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[Viswamitra's sons and soldiers get destroyed in the clash--Viswamitra performs austerities and acquires divine weapons by pleasing Lord Siva.]

ततस्तानाकुलान् दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रास्त्रमोहितान्।

वसिष्ठश्चोदयामास कामधुक् सृज योगत:।।1.55.1।।


तत: thereafter, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, विश्वामित्रास्त्रमोहितान् stupefied by weapons of Visvamitra, आकुलान् agitated, तान् them, दृष्ट्वा having seen, कामधुक् O Kamadhenu, योगत: through yogic power, सृज create, चोदयामास thus he directed.

Thereafter, Vasishta having seen the forces tortured and overpowered by the weapons of Viswamitra said, "O Kamadhenu create additional forces through your yogic power."
तस्याहुम्भारवाज्जाता: काम्भोजा रविसन्निभा:।

ऊधसस्त्वथ सञ्जाता: पप्लवाश्शस्त्रपाणय:।।1.55.2।।

योनिदेशाच्च यवनाश्शकृद्देशाच्छका स्तथा।

रोमकूपेषु च म्लेच्छा हारीतास्सकिरातका:।।1.55.3।।


तस्या: her, हुम्भारवात् from the sound of 'Humba", रविसन्निभा: equal to Sun (in brightness), काम्भोजा: Kambhojas, जाता: were born, अथ and, ऊधस: from udder, शस्त्रपाणय: with weapons in their hands, पप्लवा: Paplavas, सञ्जाता: were born, योनिदेशात् च from womb, यवना: Yavanas, तथा and, शकृद्देशात् from anus, शका: Sakas, रोमकूपेषु from roots of hair , म्लेच्छा: mlecchas, सकिराता: alomg with kiratas, हारीता: Haritas, were born.

"From her lowing Kambhojas bright like the Sun, from the udder Paplavas, weapons in hand, from the vagina Yavanas, from the anus Sakas, from the roots of the hair Mlecchas along with Kiratas and Haritas were born.
तैस्तैर्निषूदितं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य तत्क्षणात्।

सपदातिगजं साश्वं सरथं रघुनन्दन।।1.55.4।।


रघुनन्दन O Descendent of Raghu's, तैस्तै: those and those, तत्क्षणात् instantly, विश्वामित्रस्य Visvamitra's, सपदातिगजम् with infantry and elephants, साश्वम् with horses, सरथम् with chariots, सर्वम् entire(army), निषूदितम् has been destroyed.

O descendant of the Raghus, Viswamitra's army consisting of infantry, elephants, horses, chariots has been entirely destroyed by them instantly.
दृष्ट्वा निषूदितं सैन्यं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।

विश्वामित्रसुतानां च शतं नानाविधायुधम्।।1.55.5।।

अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्कृद्धं वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्।

हुङ्कारेणैव तान् सर्वान् ददाह भगवान् ऋषि:।।1.55.6।।


महात्मना by the magnanimous, वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, निषूदितम् destroyed, सैन्यम् army, दृष्ट्वा having seen, विश्वामित्रसुतानाम् sons of Visvamitra, शतम् one hundred, नानाविधायुधम् armed with various kinds of weapons, सुसङ्कृद्धम् extremely furious, जपतां वरम् best among ascetics practising Japa, वसिष्ठम् towards Vasishta, अभ्यधावत् rushed towards him, भगवान् adorable, ऋषि: sage Vasishta, तान् सर्वान् all of them, हुंकारेणैव with 'Humkara" alone, ददाह burnt.

Having seen the army destroyed by the powerful Vasishta, one hundred sons of Viswamitra became extremely furious and armed with various kinds of weapons rushed towards Vasishta, the best among ascetics. Adorable sage Vasishta, reduced them to ashes with just a 'humkara' (the loud 'hum' sound produced with the mouth)
ते साश्वरथपादाता वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।

भस्मीकृता मुहूर्तेन विश्वामित्रसुता स्तदा।।1.55.7।।


तदा then, साश्वरथपादाता: together with horses, chariots and footsoldiers, ते विश्वामित्रसुता: those sons of Visvamitra, महात्मना by the magnanimous, वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, मुहूर्तेन in a moment, भस्मीकृता: were reduced to ashes.

