Verse 1
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा वसिष्ठं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥
Thus addressed by Vasistha, the great ascetic Vishvamitra, greatly radiant, replied to Vasistha, the foremost of sages.
Verse 2
यद्येवं वचनं सत्यं वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः ।
तथापि मे न सन्देहो ब्रह्मर्षित्वे भविष्यति ॥
“Even if the words of the great-souled Vasistha are true, I shall nevertheless have no doubt that I will attain Brahmarshi-hood.”
Verse 3
इत्युक्त्वा स महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
तपश्चचार घोरं वै कौशिकः परमात्मवान् ॥
Having spoken thus, the greatly radiant and great ascetic Vishvamitra, the son of Kushika, performed severe austerities with great determination.
Verse 4
तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि तप्यमानस्य कौशिक ।
ब्रह्मा तुष्टोऽभवद् देवैः सहर्षिगणपुङ्गवः ॥
O Kaushika, after he had performed austerities for a thousand years, Brahma became pleased with him, together with the foremost of the groups of sages and the gods.
Verse 5
ततः प्रादुरभूद् ब्रह्मा लोकानां परमेश्वरः ।
अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ॥
Then Brahma, the supreme Lord of the worlds, appeared and spoke sweet words to the great sage Vishvamitra.
6
महर्षिस्त्वं महातेजा ब्रह्मर्षिरिति चोच्यसे ।
तपसा ते महाभाग प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वरं वृणु ॥
“O greatly radiant one, you are a great sage and are called a Brahmarshi. O greatly fortunate one, I am pleased with your austerities. Choose a boon.”
7
एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन ब्रह्मणा लोकसत्तमः ।
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥
Thus addressed by Brahma, the greatly radiant Vishvamitra, the best among men, spoke these words.
8
ब्रह्मर्षित्वं मम भगवन् प्राप्तमद्य त्वयानघ ।
तथापि मे तपो नष्टं यथा मे न भवेद् भयम् ॥
“O Bhagavan, O sinless one, today I have attained Brahmarshi-hood through you. Yet I fear that my austerities may be lost.”
9
एवं ब्रुवाणं राजर्षिं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ।
प्रोवाच भगवान् ब्रह्मा पुनरेव महातपाः ॥
When the great sage Vishvamitra, the royal sage, spoke thus, the venerable Brahma again addressed him.
10
न ते तपो विनष्टं वै ब्रह्मर्षित्वं च ते ध्रुवम् ।
वसिष्ठेन महाभाग ब्रह्मर्षित्वमुपागतम् ॥
“Your austerities have not been lost, O greatly fortunate one. Your Brahmarshi-hood is firmly established, and Vasistha has accepted you as a Brahmarshi.”
11
ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
प्रणम्य देवदेवेशं ब्रह्माणं प्रत्युवाच ह ॥
Then the venerable great ascetic Vishvamitra became delighted, bowed to Brahma, the Lord of the gods, and spoke.
12
कृतार्थोऽस्मि महाभाग तव वाक्येन सुवर्चसा ।
तथापि मे तपोयुक्तं तपो नष्टं न मे भवेत् ॥
“O greatly fortunate one, by your radiant words I have achieved my purpose. Yet may my austerity remain intact and not be lost.”
13
ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ।
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ॥
Then Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, became pleased and spoke sweet words to the great sage Vishvamitra.
14
एवमस्तु महाभाग यथावद् भवितासि च ।
तपसा ब्रह्मर्षित्वं ते स्थिरं भवतु कौशिक ॥
“So be it, O greatly fortunate one. May it be exactly so. O Kaushika, may your Brahmarshi-hood attained through austerity remain firmly established.”
15
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा देवानां परमेश्वरः ।
जगाम त्रिदिवं देवैः सहर्षिगणपुङ्गवः ॥
Having spoken thus, Brahma, the supreme Lord of the gods, departed to heaven together with the gods and the foremost of the groups of sages.
16
विश्वामित्रोऽपि भगवान् ब्रह्मर्षित्वमवाप्य च ।
कृतार्थोऽभवदत्यर्थं तपसा भावितात्मवान् ॥
The venerable Vishvamitra, having attained Brahmarshi-hood, became completely fulfilled, his being purified through austerity.
17
ततः कदाचिद् राजर्षिर्विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
गङ्गातीरे तपस्तेपे दीर्घकालं महामुनिः ॥
Then, at some time, the royal sage Vishvamitra, the great ascetic, performed austerities for a long period on the bank of the Ganga.
