भोक्तुमारब्धवानन्नं तस्मिन् काले रघूत्तम। इन्द्रो द्विजातिर्भूत्वा तं सिद्धमन्नमयाचत
—began to eat food at that time, O best of Raghu's line; Indra, taking the form of a Brāhmaṇa, asked him for the prepared food.
तस्मै दत्त्वा तदा सिद्धं सर्वं विप्राय निश्चितः। निःशेषितेऽन्ने भगवानभुक्त्वैव महातपाः
He gave all the prepared food to the Brāhmaṇa, as determined; when all the food was gone, the great ascetic did not eat anything himself.
न किंचिदवदद् विप्रं मौनव्रतमुपास्थितः। तथैवासीत् पुनर्मौनमनुच्छ्वासं चकार ह
He spoke nothing to the Brāhmaṇa, maintaining his vow of silence; thus, he again observed silence and refrained from breathing.
अथ वर्षसहस्रं च नोच्छ्वसन् मुनिपुंगवः। तस्यानुच्छ्वसमानस्य मूर्ध्नि धूमो व्यजायत
Then, for another thousand years, the foremost sage did not breathe; as he remained without breathing, smoke arose from his head.
त्रैलोक्यं येन सम्भ्रान्तमातापितमिवाभवत्। ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः पन्नगोरगराक्षसाः
By that smoke, the three worlds were disturbed, as if afflicted; then the gods, sages, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas—
मोहितास्तपसा तस्य तेजसा मन्दरश्मयः। कश्मलोपहताः सर्वे पितामहमथाब्रुवन्
—were bewildered by his asceticism and brilliance, their rays dimmed; all, afflicted by distress, then approached the grandsire.
बहुभिः कारणैर्देव विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। लोभितः क्रोधितश्चैव तपसा चाभिवर्धते
O god, the great sage Viśvāmitra, having been tempted and angered for many reasons, increases all the more in his ascetic power.
नह्यस्य वृजिनं किंचिद् दृश्यते सूक्ष्ममप्युत। न दीयते यदि त्वस्य मनसा यदभीप्सितम्
Indeed, not even the slightest fault is seen in him; if what he desires in his heart is not granted,
विनाशयति त्रैलोक्यं तपसा सचराचरम्। व्याकुलाश्च दिशः सर्वा न च किंचित् प्रकाशते
he will destroy the three worlds, with all their moving and unmoving beings, by his asceticism; all directions are disturbed, and nothing is visible.
सागराः क्षुभिताः सर्वे विशीर्यन्ते च पर्वताः। प्रकम्पते च वसुधा वायुर्वातीह संकुलः
All the oceans are agitated, the mountains are shattered, the earth trembles, and the wind blows violently, causing confusion.
ब्रह्मन् न प्रतिजानीमो नास्तिको जायते जनः। सम्मूढमिव त्रैलोक्यं सम्प्रक्षुभितमानसम्
O Brahmā, we do not know what to do; no one becomes an unbeliever, but the three worlds are bewildered, their minds greatly disturbed.
भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चैव महर्षेस्तस्य तेजसा। बुद्धिं न कुरुते यावन्नाशे देव महामुनिः
Even the sun has lost its brilliance because of the great sage’s radiance; until the great sage is appeased, O god, no one can think clearly.
तावत् प्रसादो भगवन्नग्निरूपो महाद्युतिः। कालाग्निना यथा पूर्वं त्रैलोक्यं दह्यतेऽखिलम्
Until then, O blessed one, the fire-like, greatly radiant sage will burn up the three worlds entirely, just as the fire of destruction did before.
देवराज्यं चिकीर्षेत दीयतामस्य यन्मनः। ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे पितामहपुरोगमाः
Let the sovereignty of the gods be offered to him; let whatever is in his mind be given. Then all the hosts of gods, led by the Grandfather,
विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं वाक्यं मधुरमब्रुवन्। ब्रह्मर्षे स्वागतं तेऽस्तु तपसा स्म सुतोषिताः
spoke sweet words to the great-souled Viśvāmitra: 'O Brahmarṣi, welcome to you! By your austerity, we are truly satisfied.'
