Verse 1

विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः स हि गाधिसुतो मुनिः ।

सिद्धाश्रमं समासाद्य तपश्चक्रे सुदारुणम् ॥

The greatly radiant Vishvamitra, the sage and son of Gadhi, reached Siddhashrama and performed extremely severe austerities.

Verse 2

तस्य तत्र तपस्तप्त्वा दीर्घकालं महामुनिः ।

ब्रह्मर्षित्वं महातेजाः प्राप्तुमैच्छन्महामुनिः ॥

The great and greatly radiant sage performed austerities there for a long time, desiring to attain Brahmarshi-hood.

Verse 3

ततः प्रीतमनाः शक्रो देवैः सह महर्षिभिः ।

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो मुनिम् ॥

Then Indra, pleased in mind, came together with the gods and great sages to see the great-souled sage Vishvamitra.

Verse 4

तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलं तप्यमानं महातपाः ।

अब्रवीत् मधुरं वाक्यं देवानां प्रियकाम्यया ॥

Seeing the tiger among sages engaged in severe austerities, Indra spoke sweet words, desiring the welfare of the gods.

Verse 5

महर्षे त्वं महातेजा तपसा भावितात्मवान् ।

ब्रह्मर्षित्वं तव प्राप्तं देवैः सह मया तथा ॥

“O great sage, O greatly radiant one, your being has been purified through austerity. You have attained Brahmarshi-hood, together with the gods and myself.”

Verse 6

एवमुक्तो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवान् प्रत्युवाच महातपाः ॥

Thus addressed, the greatly radiant great sage Vishvamitra bowed his head before the gods and replied.

Verse 7

भगवन् देवदेवेश ब्रह्मर्षित्वमुपागतम् ।

तथापि मे तपो नष्टं न भवेदिति मे मतिः ॥

“O Bhagavan, O Lord of the gods, I have attained Brahmarshi-hood. Yet I desire that my austerities should not be lost.”

Verse 8

ततो देवा महात्मानं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ।

ऊचुस्ते मुनिशार्दूलं वरं वृणीष्व कौशिक ॥

Then the gods spoke to the great-souled Vishvamitra, the tiger among sages: “O Kaushika, choose a boon.”

9

विश्वामित्रो महातेजा देवान् सर्वानुवाच ह ।

तपसः फलमिच्छामि ब्रह्मर्षित्वं च शाश्वतम् ॥

The greatly radiant Vishvamitra spoke to all the gods: “I desire the fruit of my austerities and everlasting Brahmarshi-hood.”

10

ततो देवा महातेजा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन् ।

ब्रह्मर्षित्वं तव प्राप्तं तपसा भावितात्मनः ॥

Then the greatly radiant gods said to Vishvamitra: “You have attained Brahmarshi-hood through austerity that has purified your being.”

11

वसिष्ठेन महाभाग ब्रह्मर्षित्वमुपागतम् ।

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ॥

“O greatly fortunate one, Vasistha has accepted your Brahmarshi-hood.” Hearing their words, the great ascetic Vishvamitra—

12

प्रहृष्टवदनो भूत्वा देवान् सर्वानभाषत ।

सत्यं मे वचनं देवाः कृतार्थोऽस्मि न संशयः ॥

—became delighted and spoke to all the gods: “Your words are true. My purpose has been fulfilled; there is no doubt.”

13

ततः प्रहृष्टा देवाश्च ऋषयश्च महर्षयः ।

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं प्रशशंसुः पुनः पुनः ॥

Then the gods, sages and great seers, greatly pleased, praised the great-souled Vishvamitra again and again.

14

सिद्धाश्च ऋषयश्चैव गन्धर्वाश्च महर्षयः ।

सर्वे ते मुनिशार्दूलं प्रशशंसुर्महातपाः ॥

The Siddhas, sages, Gandharvas and great seers all praised the great ascetic, the tiger among sages.

15

ततः प्रीतमना देवो ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ।

विश्वामित्रं महातेजा उवाच मधुरं वचः ॥

Then Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, pleased in mind, spoke sweet words to the greatly radiant Vishvamitra.

16

महर्षे त्वं महातेजा ब्रह्मर्षिरिति कीर्तितः ।

तव तपसा महाभाग सर्वलोकहिते रतः ॥

“O great sage, O greatly radiant one, you are renowned as a Brahmarshi. O greatly fortunate one, through your austerities you are devoted to the welfare of all the worlds.”

17

एवमुक्तो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।

प्रणम्य ब्रह्मणं देवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

Thus addressed, the greatly radiant great sage Vishvamitra bowed to Brahma and spoke these words.

18

भगवन् यदि मे तुष्टो वरं दातुमर्हसि ।

ब्रह्मर्षित्वं स्थिरं भूयाद् वसिष्ठेनाभिपालितम् ॥

“O Bhagavan, if you are pleased with me and wish to grant me a boon, may my Brahmarshi-hood remain firmly established and be accepted by Vasistha.”

19

ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ।

वसिष्ठं समुपागम्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥

Then the venerable Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, became pleased and approached Vasistha, saying these words.

20

वसिष्ठ त्वं महातेजा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ।

ब्रह्मर्षित्वं प्रदेहि त्वं सत्यं वचनमुत्तमम् ॥

“O greatly radiant Vasistha, grant Brahmarshi-hood to the wise Vishvamitra. Let your word be true and supreme.”

21

ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् प्रहृष्टो मुनिसत्तमः ।

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं ब्रह्मर्षिमकरोत् तदा ॥

Then the venerable Vasistha, the best among sages, became pleased and made the great-souled Vishvamitra a Brahmarshi.

22

ततः प्रहृष्टवदना देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा ।

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं तुष्टुवुर्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥

Then the gods together with the groups of sages, with delighted faces, praised Vishvamitra, the foremost of sages.

23

सिद्धाश्च ऋषयश्चैव गन्धर्वाश्च महर्षयः ।

सर्वे ते मुनिशार्दूलं प्रशशंसुः पुनः पुनः ॥

The Siddhas, sages, Gandharvas and great seers all praised the tiger among sages again and again.

24

ततः प्रहृष्टो भगवान् विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।

प्रणम्य सर्वदेवांश्च स्वाश्रमं पुनरागमत् ॥

Then the venerable great ascetic Vishvamitra, greatly pleased, bowed to all the gods and returned to his hermitage.

25

तत्र स्थित्वा महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।

तपश्चचार धर्मात्मा दीर्घकालमरिन्दम ॥

There the greatly radiant great sage Vishvamitra, righteous in conduct, continued his austerities for a long period, O subduer of enemies.

26

एवं तपोबलेनैव ब्रह्मर्षित्वमवाप्तवान् ।

विश्वामित्रो महातेजा सर्वलोकैः सुपूजितः ॥

Thus, through the power of austerity, the greatly radiant Vishvamitra attained Brahmarshi-hood and became highly honoured by all the worlds.

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रिषष्टितमः सर्गः ।

Thus ends the sixty-third Sarga of the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the original epic.