स गन्धर्ववचः श्रुत्वा तत्तदा भरतर्षभ। अर्जुनः परया भक्त्या पूर्णचन्द्र इवाबभौ
Hearing the words of the Gandharva, Arjuna, best of the Bharatas, shone with supreme devotion, like the full moon.
उवाच च महेष्वासो गन्धर्वं कुरुसत्तमः। जातकौतूहलोऽतीव वसिष्ठस्य तपोबलात्
And the mighty-armed Arjuna, foremost of the Kurus, spoke to the Gandharva, his curiosity greatly aroused by the power of Vasiṣṭha's austerity.
वसिष्ठ इति तस्यैतदृषेर्नाम त्वयेरितम्। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं यथावत्तद्वदस्व मे
You have mentioned the name Vasiṣṭha for that sage; I wish to hear about this—tell me in detail.
य एष गन्धर्वपते पूर्वेषां नः पुरोहितः। आसीदेतन्ममाचक्ष्व क एष भगवानृषिः
O lord of Gandharvas, who is this revered sage who was the priest of our ancestors? Tell me about him.
ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रो वसिष्ठोऽरुन्धतीपतिः। तपसा निर्जितौ शश्वदजेयावमरैरपि
Vasiṣṭha, the mind-born son of Brahmā and lord of Arundhatī, through austerity conquered those who are always unconquerable, even by the gods.
कामक्रोधावुभौ यस्य चरणौ समुवाहतुः। इन्द्रियाणां वशकरो वशिष्ठ इति चोच्यते
He whose feet are served by both desire and anger, who has mastery over his senses, is called Vasiṣṭha.
यथा कामश्च क्रोधश्च निर्जितावजितौ नरैः। जितारयो जिता लोकाः पन्थानश्च जिता दिशः
Just as desire and anger, when conquered by men, become subdued, so too are enemies, worlds, and all directions overcome.
यस्तु नोच्छेदनं चक्रे कुशिकानामुदारधीः। विश्वामित्रापराधेन धारयन्मन्युमुत्तमम्
He of noble mind, who did not destroy the Kuśikas, bearing the supreme anger caused by Viśvāmitra's offense—
पुत्रव्यसनसंतप्तः शक्तिमानप्यशक्तवत्। विश्वामित्रविनाशाय न चक्रे कर्म दारुणम्
Though tormented by the loss of his son and possessing great power, he did not perform a cruel act to destroy Viśvāmitra.
मृतांश्च पुनराहर्तुं शक्तः पुत्रान्यमक्षयात्। कृतान्तं नातिचक्राम वेलामिव महोदधिः
Able to restore his dead sons from the inexhaustible, he did not transgress the boundary set by Death, like the great ocean does not cross its shore.
यं प्राप्य विजितात्मानं महात्मानं नराधिपाः। इक्ष्वाकवो महीपाला लेभिरे पृथिवीमिमाम्
Having obtained him, self-controlled and great-souled, the kings of the Ikṣvāku line gained this earth.
पुरोहितमिमं प्राप्य वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्। ईजिरे क्रतुभिश्चैव नृपास्ते कुरुनन्दन
Having this Vasiṣṭha, the best of seers, as their priest, those kings, O descendant of Kuru, performed sacrifices.
स हि तान्याजयामास सर्वान्नृपतिसत्तमान्। ब्रह्मर्षिः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ बृहस्पतिरिवामरान्
Indeed, he caused all those foremost kings to perform sacrifices, O best of the Pāṇḍavas, just as Bṛhaspati does for the gods.
तस्माद्धर्मप्रधानात्मा वेदधर्मविदीप्सितः। ब्राह्मणो गुणवान्कश्चित्पुरोधाः प्रतिदृश्यताम्
Therefore, let a virtuous brāhmaṇa, devoted to dharma and learned in Vedic law, be sought as priest.
क्षत्रियेणाभिजातेन पृथिवीं जेतुमिच्छता। पूर्वं पुरोहितः कार्यः पार्थ राज्याभिवृद्धये
A kṣatriya of noble birth, wishing to conquer the earth, must first appoint a priest, O Pārtha, for the growth of his kingdom.
