In the last post, we had seen the complete narration on River Ganga by Viswamitra, came to know about the nectar of immortality and history of the place of Vishala where they stopped by for the night. The journey continues to the place of King Janaka. Let us see what there is to offer till the kingdom of Mithila is reached and once after they reached there.
Sumati, king of Vishala, coming to know of Viswamitra's arrival went with his preceptors and relatives to pay homage to Kausika and told him, "Blessed am I and my kingdom, there is none more fortunate than I". After mutual homage and pleasantries were exchanged king Sumathi asked the sage "Who are the two princes whose divine looks, rival those of the Aswini devatas? They look like the immortals coming down to bejewel mother earth. Whose sons are they? How did they come here on foot and for what purpose? They adorn the land like the sun and the moon". Astonished at their regal bearing and their vibrant youth the king marveled at the fact that they had undertaken the long and arduous journey without even horses. Viswamitra then told him of all that had come to pass, of their stay at Siddashrama and of the slaying of the rakshasas. King Sumati delighted to play host to the illustrious sons of an illustrious father extended loving hospitality to the Ikshvaku princes.Rama and Lakshmana having been honored by king Sumathi, stayed there for the night. Next day on their way to Mithila they beheld an ancient hermitage in a grove that was beautiful but deserted. When Rama asked about it, Viswamitra said "Rama this hermitage formerly belonged to the illustrious Gautama where he and Ahalya practiced austerities for several years. One day, when Gautama was away, Indra used that opportunity to come to the hermitage, in the guise of Gautama. Dominated by his passion he sought union with Ahalya who consented though she saw through the guise. Later even as Ahalya was urging Indra to leave to protect him from Gautama's wrath, Gautama who walked in wet, wrapped in bark, holding sacrificial sticks and radiating an effulgence like that of the Sun. Invincible by the devatas, danavas and the ascetic endowed with spiritual splendor Gautama saw through Indra's masquerade and flew into a terrible fury. Cursing him to lose his virility for having committed that which was forbidden he also cursed Ahalya saying, ''May you remain here for thousands of years without food, living on air, lying in ashes, doing penance and invisible to all. When the son of Dasaratha, Rama enters this dreadful forest you will be cleansed of your sin. By offering him hospitality without covetousness and passion you will regain your present form and live with me". Gautama then left for the Himalayas."
Viswamitra continued with his story and said that Indra deprived of his virility had bewailed his lot in the presence of the gods led by Agni telling them " Creating hindrances to Gautama's austerities at the behest of the celestials I accomplished their objective but incurred the wrath of that great sage. You are all duty bound to help me recover my manhood". At his request, the devatas accompanied by the Maruths had approached the pitrudevatas(forefathers), who had them restored.
Viswamitra invited Rama to enter the hermitage and liberate Ahalya. There they beheld her, whose radiance had enhanced to such brilliance, that no devata or asura could not only behold it but could not even approach it. She shimmered and dazzled like the reflection of the sun in rippling waters. Ahalya beholding Rama was rid of her bane, rising out of the ashes and her curse, she paid him reverential homage while Rama and Lakshmana too touched her feet. Remembering Gautama's words, Ahalya offered Rama unconditional hospitality.
Ahalya purified by the power of her penance became the faithful consort of Gautama once again and the venerable couple honored Rama with great joy. Ahalya and Gautama returned to their life of austerities as earlier, while Rama, Lakshmana and their preceptor Viswamitra proceeded to Mithila after their sojourn at the hermitage. Thus Rama’s touching feet and presence liberated Ahalya from the curse and restored her past.
Viswamitra led the two princes to Mithila in a northeasterly direction to reach the sacrificial grounds to witness the elaborate preparations of Janaka's yagna. Brahmins came in thousands from different countries while hundreds of carts transported their belongings. Choosing a secluded spot, the preceptor and his two disciples rested.
When word reached Janaka, of the arrival of the holy ascetic he set out, preceded by Satananda his family priest, to offer obeisance to the great sage. Janaka looked at the two princes who seemed equal in valor to the very gods, whose bearing was akin to that of any elephant, tiger or bull and whose beauty rivaled that of Aswins. Wondering if they were immortals descended from heaven he said, "Whose sons are these well-armed warriors who adorn this land like the Sun and the Moon?" Viswamitra then presented the sons of Dasaratha to the king of Mithila and told him of their stay at Siddhashrama, the slaying of the rakshasas, their meeting with Gautama, and of their desire to see the mighty bow, which had prompted their journey to Mithila.
