Bala Kanda, Sarga 52

स दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रो महाबल:। प्रणतो विनयाद्वीरो वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्।।1.52.1।।

sa dṛṣṭvā paramaprīto viśvāmitro mahābala:| praṇato vinayādvīro vasiṣṭhaṃ japatāṃ varam

Overwhelmed with joy the mighty, heroic Viswamitra upon seeing Vasishta, the greatest among ascetics, was and offered respectful salutations.

स्वागतं तव चेत्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। आसनं चास्य भगवान् वसिष्ठो व्यादिदेश ह।।1.52.2।।

svāgataṃ tava cetyukto vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā| āsanaṃ cāsya bhagavān vasiṣṭho vyādideśa ha

Adorable Vasishta received Viswamitra with words of welcome and ordered a seat for him.

उपविष्टाय च तदा विश्वामित्राय धीमते। यथान्यायं मुनिवर: फलमूलमुपाहरत्।।1.52.3।।

upaviṣṭāya ca tadā viśvāmitrāya dhīmate| yathānyāyaṃ munivara: phalamūlamupāharat

With the sagacious Viswamitra seated the great ascetic, duly offered him fruits and roots.

प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां वसिष्ठाद्राजसत्तम:। तपोग्निहोत्रशिष्येषु कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत।।1.52.4।। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वनस्पतिगणे तथा । सर्वत्र कुशलं चाह वसिष्ठो राजसत्तमम्।।1.52.5।।

pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ vasiṣṭhādrājasattama:| tapognihotraśiṣyeṣu kuśalaṃ paryapṛcchata viśvāmitro mahātejā vanaspatigaṇe tathā | sarvatra kuśalaṃ cāha vasiṣṭho rājasattamam

Foremost among kings, the brilliant Viswamitra, having received hospitality from Vasishta, enquired about his welbeing his austerities, his firesacrifices, his disciples and trees (in his hermitage). Vasishta, too, informed him of the welfare of all.

प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां वसिष्ठाद्राजसत्तम:। तपोग्निहोत्रशिष्येषु कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत।।1.52.4।। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वनस्पतिगणे तथा । सर्वत्र कुशलं चाह वसिष्ठो राजसत्तमम्।।1.52.5।।

pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ vasiṣṭhādrājasattama:| tapognihotraśiṣyeṣu kuśalaṃ paryapṛcchata viśvāmitro mahātejā vanaspatigaṇe tathā | sarvatra kuśalaṃ cāha vasiṣṭho rājasattamam

Foremost among kings, the brilliant Viswamitra, having received hospitality from Vasishta, enquired about his welbeing his austerities, his firesacrifices, his disciples and trees (in his hermitage). Vasishta, too, informed him of the welfare of all.

सुखोपविष्टं राजानं विश्वामित्रं महातपा:। पप्रच्छ जपतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणस्सुत:।।1.52.6।।

sukhopaviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ viśvāmitraṃ mahātapā:| papraccha japatāṃ śreṣṭho vasiṣṭho brahmaṇassuta:

Vasishta, son of Brahma, the greatest among those who recite prayers and possess rich asceticism enquired of king Viswamitra comfortably seated (before him):

कच्चित्ते कुशलं राजन् कच्चिद्धर्मेण रञ्जयन्। प्रजा: पालयसे वीर राजवृत्तेन धार्मिक।।1.52.7।।

kaccitte kuśalaṃ rājan kacciddharmeṇa rañjayan| prajā: pālayase vīra rājavṛttena dhārmika

"O King, is it all well with you? O righteous one O heroic one are you ruling (your subjects) in accordance with the duties enjoined upon the king? Do you rule them in conformity with the code of moralit in order to make them happy.

कच्चित्ते सम्भृता भृत्या: कच्चित्तिष्ठन्ति शासने। कच्चित्ते विजितास्सर्वे रिपवो रिपुसूदन ।।1.52.8।।

kaccitte sambhṛtā bhṛtyā: kaccittiṣṭhanti śāsane| kaccitte vijitāssarve ripavo ripusūdana

Are your servants provided well with their requirements? Do they abide by your command? O Destroyer of foes have all your enemies been conquered ?

कच्चिद्बलेषु कोशेषु मित्रेषु च परन्तप। कुशलं ते नरव्याघ्र पुत्रपौत्रे तवानघ ।।1.52.9।।

kaccidbaleṣu kośeṣu mitreṣu ca parantapa| kuśalaṃ te naravyāghra putrapautre tavānagha

O Tormentor of enemies O Sinless one O Tiger among men is it all well with your army, treasury, friends, sons and grandsons?

सर्वत्र कुशलं राजा वसिष्ठं प्रत्युदाहरत्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठं विनयान्वित:।।1.52.10।।

sarvatra kuśalaṃ rājā vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyudāharat| viśvāmitro mahātejā vasiṣṭhaṃ vinayānvita:

Highly brilliant king Viswamitra, humbly informed Vasishta that all was well.

कृत्वोभौ सुचिरं कालं धर्मिष्ठौ ता: कथा: शुभा:। मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेतां तौ परस्परम्।।1.52.11।।

kṛtvobhau suciraṃ kālaṃ dharmiṣṭhau tā: kathā: śubhā:| mudā paramayā yuktau prīyetāṃ tau parasparam

Both the righteous personalities dwelt at length on various matters and interesting anecdotes with great delight and derived mutual pleasure.

ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथाऽन्ते रघुनन्दन । विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव।।1.52.12।।

tato vasiṣṭho bhagavān kathā'nte raghunandana | viśvāmitramidaṃ vākyamuvāca prahasanniva

O Descendent of Raghu at the end of the conversation, venerable Vasishta, smiling as it were said to Viswamitra

आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि बलस्यास्य महाबल । तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य यथार्हं सम्प्रतीच्छ मे।।1.52.13।।

ātithyaṃ kartumicchāmi balasyāsya mahābala | tava caivāprameyasya yathārhaṃ sampratīccha me

O Highy powerful Viswamitra I wish to offer appropriate hospitality to you and to your incomparable army. Be pleased to accept it.

सत्क्रियां तु भवानेतां प्रतीच्छतु मयोद्यताम्। राजा त्वमतिथिश्रेष्ठ: पूजनीय: प्रयत्नत:।।1.52.14।।

satkriyāṃ tu bhavānetāṃ pratīcchatu mayodyatām| rājā tvamatithiśreṣṭha: pūjanīya: prayatnata:

Please accept the honour I extend. Being a king, you are a distinguished guest. you deserve to be treated respectfully in all possible ways".

एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामति:। कृतमित्यब्रवीद्राजा प्रियवाक्येन मे त्वया।।1.52.15।।

evamukto vasiṣṭhena viśvāmitro mahāmati:| kṛtamityabravīdrājā priyavākyena me tvayā

To these words of Vasishta, the great intellectual Viswamitra said, "you have spoken pleasing words. This in itself is hospitality for me".

फलमूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत्तवाश्रमे। पाद्येनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च।।1.52.16।। सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजार्हेण सुपूजित:। गमिष्यामि नमस्तेऽस्तु मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा।।1.52.17।।

phalamūlena bhagavan vidyate yattavāśrame| pādyenācamanīyena bhagavaddarśanena ca sarvathā ca mahāprājña pūjārheṇa supūjita:| gamiṣyāmi namaste'stu maitreṇekṣasva cakṣuṣā

"O Worshipful one O Profoundly wise one you are worthy of homage. You have excellently honoured me in all possible ways with whatever fruits and roots available in your hermitage, with water for washing feet and for sipping. You have permitted me darshan with your revered self. I shall leave (now). My regards Look upon me with eyes of friendship".

फलमूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत्तवाश्रमे। पाद्येनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च।।1.52.16।। सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजार्हेण सुपूजित:। गमिष्यामि नमस्तेऽस्तु मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा।।1.52.17।।

phalamūlena bhagavan vidyate yattavāśrame| pādyenācamanīyena bhagavaddarśanena ca sarvathā ca mahāprājña pūjārheṇa supūjita:| gamiṣyāmi namaste'stu maitreṇekṣasva cakṣuṣā

"O Worshipful one O Profoundly wise one you are worthy of homage. You have excellently honoured me in all possible ways with whatever fruits and roots available in your hermitage, with water for washing feet and for sipping. You have permitted me darshan with your revered self. I shall leave (now). My regards Look upon me with eyes of friendship".

एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं वसिष्ठ:पुनरेव हि। न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मात्मा पुन:पुनरुदारधी:।।1.52.18।।

evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ vasiṣṭha:punareva hi| nyamantrayata dharmātmā puna:punarudāradhī:

As the king was addressing thus the righteous and generous Vasishta, repeatedly requested him to accept his hospitality.

बाढमित्येव गाधेयो वसिष्ठं प्रत्युवाच ह। यथा प्रियं भगवतस्तथाऽस्तु मुनिपुङ्गव।।1.52.19।।

bāḍhamityeva gādheyo vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyuvāca ha| yathā priyaṃ bhagavatastathā'stu munipuṅgava

The son of Gadhi said to Vasishta, "O Preeminent among sages, be it so, O venerable one they will be done".

एवमुक्तो महातेजा वसिष्ठो जपतां वर:। आजुहाव तत: प्रीत: कल्माषीं धूतकल्मष:।।1.52.20।।

evamukto mahātejā vasiṣṭho japatāṃ vara:| ājuhāva tata: prīta: kalmāṣīṃ dhūtakalmaṣa:

Vasishta who was highly brilliant the greatest among those who meditate (on Brahman) and free from sins was pleased. Thereafter he called the speckled cow (Kamadhenu):

एह्येहि शबले क्षिप्रं श्रृणु चापि वचो मम। सबलस्यास्य राजर्षे:कर्तुं व्यवसितोऽस्म्यहम्।।1.52.21।। भोजनेन महार्हेण सत्कारं संविधत्स्व मे।

ehyehi śabale kṣipraṃ śrṛṇu cāpi vaco mama| sabalasyāsya rājarṣe:kartuṃ vyavasito'smyaham bhojanena mahārheṇa satkāraṃ saṃvidhatsva me|

"O Sabala, come on quick Listen to my words. I have decided to honour this royal saint and his army with excellent food. Make necessary arrangemets.

यस्य यस्य यथाकामं षड्रसेष्वभिपूजितम्। तत्सर्वं कामधुक्क्षिप्रमभिवर्ष कृते मम।।1.52.22।।

yasya yasya yathākāmaṃ ṣaḍraseṣvabhipūjitam| tatsarvaṃ kāmadhukkṣipramabhivarṣa kṛte mama

O Kamadhenu quickly entertain them for my sake with the food of six kinds of tastes (varieties of rich dishes) as desired by each.

रसेनान्नेन पानेन लेह्यचोष्येण संयुतम्। अन्नानां निचयं सर्वं सृजस्व शबले त्वर।।1.52.23।।

rasenānnena pānena lehyacoṣyeṇa saṃyutam| annānāṃ nicayaṃ sarvaṃ sṛjasva śabale tvara

O Sabala create at once all food items consisting of liquids and solids for drinking, tasting and siping." इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्विपञ्चाशस्सर्ग:। Thus ends the fiftysecond sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.