Then one hundred sons of Viswamitra together with their horses, chariots and foot soldiers were reduced to ashes in a moment by the powerful Vasishta.
दृष्ट्वा विनाशितान् पुत्रान् बलं च सुमहायशा:।

सव्रीडश्चिन्तयाऽविष्टो विश्वामित्रोऽभवत्तदा।।1.55.8।।


तदा then, सुमहायशा: possessing high fame, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, विनाशितान् destroyed, पुत्रान् sons, बलं च army, दृष्ट्वा having seen, सव्रीड: was filled with shame, चिन्तया in thought, आविष्ट: अभवत् pondered over.

Seeing his sons and army destroyed the illustrious Viswamitra was filled with shame and anxiety.
समुद्र इव निर्वेगो भग्नदंष्ट्र इवोरग:।

उपरक्त इवादित्यस्सद्यो निष्प्रभतां गत:।।1.55.9।।


निर्वेग: without speed (waves), समुद्र: इव like ocean, भग्नदंष्ट्र: bereft of fangs, उरग: इव like snake, उपरक्त: eclipsed by Rahu, आदित्य: इव like Sun, सद्य: suddenly, निष्प्रभताम् devoid of his effulgence, गत: obtained.

Like the ocean without waves or the snake bereft of fangs or the Sun eclipsed by Rahu, suddenly (Viswamitra) looked cheerless and dull.
हतपुत्रबलो दीनो लूनपक्ष इव द्विज:।

हतदर्पो हतोत्साहो निर्वेदं समपद्यत।।1.55.10।।


हतपुत्रबल: with sons and army having been killed, लूनपक्ष: with wings cut off, द्विज: इव like the bird, दीन: wretched, हतदर्प: with vanished pride, हतोत्साह: with shattered confidence, निर्वेदम् despondency, समपद्यत obtained.

Having lost his sons and the army, like a bird with wings clipped, wretched, with pride vanished and confidence shattered Viswamitra fell into despondency.
स पुत्रमेकं राज्याय पालयेति नियुज्य च।

पृथिवीं क्षत्रधर्मेण वनमेवान्वपद्यत।।1.55.11।।


स: he, पृथिवीम् the earth, क्षत्रधर्मेण in accordance with the tradition of Kshatriya, पालय rule, इति thus, एकम् one, पुत्रम् son, राज्याय for the kingdom, नियुज्य having appointed, वनमेव forest, अन्वपद्यत reached.

Viswamitra, having entrusted one of his remaining sons to rule the kingdom in accordance with the kshatriya tradition reached the forest.
स गत्वा हिमवत्पार्श्वं किन्नरोरगसेवितम्।

महादेवप्रसादार्थं तपस्तेपे महातपा:।।1.55.12।।


महातपा: mighty ascetic, स: he, किन्नरोरगसेवितम् inhabited by kinnaras and urgas, हिमवत्पार्श्वं on the slopes of Himavat mountain, गत्वा having gone, महादेवप्रसादार्थम् with a view to propitiate lord Mahadeva, तप: austerities, तेपे performed.

Mighty ascetic Viswamitra, reached the slopes of the Himavat mountain inhabited by kinnaras and uragas (serpents) and performed austerities in order to propitiate lord Mahadeva.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन देवेशो वृषभध्वज:।

दर्शयामास वरदो विश्वामित्रं महाबलम्।।1.55.13।।


अथ thereafter, केनचित्कालेन after some time, देवेश: lord of devatas, वृषभध्वज: with bull as his symbol (banner), वरद: bestower of boons, महाबलम् possessing great strength, विश्वामित्रम् Visvamitra, दर्शयामास showed himself.

After some time, lord of the gods, bestower of boons, Maheswara with the symbol of the bull on the banner appeared before mighty Viswamitra.
किमर्थं तप्यसे राजन् ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्।

वरदोऽस्मि वरो यस्ते काङ्क्षितस्सोऽभिधीयताम्।।1.55.14।।


राजन् O King, किमर्थं what for, तप्यसे are you performing penance? ते to you, यत् which, विवक्षितम् intended to be conveyed, (तत् that one), ब्रूहि tell, वरद: अस्मि I am bestower of boons, य: वर: which boon, ते by you, काङ्क्षित: desired, स: that, अभिधीयताम् let it be spoken.