18
तस्य तत्र महाभाग तप्यमानस्य धीमतः ।
देवाः सर्षिगणाः सर्वे तुष्टुवुः कौशिकं मुनिम् ॥
There, while the wise and greatly fortunate Kaushika was performing austerities, all the gods together with the groups of sages praised the sage.
19
ततः प्रहृष्टमनसो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ।
ऊचुस्ते मुनिशार्दूलं ब्रह्मर्षित्वं गतं प्रभुम् ॥
Then, with delighted minds, they addressed the great sage Vishvamitra, the tiger among sages, who had attained Brahmarshi-hood.
20
ब्रह्मर्षिरिति ते नाम सर्वलोकैः प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
सत्यं सत्यं महाभाग नात्र कार्यं विचारणा ॥
“Your name as Brahmarshi is established throughout all the worlds. Truly, truly, O greatly fortunate one, there is no doubt about this.”
21
ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
सर्वान् देवान् ऋषींश्चैव प्रणम्याभ्यर्चयत् प्रभुः ॥
Then the venerable great ascetic Vishvamitra became pleased, bowed to and worshipped all the gods and sages.
22
सिद्धाश्च ऋषयश्चैव गन्धर्वाश्च महर्षयः ।
सर्वे ते मुनिशार्दूलं विश्वामित्रं प्रशंसयन् ॥
The Siddhas, sages, Gandharvas and great seers all praised Vishvamitra, the tiger among sages.
23
ततः स मुनिशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
स्वाश्रमं पुनरागम्य तप एव समारभत् ॥
Then the great ascetic Vishvamitra, the tiger among sages, returned to his hermitage and again began austerities.
24
तस्य तत्राश्रमे रम्ये शिष्या धर्मपरायणाः ।
तपश्चरन्ति विप्रेन्द्राः सर्वे वेदविदां वराः ॥
In that beautiful hermitage, his disciples, devoted to righteousness and foremost among those learned in the Vedas, performed austerities.
25
एवं तपसि वर्तन्तं विश्वामित्रं महातपाः ।
ददर्श भगवान् ब्रह्मा देवैः सह समागतः ॥
Thus, while Vishvamitra was engaged in austerities, the venerable Brahma came there together with the gods and saw him.
26
तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलं तपसा भावितात्मनम् ।
सर्वे देवाः समागम्य तुष्टुवुः कौशिकं मुनिम् ॥
Seeing the tiger among sages, whose being had been purified by austerity, all the gods assembled and praised the sage Kaushika.
27
ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
प्रणम्य सर्वदेवांश्च ब्रह्माणं प्रत्युवाच ह ॥
Then the venerable great sage Vishvamitra became pleased, bowed to all the gods and spoke to Brahma.
28
भगवन् देवदेवेश ब्रह्मर्षित्वमुपागतम् ।
वसिष्ठेन च मे सर्वं मन्यते नात्र संशयः ॥
“O Bhagavan, O Lord of the gods, I have attained Brahmarshi-hood, and Vasistha also recognizes me as such. There is no doubt about this.”
29
ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ।
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं महातपाः ॥
Then the venerable Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, became pleased and spoke sweet words to the great ascetic Vishvamitra.
30
ब्रह्मर्षिरिति ते नाम सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः ।
सर्वलोकहितार्थाय तपसा भावितात्मनः ॥
“Your name as Brahmarshi is true, truly there is no doubt. Through austerity your being has been purified for the welfare of all the worlds.”
31
ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
प्रणम्य ब्रह्मणं देवमग्निहोत्रमथाचरत् ॥
Then the venerable great ascetic Vishvamitra became pleased, bowed to Brahma, and performed the Agnihotra ritual.
32
सर्वे देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः ।
विश्वामित्रस्य तं भावं प्रशशंसुः पुनः पुनः ॥
All the gods together with the Gandharvas, Siddhas and supreme sages praised Vishvamitra’s state of spiritual attainment again and again.
33
ततो ब्रह्मा महातेजा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ।
अब्रवीद् वचनं हृष्टो यथेष्टं गच्छ कौशिक ॥
Then the greatly radiant Brahma happily spoke to the great sage Vishvamitra: “O Kaushika, go wherever you wish.”
34
सर्वकामसमृद्धोऽसि ब्रह्मर्षित्वमुपागतः ।
तपसा भावितात्मा च सत्यधर्मपरायणः ॥
“You are endowed with the fulfilment of all desires. You have attained Brahmarshi-hood, your being has been purified through austerity, and you are devoted to truth and righteousness.”
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षष्टितमः सर्गः ।
Thus ends the sixtieth Sarga of the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the original epic.