Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam BALAKANDAM Sarga 67 Brahma confers, Vasistha confirms the appellation Brahmarishi: Viswamitra proceeded from the snow clad Himalayan Mountains to the distant eastern quarter and began to practice stern penance. A thousand years he embarked on a vow which was unparalleled and unrivalled, he prosecuted his vows, with an unalterable resolution even though in the meantime he was buffeted by obstacles, and his human frame appeared dry as a log of wood. On his completing a thousand years of penance with an iron will, he sat down to take his food. At that very moment, Indra in the guise of a hungry Brahman asked him of food and the mighty saint of steadfast soul gave all of the food to the counterfeit Brahman. Maintaining his vow of silence and abandoning breath, without speaking a word, Viswamitra continued his penance for a further thousand years. While the sage was thus firm on his austerities there started from his brow thick smoke clouds, and the three worlds were heated up with ravening flames; in that confusion created beings lived in horror. Perplexed by his asceticism, incapacitated with distress, all the Gods, saints, bards, nagas, and the fiends prayed to Brahma thus; “Viswamitra has checked rage, lure, scathe, his asceticism has carried him to great heights and his glory has eclipsed Sun, in his austerities not even a minute flaw of any description was seen. However if his toils does not earn him the boon he seeks, he is sure to destroy all the three worlds by the fire of his askesis. O holy sir, already all the regions are dark with doom, the earth is tremulous, oceans are turbulent, the wind is stormy, if what he seeks is not granted the brood of agnostic on the earth will rise and in his glory all the animals and inanimate creations are enveloped in darkness. O venerable sir, the great sage who is endowed with unique splendour deserves to be propitiated before he sets his mind on the comprehensive destruction of the world. O sire grant him what he longs to gain even if he seeks to rule over the Gods.” All the Gods with Brahma as their head approached the saint and said in sweet tones, “O son of Kusika highly pleased with your asceticism we say that you have attained Brahmanhood by virtue of your austerities. You are blessed with a long life, may peace and joy reign your soul, now go wherever you wish to.” Pleased to hear the benediction of Brahma, with his head bowed he spoke to the Gods, “If you are pleased with my sacrifices and confer on me Brahmanhood, let the mystic syllable OM, the sacred word Vasat and the holy Vedas seek me of their own accord. Let the peerless in love of God Vasistha who excels in warrior’s art and mystic spells; confirm here to me the boon you promise.” Vasistha the Brahman sage, the foremost among the ascetics said, “Beyond doubt you are Brahman seer. Every desire of yours stands fulfilled.” Conciliated by the Gods, Vasistha made friends with Viswamitra, who too paid his homage to Vasistha; and the Gods returned to their kingdom. Successful in his pursuit the sage traversed the entire globe. In this way Sri Rama the high minded Viswamitra the foremost among the sages, who is asceticism embodied, virtue incarnate, he is the chief and permanent abode of prowess attained Brahmanhood in this birth without changing his body,” Satananda concluded. (This narration of Satananda starts from Sarga 53 and concludes at this point) The king Janaka amazed at this tale spoke with suppliant hands, “O sage high fate is mine that you and Raghu’s children have come to view my sacrifice. Sri Rama and I have heard your ascetic deeds and the story of your wondrous fate.” The hour of evening rites is near, at early dawn permit me to meet you again, saying so Janaka departed. Accompanied by Sri Rama and Lakshmana; Viswamitra too retired to his camp.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 03:14:33 +0000
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