning appearing amidst clouds. Immediately after seeing Menaka, Vishwamitra was caught in the grip of lust and sensuousness.

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