Chapter IX - Viswamitra’s wrath and his enraged speech

Valmiki said:—

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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.

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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).

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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.

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If thou art so impotent Oh king! let me return as I came. Thou promise-breaking Kakustha live happily with thy friends.

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As the high spirited Viswamitra now moved with ire, the earth trembled under him, and the gods were filled with fear.

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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).

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Oh king that art born of the race of the Ikshakus, 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.

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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.

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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.

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Saying, thou wilt do it, if thou retract thy promise, thou losest the object of thy yet unfulfilled desires. Therefore part with Rama from thee.

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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?

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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?

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Guarded by this lion-like man (Viswamitra) in the manner of ambrosia by fire, no Rakshasa will have power to prevail over Rama, whether he be accoutered and armed or not.

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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.

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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.

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Among the Gods, the Sages, the Asuras, the Rakshasas, the Nagas, the Yakshas and Gandharvas, there is none equal to him (in might).

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In bygone days when this son of Kaushika used to rule over his realm, he was furnished with all the arms by Krisaswa, and which no enemy can baffle.

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These arms were the progeny of Krisaswa, and were equally radiant and powerful as the progeny of the Prajapati, and followed him (in his train).

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Now Daksha (the patriarch) had two beauteous daughters Jaya and Supraja (alias Vijaya), who had a hundred offspring (as personifications of the implements, that are invincible in war.

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Of these the favoured Jaya has given birth to fifty sons of old, who are implacable agents of the destruction of Asura forces.

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In like manner, Supraja gave birth to fifty sons of very superior qualities, who are very powerful and terrible in their appearance, and indomitably aggressive.

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Thus Viswamitra 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 Rama to him.

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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.