Bala Kanda, Sarga 52

Meaning

“Supremely delighted to behold the celebrated Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of those engaged in muttering prayers, the very mighty hero, Viśwāmitra, bowed low to him out of modesty and was greeted by the high-souled Vasiṣṭha in the words “Welcome is your advent to this hermitage !” Nay the almighty Vasiṣṭha, it is said, offered him a seat; and, when he had taken his seat, the great sage then placed before the learned Viśwāmitra fruits and roots according to the rules of propriety. (1—3)

Meaning

“Accepting the hospitality mentioned above from Vasiṣṭha, the exceptionally glorious Viśwāmitra, the foremost of kings, for his part then inquired whether everything was well with his austerities and Agnihotra (worship of the sacred fire) as well as with his pupils and the plant kingdom, the means of their sustenance. In reply to his inquiry Vasiṣṭha told Viśwāmitra, the foremost of kings, that everything was going on well. (4-5)

Meaning

“The great ascetic Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahmā (the creator), the foremost of ascetics, questioned the king as follows when he had been comfortably seated : (6)

Meaning

“ ‘Is everything well with you, O monarch? Do you rule over the people, O pious king, according to the fourfold course of conduct prescribed for a king, delighting them with your love of righteousness? (7)

Meaning

“ ‘Are servants duly maintained by you and do they ever stand at your beck and call? Have all your enemies been fully conquered, O destroyer of foes? (8)

Meaning

“ ‘Is all well with your forces, treasuries and allies, O destroyer of foes, no less than with your sons and grandsons, O tiger among men, divorced from sin as you are?’ (9)

Meaning

“In reply, the exceptionally glorious King Viśwāmitra told Vasiṣṭha, the noblest of all and rich in culture, of his allround welfare. (10)

Meaning

“Having carried on all such talks for a very long time on that occasion, and full of supreme joy, the two celebrated and most pious souls felt pleased with each other. (11)

Meaning

“Then, at the end of the dialogue, O scion of Raghu, the almighty Vasiṣṭha spoke to Viśwāmitra as follows, as though heartily laughing for joy : (12)

Meaning

“I wish to offer hospitality to this distinguished army of yours as well as to your own unfathomable self, according to your dignity, O very mighty king ! Please accept it from me. (13)

Meaning

“Receive you this honour done by me, O king, since you are the worthiest of my guests and as such deserve to be zealously honoured by me.” (14)

Meaning

Requested thus by Vasiṣṭha, the great-minded King Viśwāmitra, replied as follows : “Honour has been done to me by your very words of hospitality. (15)

Meaning

“Duly entertained in everyway by you, who deserve to be honoured by me, O venerable Sir, through fruits and roots that are available in your hermitage and water offered to us for washing our feet and rinsing our mouth with, nay, by your very sight, O highly enlightened soul, I shall now depart. Let my salutation be acceptable to you. Pray, ever regard me with a friendly eye.” (16-17)

Meaning

The pious and liberal-minded Vasiṣṭha actually invited the king once more, even though the latter went on saying like that again and again. (18)

Meaning

Thereupon Viśwāmitra, son of Gādhi, they say, replied to Vasiṣṭha as follows : “All right, let it be as it pleases your venerable self, O jewel among sages !” (19)

Meaning

Full of delight, when addressed thus by Viśwāmitra, the exceptionally glorious Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of ascetics, then called in the following words his cow, Śabalā by name (so called because of her spotted colour), that had been washed clean of mud : (20)

Meaning

“Come along, pray come soon, O Śabalā, and hear also what I say. I am determined to entertain with a sumptuous repast this Rājarṣi Viśwāmitra, alongwith his army. Please get everything ready for me. (21)

Meaning

“Yield for my sake in desired quantities, O celestial cow of plenty, each one of the six varieties of dishes (viz., pungent, acid, sweet, saline, bitter and alkaline) that may be pleasing to a particular individual, to his heart’s content. Look sharp ! Produce, O Śabalā, in plenty all kinds of food accompanied by sweetmeats, drinks of various kinds and dishes that can be licked, such as honey, or sucked, such as the juice of a mango.” (22-23)