Chapter 52

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

तम् दृष्ह्ट्वा परम प्रीतो विश्ह्वामित्रो महाबलः
प्रणतो विनयात् वीरो वसिष्ह्ठम् जपताम् वरम्

tam dṛṣhṭvā parama prīto viśhvāmitro mahābalaḥ
praṇato vinayāt vīro vasiṣhṭham japatām varam

SYNONYMS

mahābalaḥ vīraḥ viśvāmitraḥ: great-mighty, valorous one, Vishvamitra | japatām varam: [who is] among meditators, the best sage | tam vasiṣṭham dṛṣṭvā: him, Vashishta, on seeing | parama prītaḥ: is highly, rejoiced | vinayāt praṇataḥ: obediently, made an obeisance. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing at that best sage among best meditators Sage Vashishta, the great-mighty and valorous Vishvamitra is highly rejoiced and obediently made an obeisance to the sage. [1-52-1]

VERSE 2

स्वागतम् तव छ इति उक्तो वसिष्ह्ठेन महात्मना
आसनम् छ अस्य भगवान् वसिष्ह्ठो व्यादिदेश्ह ह

svāgatam tava cha iti ukto vasiṣhṭhena mahātmanā
āsanam cha asya bhagavān vasiṣhṭho vyādideśha ha

SYNONYMS

tava svāgatam: to thee, welcome | iti mahā ātmanā vasiṣṭhena uktaḥ: thus, by great-souled, Vashishta, is spoken to [Vishvamitra] | bhagavān vasiṣṭhaḥ: godly, Vashishta | asya āsanam ca vyādideśa ha: to him [to Vishvamitra, ] seat, also, ordering [showing,] indeed. |

TRANSLATION

The great-souled Vashishta spoke, "you are welcome," and that godly sage has indeed shown a high seat to Vishvamitra. [1-52-2]

VERSE 3

उपविष्ह्टाय छ तदा विश्ह्वामित्राय धीमते
यथा न्यायम् मुनि वरः फल मूलम् उपाहरत्

upaviṣhṭāya cha tadā viśhvāmitrāya dhīmate
yathā nyāyam muni varaḥ phala mūlam upāharat

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | muni varaḥ: saint, eminent | upaviṣṭāya dhīmate viśvāmitrāya: to one who is sitting, courageous one, to Vishvamitra | yathā nyāyam: according, to custom | phala mūlam upāharat = fruits, tubers, submitted: offered. |

TRANSLATION

The eminent saint Vashishta then customarily offered fruits and tuber to the courageous Vishvamitra who by now has assumed a seat. [1-52-3]

VERSE 4

प्रतिगृह्य तु ताम् पूजाम् वसिष्ह्ठात् राज सत्तमः
तपो अग्नि होत्र श्हिष्ह्येष्हु कुश्हलम् पर्यपृछ्छ्हत

pratigṛhya tu tām pūjām vasiṣhṭhāt rāja sattamaḥ
tapo agni hotra śhiṣhyeṣhu kuśhalam paryapṛchchhata

SYNONYMS

rāja sattamaḥ: king, unsurpassed | mahātejā: great-resplendent one | viśvāmitraḥ: Vishvamitra | vasiṣṭhāt: from Vashishta | tām pūjām pratigṛhya: that, deference, on receiving | tapaḥ agni hotra śiṣyeṣu: concerning ascesis, fire, rituals, disciples | tathā: likewise | vanaspati gaṇe = regarding trīs, clumps of: of flora and implied fauna of hermitage | kuśalam: well being | paryapṛcchata: in turn asked after | vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vashishta | sarvatra kuśalam ca: all round, well-being, also | rāja sattamam āha = to king, the matcless, said: reported. |

TRANSLATION

On receiving that deference from Vashishta, then that unsurpassed king Vishvamitra asked after the well-being of the ascesis, Fire-rituals and disciples and their progress in that hermitage, and that great-resplendent Vishvamitra has also asked after the well being of flora and fauna of the hermitage, and Vashishta reported to the matchless king about the all round well-being of every activity. [1-52-4, 5]

VERSE 6

सुख उपविष्ह्टम् राजानम् विश्ह्वामित्रम् महातपाः
पप्रछ्छ्ह जपताम् श्ह्रेष्ह्ठो वसिष्ह्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः

sukha upaviṣhṭam rājānam viśhvāmitram mahātapāḥ
paprachchha japatām śhreṣhṭho vasiṣhṭho brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ

SYNONYMS

japatām śreṣṭhaḥ: among meditators, supreme one | mahātapāḥ: great-ascetic | brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ vasiṣṭhaḥ: Brahma's, son [brainchild,] Vashishta | sukha upaviṣṭam: at ease, on sitting | rājānam viśvāmitram: to king, Vishvamitra | papraccha: asked. |

TRANSLATION

Vashishta the supreme one among meditators, a great-ascetic, and the brainchild of Brahma has then asked Vishvamitra who is sitting at ease. [1-52-6]

VERSE 7

कछ्छित् ते कुश्हलम् राजन् कछ्छित् धर्मेण रंजयन्
प्रजाः पालयसे राजन् राज वृत्तेन धार्मिक

kachchit te kuśhalam rājan kachchit dharmeṇa raṃjayan
prajāḥ pālayase rājan rāja vṛttena dhārmika

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | te kuśalam kaccit = to you, vell: being, I hope - All is well! | dhārmikaḥ: as a righteous one | prajāḥ dharmeṇa ranjayan: people, righteously, while satisfying to their contentment | rāja vṛttena: by kingly, righteousness | pālayase kaccit: are you ruling, hopefully. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I hope that you are fine! And oh, righteous king, hope that you are ruling people righteously with kingly righteousness to their contentment. [1-52-7]

PURPORT

The kingly righteousness is one component among the four primary concerns of the kingcraft as said at: nyaayena aarjanam arthasya varthanam paalanam tathaa | sat paatre pratipattiH ca raaja vR^ittam catur vidham || 'monies are to be earned righteously, they are to be enriched righteously, and safeguarded righteously, and they are to be endowed to righteous deeds or persons, for welfare of the state, righteously...'
VERSE 8

कछ्छित् ते सुभृता भृत्याः कछ्छित् तिष्ह्ठन्ति श्हासने
कछ्छित् ते विजिताः सर्वे रिपवो रिपु सूदन

kachchit te subhṛtā bhṛtyāḥ kachchit tiṣhṭhanti śhāsane
kachchit te vijitāḥ sarve ripavo ripu sūdana

SYNONYMS

te bhṛtyāḥ: your, servants | su bhṛtā kaccit = vell: served - are they looked after well, I hope | śāsane tiṣṭhanti kaccit: by rulership, abiding, I hope | ripu sūdana: oh, adversary, vanquisher of | te ripavaḥ: your, enemies | sarve: all of them | vi jitāḥ: surely, vanquished | kaccit: I hope. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I hope your servants are looked after well, hope all of them are abiding by the rulership, oh, vanquisher of adversaries, I hope that you have surely vanquished all of your adversaries. [1-52-8]

VERSE 9

कछ्छित् बले छ कोश्हे छ मित्रेष्हु छ परंतप
कुश्हलम् ते नर व्याघ्र पुत्र पौत्रे तथा अनघ

kachchit bale cha kośhe cha mitreṣhu cha paraṃtapa
kuśhalam te nara vyāghra putra pautre tathā anagha

SYNONYMS

parantapa: oh, enemy-inflamer | anagha: oh, impeccable one | nara vyāghra: oh, man, tigerly | bale ca kośe ca mitreṣu ca: in forces, and, in exchequer, and, among friends [confederates,] also | tathā: likewise | te putra pautre: your, in sons, in grandsons | kuśalam kaccit: well-being, I hope. |

TRANSLATION

" 'For you are an impeccable one and an emery-inflamer, oh, tigerly-man, I hope that your forces, exchequer and confederates are fine, and all is well with your sons and grandsons." Thus Vashishta asked the well-being of Vishvamitra. [1-52-9]

VERSE 10

सर्वत्र कुश्हलम् राजा वसिष्ह्ठम् प्रत्युदाहरत्
विश्ह्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ह्ठम् विनय अन्वितम्

sarvatra kuśhalam rājā vasiṣhṭham pratyudāharat
viśhvāmitro mahātejā vasiṣhṭham vinaya anvitam

SYNONYMS

mahātejā rājā viśvāmitra: great-resplendent, king, Vishvamitra | vasiṣṭham vinaya anvitam = to Vaśiśta, respect, having: respectfully | sarvatra kuśalam = everyvhere, fineness: everything is fine | vasiṣṭham: to Vashishta | prati udāharat = in turn [in reply,] ekṣemplified: replied. |

TRANSLATION

"The great-resplendent king Vishvamitra respectfully replied Sage Vashishta saying, 'everything is fine.' [1-52-10]

VERSE 11

कृत्वा तौ सुछिरम् कालम् धर्मिष्ह्ठौ ताः कथाः तदा
मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेताम् तौ परस्परम्

kṛtvā tau suchiram kālam dharmiṣhṭhau tāḥ kathāḥ tadā
mudā paramayā yuktau prīyetām tau parasparam