ब्राह्मण्यं तपसोग्रेण प्राप्तवानसि कौशिक। दीर्घमायुश्च ते ब्रह्मन् ददामि समरुद्गणः
By your intense asceticism, O Kauśika, you have attained the status of a Brāhmaṇa; and, O Brahman, I, together with the Maruts, grant you long life.
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते गच्छ सौम्य यथासुखम्। पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम्
May you attain welfare, may good fortune be yours, go, gentle one, as you please. Having heard the words of the Grandfather, spoken by all the dwellers of heaven,
कृत्वा प्रणामं मुदितो व्याजहार महामुनिः। ब्राह्मण्यं यदि मे प्राप्तं दीर्घमायुस्तथैव च
having made obeisance with joy, the great sage spoke: 'If I have attained Brāhmaṇahood and long life as well,
ॐकारोऽथ वषट्कारो वेदाश्च वरयन्तु माम्। क्षत्रवेदविदां श्रेष्ठो ब्रह्मवेदविदामपि
then let the syllable Oṃ, the Vaṣaṭ call, and the Vedas themselves choose me; let me be the foremost among those who know the Kṣatra Veda and even among those who know the Brahma Veda.'
ब्रह्मपुत्रो वसिष्ठो मामेवं वदतु देवताः। यद्येवं परमः कामः कृतो यान्तु सुरर्षभाः
Let Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahmā, declare this of me before the gods; if this supreme wish is fulfilled, let the best of the gods depart.
ततः प्रसादितो देवैर्वसिष्ठो जपतां वरः। सख्यं चकार ब्रह्मर्षिरेवमस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्
Then, pleased by the gods, Vasiṣṭha, foremost of those who recite, made friendship with the Brahmarṣi and said, 'So be it.'
ब्रह्मर्षिस्त्वं न संदेहः सर्वं सम्पद्यते तव। इत्युक्त्वा देवताश्चापि सर्वा जग्मुर्यथागतम्
'You are indeed a Brahmarṣi, there is no doubt; all is accomplished for you.' Having spoken thus, all the gods departed as they had come.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा लब्ध्वा ब्राह्मण्यमुत्तमम्। पूजयामास ब्रह्मर्षिं वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्
And Viśvāmitra, righteous-souled, having obtained the highest Brāhmaṇahood, honored the Brahmarṣi Vasiṣṭha, foremost of those who recite.
कृतकामो महीं सर्वां चचार तपसि स्थितः। एवं त्वनेन ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्तं राम महात्मना
Having fulfilled his desire, he wandered over the whole earth, established in asceticism. In this way, O Rāma, the great-souled one attained Brāhmaṇahood.
एष राम मुनिश्रेष्ठ एष विग्रहवांस्तपः। एष धर्मः परो नित्यं वीर्यस्यैष परायणम्
This, O best of sages, is Rāma; this is asceticism embodied; this is the highest righteousness, ever constant; this is the supreme refuge of valor.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम द्विजोत्तमः। शतानन्दवचः श्रुत्वा रामलक्ष्मणसंनिधौ
Having spoken thus, the illustrious sage ceased; and after hearing Śatānanda’s words in the presence of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—
जनकः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमुवाच कुशिकात्मजम्। धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुंगव
Janaka, with joined palms, spoke to the son of Kuśika: 'Blessed am I, favored am I, O foremost of sages, by whose presence—'
यज्ञं काकुत्स्थसहितः प्राप्तवानसि कौशिक। पावितोऽहं त्वया ब्रह्मन् दर्शनेन महामुने
'You, O Kauśika, have come to my sacrifice accompanied by the descendant of Kakutstha; I am purified by you, O Brāhmaṇa, by your very sight, O great sage.'
गुणा बहुविधाः प्राप्तास्तव संदर्शनान्मया। विस्तरेण च वै ब्रह्मन् कीर्त्यमानं महत्तपः
'Many and various virtues have come to me through seeing you; and, O Brāhmaṇa, your great austerity has been extolled in detail.'
श्रुतं मया महातेजो रामेण च महात्मना। सदस्यैः प्राप्य च सदः श्रुतास्ते बहवो गुणाः
'I have heard, O illustrious one, from Rāma the great-souled, and from the assembly, and having entered the hall, many virtues of yours have been heard.'