बाल-काण्ड > सिद्धाश्रम का वर्णन



Rama and Lakshmana inquisitively enquired into the Siddha aashrama, Accomplished Hermitage in the earlier chapter for which Sage Vishvamitra informs about the heritage of that hermitage for it once belonged to Vishnu in Vaamna incarnation. Vishvamitra narrates about it and how Vaamna, a dwarfish ascetic boy eradicated evil on earth. It is a suggestion to Rama from Sage Vishvamitra to do likewise in this incarnation of Rama also.

अथ तस्य अप्रमेयस्य वचनम् परिपृच्छतः |
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा व्याख्यातुम् उपचक्रमे || १-२९-१
When that matchlessly illustrious Rama has asked for details, that highly resplendent sage Vishvamitra started to narrate about that forest to Rama. [1-29-1]
इह राम महाबाहो विष्णुर् देव नमस्कृत |
वर्षाणि सुबहूनि इह तथा युग शतानि च || १-२९-२
तपः चरण योगार्थम् उवास सु महातपाः |
"Here, oh, dextrous Rama, he who is worshipped by gods and who has got outstanding ascesis that Vishnu resided here in the pursuit of practising ascesis and yoga for good many years, likewise for a hundred eras. [1-29-2, 3a]
एष पूर्व आश्रमो राम वामनस्य महात्मनः || १-२९-३
सिद्ध आश्रम इति ख्यातः सिद्धो हि अत्र महातपाः |
"This is the erstwhile hermitage of great-souled Vaamana renowned as Accomplished hermitage, why because the sage with supreme ascesis Kaashyapa got accomplishment to such of his ascesis there only. [1-29-3b, 4a]
एतस्मिन् एव काले तु राजा वैरोचनिर् बलिः || १-२९-४
निर्जित्य दैवत गणान् स इन्द्रान् स मरुद् गणान् |
कारयामास तद् राज्यम् त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः || १-२९-५
"In the meantime, when Vishnu was in his asceticism in this hermitage, the son of King Virochana, namely Bali, has completely conquered all the assemblages of gods together with Indra and his coterie called Wind-gods, and ruling that kingdom where that hermitage is there, he has become renowned in all the three worlds for his magnanimity. [1-29-4b, 5]
यज्ञम् चकार सुमहान् असुरेन्द्रो महाबलः |
बलेः तु यजमानस्य देवाः साग्नि पुरोगमाः |
समागंय स्वयम् चैव विष्णुम् ऊचुः इह आश्रमे || १-२९-६
"That great mighty chief of demons Bali then conducted a very grand Vedic ritual. But when Bali is conducting that ritual remaining as its officiator all the gods personally approached Vishnu, keeping Fire-god ahead of them, just here in this hermitage and they spoke to him. [1-29-6]
बलिः वैरोचनिः विष्णो यजते यज्ञम् उत्तमम् |
असमाप्त व्रते तस्मिन् स्व कार्यम् अभिपद्यताम् || १-२९-७
" 'Oh, all-pervading god Vishnu, Bali the son of Virochana is conducting an unsurpassed Vedic ritual, before the completion of which our own mission, say the task of gods, is to be achieved completely. [1-29-7]
ये च एनम् अभिवर्तन्ते याचितार इतः ततः |
यत् च यत्र यथावत् च सर्वम् तेभ्यः प्रयच्छति || १-२९-८
" 'Whoever the supplicant might be and from wherever he might be coming, but if one approaches and supplicates to him he is donating that in as is where is condition, whatever is supplicated and wherever it might be. [1-29-8]
स त्वम् सुर हितार्थाय माया योगम् उपाश्रितः |
वामनत्वम् गतो विष्णो कुरु कल्याणम् उत्तमम् || १-२९-९
" 'As such, oh, Vishnu, you may effectuate the most suitable merited deed for the welfare of gods on resorting to your illusory power, Vishnu Maya, and on assuming the form of a dwarf to deal with Emperor Bali.' Thus gods appealed to Vishnu. [1-29-9]
एतस्मिन् अनन्तरे राम काश्यपो अग्नि सम प्रभः |
अदित्या सहितः राम दीप्यमान इव ओजसा || १-२९-१०
देवी सहायो भगवन् दिव्यम् वर्ष सहस्रकम् |
व्रतम् समाप्य वरदम् तुष्टाव मधुसूदनम् || १-२९-११
