स बद्धो वाग्भिरग्र्याभिरभितुष्टाव वै सुरौ। इन्द्रमिन्द्रानुजं चैव यथावन्मुनिपुत्रकः
Thus bound, the sage's son praised Indra and Indra's younger brother with excellent words, as was proper.
ततः प्रीतः सहस्राक्षो रहस्यस्तुतितोषितः। दीर्घमायुस्तदा प्रादाच्छुनःशेपाय वासवः
Then Indra, the thousand-eyed, pleased by the secret hymn of praise, granted long life to Śunaḥśepa.
स च राजा नरश्रेष्ठ यज्ञस्य च समाप्तवान्। फलं बहुगुणं राम सहस्राक्षप्रसादजम्
And that king, best of men, completed the sacrifice and obtained abundant fruit, O Rāma, by the grace of the thousand-eyed one.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा भूयस्तेपे महातपाः। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ दशवर्षशतानि च
Viśvāmitra, too, righteous-souled and of great austerity, performed further penance at Puṣkara, O best of men, for another hundred years.
thumb|त्रिषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे त्रिषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the sixty-third chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु व्रतस्नातं महामुनिम्। अभ्यगच्छन् सुराः सर्वे तपः फलचिकीर्षवः
When the thousand years were complete, all the gods approached the great sage, who had bathed after his vow, wishing to grant the fruit of his austerity.
अब्रवीत् सुमहातेजा ब्रह्मा सुरुचिरं वचः। ऋषिस्त्वमसि भद्रं ते स्वार्जितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः
Brahmā, of immense brilliance, spoke these pleasing words: "You are a sage, blessed one, by your own virtuous deeds."
तमेवमुक्त्वा देवेशस्त्रिदिवं पुनरभ्यगात्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा भूयस्तेपे महत् तपः
Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods returned again to heaven; Viśvāmitra, of great energy, undertook even greater austerity.
ततः कालेन महता मेनका परमाप्सराः। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ स्नातुं समुपचक्रमे
Then, after a long time, Menakā, the foremost of apsarases, began to bathe at Puṣkara, O best of men.
तां ददर्श महातेजा मेनकां कुशिकात्मजः। रूपेणाप्रतिमां तत्र विद्युतं जलदे यथा
The mighty and radiant son of Kuśika beheld Menakā there, incomparable in beauty, like lightning in a cloud.
कन्दर्पदर्पवशगो मुनिस्तामिदमब्रवीत्। अप्सरः स्वागतं तेऽस्तु वस चेह ममाश्रमे
Overcome by the pride of desire, the sage addressed her: 'Welcome, O apsaras! Please stay here in my hermitage.'
अनुगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते मदनेन विमोहितम्। इत्युक्ता सा वरारोहा तत्र वासमथाकरोत्
'Grant me your favor, blessed one, for I am bewildered by passion.' Thus spoken to, the lovely woman then took up residence there.
तपसो हि महाविघ्नो विश्वामित्रमुपागमत्। तस्यां वसन्त्यां वर्षाणि पञ्च पञ्च च राघव
Indeed, a great obstacle to his austerity befell Viśvāmitra while she dwelt there, O Rāghava, for five years and five more.
विश्वामित्राश्रमे सौम्ये सुखेन व्यतिचक्रमुः। अथ काले गते तस्मिन् विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
Those years passed pleasantly in the serene hermitage of Viśvāmitra; then, when that time had elapsed, the great sage Viśvāmitra—
सव्रीड इव संवृत्तश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः। बुद्धिर्मुनेः समुत्पन्ना सामर्षा रघुनन्दन
Became as if ashamed, absorbed in anxiety and sorrow; a thought arose in the sage, filled with indignation, O descendant of Raghu.
सर्वं सुराणां कर्मैतत् तपोऽपहरणं महत्। अहोरात्रापदेशेन गताः संवत्सरा दश
'This is the work of all the gods, a great theft of my austerity; ten years have passed in the span of day and night.'
काममोहाभिभूतस्य विघ्नोऽयं प्रत्युपस्थितः। स निःश्वसन् मुनिवरः पश्चात्तापेन दुःखितः
'This obstacle has arisen for me, overwhelmed by desire and passion.' The eminent sage sighed, afflicted by remorse.
भीतामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा वेपन्तीं प्राञ्जलिं स्थिताम्। मेनकां मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्विसृज्य कुशिकात्मजः
Seeing the fearful apsaras, trembling and standing with joined palms, Kuśika's son released Menakā with gentle words.
उत्तरं पर्वतं राम विश्वामित्रो जगाम ह। स कृत्वा नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं जेतुकामो महायशाः
Viśvāmitra went to the northern mountain, O Rāma, having resolved upon steadfastness, desiring to conquer himself, renowned as he was.
कौशिकीतीरमासाद्य तपस्तेपे दुरासदम्। तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरं तप उपासतः
Reaching the bank of the Kauśikī, he undertook severe austerity, difficult to accomplish; for thousands of years he practiced fierce penance.
उत्तरे पर्वते राम देवतानामभूद् भयम्। आमन्त्रयन् समागम्य सर्वे सर्षिगणाः सुराः
On the northern mountain, O Rāma, fear arose among the gods; all the gods, together with the hosts of sages, assembled and consulted.
महर्षिशब्दं लभतां साध्वयं कुशिकात्मजः। देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकपितामहः
'Let Kuśika's son attain the title of great sage.' Hearing the words of the gods, the grandfather of all worlds—
अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। महर्षे स्वागतं वत्स तपसोग्रेण तोषितः
Spoke sweet words to Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity: 'Welcome, O child! You have pleased me with your intense penance.'
महत्त्वमृषिमुख्यत्वं ददामि तव कौशिक। ब्रह्मणस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्तपोधनः
'I grant you greatness and the foremost status among sages, O Kauśika.' Hearing the words of Brahmā, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity—
प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा प्रत्युवाच पितामहम्। ब्रह्मर्षिशब्दमतुलं स्वार्जितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः
With joined palms and bowed head, addressed the grandfather: 'The incomparable title of Brahmarṣi, earned by my own virtuous deeds—'
यदि मे भगवन्नाह ततोऽहं विजितेन्द्रियः। तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा न तावत् त्वं जितेन्द्रियः
'If you declare it for me, O Lord, then I am one who has conquered the senses.' Then Brahmā replied, 'You have not yet conquered the senses.'
यतस्व मुनिशार्दूल इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदिवं गतः। विप्रस्थितेषु देवेषु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
'Strive, O tiger among sages,' he said, and departed to heaven. When the gods had gone, the great sage Viśvāmitra—
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्निरालम्बो वायुभक्षस्तपश्चरन्। घर्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशसंश्रयः
With arms raised and unsupported, subsisting on air, he practiced austerity; in the heat, he stood amidst five fires, and in the rains, he remained exposed to the sky.
शिशिरे सलिलेशायी रात्र्यहानि तपोधनः। एवं वर्षसहस्रं हि तपो घोरमुपागमत्
In winter, the ascetic lay in water by day and night; thus, for a thousand years, he undertook terrible austerity.
तस्मिन् संतप्यमाने तु विश्वामित्रे महामुनौ। संतापः सुमहानासीत् सुराणां वासवस्य च
As the great sage Viśvāmitra was thus burning with austerity, great distress arose among the gods and Indra.