The history of the Tirtha Vasishthapavaha (ch42)

MAHABHARATA

CHAPTER 42
(GADAYUDDHA PARVA)-Continued

The history of the Tirtha Vasishthapavaha

SYNOPSIS

King Janamejaya inquires about the rapid flow of the Vashishthapavaha tirtha and the origin of the enmity between the sages Vishvamitra and Vashishtha. Vaishampayana narrates the tale of their rivalry, which arose due to their competition over ascetic superiority.

Vashishtha's hermitage was on the eastern bank of the Sarasvati, while Vishvamitra's was on the opposite bank at the Sthanu-tirtha, a sacred site established by Mahadeva after performing intense penances. Jealous of Vashishtha's power, Vishvamitra devised a plan to bring Vashishtha to him through the river Sarasvati and kill him. He summoned Sarasvati, who trembled with fear but obeyed his command to carry Vashishtha.

When Sarasvati informed Vashishtha of Vishvamitra's intent, the compassionate sage instructed her to follow Vishvamitra's orders to save herself. Torn between the two powerful sages, Sarasvati washed away one of her banks and carried Vashishtha toward Vishvamitra’s hermitage. As she did so, Vashishtha lauded her divine qualities and importance to the universe.

Before Vishvamitra could harm Vashishtha, Sarasvati, fearing the consequences of Brahmana slaughter, quickly diverted her course and returned Vashishtha to the eastern bank. Though she fulfilled both sages' commands, this act angered Vishvamitra, who cursed her to flow with blood mixed with water for a year, attracting Rakshasas and filling the gods and celestial beings with sorrow.

Ultimately, Sarasvati regained her original pure state, but the site became known as Vashishthapavaha, commemorating the conflict between the two sages and the river's role in their rivalry. This story highlights themes of divine intervention, the struggles of celestial beings, and the sanctity of sacred rivers.

CHAPTER 42

जनमेजय उवाच

वसिष्ठस्यापवाहोऽसौ भीमवेगः कथं नु सः ।
किमर्थं च सरिच्छ्रेष्टा तमृषिं प्रत्यवाहयत् ॥ १॥

janamejaya uvāca
vasiṣṭhasyāpavāho’sau bhīmavegaḥ kathaṃ nu saḥ |
kimarthaṃ ca saricchreṣṭā tamṛṣiṃ pratyavāhayat || 1||

Janamejaya said

"Why is the current of the tirtha known as Vashishthapavaha so rapid? For why did the foremost of rivers carry away Vashishtha?

कथमस्याभवद् वैरं कारणं किं च तत् प्रभो ।
शंस पृष्टो महाप्राज्ञ न हि तृप्यामि कथ्यति ॥ २ ॥

kathamasyābhavad vairaṃ kāraṇaṃ kiṃ ca tat prabho |
śaṃsa pṛṣṭo mahāprājña na hi tṛpyāmi kathyati || 2 ||

What, O lord, was the cause of the quarrel between Vashishtha and Vishvamitra? Asked by me, O you of great wisdom, tell me all this. I am never satiated with hearing your account."

वैशम्पायन उवाच
विश्वामित्रस्य विप्रर्षेर्वसिष्ठस्य च भारत ।
भृशं वैरमभूद् राजंस्तप: स्पर्धाकृतं महत् ॥ ३ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
viśvāmitrasya viprarṣervasiṣṭhasya ca bhārata |
bhṛśaṃ vairamabhūd rājaṃstapa: spardhākṛtaṃ mahat || 3 ||

Vaishampayana said

A great enmity arose between Vishvamitra and Vashishtha, O Bharata, on account of their rivalry regarding ascetic penances.

आश्रमो वै वसिष्ठस्य स्थाणुतीर्थेऽभवन्महान् ।
पूर्वतः पार्श्वतश्चासीद् विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ॥ ४ ॥

āśramo vai vasiṣṭhasya sthāṇutīrthe’bhavanmahān |
pūrvataḥ pārśvataścāsīd viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ || 4 ||

The hermitage of Vashishtha was in the tirtha called Sthanu on the eastern bank of the Sarasvati. On the opposite bank was the hermitage of the intelligent Vishvamitra.

यत्र स्थाणुर्महाराज तप्तवान् परमं तपः ।
तत्रास्य कर्म तद् घोरं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ॥ ५ ॥

yatra sthāṇurmahārāja taptavān paramaṃ tapaḥ |
tatrāsya karma tad ghoraṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ || 5 ||

There, in that tirtha, O king, Mahadeva had practiced the hardest penances. Sages still speak of those penances.

