Viswamitra's Transformation from King (contd)
Balakanda - Sarga 63
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Balakanda - Sarga 63
Viswamitra's relentless quest for spiritual mastery. From celestial temptations to divine recognition, follow his arduous path to becoming a Maharshi.
After a thousand years of intense penance, Viswamitra completed his vows and took a ritual bath. All the gods approached him, eager to bestow the fruits of his austerities. Brahma (the creator god) spoke to Viswamitra with pleasing words:
"Through your self-earned sacred deeds, you have become a rishi (sage). May prosperity be yours."
After this proclamation, Brahma returned to heaven. However, Viswamitra, driven by his immense spiritual power, continued to perform even more intense austerities.
Some time later, Menaka, the most beautiful of the celestial nymphs (apsaras), came to bathe at Pushkara (a sacred lake). Viswamitra saw Menaka there, her beauty incomparable, like lightning in the clouds.
Upon seeing her, Viswamitra fell under the influence of Kandarpa (the god of love). He said:
"O celestial nymph, welcome! Please stay here in my hermitage. Favor me with your presence, for I am deeply infatuated. May good fortune be yours."
Accepting his invitation, Menaka stayed in Viswamitra's hermitage. Ten years passed by happily during her stay.
After this time, Viswamitra became filled with shame, grief, and sorrowful thoughts. A sense of indignation arose in his mind. He realized:
"This must be the scheme of the gods to deprive me of my great austerities. Ten years have passed while I was possessed by lust and delusion. This has been a significant hindrance to my spiritual progress."
Sighing with repentance, Viswamitra saw the frightened Menaka standing before him, trembling with folded hands. He dismissed her with kind words and proceeded towards the northern mountains.
Determined to control his senses, Viswamitra took a vow of lifelong abstinence and chastity. He reached the banks of the Kausiki river and performed extremely rigid austerities.
For a thousand years, Viswamitra's fearsome penances in the northern mountains caused great concern among the gods. They convened and decided that Viswamitra rightfully deserved the title of Maharshi (great sage).
Hearing this, Brahma spoke to Viswamitra:
"O Maharshi, O child, welcome! I am pleased with your intense austerities. I hereby confer upon you the eminent rank of a great sage."
Viswamitra, neither dejected nor pleased, bowed to Brahma and replied:
"If you have conferred the title of 'Maharshi' based on my deeds, then I feel I have conquered my senses."
Brahma responded, "You have not yet fully conquered your senses. Strive further." He then departed for heaven.
After the gods left, Viswamitra intensified his austerities:
In summer, he performed penance amidst five fires.
During the rainy season, he exposed himself to the open sky.
In winter, he remained immersed in water day and night.
He continued these rigid practices for another thousand years.
Viswamitra's ongoing penance deeply perturbed the gods, including Indra (also known as Vasava). In response, Indra spoke to the celestial nymph Rambha, devising a plan that would benefit the gods but challenge Viswamitra's resolve.
Thus ends the Sixty Third sarga (chapter) of Balakanda (The Book of Youth) of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.