May 23 - Sargas 65, 66 of Balakanda.
We read of Vishwamitra's finally succeeding in attaining Brahmarshi status. After recounting of the wonderful past of sage Vishwamitra, king Janaka shows utmost respect to him.
The story of the Shiva Dhanush begins.
***
After this setback, Vishwamitra moved away from the banks of the Himalayan river and went eastward. His severe penance continued. He remained silent for a thousand years and did the most difficult penance. His body resembled a tree trunk. Several impediments came but he was unmoved and not provoked. He was so determined. At the end of the vow of a thousand-year tapas, he began eating. Just then Indra approached him in the guise of a Brahmin and asked for food. Vishwamitra gave him the entire portion of food that he had, didn't express any feeling, and silently continued his penance for another one thousand years, sans food and air.
Fire and smoke started emanating from his locks. All the gods, serpents and living entities were distressed and stunned.
The gods went to Brahma.
***
न ह्यस्य वृजिनं किञ्चिद्दृश्यते सूक्षमप्यथा ।
न दीयते यदि तस्य मनसा यदभीप्सितम् ।
विनाशयति त्रैलोक्यं तपसा सचराचरम् ॥
सम्मूढमिव त्रैलोक्यं सम्प्रक्षुभितमानसम् ।
ब्रह्मन्न प्रतिजानीमो नास्तिको जायते जनाः ॥
"Oh Lord Brahma, the three worlds and all creation are distressed beyond measure. We see now no lacunae in Vishwamitra. The same man was tempted and tormented by us before but now we cannot see even the slightest trace of any defect or shortcoming in him. If you do not grant him his desire, he will destroy the three worlds and all creation.
"People will be distraught and lose all their sense of right and wrong. People will lose faith in the course of tapas and worship."
***
Brahma heard their request that Vishwamitra should be granted his desired status. Brahma approached him and said:
***
ब्रह्मर्षे स्वागतं तेऽस्तु तपसा स्म सुतोषिताः ।
ब्राह्मण्यं तपसोग्रेण प्राप्तवानसि कौशिक ॥
" Welcome oh Vishwamitra, to the exalted status of a Brahmarshi. We are all extremely pleased by your tapas. You have attained this state of Brahmanhood by sheer tapas of the extreme kind. Congratulations!"
Brahma also gave him long life and felicity of every kind for a happy future. Vishwamitra replied, expressing his great joy and gratitude,
क्षत्रवेदविदां श्रेष्ठो ब्रह्मवेदविदामपि। ।
ब्रह्मपुत्रो विसिष्ठो मामेवं वदतु देवताः ।
यद्ययं परमः कामः कृतो यान्तु सुरर्षभाः ॥
"Lord Brahma, I have one request. The best among knowers of the science of warfare, the best among knowers of Brahman, the very son of Brahma, sage Vasishtha, may kindly be asked if he will certify my status. Oh gods, kindly carry out this important request of mine to get his endorsement. Then you may depart."
Sage Vasishtha was approached. He was most pleased to endorse the new status of Vishwamitra, and extended his most cordial congratulations. The gods departed after accomplishing their plan, and sage Vishwamitra respectfully worshipped sage Vasishtha.
Sage Vishwamitra henceforth travelled around the earth, full of tapas and conferring his grace. This is the story of this incomparable sage Vishwamitra and his attainments. He is the ultimate embodiment of tapas. He is always engaged in righteousness and he is the supreme among brave warriors also.
***
Sage Shatananda completed his most wonderful narrative. King Janaka said, "oh sage Vishwamitra, most blessed am I to be graced by your presence. I have acquired so many merits just by receiving you."
As it was nightfall, they adjourned. Next morning, the sage and the brothers revisited Janaka's court.
Janaka bowed down to the sage and felicitated Sri Rama and Lakshmana. He asked sage Vishwamitra what was to be done next.
Sage Vishwamitra replied cordially, " these brothers, brave sons of king Dasharatha, are keen on seeing your divine bow. Kindly oblige them."
King Janaka began the story of this dhanush.
"Lord Rudra Shiva was deeply insulted during the Dakshayajna. The gods had been complicit in this by their silent accord. Lord Shiva took up this giant bow, strung it effortlessly, and in his rage said he would decapitate all the gods. The gods in utter fright apologised and sang many hymns to cool him down. Soon Rudra was pleased and in fact gave away this bow to the gods. The gods then entrusted this bow to my ancestor Devaratha. There is no other bow like this in the three worlds. It is the crest-jewel.
"Once I was tilling the field with a plough. A female child appeared in the mud. I gladly brought the child home and brought her up as my dearest daughter Sita.
"Sita is not born in a human womb. She is special. So I have decided to give her hand in marriage only against payment of Veerashulka (act of great bravery and valour as a qualification for becoming worthy of her hand). Many many kings wanted Sita's hand in marriage. I told everyone that Sita was no ordinary princess and in order to win her hand they had to give Veerashulka. They all came and assembled here in Mithila and discussed what should be the Veerashulka (deciding the nature of the contest)."
***
तेषां जिज्ञासमानानां शैवं धनुरुपाहृतम् ।
न शेकुग्रहणे तस्य धनुषस्तोलनेऽपि वा ॥
आत्मानमवधुतं ते विज्ञाय नृपपुङ्गवाः ।
रोषेण महताविष्टाः पीडयन्मिथिलां पुरीम्। ॥
"In the middle of their debate on what should be the scope of the contest to assess their valour, I presented before them this Shiva Danush. None of them could either hold it or lift it to know its weight. "
" This enraged them. Knowing me to be a reclusive sage, they attacked in many ways and destroyed Mithila."
***
King Janaka summoned the gods and told them of his situation and asked for help. They readily sent him a fully equipped army. The army scattered away the enemies in a short time.
***
तदेतन्मुनिशार्दूल धनुः परमभास्वरम् ।
रामलक्षणयोश्चापि दर्शयिष्यामि सुव्रत ॥
यद्यस्य धनुषो रामः कुर्यादारोपाणं मुने ।
सुतामयोनिजां सीतां दद्यां दाशरथेरहम् ॥
" This oh best of sages, is the story of the supremely glorious bow. I shall surely show it to Rama and Lakshmana.
"If Rama succeeds in lifting and stringing the bow, oh sage, I shall gladly give this worthy prince and son of Dasharatha in marriage the hand of my daughter Sita, special in her birth as she was not born in a human womb,
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
