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.
रम्भामप्सरसं शक्रः सर्वैः सह मरुद्गणैः। उवाचात्महितं वाक्यमहितं कौशिकस्य च
Indra, together with all the Maruts, spoke words for his own benefit and for the harm of Kauśika to Rambhā, the apsaras.
thumb|चतुःषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे चतुःषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the sixty-fourth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
सुरकार्यमिदं रम्भे कर्तव्यं सुमहत् त्वया। लोभनं कौशिकस्येह काममोहसमन्वितम्
O Rambhā, this is a great task for the gods that you must accomplish; you are to entice Kauśika here, filling him with desire and delusion.
तथोक्ता साप्सरा राम सहस्राक्षेण धीमता। व्रीडिता प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं प्रत्युवाच सुरेश्वरम्
Thus addressed by the wise thousand-eyed one, the apsaras, bashful and with joined palms, replied to the lord of the gods.
अयं सुरपते घोरो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। क्रोधमुत्स्रक्ष्यते घोरं मयि देव न संशयः
O lord of the gods, this Viśvāmitra, the great sage, is terrible; without doubt, he will unleash dreadful anger upon me, O god.
ततो हि मे भयं देव प्रसादं कर्तुुमर्हसि। एवमुक्तस्तया राम सभयं भीतया तदा
Therefore, O god, I am afraid; you should grant me your favor. Thus spoken to by her, trembling and fearful, O Rāma—
तामुवाच सहस्राक्षो वेपमानां कृताञ्जलिम्। मा भैषी रम्भे भद्रं ते कुरुष्व मम शासनम्
The thousand-eyed one spoke to her, who was trembling with joined palms: 'Do not fear, Rambhā; may it be well with you. Carry out my command.'
कोकिलो हृदयग्राही माधवे रुचिरद्रुमे। अहं कन्दर्पसहितः स्थास्यामि तव पार्श्वतः
In spring, amidst beautiful trees, I, together with Kāma, will remain by your side, and the cuckoo will captivate his heart.
त्वं हि रूपं बहुगुणं कृत्वा परमभास्वरम्। तमृषिं कौशिकं भद्रे भेदयस्व तपस्विनम्
You, adorned with many qualities and radiant beauty, O gentle one, should disturb that sage Kauśika, devoted to austerity.
सा श्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कृत्वा रूपमनुत्तमम्। लोभयामास ललिता विश्वामित्रं शुचिस्मिता
Hearing his words, she assumed unsurpassed beauty; the lovely, pure-smiling Rambhā began to entice Viśvāmitra.
कोकिलस्य तु शुश्राव वल्गु व्याहरतः स्वनम्। सम्प्रहृष्टेन मनसा स चैनामन्ववैक्षत
He heard the sweet voice of the cuckoo singing, and with a delighted mind, he gazed upon her.
अथ तस्य च शब्देन गीतेनाप्रतिमेन च। दर्शनेन च रम्भाया मुनिः संदेहमागतः
Then, because of that sound, the incomparable song, and Rambhā's appearance, the sage became doubtful.
सहस्राक्षस्य तत्सर्वं विज्ञाय मुनिपुंगवः। रम्भां क्रोधसमाविष्टः शशाप कुशिकात्मजः
Perceiving all this as the work of Indra, the foremost of sages, the son of Kuśika, seized by anger, cursed Rambhā.
यन्मां लोभयसे रम्भे कामक्रोधजयैषिणम्। दशवर्षसहस्राणि शैली स्थास्यसि दुर्भगे
'Because you tempt me, Rambhā, who seeks victory over desire and anger, you, unfortunate one, shall stand as a stone for ten thousand years.'
ब्राह्मणः सुमहातेजास्तपोबलसमन्वितः। उद्धरिष्यति रम्भे त्वां मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृताम्
'A brāhmaṇa of great splendor and endowed with the power of austerity will deliver you, Rambhā, when you have been tainted by my anger.'
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। अशक्नुवन् धारयितुं कोपं संतापमात्मनः
Having spoken thus, the great sage Viśvāmitra, possessed of immense energy, was unable to contain his anger and distress within himself.
तस्य शापेन महता रम्भा शैली तदाभवत्। वचः श्रुत्वा च कन्दर्पो महर्षेः स च निर्गतः
By his powerful curse, Rambhā was transformed into stone at that moment; and hearing the words of the great sage, Kāma departed.