कुशनाभसुतस्त्वासीद् गाधिरित्येव विश्रुतः। गाधेः पुत्रो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
Kuśanābha’s son was renowned as Gādhi, and Gādhi’s son, the great and radiant sage, was Viśvāmitra.
विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः पालयामास मेदिनीम्। बहुवर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्
The mighty and illustrious Viśvāmitra ruled the earth for many thousands of years, governing as king.
कदाचित् तु महातेजा योजयित्वा वरूथिनीम्। अक्षौहिणीपरिवृतः परिचक्राम मेदिनीम्
Once, the great and radiant king assembled his army, and, surrounded by his divisions, he journeyed across the land.
नगराणि च राष्ट्राणि सरितश्च महागिरीन्। आश्रमान् क्रमशो राजा विचरन्नाजगाम ह
The king traveled through cities, kingdoms, rivers, and great mountains, and, visiting hermitages in turn, he arrived at one.
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं नानापुष्पलताद्रुमम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं सिद्धचारणसेवितम्
He reached the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, adorned with various flowering vines and trees, filled with many kinds of animals, and frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers.
देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किंनरैरुपशोभितम्। प्रशान्तहरिणाकीर्णं द्विजसङ्घनिषेवितम्
It was graced by gods, demons, gandharvas, and kinnaras, tranquil and filled with peaceful deer, and attended by groups of twice-born sages.
ब्रह्मर्षिगणसंकीर्णं देवर्षिगणसेवितम्। तपश्चरणसंसिद्धैरग्निकल्पैर्महात्मभिः
It was crowded with assemblies of brahmarṣis and attended by hosts of devarṣis, inhabited by great souls accomplished in asceticism, resembling fire in their austerity.
सततं संकुलं श्रीमद्ब्रह्मकल्पैर्महात्मभिः। अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च शीर्णपर्णाशनैस्तथा
It was always filled with illustrious sages, resembling Brahmā himself, some subsisting on water, some on air, and others eating only fallen leaves.
फलमूलाशनैर्दान्तैर्जितदोषैर्जितेन्द्रियैः। ऋषिभिर्वालखिल्यैश्च जपहोमपरायणैः
There were sages who ate only fruits and roots, who were self-restrained, who had conquered their faults and senses, including the Vālakhilyas, devoted to recitation and sacrifice.
अन्यैर्वैखानसैश्चैव समन्तादुपशोभितम्। वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मलोकमिवापरम्। ददर्श जयतां श्रेष्ठो विश्वामित्रो महाबलः
It was further adorned on all sides by other Vaikhānasa sages; Viśvāmitra, foremost among the victorious and mighty, beheld Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage, which seemed like another world of Brahmā.
thumb|द्विपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे द्विपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the fifty-second sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.
तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रो महाबलः। प्रणतो विनयाद् वीरो वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्
Seeing him, the mighty Viśvāmitra was filled with supreme joy; the hero, with reverence, bowed to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of those who recite sacred mantras.
स्वागतं तव चेत्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। आसनं चास्य भगवान् वसिष्ठो व्यादिदेश ह
The great Vasiṣṭha, addressing him, said, 'Welcome to you,' and the venerable sage offered him a seat.
उपविष्टाय च तदा विश्वामित्राय धीमते। यथान्यायं मुनिवरः फलमूलमुपाहरत्
When the wise Viśvāmitra had seated himself, the eminent sage, according to custom, brought him fruits and roots.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां वसिष्ठाद् राजसत्तमः। तपोऽग्निहोत्रशिष्येषु कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत
Having received that hospitality from Vasiṣṭha, the best of kings inquired about the welfare of the ascetics, the sacred fires, and the disciples.
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वनस्पतिगणे तदा। सर्वत्र कुशलं प्राह वसिष्ठो राजसत्तमम्
At that time, Viśvāmitra of great splendor spoke words of well-being to the king among sages, Vasiṣṭha, amidst the assembly of trees.
सुखोपविष्टं राजानं विश्वामित्रं महातपाः। पप्रच्छ जपतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः
Vasiṣṭha, foremost among those who recite, son of Brahmā, questioned Viśvāmitra, the king, who was comfortably seated, and possessed great austerity.
कच्चित्ते कुशलं राजन् कच्चिद् धर्मेण रञ्जयन्। प्रजाः पालयसे राजन् राजवृत्तेन धार्मिक
O King, is all well with you? Do you govern your people, delighting them through righteousness, and do you rule with the conduct befitting a virtuous king?
कच्चित्ते सम्भृता भृत्याः कच्चित् तिष्ठन्ति शासने। कच्चित्ते विजिताः सर्वे रिपवो रिपुसूदन
Are your servants well provided for? Do they remain obedient to your command? Have you conquered all your enemies, O destroyer of foes?
कच्चिद् बलेषु कोशेषु मित्रेषु च परंतप। कुशलं ते नरव्याघ्र पुत्रपौत्रे तथानघ
O tiger among men, O sinless one, is all well with your armies, treasury, friends, sons, and grandsons?
सर्वत्र कुशलं राजा वसिष्ठं प्रत्युदाहरत्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठं विनयान्वितम्
The king replied to Vasiṣṭha that all was well everywhere; Viśvāmitra of great splendor addressed Vasiṣṭha, who was endowed with humility.
कृत्वा तौ सुचिरं कालं धर्मिष्ठौ ताः कथास्तदा। मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेतां तौ परस्परम्
Having spent a long time in righteous conversation, those two, joined in supreme joy, delighted in each other.
ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथान्ते रघुनन्दन। विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव
Then, at the end of the conversation, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, O descendant of Raghu, spoke these words to Viśvāmitra, as if smiling.
आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि बलस्यास्य महाबल। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य यथार्हं सम्प्रतीच्छ मे
I wish to offer hospitality to this mighty army and to you, whose greatness is immeasurable; please accept from me what is fitting.
सत्क्रियां हि भवानेतां प्रतीच्छतु मया कृताम्। राजंस्त्वमतिथिश्रेष्ठः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः
Please accept this honor I have prepared for you; you are the foremost of guests, O king, and worthy of worship with utmost care.
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामतिः। कृतमित्यब्रवीद् राजा पूजावाक्येन मे त्वया
Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, of great wisdom, replied, 'It is done, O king, by your words of welcome.'
फलमूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत् तवाश्रमे। पाद्येनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च
O venerable one, whatever fruits and roots are available in your hermitage, along with water for washing feet and sipping, and the sight of your revered self—
सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजार्हेण सुपूजितः। नमस्तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा
In every way, O greatly wise one, I have been properly honored with what is due; I bow to you, and I shall depart—look upon me with friendly eyes.
एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं वसिष्ठं पुनरेव हि। न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मात्मा पुनः पुनरुदारधीः
As the king spoke thus, Vasiṣṭha, righteous and noble-minded, repeatedly invited him again and again.
बाढमित्येव गाधेयो वसिष्ठं प्रत्युवाच ह। यथाप्रियं भगवतस्तथास्तु मुनिपुंगव
Gādhi's son replied to Vasiṣṭha, 'So be it! Let it be as the venerable one desires, O foremost of sages.'