Rāmāyana | Bala Kaṇḍa | Chapter 55

Sargam [Chapter]: 55
Viśvāmitra's Defeat

[When Viśvāmitra's army and hundred sons are killed, he goes for a penance. At the end of penance, Lord Shiva gives him all arrows known to all sections of the world. With this knowledge, he wages a war against Vasiṣṭha.]

"Thereafter, Vasiṣṭha, seeing that Viśvāmitra's arrows have benumbed the army created by Śabala, told her, "Create additional forces." 55.1

"From her sound Humbha, Khambhojas as powerful as sun were born; from her udder, well-armed Paplavas were born; from her womb, Yavanas were born; from her Anus, Sakas were born and from her root hair, Mlecchas were born." 55.2-55.3

"Oh son of Raghu clan, they destroyed the army of Viśvāmitra consisting of infantry, horses, elephants and chariots." 55.4

Having seen that their army being destroyed by Vasiṣṭha, hundred sons of Viśvāmitra became angry, armed with various types of weapons, rushed towards the adorable Vasiṣṭha, the greatest among those who chant Vedas; He burnt all of them with a sound of "hum". 55.5-55.6

"Then those one hundred sons of Viśvāmitra along with their horses, chariots and foot soldiers were burnt in to ashes by that great Vasiṣṭha." 55.7

"That famous Viśvāmitra, seeing that his sons as well as army were destroyed, became plunged in sorrow and started thinking." 55.8

"Like an ocean without waves, a snake without fangs and Sun under eclipse, he had become devoid of power." 55.9

"With his sons and army destroyed, he became like a bird without wings, his pride vanished and shattered; he became laden with thought." 55.10

"In accordance with the tradition of Kṣattriyas, he appointed one of his sons to rule hos Kingdom and reached the forest." 55.11

"That mighty ascetic reached the slopes of Himalaya Mountains, inhabited by Kinnaras and serpents, and entered in to penance." 55.12

"After passage of time, the great Maheśvara, Lord of all devatās, with bull on his side, presented himself before the mighty Viśvāmitra to grant boons." 55.13

"Oh King, why are you doing this penance? Tell me what you want to inform me. I am the giver of boons, please tell me about the boon that you desire." 55.14

"When the God spoke like this, Viśvāmitra of great penance after saluting Maheśvara spoke." 55.15

"Oh stainless one, Oh Mahādeva, if you are pleased give me the secrets of the science of archery [Dhanur Veda] with its branches, sub division and philosophy." 55.16

"Oh Stainless one, let all those weapons that are known to devas, asuras, great sages, gandharvas, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas be present like a flash in my mind." 55.17

"Oh Lord, by your grace, please fulfil my desire." The Lord of devas said, “So be it" and having spoken went back. 55.18

"That royal sage, endowed with great strength, became more haughty; his insolence greatly increased." 55.19

"With his ebbing energy, similar to the ocean on full moon and new moon, his only thought was the slaying of great ascetic Vasiṣṭha." 55.20

"Thereafter, that King went towards the hermitage and released the weapons. That entire forest for penance was burnt down by their power." 55.21

"Having seen those powerful weapons released by Viśvāmitra, hundreds of saints living there fled in all directions." 55.22

"Disciples of Vasiṣṭha, animals and birds living there, being scared, ran in all directions in their thousands." 55.23

"The hermitage of that great sage became deserted in an instant and became like a barren field blessed with silence." 55.24

Though Vasiṣṭha was saying repeatedly "I will destroy this son of Gādhi like a mist", all of them fled. 55.25

"After saying this, that foremost expert in chanting Vedas, told these words with great anger to Viśvāmitra". 55.26

"Oh fool, this great hermitage has been developed by effort of many years; for what reason did you destroy it and for that reason you are wicked; you would not live long." 55.27

"Saying this, speedily in great anger, he lifted his staff, which shined like fire, and another staff of God of death." 55.28

This is the end of Fifty Fifth Sarga of Bala Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.