Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Poorna
Varsha Sahasre Thu Vratha Snanam Mahamunim |
Abhyagacchan
Sura: Sarva Thapa: Phala Chikirshava: ||
Abraveeth
Su Mahatheja Brahma Su Ruchiram Vacha: |
Rishi:
Thvam Asi Bhadhram They Sva Arjithai:
Karmabhi: Shubhai: ||
Thava
Yevam Ukthva Devesha: Thridhivam Puna: Abhyagath |
Vishwamithro
Mahatheja Bhooya: Thepe Mahath Thapa: ||
Thatha: Kalena
Mahatha Menaka Paramam Apsara: |
Pushkareshu
Narashreshta Snathum Upachakrame ||
Sage
Shathananda continued “ Sage Vishwamithra completed thousand years of severe
austerities, and it was the time all the deities assembled to honor the Sage
with the fruit of severe asceticism.
Lord Brahma honored Sage Vishwamithra with the title of Rajarishi for
his various pious deeds and returned to his abode. Further, Sage Vishwamithra continued severe
austerities for long time; in the meantime the celestial Apsara Menaka arrived
on the holy lake to have a dip. Sage
Vishwamithra was mesmerized at matchless beauty of Menaka who was sporting on the
holy lake, he was tormented by the cupid arrows of Lord Manmatha the moment his
eyes were fell on Apsara, eventually Sage Vishwamithra wholeheartedly invited
the celestial Apsara Menaka to reside with him in his hermitage. Oh! Raghunandana, ultimately Menaka happily resided
with Sage Vishwamithra and the couple had lived beautiful ten years in each
other’s association, during this period of time Sage Vishwamithra has
experienced many impediments to his practice of asceticism. After the completion of ten years in the
association of Menaka, Sage Vishwamithra was realized that it was the unfair
act of the deities to create obstacle for his practice of asceticism and the
fruit of it, he felt that the ten years has passed like a day and night and due
to his sense gratification he has to face obstruction in his practice of
asceticism. Sage Vishwamithra was
besieged with utter guilt and shame, Menaka earnestly stood before the Sage
with her palms joined. Sage Vishwamithra
pacified Menaka who was already in state of culpability and sent her away; he proceeded
to the northern parts of the Himalaya. Finally, Sage Vishwamithra arrived on the
river bank of Kaushiki and underwent severe penance to get relieved from the
sin of sense gratification. In this way,
Sage Vishwamithra continued rigorous austerities for thousand years on the
northern mountains of Himalaya. All the
deities were in a state of trepidation, approached Lord Brahma and conveyed
that Vishwamithra, son of Kushi should be rewarded with the honor of
Brahmarishi. Thus Lord Brahma who was
pleased at the austerities of Sage Vishwamithra revealed his superiority among
the ascetics. Sage Vishwamithra
reverentially greeted Lord Brahma with the palms joined together and spoke “
Oh! Bhagavan, I will be pleased to hear the honor ‘Brahmarishi’ attained with
my pious deeds, I will treat myself as conqueror of senses.” Lord Brahma replied “ You have already won
over your senses, continue your austerities.” and the deities and Lord Brahma
left to their abode. Sage Vishwamithra
continued austerities on standing posture, upraising both the arms and
consuming on air. The ascetically
wealthiest Sage Vishwamithra stood in the middle of Panchabhoothas in the
summer, during the rainy seasons he stood in the midst of waterbed, due to the
immense power of his asceticism the deities felt the torturing heat. Lord Indra and Lord Vayu instructed the
celestial Aspasara Rambha which was convenient for the deities and it was utter
nuisance for Sage Vishwamithra, son of Sage Kushi.”
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