Satanada, son of Gautama was awed and delighted to see Rama. He asked of Viswamitra, about his mother Ahalya and also wanted to know if Rama was aware of what had taken place earlier and whether both his mother and father had paid a befitting and honorable homage to the great Ikshvaku prince. Viswamitra assured him that nothing had been omitted and that Ahalya and Gautama were reunited like Renuka and Jamadagni and Satananda said, "I shall tell you of the powers and achievements of Viswamitra. Rama, your presence here is due to our good fortune. You are blessed for having Viswamitra, who performed deeds that defy imagination. His fierce austerities have made him a divine sage and his knowledge knows no bounds for he is schooled in every branch of learning. Now, Satananda begins to elaborate on the history of Viswamitra to Rama which goes on from here.
Kusa, son of Brahma had a son called Kusanabha, who was supremely righteous and mighty and his son Gadhi is the father of Viswamitra. King Kausika protected and ruled the earth for many thousands of years. His happiness was the happiness of his subjects! Assembling his troops and Akshauhinis, he would roam the world traversing through cities, countries, kingdoms, hermitages, across rivers and over lofty mountains. Once during the course of travel, he reached the hermitage of Vasishta the beauty of which was breath taking. Inhabited by animals of many species, birds of a myriad colour and gentle deer the hermitage was filled with mammoth trees all vying with each other to contribute to its splendor. The retreat was home to many gandharvas, devatas, danavas, charanas, kinneras and siddhas. There were also divine sages who had reached perfection by way of austerities and saintly practices. Effulgent like the fire with all their senses under subjugation, appetites subdued, they were given to prayer and to offering libations. Some of the perfected souls lived on fruit and roots, some lived on dry leaves, while still others subsisted on nothing more than water and air. Viswamithra beheld this hermitage of Vasishta which looked like the land of the gods".
Viswamitra, overwhelmed with joy, paid respectful homage to the sages assembled there and Vasishta offered them his hospitality. Regaling each other with various incidents and musing over anecdotes of mutual interest, the two of them spent much time enjoying each other's company. After a while, Vasishta suggested that he would like to extend his hospitality to Viswamitra and his entourage, but Viswamitra said that hospitality was already more than extended when water and fruit were offered with so much love and grace. None of this dissuaded Vasishta and the king finally said,"So be it". Happy and pleased Vasishta called Kamadhenu (or Sabala), saying, "Sabala, listen! I have offered to feast the royal saint and his army, provide sumptuous food which should include all the six different tastes and flavors. Be ready with food and drink in large quantities".
Kamadhenu ever magnanimous and bounteous, produced a splendid feast, consisting of the most exotic of foods. The entire hermitage swarmed with the troops of Visvamitra, who enjoyed the feast to their hearts content. They dined royally and drank with great relish. Pleased with the magnificent display of such lavish hospitality, Visvamitra said to Vasishta, "Brahmin! You have honored me as it befits the king of kings! You are worthy of great praise and I am touched. Sabala is a gem and since the king is the procurer of gems, give me Sabala! She is rightfully mine. I shall give a hundred thousand cows in return". Vasishta, turning down the request very politely saying, "Never! Neither a thousand million cows nor silver in heaps will tempt me. Never will I part with my divine Sabala, I care for her like a virtuous man would, for his good name and fame.In offering oblations to gods and ancestors in tending the sacrificial fires, in fulfilling various necessities, and in procuring offerings to the many spirits and unto Agni, my dependence on Sabala is total.For these and a myriad other reasons, I cannot give up Sabala".
Undaunted Viswamitra, continued with his persuasion and bargaining. He tried tempting Vasishta with a gift of fourteen thousand horses adorned with gold trappings, eight hundred chariots made of gold, with four white horses yoked to each and as much gold as he desired. Eleven thousand mighty horses of the best of breeds were also added to the list but Vasishta's final say was "Giving away Sabala is not a possibility, for this divine cow, fulfilling my every wish and desire, is my wealth, and my very life".
“O jewel among the twice-born!” he said, “Let Sabala be given to me.” Sage Vasishta re-iterated: “I shall on no account part with Sabala, O King!” This led to a great war between the King and Sage Vasishta.