SYNONYMS

dharma iṣṭhau: conscientious celebrities of | tau [ubhau]: both of them | paramayā mudā yuktau: heightened, rejoice, along with | su ciram kālam: for a very, long, time | tāḥ kathāḥ: those, stories [pleasantries] | tadā kṛtvā: thus, on making [exchanging] | tau: those two | parasparam: paraH aparam = one, another | prīyetām: gladdened. |

TRANSLATION

"Both of those celebrities of conscientious then exchanged pleasantries for a long time with their rejoice heightening and gladdening one another. [1-52-11]

VERSE 12

ततो वसिष्ह्ठो भगवान् कथा अन्ते रघुनंदन
विश्ह्वामित्रम् इदम् वाक्यम् उवाछ प्रहसन् इव

tato vasiṣhṭho bhagavān kathā ante raghunaṃdana
viśhvāmitram idam vākyam uvācha prahasan iva

SYNONYMS

raghunandana = oh, legatī of ṟaghu: Rama | tataḥ: then | bhagavān vasiṣṭhaḥ: godly sage, Vashishta | kathā ante: story, at end [of discussions] | prahasan iva: smilingly, like | viśvāmitram idam vākyam uvāca: to Vishvamitra, this, sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"Then at the end of discussions, oh, Rama the legatee of Raghu, that godly Sage Vashishta smilingly spoke this sentence to Vishvamitra. [1-52-12]

VERSE 13

आतिथ्यम् कर्तुम् इछ्छ्हामि बलस्य अस्य महाबल
तव छ एव अप्रमेयस्य यथा अर्हम् संप्रतीछ्छ्ह मे

ātithyam kartum ichchhāmi balasya asya mahābala
tava cha eva aprameyasya yathā arham saṃpratīchchha me

SYNONYMS

mahābalaḥ = oh, great: forceful one - Vishvamitra | asya balasya: to this, military force | a prameyasya: without, a match [matchless one] | tava ca eva: to you, also, as well | yathā arham = as, befitting: to your status | ātithyam kartum icchāmi: guestship, to do [to offer,] I wish to[ me = from me | sampratīccha [sam prati iccha: well, in turn, you accede] = kindly accede to it. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I wish to offer guestship befitting to your status, oh, great-forceful king Vishvamitra, to a matchless one like you and to this military force of yours, kindly accept it from me. [1-52-13]

VERSE 14

सत्क्रियाम् तु भवान् एताम् प्रतीछ्छ्हतु मया कृताम्
राजन् त्वम् अतिथि श्ह्रेष्ह्ठः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः

satkriyām tu bhavān etām pratīchchhatu mayā kṛtām
rājan tvam atithi śhreṣhṭhaḥ pūjanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ

SYNONYMS

bhavān: you | mayā kṛtām: by me, done [offered] | etām sat kriyām tu: all these, good, works [hospitalities,] on their part | pratīcchatu = kindly take: accept | rājan: oh, king | tvam: you are | prayatnataḥ pūjanīyaḥ: one to be reverenced, effortfully | atithi śreṣṭhaḥ: guest, important. |

TRANSLATION

" 'You may kindly accept all these hospitalities offered by me, oh king, for you are an important guest you ought to be reverenced effortfully.' So said Vashishta to Vishvamitra. [1-52-14]

PURPORT

'It is quiet meaningless on the part of this sage, subsisting on wild fruits and tubers, to offer a royal banquet or rations to military and feed to horses and elephants' - is the thinking of King Vishvamitra. For that, the sage is saying that a king is to be reverenced 'effortfully...' But, Vishvamitra is reluctantly evading the so-called hospitality for 'royals' and 'armies' from a poor hermit.
VERSE 15

एवम् उक्तो वसिष्ह्ठेन विश्ह्वामित्रो महामतिः
कृतम् इति अब्रवीत् राजा पूजा वाक्येन मे त्वया

evam ukto vasiṣhṭhena viśhvāmitro mahāmatiḥ
kṛtam iti abravīt rājā pūjā vākyena me tvayā

SYNONYMS

vasiṣṭhena evam uktaḥ = by Vaśiśta, thus, said: to the sage | mahāmatiḥ rājā viśvāmitraḥ: highly intellectual, king, Vishvamitra | tvayā: by you | pūjā vākyena: with [just by] reverential, words | me: to me | kṛtam = done[hospitality is dīmed to have bīn offered: and nothing more is required | iti abravīt: thus, said. |

TRANSLATION

"When sage Vashishta said in this way, that highly-intellectual king Vishvamitra said to him, 'hospitality is deemed to have been offered to me with your reverential words, it is enough and nothing more is necessary.' [1-52-15]

