May 17 - Sargas 53 and 54 of Balakanda.
The great hospitality of sage Vaishstha has an unexpected outcome. It leads to an ugly confrontation.
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एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन ।
विदधे कामधुक्कामान् यस्य यस्य यथेप्सितम् ॥
उष्णाढ्यस्यौदनास्यत्र राशयः पर्वतोपमाः ।
मृष्टान्यन्नानि सूपाश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च ॥
विश्वामित्रोऽपि राजर्षिहृष्टः पुष्टस्तदाभवत् ।
सांतःपुरवरो राजा सब्राह्मणपुरोहितः ॥
"Oh Rama, vanquisher of foes, after being commanded thus by sage Vasishtha, Kamdhenu created all kinds of food for everyone according to their desire.
" Hot, excellent, rice dishes - in heaps like mountains, sweet dishes, (liquors and drinks), soups and lentils, curd dishes of the best kind and so on.
"Not only was the large army extremely happy to be feast on them, but also king Vishwamitra, with his accompanying women, ministers, commanders and priests, was extremely gratified to be so well fed by sage Vasishtha"
***
King Vishwamitra now realised that the cow Kamdhenu was the most valuable asset in the whole world. So he politely said to Vasishtha that him being a king, the best of property anywhere shall belong to him rightfully, and therefore this gem of a wish-ffilling cow Kamadhenu may please be given to him, in exhange for a hundred thousand cows (also speckled :o) ).
Sage Vaishstha replied at once that he was not willing to trade Kamadhenu for anything.
***
शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मवतो यथा ।
अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च ॥
"Oh king, know that Shabala Kamadhenu is forever going to be with me, akin to the good reputation of a great man which cannot be taken away from him. In her I depend for all my yajnas, oblations and even for day-to-day subsistence of the entire ashrama."
King Vishwamitra was not one to give up the bargaining. He now offered crores of cows, gold and silver treasures, thousands of golden caparisoned elephants, golden chariots drawn by foursome white horses, and so on. But Vaishtha again calmly replied that he considered Kamadhenu to be his only worthy precious treasure and essential for all his rituals and livelihood. There was no way he would part with her.
***
Vishwamitra now decided to use force. He and his army started to pull Kamadhenu away. She looked pitifully at Vasishtha and screamed in distress. She asked, "oh sage, what transgression of mine has displeased you that you are abandoning me? Why am I being subjected to this wretched situation of being forcibly pulled away by the royal servants? Sage Vasishtha, you are most righteous and I am devoted to you. Yet I am subjected to this ill-treatment. Why, why!? "
***
शोकसंतप्तहृदयां स्वसारमिव दुःखिताम् ।
न त्वां त्यजामि शबले नापि मेऽपकृतं त्वया ॥
एष त्वां नयते राजा बलान्मत्तो महाबलः ।
न हि तुल्यं बलं मह्यं राजा त्वद्य विशेषतः ॥
" My dear Kamadhenu, you're like my sister and it distresses me profoundly that you are burning in your heart with sorrow. I have not abandoned you. And you have done no wrong to me ever.
" This king is taking you away, with his extreme arrogance of power, using his great army. You know in my situation my power is no match for the king's army and I cannot counter his might now."
***
Kamadhenu says,
ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मबलं दिव्यं क्षत्रात्तु बलवत्तरम्।
अप्रमेयबलं तुभ्यं न त्वया बलवत्तरः ॥
विश्वामित्रो महावीर्यस्तेजस्तव दुरासदम्।
नियुङ्क्ष्व मां महातेजस्त्वद्ब्रह्मबलसंभृताम् ॥
" Oh sage, why do you say so? Your Brahmanic power is immesasurable and any military is never a match for your divine power! "
" This mighty Vishwamitra will find himself no match for your divine energies. Please command me to counter him and his army and endow me with your Brahmanic power! I shall do the rest! "
***
Sage Vasishtha told Kamadhenu to go ahead and create forces to destroy the enemy. She at once uttered a mighty " HUMBHAA" roar and created an army of thousands of Paplavas (mighty warriors) who destroyed Vishwamitra's army. An angry Vishwamitra mounted his chariot an released weapons that annihilated the Paplavas. Kamadhenu then created even more terrible warriors - Shakas and Yavanas and others (Valmiki is referring to warriors from the west, perhaps Greeks and Turks, reddish hued and terrible marauders) and the earth was filled with them. They were reddish yellow like Champaka flowers in complexion, wore yellow garments, ornaments, bore terrible swords and lances, and attacked and killed off Vishwamitra's army. He in turn deployed astras (weapons with mantra power) that tormented the Sakas and Yavanas no end.
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॥ श्रीरायजयम् ॥
