Sarga 55: The Hermitage Burnt
Ashrama Dahana
Shabala's newly created armies annihilate Vishvamitra's forces and hundred sons; devastated, Vishvamitra retreats to austerity, wins divine weapons from Shiva, and returns to burn Vashishtha's hermitage, provoking the sage's wrath.
Jump to a shloka · 26 in this sarga
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन देवेशो वृषभध्वज:। दर्शयामास वरदो विश्वामित्रं महाबलम्।।1.55.13।।
Meaning
After some time, the lord of gods, whose banner bears the bull, the ready giver of boons, showed himself to the greatly mighty Vishvamitra.
किमर्थं तप्यसे राजन् ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्। वरदोऽस्मि वरो यस्ते काङ्क्षितस्सोऽभिधीयताम्।।1.55.14।।
Meaning
For what purpose do you undertake this austerity, king? Tell me what you wish; I am a boon-giver — let the boon you desire be named.
एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन विश्वामित्रो महातपा:। प्रणिपत्य महादेवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.55.15।।
Meaning
Thus addressed by the god, the greatly ascetic Vishvamitra, bowing before Mahadeva, spoke this word.
यदि तुष्टो महादेव धनुर्वेदो ममानघ। साङ्गोपाङ्गोपनिषदस्सरहस्य: प्रदीयताम्।।1.55.16।।
Meaning
If you are pleased, Mahadeva, sinless one, let the entire science of archery, with its branches and sub-branches, its Upanishads and its secret doctrines, be granted to me.
यानि देवेषु चास्त्राणि दानवेषु महर्षिषु। गन्धर्वयक्षरक्षस्सु प्रतिभान्तु ममानघ।।1.55.17।।
Meaning
Whatever missiles belong to gods, danavas, great sages, gandharvas, yakshas, and rakshasas, sinless one, let them all become manifest to me.
तव प्रसादाद्भवतु देवदेवममेप्सितम्। एवमस्त्विति देवेशो वाक्यमुक्त्वा गतस्तदा।।1.55.18।।
Meaning
By your grace, god of gods, let my desire be fulfilled. So be it, said the lord of gods, and having spoken, he then departed.
प्राप्य चास्त्राणि राजर्षिर्विश्वामित्रो महाबल:। दर्पेण महता युक्तो दर्पपूर्णोऽभवत्तदा।।1.55.19।।
Meaning
Having obtained the missiles, the greatly mighty royal sage Vishvamitra then became filled with immense pride.
विवर्धमानो वीर्येण समुद्र इव पर्वणि। हतमेव तदा मेने वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्।।1.55.20।।
Meaning
Swelling with vigor like the ocean at the full moon, he then deemed Vashishtha, foremost of sages, as already slain.
ततो गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं मुमोचास्त्राणि पार्थिव:। यैस्तत्तपोवनं सर्वं निर्दग्धं चास्त्रतेजसा।।1.55.21।।
Meaning
Then, going to the hermitage-ground, the king released his missiles, by whose fiery power that entire ascetic forest was burnt down.
उदीर्यमाणमस्त्रं तद्विश्वामित्रस्य धीमत:। दृष्ट्वा विप्रद्रुतास्सर्वे मुनयश्शतशो दिश:।।1.55.22।।
Meaning
Seeing the wise Vishvamitra's missile rising up, all the sages fled in terror by the hundreds in every direction.