VERSE 16

फल मूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत् तव आश्ह्रमे
पाद्येन आछमनीयेन भगवद् दर्श्हनेन छ

phala mūlena bhagavan vidyate yat tava āśhrame
pādyena āchamanīyena bhagavad darśhanena cha

SYNONYMS

bhagavan: oh, godly sage | yat tava āśrame vidyate: what, in your, hermitage, obtains | phala mūlena: with fruits, tubers | pādyena ācamanīyena: by water for feet-wash, by water for wetting mouth | bhagavat darśanena ca: godlike [you,] by [the very] visualisation, also | pūjā arheṇa: [by you who are] for reverence, worthy | su pūjitaḥ: [I am] well, reverenced | mahā prājñaḥ: oh, highly, noetic sage | gamiṣyāmi: I wish to go | te namaḥ astu: to you, obeisance, let there be [ le it be accepted] | sarvathā: always | maitreṇa cakṣuṣā īkṣasva: with a friendly, eye [regard,] you look upon [us.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'I am entertained with whatever item that obtains in your hermitage, say fruits, tubers and water for feet-wash and to wet mouth. Why those petty items, I regaled just by seeing you, a godly sage like. Oh, highly noetic sage, by yourself you are a sage worthy to be reverenced by one and all, such as you are you alone have reverenced me. Now I wish to take leave, please accept my obeisance to you, and please look upon us with a friendlily regard. [1-52-16, 17]

PURPORT

The reverential salutation namas te astu is discussed in the endnote.
VERSE 18

एवम् ब्रुवन्तम् राजानम् वसिष्ह्ठः पुनः एव हि
न्यमंत्रयत धर्मात्मा पुनः पुनः उदार धीः

evam bruvantam rājānam vasiṣhṭhaḥ punaḥ eva hi
nyamaṃtrayata dharmātmā punaḥ punaḥ udāra dhīḥ

SYNONYMS

evam bruvantam rājānam: in this way, [obliquely] speaking, to king | dharmātmā: virtue-souled one | udāra dhīḥ: benevolent, minded [magnanimous sage] | vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vashishta | punaḥ eva hi: again, thus, indeed | punaḥ punaḥ: again, again [repeatedly] | nyamantrayata: entreated. |

TRANSLATION

Even if the king was speaking in this way obliquely to him, that virtue-souled and magnanimous sage Vashishta entreated the king repeatedly. [1-52-18]

VERSE 19

बाढम् इति एव गाधेयो वसिष्ह्ठम् प्रत्युवाछ ह
यथा प्रियम् भगवतः तथा अस्तु मुनि सत्तम

bāḍham iti eva gādheyo vasiṣhṭham pratyuvācha ha
yathā priyam bhagavataḥ tathā astu muni sattama

SYNONYMS

gādheyaḥ = ġādhi's son: Vishvamitra | vasiṣṭham: to Vashishta | muni sattama: oh, saint, eminent | bāḍham: Agreed! | bhagavataḥ yathā priyam: to godlike you, as to how, it will be pleasing | tathā astu: so, be it | iti prati uvāca ha: thus, in turn, spoke [replied,] indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Gaadhi's son Vishvamitra then replied the eminent saint Vashishta, "Agreed! As it pleases the godly sage. So be it!' [1-52-19]

VERSE 20

एवम् उक्तः तथा तेन वसिष्ह्ठो जपताम् वरः
आजुहाव ततः प्रीतः कल्माष्हीम् धूत कल्मष्हः

evam uktaḥ tathā tena vasiṣhṭho japatām varaḥ
ājuhāva tataḥ prītaḥ kalmāṣhīm dhūta kalmaṣhaḥ

SYNONYMS

tathā tena evam uktaḥ: thus, that way, by him [Vishvamitra,] who is said | japatām varaḥ: among meditators, the best | dhūta kalmaṣaḥ: one who is laved, of blemishes | vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vashishta | prītaḥ: is gladdened | tataḥ: then | kalmāṣīm: speckled cow [namely Shabala] | ā juhāva = to come, called: started calling. |

TRANSLATION

"When Vishvamitra said that way then Vashishta, the best one among meditators, and one whose blemishes are laved is gladdened, and started calling his speckled cow, namely Shabala, yclept Kaamadhenu. [1-52-20]