यत्रेष्ट्वा भगवान् स्थाणुः पूजयित्वा सरस्वतीम् ।
स्थापयामास तत् तीर्थं स्थाणुतीर्थमिति प्रभो ॥ ६ ॥

yatreṣṭvā bhagavān sthāṇuḥ pūjayitvā sarasvatīm |
sthāpayāmāsa tat tīrthaṃ sthāṇutīrthamiti prabho || 6 ||

Having performed a sacrifice there and adored the river Sarasvati, Sthanu established that tirtha there. Therefore it is known by the name Sthanu-tirtha, O lord.

तत्र तीर्थे सुराः स्कन्दमभ्यषिञ्चन्नराधिप ।
सैनापत्येन महता सुरारिविनिबर्हणम्॥ ७ ॥

tatra tīrthe
'surāḥ skandamabhyaṣiñcannarādhipa |
saināpatyena mahatā surārivinibarhaṇam|| 7 ||

In that tirtha, the celestials had, formerly, O king, appointed Skanda, that destroyer of the enemies of the celestials, as the generalissimo of their army.

तस्मिन् सारस्वते तीर्थे विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
वसिष्ठं चालयामास तपसोग्रेण तच्छृणु ॥ ८ ॥

tasmin sārasvate tīrthe viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ |
vasiṣṭhaṃ cālayāmāsa tapasogreṇa tacchṛṇu || 8 ||

The great Rishi Vishvamitra, by the help of his austere penances, brought Vashishtha, to that tirtha of the Sarasvati, listen to that account.

विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठौ तावहन्यहनि भारत ।
स्पर्धां तपःकृतां तीव्रां चक्रतुस्तौ तपोधनौ ॥ ९ ॥

viśvāmitravasiṣṭhau tāvahanyahani bhārata |
spardhāṃ tapaḥkṛtāṃ tīvrāṃ cakratustau tapodhanau || 9 ||

The two ascetics Vishvamitra and Vashishtha, O Bharata, competed keenly with each other in respect of the superiority of their penances.

तत्राप्यादिकसंतापो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
दृष्ट्वा तेजो वसिष्ठस्य चिन्तामभिजगाम ह ॥ १० ॥

tatrāpyādikasaṃtāpo viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ |
dṛṣṭvā tejo vasiṣṭhasya cintāmabhijagāma ha || 10 ||

Being jealous of the power of Vashishtha, the great Muni Vishvamitra began to think seriously.

तस्य बुद्धिरियं ह्यासीद् धर्मनित्यस्य भारत ।
इयं सरस्वतीं तूर्णं मत्समीपं तपोधनम् ॥ ११॥
आनयिष्यति वेगेन वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् ।
इहागतं द्विजश्रेष्ठं हनिष्यामि न संशयः ॥ १२ ॥

tasya buddhiriyaṃ hyāsīd dharmanityasya bhārata |
iyaṃ sarasvatīṃ tūrṇaṃ matsamīpaṃ tapodhanam || 11||
ānayiṣyati vegena vasiṣṭhaṃ tapatāṃ varam |
ihāgataṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ haniṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ || 12 ||

Thought devoted to the performance of his duties, O Bharata, he formed the resolution, viz., This Sarasvati shall speedily bring, by force of her current, that foremost of ascetics, viz., Vashishtha, to my presence. After he shall have been brought hither, I shall forsooth kill that greatest of ascetics.

एवं निश्चित्य भगवान् विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
सस्मार सरितां श्रेष्ठां क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ॥ १३ ॥

evaṃ niścitya bhagavān viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ |
sasmāra saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ || 13 ||

Having formed this resolution, the illustrious and great Rishi Vishvamitra, with eyes red in ire, thought of that foremost of rivers.

सा ध्याता मुनिना तेन व्याकुलत्वं जगाम ह।
जज्ञे चैनं महावीर्यं महाकोपं च भाविनी ॥ १४॥

sā dhyātā muninā tena vyākulatvaṃ jagāma ha|
jajñe cainaṃ mahāvīryaṃ mahākopaṃ ca bhāvinī || 14||

Thus remembered by the ascetic, she became exceedingly agitated. The fair lady, repaired to that energetic and wrathful Rishi.

