Vanam Vasudasa Valmiki Ramayana-17 .... Vishvamitra abducts Kamdhenu forcibly : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Vanam Vasudasa Valmiki Ramayana-17

Vishvamitra abducts Kamdhenu forcibly

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

            “When sage Vasishta did not yield to his request and refused to part with his cow Shabala, king Vishvamitra forcibly abducted it the roped and dragged it away from Vasishta. The saddened Shabala with full anguish escaped from the army’s clutches after overpowering them and reached the sage. It questioned Vasishta, that, being his cherished cow why he wanted to abandon and discard it. ‘Did I make a mistake’ asked Shabala. Vasishta replying to the cow said that, when the king forcibly weaning it away from him, he being a Brahmin was unable to counter the Kshatriya’s superiority since a king who was the lord of the land was always mighty and everyone have to be subservient to the king. When Vasishta mentioned to Shabala, that, Vishvamitra’s army was full of chariots, horses and elephants and thus mightier than him, Shabala sought authorization from him to overpower Vishvamitra’s entire army since a sage’s might is blissful and mightier than the mightiest sovereign. Shabala said that Vasishta’s power was absolute and his dynamism was indomitable. Positively responding to the request of Kamdhenu Shabala, Vasishta told the cow to create a power that can conquer the opponent’s power and destroy the enemy in totality”.

Kamdhenu fashioned army annihilates Vishvamitra’s army

            “On hearing Vasishta and on getting authorization from him, the sacred cow Shabala created innumerable Pahlava valor group. They totally annihilated Vishvamitra’s army and caused havoc. Vishvamitra getting annoyed started destroying those Pahlava valor with his weaponry. On seeing this the sacred cow with its yogic capacity again generated more and more deadly army which burnt down entire force of Vishvamitra. Undaunted, Vishvamitra, with his missiles rendered Shabala’s created army chaotic”. Thus, continued sage Shatananda his narration of legend of Sage Vishvamitra.

Vasishta Vishvamitra battle

            Sage Shatananda continued his narration of legend of Vishvamitra and said like this. “Vasishta on seeing the seamless warriors created by Shabala being totally stunned and down by the superb weaponry of Vishvamitra, stimulated the sacred cow to generated more and more forces by its yogic powers and annihilate the enemy’s army. Then, on making a Hum sound, the Kamdhenu created the Kambhoja army from its inlay, Pahlava army from its vagina, Yavanas from the area from where its dung is produced, Shakas from her rectal area hair cavities and likewise from other parts Mlechhas and Kirathas. All this created army pounced on Vishvamitra’s forces and destroyed their chariots, elephants, horses and personnel”.  

            “Hundred sons of Vishvamitra on seeing the total destruction and slaughter of king’s army by the divine cow Shabala marched towards sage Vasishta and attacked him. But, the powerful sage Vasishta blasted them all and burnt down in just a span of minute’s time. When his hundred sons died and all his army was annihilated, king Vishvamitra turned into profound distress and thought of a strategy to counter Vasishta. Finally, he made one of his sons in charge of his kingdom and proceeded to mount Himalayas for practicing a great penance for the divine grace of Lord Shiva with an objective to win sage Vasishta”.

            “After lapse of considerable years Lord Shiva shown his presence to Vishvamitra and offered a boon to him. Vishvamitra on profusely worshiping and praying Shiva requested him to bestow him with entire knowledge of the holy writ of archery together with all connected doctrines. Vishvamitra wanted all that knowledge that were with Gods, Monsters, Gandharvas, Sages, Yakshas, Devatas etc. On agreeing to Vishvamitra’s entreat and after preaching all that he wanted and on blessing him profusely Shiva vanished. Vishvamitra by birth a mightier warrior being a kshatriya having acquired the divine knowledge of archery and missiles ambitiously reached Vasishta hermitage to win him”.

            “On going to the hermitage of Vasishta, the king Vishvamitra by propelling his divine missiles burnt down the entire area whereby all the sages living there frightened and ran away from there. This made Vasishta anger and warned Vishvamitra of consequences. When Vishvamitra did not regard Vasishta’s cautioning, the sage became extremely infuriated and instantly lifted his Sacred Brahma Baton that was shining incessantly and stood opposite to king mutely”.

Victory of Vasishta is victory for Gayatri Hymn

            Shatananda continued his narration. “Notwithstanding Vasishta’s silent warning exhibiting his Brahma Baton, Vishvamitra went ahead with firing his missiles and this time with the Fiery Missile, the Agneyastra. Then Vasishta addressing Vishvamitra as dirty Kshatriya said that whatever powers he might display, he would demolish it. Vasishta made it very clear that Vishvamitra was not aware of the difference between Kshatriya strength and Brahmin strength and he was going to display his strength of ultimate strength of wisdom of Brahmin. By saying so, Vasishta with his Brahma Baton annulled and silenced the deadly fiery missile of Vishvamitra. Instead of keeping quiet Vishvamitra continued his spree of firing missiles and propelled one after another with the knowledge he acquired from Shiva. Sage Vasishta, however, defused all those missiles with his Brahma Baton When all his missiles were defused by Vasishta, as an ultimate resort, Vishvamitra attempted the Brahmastra much to the freighting of Devatas and three worlds”.

            “Even the Brahma Missile was also annulled when Vasishta by holding his Brahma Baton in his hand consumed it completely. Vasishta on swallowing the Brahmastra appeared terrific and from all the pits of his hair radioactivity rolled out and his Baton was shining as an inferno much to the panic of one and all. Then all the saints and sages praised and worshiped the sage Vasishta and said that Vishvamitra was defeated by him and his divine Brahminic power. Then sage Vasishta composed himself. Not knowing what to do Vishvamitra evaluated that all his Kshatriya strength was thwarted by Vasishta’s Brahmin strength. He decided that the only way to become great was to embark on penance to win over senses and obtain Brahma-Sage hood. Thus, he got ready for his penance” narrated Shatananda.

            “Vishvamitra in his heart of hearts, whenever recapped his worst defeat and subdual in the hands of Vasishta, used to feel very bad and was revengeful. Then, on going to Sothern direction with his wife and while performing penance, Vishvamitra he begot four sons by name Havishyanda, Madhushyanada, Drudhanetra and Maharatha. After performing penance for thousand years to satisfy Lord Brahma, he appeared to Vishvamitra and told him that was conferred the prestigious title Rajarshi, the Kingly Sage. Later Brahma disappeared. On hearing the words of Brahma, the Rajarshi designated Vishvamitra felt disgraced and humiliated. He incessantly wept. Reconciling himself, Vishvamitra feeling that all his penance for thousands of years was in vain, and was just sufficient for him to be conferred as kingly sage, he decided to undertake a greater penance for his self-conquest. He continued the penance with determination and dedication”.