O King what are you performing the penance for? Tell me what you want? I am bestower of boons. Speak out you desire (said Lord Siva).
एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन विश्वामित्रो महातपा:।

प्रणिपत्य महादेवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.55.15।।


देवेन by that god, एवम् thus, उक्त: spoken, महातपा: performer of mighty austerities, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, महादेवम् to Mahadeva, प्रणिपत्य having prostrated, इदम् this, वचनम् word, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Having heard this from the god, Viswamitra who performed the great austerities prostrated before Mahadeva and said these words.
यदि तुष्टो महादेव धनुर्वेदो ममानघ।

साङ्गोपाङ्गोपनिषदस्सरहस्य: प्रदीयताम्।।1.55.16।।


अनघ O Irreproachable one, महादेव Mahadeva, तुष्ट: यदि if pleased, साङ्गोपाङ्गोपनिषद: with angas (branches), upangas (subdivisions), upanishads, सरहस्य: with secrets, धनुर्वेद: Dhanurveda, the science of archery, मम to me, प्रदीयताम् let it be given.

O Irreproachable one O Mahadeva if you are pleased with me, make me an expert in Dhanurveda, the science of archery with all it secrets, angas (branches), upangas (subdivisions) and Upanishads.
यानि देवेषु चास्त्राणि दानवेषु महर्षिषु।

गन्धर्वयक्षरक्षस्सु प्रतिभान्तु ममानघ।।1.55.17।।


अनघ O Irreproachable one, देवेषु in devatas, दानवेषु in danavas, महर्षिषु in maharshis, गन्धर्वयक्षरक्षस्सु In gandharvas, yakshas, rakashas, यानि अस्त्राणि whatever weapons are known, मम प्रतिभान्तु let them be present in my mind (let them flash in my mind).

O Irreproachable one whatever weapons are known to devatas, danavas, maharshis, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, be revealed to me.
तव प्रसादाद्भवतु देवदेवममेप्सितम्।

एवमस्त्विति देवेशो वाक्यमुक्त्वा गतस्तदा।।1.55.18।।


देवदेव O Lord of gods, तव by your, प्रसादात् favour, मम my, ईप्सितम् desire, भवतु be fulfilled, एवम् अस्तु "Be it so", इति thus, देवेश: lord of devatas, Mahadeva, (वाक्यं )उक्त्वा having spoken, तदा then, गत: returned (to bis abode).

O Lord of the gods by your favour let my desire be fulfilled. Lord Mahadeva having said: 'Be it so' vanished.
प्राप्य चास्त्राणि राजर्षिर्विश्वामित्रो महाबल:।

दर्पेण महता युक्तो दर्पपूर्णोऽभवत्तदा।।1.55.19।।


महाबल: endowed with supreme power, राजर्षि: rajarshi, महता by great, दर्पेण pride, युक्त: endowed with, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, तदा then, अस्त्राणि weapons, प्राप्य having obtained, दर्पपूर्ण: अभवत् filled with insolence.

Rajarshi Viswamitra endowed with supreme power became very haughty. Having obtained the weapons, his insolence was greatly accentuated.
विवर्धमानो वीर्येण समुद्र इव पर्वणि।

हतमेव तदा मेने वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्।।1.55.20।।


पर्वणि on the day of the full Moon and new Moon, समुद्र इव like sea, वीर्येण with energy, विवर्धमान: growing, ऋषिसत्तमम् foremost of ascetics, वसिष्ठम् Vasishta, तदा then, हतमेव slain only, मेने thought over.

Like the sea during the full moon, with his increased power (blessed with the invincible strength of the weapons) Viswamitra thought the foremost of ascetics Vasishta was (already) slain. (It shows the height of the king's ignorance and arrogance).
ततो गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं मुमोचास्त्राणि पार्थिव:।

यैस्तत्तपोवनं सर्वं निर्दग्धं चास्त्रतेजसा।।1.55.21।।


तत: there after, पार्थिव: king, आश्रमपदम् towards hermitage (of Vasishta), गत्वा having gone, अस्त्राणि weapons, मुमोच released, यै: by their energy, तत् सर्वम् all that, तपोवनम् forest of ascetics (for carrying austerities ), अस्त्रतेजसा by the power of those weapons, निर्दग्धम् was burnt.