तत एनं वेपमानां विवर्णा प्राञ्जलिस्तदा ।
उपतस्थे मुनिवरं विश्वामित्रं सरस्वती ॥ १५ ॥

tata enaṃ vepamānāṃ vivarṇā prāñjalistadā |
upatasthe munivaraṃ viśvāmitraṃ sarasvatī || 15 ||

Pale and trembling, Sarasvati, with clasped hands, appeared before that best of sages.

हतवीरा यथा नारी साऽभवद् दुःखिता भृशम्।
ब्रूहि किं करवाणीति प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमम् ॥ १६ ॥

hatavīrā yathā nārī sā’bhavad duḥkhitā bhṛśam|
brūhi kiṃ karavāṇīti provāca munisattamam || 16 ||

Indeed, the lady was greatly afflicted with sorrow, even like a woman who had lost her powerful husband. And she said to that best of sages - "Tell me what I can do for you.

तामुवाच मुनिः क्रुद्धो वसिष्ठं शीघ्रमानय ।
यावदेनं निहन्म्यद्य तच्छ्रुत्वा व्यथिता नदी ॥ १७ ॥

tāmuvāca muniḥ kruddho vasiṣṭhaṃ śīghramānaya |
yāvadenaṃ nihanmyadya tacchrutvā vyathitā nadī || 17 ||

Filled with ire, the ascetic said to her -Bring here Vashishtha without delay, so that I may kill him.' Hearing these words, the river became agitated.

प्राञ्जलिं तु ततः कृत्वा पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणा।
प्राकम्पत भृशं भीता वायुनेवाहता लता ॥ १८ ॥

prāñjaliṃ tu tataḥ kṛtvā puṇḍarīkanibhekṣaṇā|
prākampata bhṛśaṃ bhītā vāyunevāhatā latā || 18 ||

With clasped hands, the lotus-eyed lady began to tremble in fear, like a creeper shaken by the wind.

तथारूपां तु तां दृष्ट्वा मुनिराह महानदीम् ।
अविचारं वसिष्ठं त्वमानयस्वान्तिकं मम ॥ १९ ॥

tathārūpāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā munirāha mahānadīm |
avicāraṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ tvamānayasvāntikaṃ mama || 19 ||

Beholding the great river in that condition, the ascetic said to her "Bring Vashishtha before me without any scruple.'

सा तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ज्ञात्वा पापं चिकीर्षितम् ।
वसिष्ठस्य प्रभावं च जानन्त्यप्रतिमं भुवि ॥ २० ॥
साऽभिगम्य वसिष्ठं च इदमर्थमचोदयत् ।
यदुक्ता सरितां श्रेष्ठा विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥ २१ ॥

sā tasya vacanaṃ śrutvā jñātvā pāpaṃ cikīrṣitam |
vasiṣṭhasya prabhāvaṃ ca jānantyapratimaṃ bhuvi || 20 ||
sā’bhigamya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca idamarthamacodayat |
yaduktā saritāṃ śreṣṭhā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā || 21 ||

Hearing these words of his and knowing the evil he meant and acquainted also with the matchless power of Vashishtha she went to Vashishtha and informed him of what the intelligent Vishvamitra had said to her.

उभयोः शापयोर्भीता वेपमाना पुनः पुनः ।
चिन्तयित्वा महाशापमृषिवित्रासिता भृशम् ॥ २२ ॥

ubhayoḥ śāpayorbhītā vepamānā punaḥ punaḥ |
cintayitvā mahāśāpamṛṣivitrāsitā bhṛśam || 22 ||

Fearing the course of both, she trembled again and again. Indeed, she stood in fear of both.

तां कृशां च विवर्णां च दृष्ट्वा चिन्तासमन्विताम् ।
उवाच राजन् धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठो द्विपदां वरः ॥ २३ ॥

tāṃ kṛśāṃ ca vivarṇāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā cintāsamanvitām |
uvāca rājan dharmātmā vasiṣṭho dvipadāṃ varaḥ || 23 ||

Seeing her pale and anxious, the righteous Vashishtha, that foremost of men, O king, said to her.

वसिष्ठ उवाच
पाह्यात्मानं सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे वह मां शीघ्रगामिनी ।
विश्वामित्रः शपेद्धि त्वां मा कृथास्त्वं विचारणाम् ॥ २४

vasiṣṭha uvāca
pāhyātmānaṃ saricchreṣṭhe vaha māṃ śīghragāminī |
viśvāmitraḥ śapeddhi tvāṃ mā kṛthāstvaṃ vicāraṇām || 24

Vashishtha said

O foremost of rivers, save yourself, O you of rapid current, bear me away, otherwise Vishvamitra will curse you! Do not feel the least scruple.'

