VISWÁMITRA’S WRATH. AND HIS ENRAGED SPEECH.
Válmíki said:—On hearing this speech of the king with his piteous look
and eyes full of tears, the son of Kausika became highly incensed and
replied.
2. Thou art about to break thy promise after pledging thyself to its
performance, and thus wishest to behave as a deer after having been a
lion (before).
3. This is unbecoming of the race of Raghu, it is acting contrary (to
the rules) of this great family. Hot rays must not proceed from the
cool beamed moon.
4. If thou art so impotent Oh king! let me return as I came. Thou
promise-breaking Kákustha live happily with thy friends.
5. As the high spirited Viswámitra now moved with ire, the earth
trembled under him, and the gods were filled with fear.
6. Vasishtha the meek and wise and observant of his vows, perceiving
the great sage and friend of the world thus influenced by ire, gave
vent to his speech (as follows).
7. Oh king that art born of the race of the Ikshákus, and art a form of
virtue itself, and called Dasaratha the fortunate, and art adorned with
all the good qualities known in the three worlds.
8. Being famed for thy meekness and strictness to thy vows, and
renowned in all three worlds for thy virtues and fame, thou canst not
break thy plighted faith.
9. Preserve thy virtue and think not to break thy faith, comply with
the request of the sage who is honoured in all the three worlds.
10. Saying, thou wilt do it, if thou retract thy promise, thou losest
the object of thy yet unfulfilled desires. Therefore part with Ráma
from thee.
11. Descended from the race of Ikshaku, and being Dasaratha thyself,
if thou failest to perform thy promise, who else on earth will ever
keep his word?
12. It is in pursuance of the conduct of great men like thee, that low
people even do not dare to transgress the bounds of their duty, how
then dost thou wish to violate it thyself.
13. Guarded by this lion-like man (Viswámitra) in the manner of
ambrosia by fire, no Rákshasa will have power to prevail over Ráma,
whether he be accoutered and armed or not.
14. Behold him here as the personification of virtue, the mightiest of
the mighty, and superior to all in the world in his intelligence, and
devotedness to asceticism.
15. He is skilled in all warlike arms that are known in the three
worlds, no other man knows them so well nor shall ever be able to
master them like him.
16. Among the Gods, the Sages, the Asuras, the Rákshasas, the Nágas,
the Yakshas and Gandharvas, there is none equal to him (in might).
17. In bygone days when this son of Kaushika used to rule over his
realm, he was furnished with all the arms by Krisáswa, and which no
enemy can baffle.
18. These arms were the progeny of Krisáswa, and were equally radiant
and powerful as the progeny of the Prajápati, and followed him (in his
train).
19. Now Daksha (the patriarch) had two beauteous daughters Jayá
and Suprajá (alias Vijayá), who had a hundred offspring (as
personifications of the implements), that are invincible in war.
20. Of these the favoured Jayá has given birth to fifty sons of old,
who are implacable agents of the destruction of Asúra forces.
21. In like manner, Suprajá gave birth to fifty sons of very superior
qualities, who are very powerful and terrible in their appearance, and
indomitably aggressive.
22. Thus Viswámitra is strengthened and grown powerful (by means
of these). He is acknowledged as a sage in the three worlds, Thou
therefore must not think otherwise than deliver Ráma to him.
23. This mighty and virtuous man and prince of sages being nigh, any
one even at the point of death in his presence, is sure to attain
his immortality (on earth): therefore be not disheartened like an
insensible man.