(Hi Friends. You may recall the story of Vishwamitra that was being posted here. Due to unavoidable circumstances, I had to stop the narration for about 12 days. This is the latter half of Chapter 63 in Balakanda, Sri Valmeeki Ramayana. Request you to recollect the previous story, read, comment and share this portion too as ever. SDN)
Hearing the words of Devendra, Rambha agreed to accomplish the task of dispelling the penance of Vishwamitra, wore fascinating jewels and dressed herself with attractive attire. Appearing deceptively charming, she went to the hermitage in which Vishwamitra was doing penance. She prompted Vishwamitra to romance with highly attractive and impressive acts. In accordance with the plan that Indra had already drawn up, nightingales were singing and warbling in fresh buds-adorned trees. Vishwamitra listened to the sweet and melodious creaking of nightingales. Psyche of Vishwamitra was pleasantly impressed. He came out of the penance-mood and opened the eyes. Immediately, he saw an Apsara standing in front of him, twisting her sinews sensuously. Vishwamitra, who opened his eyes, simultaneously heard the melodious warble of nightingales and also an incomparably melodious song that was highly pleasing to the ears. Most charming, awesome, lusty and sensuous Rambha also appeared there. Vishwamitra became apprehensive. He closed eyes, wore a posture of meditation, became introvert and realised through inner vision that learnt that everything was a ploy of Indra. Enraged and fuming with rage, he cursed Rambha:
BrAhmaNaha sumahAtEjAstapObalasamanvitaha|
UdhDhariShyati RamBhE twAm matkrODhakaluSheekrutAm||12||
YEvamuktvA mahAtEjA VishwAmitrO mahAtapAha|
AshaknuvanDhArayitum kOpam santApamAgataha||13||
Tasya shApEna mahatA RamBhA shailee tadABhavat|
Vachaha shrutwA cha kandarpO maharShEhe sa cha nirgataha||14||
KOpEna cha mahAtEjAstapOpaharaNE krutE|
Indriyairajitai RAma na lEBhE shAntimAtmanaha||15||
“Rambha, did you not try to divert me with your provocative sensuous actions from the penance I had begun with a firm mind to overpower the six enemies of all beings like lust, anger? You ill-motivated, evil-minded, because of these provocative and sensuous acts, you will remain a statue of stone for ten thousand years2. A radiant Brahmin with the power of penance will relieve you from the taint you have attracted from my wrath. Because of his grace, you will regain your original charming and attractive form.”
Although Vishwamitra could subdue his lust by spelling the solution for his curse, he had failed to conquer the rage. Therefore, by cursing Rambha, he lost a lot of positive energy he had acquired through penance and thereby brought more misery on himself. Rambha immediately transformed into a stone statue because of the curse of Vishwamitra. Meanwhile, on hearing the dreadful curse delivered by Vishwamitra, both Kandarpa and Indra fled to their respective worlds. For having cursed Rambha due to impatience and wrath, Vishwamitra lost the divine power of penance. Sensory organs too could not come under control. Thus, Vishwamitra lost mental peace as his speech and psyche were perturbed and tumultuous. Having lost power of penance due to anger, he became worried about ways to conquer wrath. Vishwamitra to an oath: “Naiva KroDham gamiShyAmi”, meaning, henceforth, I will not employ harsh words for any reason. For several years, I will do PraNAyAma by controlling the inhaling and exhaling activities. By conquering the sensory organs, I will batter this body, which is the hub of lust and anger. In the eventuality of failure to become a Brahmin even after several years, I stop inhaling and exhaling completely, refrain from food consumption and do the penance incessantly by standing at a single spot. None of the parts of my body will decay.”
Rama, thus Vishwamitra took a very horrible and unparalleled oath of doing penance for one thousand years.
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