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा कृपाशीलस्य सा सरित् ।
चिन्तयामास कौरव्य किं कृत्वा सुकृतं भवेत् ॥ २५ ॥

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā kṛpāśīlasya sā sarit |
cintayāmāsa kauravya kiṃ kṛtvā sukṛtaṃ bhavet || 25 ||

Hearing these words of that compassionate Rishi, the river began to think, O Kuru-chief, as to what she should do.

तस्याश्चिन्ता समुत्पन्ना वसिष्ठो मय्यतीव हि ।
कृतवान् हि दयां नित्यं तस्य कार्यं हितं मया ॥ २६॥

tasyāścintā samutpannā vasiṣṭho mayyatīva hi |
kṛtavān hi dayāṃ nityaṃ tasya kāryaṃ hitaṃ mayā || 26||

The thought is that Vashishtha shows great mercy to me. It is proper for me that I should serve him.'

अथ कूले स्वके राजन् जपन्तमृषिसत्तमम् ।
जुह्वानं कौशिकं प्रेक्ष्य सरस्वत्यभ्यचिन्तयत्॥२७॥
इदमन्तरमित्येवं ततः सा सरितां वरा ।
कूलापहारमकरोत् स्वेन वेगेन सा सरित् ॥ २८ ॥

atha kūle svake rājan japantamṛṣisattamam |
juhvānaṃ kauśikaṃ prekṣya sarasvatyabhyacintayat||27||
idamantaramityevaṃ tataḥ sā saritāṃ varā |
kūlāpahāramakarot svena vegena sā sarit || 28 ||

Seeing then that best of Rishis, viz., Vashishtha engaged in the silent recitation of Mantras on her bank and seeing Kushika's son Vishvamitra also engaged in homa, Sarasvati thought, this is my opportunity.' Then that foremost of rivers, by her current, washed away one of her banks.

तेन कूलापहारेण मैत्रावरुणिरौह्यत ।
उह्यमानः स तुष्टाव तदा राजन् सरस्वतीम् ॥ २९ ॥
पितामहस्य सरसः प्रवृत्ताऽसि सरस्वति ।
व्याप्तं चेदं जगत् सर्वं तवैवाम्भोभिरुत्तमैः ॥ ३० ॥

tena kūlāpahāreṇa maitrāvaruṇirauhyata |
uhyamānaḥ sa tuṣṭāva tadā rājan sarasvatīm || 29 ||
pitāmahasya sarasaḥ pravṛttā’si sarasvati |
vyāptaṃ cedaṃ jagat sarvaṃ tavaivāmbhobhiruttamaiḥ || 30 ||

In washing away that bank, she carried away Vashishtha. While being borne away, O king, Vashishtha lauded the river saying:-- "From Brahma's Manasa-lake you have originated, O Sarasvati! The entire earth is filled with thy pure waters!

त्वमेवाकाशगा देवि मेघेषु सृजसे पयः ।
सर्वाश्चापस्त्वमेवेति त्वत्तो वयमधीमहि ॥ ३१ ॥

tvamevākāśagā devi megheṣu sṛjase payaḥ |
sarvāścāpastvameveti tvatto vayamadhīmahi || 31 ||

Passing through the sky, O Goddess, thou impartest thy waters to the clouds! All the waters are thee! Through thee, we exercise our thinking faculties!

पुष्टिर्द्युतिस्तथा कीर्ति: सिद्धिबुद्धिरुमा तथा ।
त्वमेव वाणी स्वाहा त्वं तवायत्तमिदं जगत् ॥ ३२ ॥
त्वमेव सर्वभूतेषु वससीह चतुर्विधा ।

puṣṭirdyutistathā kīrti: siddhibuddhirumā tathā |
tvameva vāṇī svāhā tvaṃ tavāyattamidaṃ jagat || 32 ||
tvameva sarvabhūteṣu vasasīha caturvidhā |

Thou art Pushti and Dyuti, Kiriti and Siddhi and Uma! Thou art Speech and thou art Svaha! This entire universe depends on thee. Thou dwellest in all creatures, in four forms."