VERSE 21

एहि एहि श्हबले क्ष्हिप्रम् श्हृणु छ अपि वछो मम
सबलस्य अस्य राजर्ष्हेः कर्तुम् व्यवसितो अस्मि अहम्
भोजनेन महा अर्हेण सत्कारम् संविधत्स्व मे

ehi ehi śhabale kṣhipram śhṛṇu cha api vacho mama
sabalasya asya rājarṣheḥ kartum vyavasito asmi aham
bhojanena mahā arheṇa satkāram saṃvidhatsva me

SYNONYMS

śabale: oh, amazingly coloured [cow Shabala] | kṣipram ehi ehi: quickly, come, come | mama vacaḥ śṛṇu ca api: my, word, listen, also, even | aham: I | mahā arheṇa bhojanena: with highly, delectable, feast [with a royal banquet] | sa balasya asya rājarṣeḥ: together with, [all] forces, his, to kingly-sage | satkāram kartum vyavasitaḥ asmi: hospitality, to do [to accord,] prepared, I am | me samvidhatsva: for me, you arrange for it. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Come on, oh, Shabala! Come quickly and listen to my words. I prepared to accord hospitality with a highly delectable royal banquet to this kingly sage together with all his forces. You arrange it for me. [1-52-21]

VERSE 22

यस्य यस्य यथा कामम् ष्हड् रसेष्हु अभिपूजितम्
तत् सर्वम् काम धुक् दिव्ये अभिवर्ष्ह कृते मम

yasya yasya yathā kāmam ṣhaḍ raseṣhu abhipūjitam
tat sarvam kāma dhuk divye abhivarṣha kṛte mama

SYNONYMS

divye kāma dhuk: oh, divine, desires, milker [cow] | yasya yasya: whose, whose | [yadyad = yat yat = vhat, vhat: whatever] | abhipūjitam = ceriśed: savoured | ṣaḍ raseṣu = from among: six, savours | tat sarvam: that, in entirety p- plentifully | yathā kāmam: as, [he] wishes [as per his piquancy] | kṛte mama = oving to, me: for my sake | abhivarṣa: now shower. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Kaamadhenu, the Divine Cow, the Milker of All-Desires, for my sake you shower whatsoever foodstuff is savoured by whosoever according to one's own piquancy from each of the six savour, that too plentifully. [1-52-22]

PURPORT

The six tastes that shall comprise an Indian meal are: 1] caustic, 2] acidic, 3] sweetish, 4] salty, 5] un-sweetish [bitter,] and 6] alkaline.
VERSE 23

रसेन अन्नेन पानेन लेह्य छोष्ह्येण संयुतम्
अन्नानाम् निछयम् सर्वम् सृजस्व श्हबले त्वर

rasena annena pānena lehya choṣhyeṇa saṃyutam
annānām nichayam sarvam sṛjasva śhabale tvara

SYNONYMS

śabale: oh, Shabala | rasena annena pānena: with savourily, masticable, drinkables | lehya: [with dishes that can be] licked | coṣyeṇa: [that can be] sucked | samyutam: comprised of | sarvam anānām nicayam: every kind of, foodstuffs, heaps of | sṛjasva: you create | tvara: be quick. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, Shabala, you create heaps of savourily foodstuffs comprised of masticable items like crunchy foods, drinkable items like soft-drinks, tasteable items like honey-like viscous dishes, squeezable items like pulpy fruits, and be quick.' " So said Sage Vashishta to that Sacred Cow, Kaamadhenu, and Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-52-23]

PURPORT

The reverential greeting namaste is from the root nam 'bend down a little...' before upper echelons and the word namas is usually translated a 'salutation by bending a little...' and namas kaara is the act of doing so. This word namaH= na aham is 'not me...' te astu but 'you, it shall be...' rather, 'I have lost my 'I-ness' before you as I am humbling myself to your high knowledge or, high seat, or elder age...' and let your 'your-ness' prevail over me, for I am somewhat an inferior being before you...' is the latent meaning. This is either vocalised or coupled with the gesture of adjoining palms, and that mudra 'gesture...' is called an~jali or as a Latinian friend of ours has provided its Latin counterpart as: The infinitive is iungere manus ante pectus 'to join hands in front of your chest...' or merely iungere manus 'to join hands...' We can say iungimus manus ante pectus 'we join or fold our hands in front of us...' iungo manus ante pectus 'I fold my hands...' iungite manus ante pectus 'fold your hands in front of you...' This last sentence is the - you, plural - is in command form. Again, you may leave out ante pectus for succinctness. And if the word iun with a half 'n' nasal is matched with Sanskrit a~n in an~jali and the word ngo is matched with Sanskrit ~nja as the English 'g' is most often used for Sanskrit 'ja' by Max Muller et al., the two an~jali of Sanskrit and iungo Latin have same pronunciation and portent in prayer or traditional salutation.