Chapter 11 : Vishwaamitra - The First Rebel

Vishwaamitra as Vishwarath was born

Of Gaadhi, to do away Gaadhi's mourn

For being sonless. As Kaushik he was also known,

Descendant of Kush, Kushanav, Gaadhi. Right of throne

He had. A khsatriya true, to Hemavatee he got married

Bearing son Raivya. For prosperity he never hurried.

Ashtak is the other,

From Maadhavee, Yayati's daughter.

As King he never plundered.

His sons numbered hundred

From Shalavatee, Renu and others

Born of different mothers,

All queens. He set out to explore

His raajya- kingdom. To heart's core

He felt attraction seeing Vashista's hermitage,

He always felt so seeing rishi's heritage.

Reaching rishi Vashista pranaam he offered.

"O King, I hope you haven't suffered

From your long journey. How is your

Kingdom fairing? Good to see you at my door."

Vashistha said. "Munivar, do not worry

My prajaa- subject- is cheery.

Hope everything is well in aashram of yours,

For your ascetism unceasingly bears

Well being of all. I hope rishis all here

Is in good state of mind. Peer

among rishis, allow us to move on

We have to reach capital before dawn.

All are hungry, they need some rest,

To leave, this is the time best."

Said Vishwaamitra. Vashistha said,

"Allow me to come to your aid.

Let me treat your royal retinue

A feast truly worthy of you."

Vishwaamitra said, "O tapaswyee great,

Doesn't befit us such fate.

Pray, we continue our journey."

In mind he thought Vashisthajee

Is poor, won't be able to

Feed them through and through.

But the muni insisted

At his hermitage only they get fed.

So Vishwaamitra agreed to halt.

Thought Vashistha jee would be at fault

If he cannot feed them. He will be at shame,

In his effort to have some fame

To please stomachs of royal band,

He will get what deserved in hand.

Vashistha called for his cow Nandinee.

Appeared to be a real genie.

Indra's Kaamdhenu- desire cow's calf was she,

Could serve anything as desire be.

Vashistha whispered at Nandinee's ears,

"Let us be of Raajaa volunteers.

He is our guest today, so arrange please

Feast worthy of Raajaa so they feed with ease."

Lo! There are choice foods for royal visitor,

Ate to their heart's content. Vishwamitra, inquisitor,

Never tasted such delicacies before,

His all wishes on Nandini did pour.

He offered wealth and many cows,

He wished Nandini to bring to house.

Vashistha rejected, said daily cores

by Nandini he pleasantly bores.

Jewels belong to kings! Vishwamitra ordered

To get the cow of plenty bordered.

Soldiers fell upon Nandini in bewilder,

Tied a rope in her neck and pulled her.

Nandini thought, "Why does the holy one

Permit such outrage? I have always shown

Love and served him!" She tossed aside

Her captors and fled. She cried,

Requested Vashishtha to protect her.

But Vashistha felt at bar.

"I am helpless before the king

God I only know worshiping."

Nandini shook her head in disbelief,

"Before muni's ire there's no relief.

King's power is vast but limited,

Yours is boundless, unlimited.

Permit me with your power,

I humble king's pride this hour."

"So be it" Vashistha said.

In an instance Nandini made

"Haambaa" call and from each hair of body

Came numerous soldiers to her embody.

Vishwaamitra's army got routed then and there,

Vishwaamitra's pride lied bare.

His hundred sons on Vashistha turned on

But they were all made to burn

By Vashistha's "Hmm" mono-syllable.

Vishwaamitra's grief lied inconsolable.

He went back to palace single man,

Made king the one left of clan.

He realized the tapasyaa power,

Earthly futility at the tower.

He went to Himaalay to please Shiv

by tough asceticism so to him give

Celestial arms at his repertoire.

Of his tap Shiv became aware.

Shiv granted him this Var.

To thoroughly bring Vashistha at par

To his aashram Vishwaamitra rushed,

Fiery arrows on his hut he flushed.

The aashram he began destroying,

Ran munis at his weapons terrifying.

Vashistha comforted his frightened men,

Advised them to keep courage. Then

Took his Brahma danda - the staff of a saint -

Called munis to maintain restraint.