एवं सरस्वती राजन् स्तूयमाना महर्षिणा ॥ ३३ ॥
वेगेनोवाह तं विप्रं विश्वामित्राश्रमं प्रति ।
न्यवेदयत चाभीक्ष्णं विश्वामित्राय तं मुनिम् ॥ ३४ ॥

evaṃ sarasvatī rājan stūyamānā maharṣiṇā || 33 ||
vegenovāha taṃ vipraṃ viśvāmitrāśramaṃ prati |
nyavedayata cābhīkṣṇaṃ viśvāmitrāya taṃ munim || 34 ||

Thus lauded by that great Rishi, Sarasvati, O king, speedily bore that Brahmana towards the hermitage of Vishvamitra and repeatedly announced to the latter the arrival of the former.

तमानीतं सरस्वत्या दृष्ट्वा कोपसमन्वितः ।
अथान्वेषत् प्रहरणं वसिष्ठान्तकरं तदा ॥ ३५ ॥

tamānītaṃ sarasvatyā dṛṣṭvā kopasamanvitaḥ |
athānveṣat praharaṇaṃ vasiṣṭhāntakaraṃ tadā || 35 ||

Seeing Vashishtha thus bring before him Sarasvati, Vishvamitra, worked up with ire, began to look for a weapon wherewith to kill that Brahmana.

तं तु क्रुद्धमभिप्रेक्ष्य ब्रह्मवध्याभयान्नदी।
अपवाह वसिष्ठं तु प्राचीं दिशमतन्द्रिता ॥ ३६ ॥
उभयोः कुर्वती वाक्यं वञ्चयित्वा च गाधिजम् ।

taṃ tu kruddhamabhiprekṣya brahmavadhyābhayānnadī|
apavāha vasiṣṭhaṃ tu prācīṃ diśamatandritā || 36 ||
ubhayoḥ kurvatī vākyaṃ vañcayitvā ca gādhijam |

Seeing him wrathful, the river, fearing to behold a Brahmana's slaughter, quickly bore Vashishtha away to her eastern bank once more. She thus obeyed both of their words, although she deceived Vishvamitra by her act.

ततोऽपवाहितं दृष्ट्वा वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम् ॥ ३७ ॥
अब्रवीद् दुःखसंक्रुद्धो विश्वामित्रो ह्यमर्षणः ।

tato’pavāhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vasiṣṭhamṛṣisattamam || 37 ||
abravīd duḥkhasaṃkruddho viśvāmitro hyamarṣaṇaḥ |

Seeing that best of Rishis, viz., Vashishtha, borne away, the vindictive Vishvamitra becoming enraged addressed Sarasvati, saying

यस्मान्मां त्वं सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे वञ्चयित्वा पुनर्गता ॥ ३८ ॥
शोणितं वह कल्याणि रक्षोग्रामणिसम्मतम् ।

yasmānmāṃ tvaṃ saricchreṣṭhe vañcayitvā punargatā || 38 ||
śoṇitaṃ vaha kalyāṇi rakṣogrāmaṇisammatam |

Since, O best of rivers, thou hast gone away and deceived me, let thy current be changed into blood liked of Rakshasas!'

ततः सरस्वती शप्ता विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥ ३९॥
अवहच्छोणितोन्मिश्रं तोयं संवत्सरं तदा ।

tataḥ sarasvatī śaptā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā || 39||
avahacchoṇitonmiśraṃ toyaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ tadā |

Thus cursed by the intelligent Vishvamitra, Sarasvati flowed for a whole year, bearing blood mixed with water.

अथर्षयश्च देवाश्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तदा ॥ ४० ॥
सरस्वती तथा दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भृशदुःखिताः ।

atharṣayaśca devāśca gandharvāpsarasastadā || 40 ||
sarasvatī tathā dṛṣṭvā babhūvurbhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ |

Beholding the Sarasvati in that plights the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Apsaras became filled with great sorrow.

एवं वसिष्ठापवाहो लोके ख्यातो जनाधिप ॥ ४१ ॥
आगच्छच पुनर्मार्गं स्वमेव सरितां वरा ॥ ४२ ॥

evaṃ vasiṣṭhāpavāho loke khyāto janādhipa || 41 ||
āgacchaca punarmārgaṃ svameva saritāṃ varā || 42 ||

For this reason, O king, the tirtha passed by the name of Vashishthapavaha on Earth. The best of rivers, however, once more regained her own proper condition.