"In the meanwhile, oh Rama, he whose brilliance is similar to ritual fire, who will be with his wife Lady Aditi, who is resplendent with his own vitality, that godly sage Kaashyapa on completing his asceticism along with Lady Aditi started to eulogise the boon giver and the eliminator of demon Madhu, namely Vishnu." Thus Vishvamitra is narrating to Rama. [1-29-10, 11]
तपोमयम् तपोराशिम् तपोमूर्तिम् तपात्मकम् |
तपसा त्वाम् सुतप्तेन पश्यामि पुरोषोत्तमम् || १-२९-१२
" 'Oh, Supreme Person, you are abounding with asceticism, aggregate of asceticism, the aspect of asceticism, and the very soul of asceticism, such as you are, I am able to see you with the well practised asceticism of mine. [1-29-12]
शरीरे तव पश्यामि जगत् सर्वम् इदम् प्रभो |
त्वम् अनादिः अनिर्देश्यः त्वाम् अहम् शरणम् गतः || १-२९-१३
" 'In your physique I am seeing this entire universe, oh, god, and you are without a beginning and indefinable, and in you I am taking shelter.' Sage Kaashyapa praised Vishnu in this way. [1-29-13]
तम् उवाच हरिः प्रीतः कश्यपम् धूत कल्मषम् |
वरम् वरय भद्रम् ते वर अर्हः असि मतो मम || १-२९-१४
Vishnu is gladdened for the devotion of sage Kaashyapa who is absolved of any blemish y his ascesis, and then Vishnu said this to, "You may seek a boon as you are boon-worthy, I opine that you are a preferred one to me, let safety be with you." Thus Vishnu said to Kaashyapa. [1-29-14]
तत् श्रुत्वा वचनम् तस्य मारीचः कश्यपो अब्रवीत् |
अदित्या देवतानाम् च मम च एव अनुयाचितम् || १-२९-१५
वरम् वरद सुप्रीतो दातुम् अर्हसि सुव्रत |
On hearing the word of Vishnu sage Kaashyapa, the son of Sage Mariicha said, "oh, god the accorder of boons, as you are pleased with us it will be apt of you to bestow the boon besought by Lady Aditi and the gods, oh, lord with lofty vows, for which boon I am also supplicating to you, following them. [1-29-15, 16a]
पुत्रत्वम् गच्छ भगवन् अदित्या मम च अनघ || १-२९-१६
भ्राता भव यवीयान् त्वम् शक्रस्य असुरसूदन |
शोक आर्तानाम् तु देवानाम् साहाय्यम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि || १-२९-१७
" 'Oh, god, oh, sinless one, you may please attain the sonship of Lady Aditi and myself, oh, dispenser of demons, it will be apt of you to render help to gods who are agonised in the anguish owing to the predominance of Emperor Bali, by becoming the younger brother of Indra. [1-29-16b, 17]
अयम् सिद्ध आश्रमो नाम प्रसादात् ते भविष्यति |
सिद्धे कर्मणि देवेश उत्तिष्ठ भगवन् इतः || १-२९-१८
" 'Oh, god of gods, as the works of my austerities are accomplished here, by your grace this hermitage will be renowned by the name Siddha ashram, Hermitage of Accomplishment, hence oh god, arise from here to become my son.' So said sage Kaashyapa to Vishnu. [1-29-18]
अथ विष्णुर् महातेजाअ आदित्याम् समजायत |
वामनम् रूपम् आस्थाय वैरोचनिम् उपागमत् || १-२९-१९
"That great resplendent Vishnu then adopting a semblance of a dwarf emerged from Aditi, and that dwarfish ascetic boy approached Emperor Bali, the son of Virochana." Thus Vishvamitra continued narration. [1-29-19]
त्रीन् पादान् अथ भिक्षित्वा प्रतिगृह्य च मेदिनीम् |
आक्रंय लोकान् लोकार्थो सर्व लोक हिते रतः || १-२९-२०
महेन्द्राय पुनः प्रादात् नियंय बलिम् ओजसा |
त्रैलोक्यम् स महातेजाः चक्रे शक्र वशम् पुनः || १-२९-२१
"That dwarf ascetic boy Vaamana begged and received a space that can be covered in three strides, but strode all the three worlds in those three steps for the purpose of saving worlds, as he is interested in the welfare of all the worlds. Vishnu gave the earth back to Indra restraining Emperor Bali with his vitality. Thus that great resplendent Vishnu made the three worlds to come under the control of Indra again. [1-29-20, 21]
तेन एव पूर्वम् आक्रान्त आश्रमः श्रम नाशनः |
मया अपि भक्त्या तस्य एव वामनस्य उपभुज्यते || १-२९-२२