महीं जिगीषता राज्ञा ब्रह्म कार्यं पुरःस्कृतम्। तस्मात्पुरोहितः कश्चिद्गुणवान्विजितेन्द्रियः। विद्वान्भवतु वो विप्रो धर्मकामार्थतत्त्ववित्
A king desiring to conquer the earth must first honor Brahman; therefore, let a virtuous, self-controlled, and learned brāhmaṇa, who knows the truths of dharma, desire, and wealth, be your priest.
किंनिमित्तमभूद्वैरं विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। वसतोराश्रमे दिव्ये शंस नः सर्वमेव तत्
For what reason did enmity arise between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha while they dwelt in the divine hermitage? Tell us all of that.
इदं वासिष्ठमाख्यानं पुराणं परिचक्षते। पार्थ सर्वेषु लोकेषु यथावत्तन्निबोध मे
This ancient story of Vasiṣṭha is well known, O Pārtha, in all the worlds; listen to it from me as it truly happened.
कान्यकुब्जे महानासीत्पार्थिवो भरतर्षभ। गाधीति विश्रुतो लोके कुशिकस्यात्मसंभवः
In Kānyakubja there was a great king, O bull of the Bharatas, known in the world as Gādhi, born of Kuśika.
तस्य धर्मात्मनः पुत्रः समृद्धबलवाहनः। विश्वामित्र इति ख्यतो बभूव रिपुमर्दनः
His son, righteous and possessing a mighty army, became famous as Viśvāmitra, destroyer of foes.
स चचार सहामात्यो मृगयां गहने वने। मृगान्विध्यन्वराहांश्च रम्येषु मरुधन्वसु
He, along with his ministers, went hunting in the dense forest, shooting deer and boars in the delightful wilderness.
व्यायामकर्शितः सोऽथ मृगलिप्सुः पिपासितः। आजगाम नरश्रेष्ठ वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति
Exhausted from exertion, desiring game and thirsty, he, O best of men, came to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठभागृषिः। विश्वामित्रं नरश्रेष्ठं प्रतिजग्राह पूजया
Seeing him arrive, Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of great sages, received Viśvāmitra, best among men, with honor.
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीचैस्तं स्वागतेन च भारत। तथैव परिजग्राह वन्येन हविषा तदा
He welcomed him, O Bhārata, with water for washing the feet, offerings, and water for sipping, and likewise received him with forest produce as sacrificial food.
तस्याथ कामधुग्धेनुर्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। उक्ता कामान्प्रयच्छेति सा कामान्दुदुहे ततः
Then, Vasiṣṭha, the great-souled one, instructed his wish-fulfilling cow to grant desires, and she produced whatever was wished for.
बाष्पाढ्यस्योदनस्यैव राशयः पर्वतोपमाः। निष्ठानानि च सूपांश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च
Heaps of fragrant rice, resembling mountains, various dishes, and curd preparations were produced.
कूपांश्च घृतसंपूर्णान्गौड्यान्नानि सहस्रशः। इक्षून्मधूनि लाजांश्च मैरेयांश्च वरासवान्
Wells filled with ghee, thousands of sweet rice dishes, sugarcanes, honey, parched grains, and excellent wines appeared.
ग्राम्यारण्याश्चौषधीश्च दुदुहे पय एव च। षड्रसं चामृतनिभं रसायनमनुत्तमम्
She yielded village and forest herbs, milk, and also the six tastes, nectar-like, and unsurpassed elixirs.
भोजनीयानि पेयानि भक्ष्याणि विविधानि च। लेह्यान्यमृतकल्पानि चोष्याणि च तथार्जुना
Foods to eat, drinks, various delicacies, lickables like ambrosia, and suckables, O Arjuna, were produced.
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि वासांसि विविधानि च। तैः कामैः सर्वसंपूर्णैः पूजितश्च महिपतिः
Precious jewels of great value and various garments also appeared; with all these fulfilled desires, the king was honored.