Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha story

 arjuna uvāca

kiṁnimittamabhūda vairaṁ viśvāmitravasiṣṭhayoḥ

vasatorāśrame divye śaṁsa naḥ sarvameva tat

Arjuna said: How arose hostility between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, both of whom lived in celestial hermitages? Tell us all this in detail!

gandharva uvāca

idaṁ vāsiṣṭhamākhyānaṁ purāṇaṁ paricakṣate

pārthaṁ sarveṣu lokeṣu yathāvat tannibodha me

Gandharva said: O Pārtha! This history of Vasiṣṭha is considered as a Purāṇa in all the worlds. Listen to me as I recite it in detail.

kānyakubje mahānāsīt pārthivo bharatarṣabha

gādhīti viśruto loke kuśikasyātmasambhavaḥ 

O best of Bharata race! There was great king in Kānyakubja, known in the world as Gādhi, who was a son of Kauśika.

tasya dharmātmanaḥ putraḥ samṛddhabalavāhanaḥ

viśvāmitra iti khyāto babhūva ripumardanaḥ

His son was known by the name of Vasiṣṭha. That chastiser of foes, Viśvāmitra, was virtuous minded and had a large army of troops and beasts of burdens.

sa cacāra sahāmātyo mṛgayāṁ gahane vane

mṛgān vidhyan varāhāṁśca ramyeṣu marudhanvasu

He wandered with his ministers in deep forest for the purpose of hunting, for killing deer and boars. He roamed through charming marches.

vyāyāmakarśitaḥ so ̍ tha mṛgaliptsuḥ pipāsitaḥ

ājagāma naraśreṣṭha vasiṣṭhasyāśramaṁ prati

One day, being fatiqued and thirsty by the prolonged hunt, that best of men came to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha.

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya vasiṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhabhāgṛṣiḥ

viśvāmitraṁ naraśreṣṭhaṁ pratijagrāha pūjayā

Seeing him coming, illustrious and blessed Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha, advanced to salute that best of men Viśvāmitra.

pādyārghyacamanīyaistaṁ svāgatena ca bhārata

tathaiva parijagrāha vanyena haviṣā tadā

O descendant of Bharata! Vasiṣṭha worshiped Viśvāmitra by asking about his welfare, by offering Arghya and water to wash his face and feet and by offering forest fruits and ghee.

tasyātha kāmadhug dhenurvasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ

uktā kāmān prayaccheti sā kāmān duhyate sadā

Illustrious Ṛṣi had a Kāmadhenu, a cow yielding everything as desired. When she was addressed by saying: Give! She always gave what was desired.

grāmyāraṇyāścauṣadhīśca duduhe paya eva ca

ṣaḍrasaṁ cāmṛtanibhaṁ rasāyanamanuttamam

bhojanīyāni peyāni bhakṣyāni vividhāni ca

lehyānyamṛtakalpāni copyāṇi ca tathārjuna

ratnāni ca mahārhāṇi vāsaṁsi vividhāni ca

taiḥ kāmaiḥ sarvampūrṇaiḥ pūjitaśca mahīpatiḥ

sāmātyaḥ sabalaścaiva tutoṣa sa bhṛśaṁ tadā

O Arjuna! Ṛṣi received from her various wild fruits and grown corn of gardens and fields, milk, many excellent nutrious viands filled with 6 different kinds of juice which was like ambrosia itself, various other kinds of enjoyables of ambrosial taste,things for drinking and eating, for lapping and sucking and many precious gems and various costly robes. With these desirable objects in profusion, Viśvāmitra was worshipped. Viśvāmitra with his ministers and troops became exceedingly glad.

ṣaḍunnatāṁ supārśvoruṁ pṛthupañcasamāvṛtām

maṇḍūkanetrā svakārāṁ pīnodhasamaninditām

subāladhiṁ śaṅkukarṇāṁ cāruśṛṅgāṁ manoramām

Viśvāmitra became very much astonished to see that cow which had 6 elevated limbs, beautiful flanks and hips, fine broad limbs, frog like prominent eyes, beautiful size, high udders, faultless make, straight and uplifted ears, handsome horns and well developed head and neck.

puṣṭāyataśirogrīvāṁ vismitaḥ so ̍ bhivīkṣya tām

abhinandya sa tāṁ rājā nandīṁ gādhinandanaḥ

O prince! That king, son of Gādhi, was exceedingly gratified with all that he saw and very much praising the cow Nandinī he spoke thus to Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha:

abravīcca bhṛśaṁ tuṣṭaḥ sa rājā tamṛṣiṁ tadā

arbudena gavāṁ brahman mama rājyena vā punaḥ

nandinīṁ samprayacchasva bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ mahāmune

O Brāhmaṇa! O great Ṛṣi! Give me your Nandinī cow in exchange of 10,000 kine, or my kingdom. Give her to me and enjoy my kingdom!