"This hermitage which at one time is presided by Vishnu, is an eradicator of stress, either the stress and strain caused by the evil on earth, or the stress of going through the cycle of birth and death, thus this hermitage is an accorded of salvation, and I am also beneficed with this hermitage owing to my devotion to Vaamana. [1-29-22]
एनम् आश्रमम् आयान्ति राक्षसा विघ्न कारिणः |
अत्र ते पुरुषव्याघ्र हन्तव्या दुष्ट चारिणः || १-२९-२३
"Demons causing obstacles, oh, manly tiger Rama, will be arriving at that hermitage and there alone those demons with evil pursuit are to be eliminated. [1-29-23]
अद्य गच्छामहे राम सिद्धाश्रमम् अनुत्तमम् |
तत् आश्रम पदम् तात तव अपि एतद् यथा मम || १-२९-२४
"Rama, we now go to the unexcelled hermitage of Accomplishment, oh, dear one, as to how this hermitage belongs to me, this also belongs to you." Thus Vishvamitra said to Rama. [1-29-24]
इति उक्त्वा परम प्रीतो गृह्य रामम् स लक्ष्मणम् |
प्रविशन् आश्रम पदम् व्यरोचत महामुनिः |
शशी इव गत नीहारः पुनर्वसु समन्वितः || १-२९-२५
So saying that great sage Vishvamitra is highly gladdened to lead Rama together with Lakshmana to the hermitage, and on his entering the hermitage with those two, that sage shone forth like moon with a two starred constellation called Punarvasu, the fifth or seventh lunar mansion, after dispersal of mist. [1-29-25]
तम् दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे सिद्धाश्रम निवासिनः |
उत्पत्योत्पत्य सहसा विश्वामित्रम् अपूजयन् || १-२९-२६
On seeing the arrival of Vishvamitra all of the resident sages of Accomplished Hermitage have quickly approached him with hustle and bustle adoring him. [1-29-26]
यथा अर्हम् चक्रिरे पूजाम् विश्वामित्राय धीमते |
तथैव राज पुत्राभ्याम् अकुर्वन् अतिथि क्रियाम् || १-२९-२७
Those sages reverenced Vishvamitra according to their deservedness, likewise they have offered hospitality to both of the princes, Rama and Lakshmana. [1-29-27]
मुहूर्तम् अथ विश्रान्तौ राज पुत्रौ अरिन्दमौ |
प्रांजली मुनि शार्दूलम् ऊचतू रघुनंदनौ || १-२९-२८
Those two princes from Raghu's dynasty and the enemy-subjugators, namely Rama and Lakshmana, briefly took rest and adjoining palms they spoke to the sagely tiger Vishvamitra. [1-29-28]
अद्य एव दीक्षाम् प्रविश भद्रम् ते मुनिपुंगव |
सिद्धाश्रमो अयम् सिद्धः स्यात् सत्यम् अस्तु वचः तव || १-२९-२९
"Oh, the eminent sage, to day itself you may undertake the ritual of solemnity that is undertaken prior to the main ritual, be safe, and let this Hermitage of Accomplishment become an accomplished one in eradiating vice true to its name, and let the word of yours given to my father in fetching me to this place come true." So said Rama to Vishvamitra, supported by Lakshmana. [1-29-29]
एवम् उक्तो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महानृषिः |
प्रविवेश तदा दीक्षाम् नियतो नियतेन्द्रियः || १-२९-३०
When he is said so, that great radiant and supreme sage Vishvamitra, thereupon scrupulously undertook the vow of ritual controlling his senses. [1-29-30]
कुमारौ एव ताम् रात्रिम् उषित्वा सुसमाहितौ |
प्रभात काले च उत्थाय पूर्वाम् संध्याम् उपास्य च || १-२९-३१
प्रशुची परम् जाप्यम् समाप्य नियमेन च |
हुत अग्निहोत्रम् आसीनम् विश्वमित्रम् अवन्दताम् || १-२९-३२
Both the youngsters Rama and Lakshmana on spending that night vigilantly got up with the sunrise. On finishing morning time bathing they meditated upon the easterly aurora, and then on completing the supreme meditation on Gayatri in its regularity, they addressed themselves to sage Vishvamitra, who by now has enkindled ritual fire and sitting before the Altar of Fire. [1-29-31, 32]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एकोन त्रिंशः सर्गः