Vashistha thundered, "Deluded you don't know

How to be a king. You stand foe

To your subjects. Wantonly you destroyed

My hermitage. You toyed

With your royalty. You shall die,

For in our penance standing fie.

Vishwaamitra readied Aagneya Astra- Fire Weapon

To the rishis' huts to leap on.

Vashishth put up his Brahm Dand (saint's staff),

"Show me your valor and strength to cough."

Vishwaamitra's arrow hit Vashistha's stuff

Got absorbed there the weapon tough.

Rishis fled hither-thither,

Called them back Vashistha the pear.

He planted danda before him on air.

Vishwamitra hurled on weapons rare.

Roudra, Aindra, Paashupat weapons

To the incantation of mantra - shloks - upon

Vashistha. All futile,

Vishwamitra's anger gathered pile upon pile.

All weapons went in vain,

He put upon bow an arrow again.

Brahmaastra, to the frightening of the Ashramiks and gods in heaven,

Deeply concerned about Vashistha's pain.

The weapon thundered as it advanced,

In Danda it got counterbalanced.

The other saints cheered and Vashistha praised,

He became calm and spirituality raised.

All other weapons all in vain,

Vishwaamitra realized to start again.

All futile before spiritual power,

Above all spirituality stands as tower.

Re-humbled, Vishwaamitra kingdom renounced

To his one son left, he announced.

He desired a brahmarshi to be,

A rishi who stays in Brahma, free.

South he went, with his queen,

To please Brahmaa, with a mind clean.

Four sons took birth at this time,

He meditated with one goal prime.

Brahmaa, pleased, himself revealed,

"Your tapasyaa fruit you yield.

You are Raajarshi, none could bar,

Greatest among kings, undoubtedly you are."

But Raajaa Rishi was not he desired,

Thought to strive harder, as a brahmarshi faired.

Meanwhile Trishanku, as Satyavrata born,

King of Ayodhyaa, had a mourn.

Belonging to Ikshwaaku dynasty,

Called Kulguru Vashistha with all honesty.

Heaven he wanted to go,

Vashistha to all hindrance blow.

Mark! In mortal frame he wanted to reach,

His desire never to breach.

Vashistha refused his request saying

Nobody could go to Swarga just being.

Trishanku went south and found hundred sons

Of Vashistha, he requested the ones

To fulfill his objectives. Refused was he,

"If father can't do, neither can we."

"I will find guru another" Trishanku murmured.

Angry as hell, the sons said, "Father nurtured

You, you can't respect. We curse you,

Chandaal you become, the lowest in view."

Trishanku lost his color and beauty,

Then he could not do king's duty.

Going further south, Vishwaamitra he found.

His tale of woes Vishwaamitra astound.

He proposed to grant his wish,

So that Trishanku could accomplish

His desire to go to Swarga in body,

"A virtuous king" as he embodies.

Vishwaamitra invited all great men,

Who were great tapaswees then.

Only hundred sons of Vashistha did not arrive,

Others gathered to fill the vibe.

The yagna started, Vishwaamitra offered.

No sign from sky, both felt awkward.

Vishwaamitra said, "To heaven I will send you

If from gods I do not have clue.

Half of my tapasyaa power

Let on you, Satyavrata, shower.

Let you ascend to heaven."

Just as said, Trishanku was been

Uplifted. But Indra, the king of gods

Stopped his ascent. "There is no feud

That you to Guru have no respect,

We cannot allow you go unchecked."

Indra threw him down.

Trishanku, the pawn,

Cried, "O Vishwaamitra, Save me!

Traahi!" To stop falling free

"Tishtha- stay" Vishwaamitra roared

Trishanku remained suspended untoward.

"I will create a Heaven around you."

He created seven planets, Saptarshi anew

And twenty seven constellations in southern sky drew.

Soon there was chaos all over.

World mesmerized in this hangover.

Brihaspati and Naarad came to explain,

Requested him not to be vain.

By Brahmaa's solution, Trishanku remained

Suspended in mid-way heaven.

Upside down, Trishanku thus called,

Forever immortal, there stalled.