vasiṣṭha uvāca

devatātithipatrarthaṁ yājyārthaṁ ca payasvinī

adeyā nandinīṁ vai rājenāpi tavānagha

Vasiṣṭha said: O sinless one! This milk giving cow is kept by me for the purpose of celestials. Pitṛs and guests and for my sacrifices. Nandinī cannot be given to you in exchange of even your kingdom.

viśvāmitra uvāca

kṣatriyo ̍ haṁ bhavān viprastapassvādhyāyasādhanaḥ

brāhmaṇeṣu kuto vīryaṁ praśānteṣu dhṛtātmasu

Viśvāmitra said: I am Kṣatriya and your respected self are Brāhmaṇa, devoted to study and asceticism. Is there prowess in Brāhmaṇas, who are peaceful and have their souls under control?

arbudena gavāṁ tasatvaṁ na dadāsi mamepsitam

svadharmaṁ na prahāsyāmi neṣyāmi ca balena gām

When you do not give me what I desire to have in exchange of 10,000 kine, I shall not abandon the duty of my race, that of a Kṣatriya and I shall take your cow by force!

vasiṣṭha uvāca

balasthaścāsi rājā ca bāhuvīryaśca kṣatriyaḥ

yathecchasi tathā kṣipraṁ kuru mā tvaṁ vicāraya

Vasiṣṭha said: You are powerful king, you are Kṣatriya possessing great strength of arms, do what you desire without delay and without stopping to consider over it!

gandharva uvāca

evamuktastathā pārtha viśvāmitro balādiva

haṁsacandrapratīkāśāṁ nandinī tāṁ jahāra gām

Gandharva said: O Pārtha! Having been thus addressed, Viśvāmitra seized the cow Nandinī as white as swan or moon

kaśādaṇḍapraṇuditāṁ kālyamānāmitastataḥ

hambhāyamānā kalyāṇī vasiṣṭhasyātha nandinī

He dragged her hither and thither and afflicted her by sriking her with a stick. Blessed Nandinī cried piteously and came near Vasiṣṭha.

āgamyābhimukhī pārtha tasthau bhagavadunmukhī

bhṛśaṁ ca tāḍyamānā vai na jagāmāśramāt tataḥ

O Pārtha! She stood near him with uplifted face staring at illustrious Ṛṣi. Though very much ill treated, she did not quit Ṛṣi ̍ s hermitage.

vasiṣṭha uvāca

śṛṇomi te ravaṁ bhadre vinadantyāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

hriyase tvaṁ balād bhadre viśvāmitreṇa nandini

kiṁ kartavyaṁ mayā tatra kṣamāvān brāhmaṇo hyaham

Vasiṣṭha said: O amiable Nandinī! You are crying again and again and I hear your cries, but Viśvāmitra is taking you away by force! What can I do? I am forgiving Brāhmaṇa!

gandharava uvāca

sā bhayānnandinī teṣāṁ balānāṁ bharatarṣabha

viśvāmitrabhayodvignā vasiṣṭhaṁ samupāgamat

Gandharava said: O best of Brāhmaṇa race! Being alarmed at the sight of the troops of Viśvāmitra and being terrified by Viśvāmitra himself, Nandinī came closer to Vasiṣṭha.

gauruvāca

kaśāgradaṇḍābhihatāṁ krośantīṁ māmanāthavat

viśvāmitrabalairghorairbhagavan kimupekṣase

Nandinī said: O illustrious Sir! I am afflicted by the stripes of fearful troops of Viśvāmitra. I am crying piteously like one who has none who protects me. Why are you so indifferent to me?

gandharva uvāca

nandinyāmevaṁ krandantyāṁ dharṣitāyāṁ mahāmuniḥ

na cukṣubhe tadā dhairyānna cacāla dhṛtavrataḥ

Gandharva said: Great Ṛṣi did not lose his patience, nor he abandoned his vow of forgiveness on hearing words of crying and persecuted Nandinī.

vasiṣṭha uvāca

kṣatriyāṇāṁ balaṁ tejo brāhmaṇānāṁ kṣamā balam

kṣamā māṁ bhajate yasmād gamyatāṁ yadi rocate

Vasiṣṭha said: Might of Kṣatriya lies in their physical strength, that of Brāhmaṇa lies in their forgiveness. I cannot give up forgiveness. I you like, you can go.

nandinyuvāca

kiṁ nu tyaktāsmi bhagavan yadevaṁ tvaṁ prabhāṣase

atyaktāhaṁ tvayā brahman netuṁ śakyā na vai balāt

Nandinī said: O illustrious Sir! Have you abandoned me, that you say so? O Brāhmaṇa! If you do not abandon me, I cannot be taken away by force.