Thereafter king Viswamitra having proceeded towards the hermitage (of Vasishta) and released the weapons by the energy of which the entire forest of the ascetics was burnt down.
उदीर्यमाणमस्त्रं तद्विश्वामित्रस्य धीमत:।

दृष्ट्वा विप्रद्रुतास्सर्वे मुनयश्शतशो दिश:।।1.55.22।।


धीमत: by the sagacious, विश्वामित्रस्य Visvamitra's, तत् that, उदीर्यमाणम् being roused, अस्त्रम् weapons, दृष्ट्वा having seen, शतश: in hundreds, मुनय: saints, सर्वे all, दिश: in all directions, विप्रद्रुता: fled.

On seeing the weapons discharged by the intelligent Viswamitra saints in hundreds fled in all directions.
वसिष्ठस्य च ये शिष्यास्तथैव मृगपक्षिण:।

विद्रवन्ति भयाद्भीता नानादिग्भ्यस्सहस्रश:।।1.55.23।।


वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta's, ये those, शिष्या: disciples, तथैव as well as, मृगपक्षिण: animals and birds, भयात् for the reason of fear, भीता: terrified, सहस्रश: in thousands, नानादिग्भ्य: in all directions, विद्रवन्ति fled.

The disciples of Vasishta as well as animals and birds got terrified by the fear and fled in their thousands in all directions.
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं शून्यमासीन्महात्मन:।

मुहूर्तमिव निश्शब्दमासीदिरिणसन्निभम्।।1.55.24।।


महात्मन: of the magnanimous, वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta's, आश्रमपदम् hermitage, शून्यम् आसीत् has become deserted, मुहूर्तमिव in an instant as though, इरिणसन्निभम् like barren field, निश्शब्दम् आसीत् became silent.

The greatsoul Vasishta's hermitage became deserted and silent in an instant like a barren field.
वदतो वै वसिष्ठस्य मा भैरिति मुहुर्मुहु:।

नाशयाम्यद्य गाधेयं नीहारमिव भास्कर:।।1.55.25।।


भास्कर: Sun, नीहारमिव like mist, गाधेयम् son of Gadhi, अद्य now, नाशयामि I will destroy, माभै: fear not, इति thus, वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta, मुहुर्मुहु: repeatedly, वदत: while saying (they fled), not withstanding his assurance.

Even while Vasistha was repeatedly assuring the saints saying "Do not fear, I will now
destroy Viswamitra, son of Gadhi just as the Sun dispels the morning mist (they fled)".
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा वसिष्ठो जपतां वर:।

विश्वामित्रं तदा वाक्यं सरोषमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.55.26।।


महातेजा: highly lustrous, जपतां वर: foremost among those who utter prayers, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, एवम् thus, उक्त्वा having said, तदा then, विश्वामित्रम् Visvamitra, सरोषम् with anger, इदम् this, वाक्यम् word, अब्रवीत् spoke.

The infuriated Vasishta who was highly brilliant, foremost among those who meditate said to Viswamitra:
आश्रमं चिरसम्वृद्धं यद्विनाशितवानसि।

दुराचारोऽसि तन्मूढ तस्मात्त्वं न भविष्यसि।।1.55.27।।


मूढ O Fool, चिरसम्वृद्धम् developed over long time, आश्रमम् hermitage, यत् for what reason, विनाशितवान् असि you have destroyed, तत् for that reason, दुराचार: असि you are illbehaved, तस्मात् for that reason, त्वम् you, न भविष्यसि will not live.

"O Fool this hermitage has been developed over a long time. Why did you destroy it? On account of your wickedness you will not live long."
इत्युक्त्वा परमक्रुद्धो दण्डमुद्यम्य सत्वर:।

विधूममिव कालाग्निं यमदण्डमिवापरम्।।1.55.28।।


इति thus, उक्त्वा having spoken, सत्वर: speedily, परमक्रुद्ध: exceedingly furious, विधूमम् smokeless, कालाग्निमिव like fire at the destruction of the worlds, अपरम् another, यमदण्डमिव like the staff of death, दण्डम् staff, उद्यम्य lifting up.

Exceedingly furious Vasishta quickly lifted up his staff which looked like the staff of Yama (the od of death), like smokeless fire at the time of destruction of the worlds.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चपञ्चाशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fiftyfifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.