In spite of repeated requests and inducements, Sage Vasishta firmly refused Viswamitra’s insinuations to part with Kaamadhenu. King Viswamitra then tried to take by force and dragged her. The Divine cow was upset and thought: “Have I been deserted by the great Vasishta since I am being taken away by the King’s servants? What wrong has been done by me to that Seer?” Shaking off from the servants, she ran and told Sage Vasishta: “Have I been forsaken by you, O almighty son of Brahma, in that the King’s servants are actually taking me away from your presence?” “I am not abandoning you”, replied Vasishta, “O Sabala! Nor have you wronged me. Intoxicated with power, the mighty King is taking you away. My strength is not equal to his. He is an honoured guest and also a Kshatriya with an army.”
Hearing these words of Vasishta, Sabala replied, “The strength of a Brahmarshi is greater than that of a Kshatriya. I have been strengthened by your ‘Mantras’. Kindly engage me to defeat the purpose of that proud King.” Hearing the appeal of Kaamadhenu, Vasishta asked her to create an army that can defeat the forces of the enemy. Thereupon, even as Viswamitra was looking on, the divine cow issued an Army of ‘Paplavas’ or ‘Pahlavas’. These ‘Paplavas’ defeated the soldiers of Viswamitra, who became angry and killed many of them. Seeing them being killed, Sabala issued a further release of ‘Sakas’ who were terrible like the ‘Yavanas’. Clad in yellow, and armed with swords and ‘pattisas’, the entire army of Viswamitra was consumed by them as by blazing fires. King Viswamitra then released a number of missiles which stupefied the warriors created by Sabala. Then Sabala presented the Kambojas and the Barbaras, carrying weapons in hand. She also released the terrible Yavanas, the Mlechhas, the Haritas and the Kiratas. They wiped out instantly the entire Army of Viswamitra, including elephants, horses and foot soldiers. Seeing this extermination of the army, the hundred sons of King Viswamitra, then faced Vasishta with various weapons, and they were all burnt to ashes by the sound ‘Hoom’ produced by the Sage. The King became ashamed at the destruction of his army, as well as his sons. He lost all his glory like a sea that became motionless, like a serpent that lost its fangs, and like the Sun eclipsed by Rahu. Like a bird with crippled wings, he lost everything. He entrusted his kingdom to another son who was alive and retired to the forest, and performed severe ‘Tapas’. Lord Siva was pleased with his austerities and, as wished by Viswamitra, he was given all the weapons available with the Devas, ‘Maharshis’, Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rakshasas. The proud King Viswamitra, armed with all types of ‘Astras’ (Missiles) and ‘Sastras’ (weapons), known to the world, attacked Sage Vasishta and burnt his holy hermitage. Sage Vasishta took a staff—‘Brahma danda’, representing Brahmic strength and defended himself against the king, who used all the divine weapons at his disposal, including the never-failing ‘Brahma-Astra’. The entire world trembled with fear thinking that the world had come to an end. Even the ‘Brahma-Astra’ was absorbed in the ‘Brahma-tejas’ of the staff (‘Brahma-Danda’), which emitted flames like the fires at the Dissolution of the world. Viswamitra realized the supremacy of ‘Brahmic excellence’. He thought: “I have to achieve that status of a ‘Brahma-Rishi’ and nothing less than that.” He then began to do more severe ‘Tapas’ to achieve that goal. "Brahmanic power alone is the ultimate and I shall now seek it said Visvamitra." Thus, the King Viswamitra decides to turn himself into a Sage, Rishi and Maharishi to attain the highest order among men.
This concludes chapters 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 where we learnt about the hospitality of Sumati, King of Vishala, Ahalya and her liberation from curse by Rama, reaching Mithila, introduction to Janaka and hearing the important events shaping Viswamitra from Satananda, son of Gautama. Rama, Lakshmana and master Viswamitra had already reached Mithila, their last destination. We had seen many important experiences, stories, learnings, and life-events of Rama in the august presence of Sage Viswamitra till now. Remember, Rama was simply a royal prince without any worldly exposure and learnings, till then. The person who played an important part in pre-adult life of Rama must be someone exceptional. The epic, at this stage presents all the life details of the sage who reached that stage. This, we will learn in this and subsequent posts after which the divine union, marriage saga of ideal man and woman - Rama and Sita will take place.
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