vasiṣṭha uvāca

na tvaṁ tyajāmi kalyāṇi sthīyatāṁ yadi śakyate

dṛḍhena dāmnā baddhavaiṣa vatsaste hriyate balāt

Vasiṣṭha said: O blessed one! I do not abandon you. Stay if you can! Your calf, tied with strong rope, is even now being carried away by force.

gandharva uvāca

sthāyatāmiti tacchrutvā vasiṣṭhasya payasvinī

ūrdhvāñcitaśirogrīvā prababhau raudradarśanā

Gandharva said: Having heard word "Stay", that Nandinī raised her head and became fearful to look at.

krodharaktekṣaṇā sā gaurhambhāravaghanasvanā

viśvāmitrasya tat sainyaṁ vyadrāvayata sarvaśaḥ

With eyes red in anger and with repeated roars, she attacked troops of Viśvāmitra on all sides.

kaśāgradaṇḍābhihatā kālyamānā tatastataḥ

krodharaktekṣaṇā krodhaṁ bhūya eva samādade

Afflicted with their stripes and being dragged hither and thither, her anger doubly increased and her eyes became red in wrath.

Blazing in anger, she soon became fearful to look at as the sun at mid day. She began incessantly to shower burning coals from her tail.

asṛjat pahlavān pucchāt prasravād draviḍāñchakān

yonideśācca yavanān śakṛtaḥ śabarān bahūn

A few moments after she brought forth from her tail an army of Pahlava, from her udders an army of Dravida and Śakhās, from her womb an army af Yavanās, From her dung an army of Śabarās.

mūtrataścāsṛjat kāṁścicchabarāṁścaiva pārśvataḥ

pauṇḍrān kirātān yavanān siṁhalān barbarān khasān

cibukāṁśca pulindāṁśca cīnān hūṇān sakeralān

sasarja phenataḥ sā gaurmlecchān bahuvidhānāpi

From her urine an army of Kāṁcīs and from her sides an army of Śarabarās and from the froth of her mouth that cow created hosts of Kirātas, Yavanas, Siṁhalās, Barbarās, Cibukās, Pulindās, Cīnās, Hūṇās, Keralās and many other Mlecchas.

tairvisṛṣṭarmahāsainyairnānāmlecchagaṇaistadā

nānākīryata saṁrabdhairviśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ

ekaikaśca tadā yodhaḥ pañcabhiḥ saptabhirvṛtaḥ

Those large armies of Mlecchas, dressed in various uniforms and armed with various weapons, as soon as they sprang into life, spreading all around, attacked before his very sight troops of Viśvāmitra, 5 or 7 attacking one.

astravarṣeṇa mahatā vadhyamānaṁ balaṁ tadā

prabhagnaṁ sarvatastrastaṁ viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ

Assailed with great shower of weapons, troops of Viśvāmitra, before his very sight broke and fled stricken with panic in all directions.

na ca prāṇairviyujyante kecit tatrāsya sainikāḥ

viśvāmitrasya saṁkruddhairvāsiṣṭhairbharatarṣabha

O best of Bharata race! Though greatly excited with anger, troops of Vasiṣṭha did not take the life of any of Viśvāmitra ̍ s troops.

sā gaustat sakalaṁ sainyaṁ kālayāmāsa dūrataḥ

viśvāmitrasya tat sainyaṁ kālyamānaṁ triyojanam

Nandinī simply drove troops of Viśvāmitra to a distance. Being thus driven full 77 miles, troops of Viśvāmitra,

krośamānaṁ bhayodvignaṁ trātāraṁ nādhyagacchata

dṛṣṭvā tanmahadāścaryaṁ brahmatejobhave tadā

Becoming panic stricken, cried aloud and did not see enyone who could protect them. Seeing this great and wonderful feat of Brāhmaṇa might,

viśvāmitraḥ kṣatrabhāvānnirviṇṇo vākyamabravīt

dhig balaṁ kṣatriyabalaṁ brahmatejobalaṁ balam

Viśvāmitra became disgusted with Kṣatriya might and spoke thus: Fie on Kṣatriya prowess! Brāhmaṇa might is true might!

balābalaṁ viniścitya tapa eva paraṁ balam

sa rājyaṁ sphītamutsṛjyāṁ tāṁ ca dīptāṁ nṛpaśriyam

In judging of the strength and weakness, I see asceticism is true strength! Thereupon that best of kings, abandoning his kingdom and regal splendour,

bhogāṁśca pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tapasyeva mano dadhe

sa gatvā tapasā siddhiṁ lokān viṣṭabhya tejasā

And turning his back to all pleasures, set his mind on asceticism. He filled the world with his effulgence.

tatāpa sarvān dīptaujā brāhmaṇatvamavāptavān

apibacca tataḥ somamindreṇa saha kauśikaḥ

Afflicted all with his effulgence, he became a Brāhmaṇa. Son of Kuśika, Viśvāmitra, at last drank Soma with Indra himself.