Loosing power, Vishwaamitra, determined,

Went to Pushkar for tapasyaa refined.

*****

King Saudaas had a quarrel

With Shakti, both immoral,

Vashistha's eldest son, in crossing the road.

Who goes first, a braahman or a king? Feud

Arose. Shakti gave shaap- curse

When his anger made to burst,

That a raakshas Saudaas becomes

Persists on human flesh outcomes.

Vishwaamitra saw all this from a hiding,

Turned to raakhsas Kinkar for being

Entered into Saudaas's body,

Then ten fold raakshas embody.

Saudaas said, "I will start from you."

And ate up Shakti. A new

Vigorous Saudaas became.

Vishwamitra made to crumb

All Vashistha's sons one by one

Showing them to Saudaas. Devoid of son,

Vashistha went to give up life,

Jumped to River Saraswati to end strife.

Saraswati branched thousand fold,

Not accepting Vashistha old.

Then he jumped off a cliff

Mourning his sorrow stiff.

His body became weightless as cotton

Gradually descended to the bottom.

He realized God has a purpose

To keep him alive along us.

*****

Vishwaamitra went for Tap again.

Gods went to Brahmaa to refrain

Him from tapah power.

Nothing could him cower.

Brahmaa before him reappeared,

Declared him Maharshi and disappeared.

"Great Rishi" thus he became,

But that was not Vishwaamitra's aim.

He strove harder, more intensified,

To be Brahmarshi the more he tried.

Indra again got disturbed,

Called Rambhaa apsaraa thus perturbed.

Rambhaa was concerned for his ready curse,

"I will go with you to evade condition worse."

Said Indra, "I will take the form a cuckoo of.

Concern of you you better shove."

They both reached Vishwaamitra's hermitage,

All quiet as a Rishi's pilgrimage.

Indra began to sing divine notes,

Rambhaa began to approach.

Vishwaamitra opened his eyes

Understood trick of Indra in guise.

He got angry, Rambhaa cursed,

To be a stone for many years.

Indra, in fear, hurriedly rushed back,

To appease the Rishi they in abilities lack.

Vishwamitraa realized he became angry,

Decided not to speak and stay hungry.

He moved eastwards to tapasyaa redouble,

To become Brahmarshi he must be able.

*****

In Pushkar he meditated for many many years,

Seeing his tapah Menakaa appears.

For desired title- Vishwaamitra continued meditation,

Indra had called Menakaa to disturb dedication.

Divine dancer, most beautiful is she,

Lived with Vishwaamitra for ten years be.

Like one day, these ten years faired,

He forgot daily chores, as the apsaraa cared.

They had a daughter which Menakaa left,

Cared by Muni Kanva, of Menakaa bereft.

Cared by birds, Shakuntalaa thus named,

She knew not how her parents famed.

One day Vishwaamitra realized his folly,

Allowed her to back to the heaven, the holy.

He went to Himaalay, to Kaushikee River,

To do his penance, in a place peace-giver.

At the end of Tapasyaa, Vishwaamitra Jee

Prepared a meal to break fast be.

Indra came in Braahman disguise.

He gave the food, world his allies.

Again he started his ascetism,

Dense smoke arose to the brim.

Indra again Brahmaa visited,

"Do something, destruction sighted."

"Brahmarshi he deserves" Brahmaa said,

Gods met him, Brahmaa led.

Brahmaa again arrived

Brahmarshi status not to be deprived.

Gods came too in Vashistha's presence,

Vishwaamitra felt the Brahmarshi essence.

They named him Vishwaamitra, friend of the world,

Greatness of humanity and kshatriya furled.

Brahmarshi Vishwaamitra, the wise one

Went on to serve humanity, no ban

In his acceptance, wrote and preached men,

With Brahma and mortality he connected chain.

Gaayatri Mantra he then wrote,

Which braahmans even today quote.

Mahaaveerah, Mahaatejah, Vishwaamitr Mahaamunih-

The great valiant, with great energy, Vishwamitr was a great muni.

Warrior to Rishi, Vishwaamitra hail,

On the great divide, he drew nail.