Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya how great Kṣatriyas became Brāhmaṇas through austerity. Arṣṭiṣeṇa, though deeply devoted to learning, failed to master the Vedas while living in his Guru’s house. Frustrated, he undertook severe penance at a Sarasvatī tīrtha, ultimately mastering the Vedas and blessing the spot with the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and safety from wild beasts. Similarly, Sindhudvīpa and Devāpi attained Brahminhood through spiritual discipline.
Most notably, Viśvāmitra, the mighty son of King Gādhi, originally a king, faced humiliation when his army was destroyed by Vasiṣṭha’s divine cow. Realizing the superiority of spiritual power, he renounced royal life and performed intense penance at the Sarasvatī. Enduring trials and temptations, he pleased Brahmā and was granted the status of a Brāhmaṇa.
Baladeva (Balarāma), in his pilgrimage, visited these tīrthas, offered great gifts, and honored the sages, recognizing their spiritual achievements and the transformative sanctity of the Sarasvatī River.
जनमेजय उवाच
कथमार्ष्टिषेणो भगवान् विपुलं तप्तवांस्तपः ।
सिन्धुद्वीप: कथं चापि ब्राह्मण्यं लब्धवांस्तदा ॥ १॥
janamejaya uvāca:
kathamārṣṭiṣeṇo bhagavān vipulaṃ taptavāṃstapaḥ |
sindhudvīpa: kathaṃ cāpi brāhmaṇyaṃ labdhavāṃstadā || 1||
Janamejaya said:
"Why did the worshipful Arṣṭiṣeṇa practice the severest of penances? How also did Sindhudvīpa acquire the dignity of a Brahmana?
देवापिश्च कथं ब्रह्मन् विश्वामित्रश्च सत्तम ।
तन्ममाचक्ष्व भगवन् परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥ २ ॥
devāpiśca kathaṃ brahman viśvāmitraśca sattama |
tanmamācakṣva bhagavan paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me || 2 ||
How also did Devapi, O Brahmana and how did Viśvāmitra, O best of men, become Brahmanas. Tell me all this, O worshipful One! Great is my curiosity to hear of all this."
वैशम्पायन उवाच
पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्नार्ष्टिषेणो द्विजोत्तमः ।
वसन् गुरुकले नित्यं नित्यमध्ययने रतः ॥ ३ ॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
purā kṛtayuge rājannārṣṭiṣeṇo dvijottamaḥ |
vasan gurukale nityaṃ nityamadhyayane rataḥ || 3 ||
Vaishampayana said " O King, in the ancient Kṛta Yuga, the foremost among Brāhmaṇas Arṣṭiṣeṇa lived constantly in the abode of his Guru, always engaged in the study of scriptures.
तस्य राजन् गुरुकुले वसतो नित्यमेव च।
समाप्तिं नागमद् विद्या नापि वेदा विशाम्पते ॥ ४ ॥
tasya rājan gurukule vasato nityameva ca|
samāptiṃ nāgamad vidyā nāpi vedā viśāmpate || 4 ||
O King, while he constantly resided in the Guru’s household, his learning (vidyā) was never completed, nor did he fully master the Vedas, O descendant of the Viśāmpati lineage.
सनिर्विण्णस्ततो राजंस्तपस्तेपे महातपाः ।
ततो वै तपसा तेन प्राप्य वेदाननुत्तमान् ॥ ५ ॥
sanirviṇṇastato rājaṃstapastepe mahātapāḥ |
tato vai tapasā tena prāpya vedānanuttamān || 5 ||
Greatly disappointed, O king, the great ascetic practiced very rigid penances. Through his penances, he afterwards acquired the mastery of the Vedas which is the best of all forms of learning.
स विद्वान् वेदयुक्तश्च सिद्धश्चाप्यृषिसत्तमः ।
तत्र तीर्थे वरान् प्रादात् त्रीनेव सुमहातपाः ॥ ६ ॥
sa vidvān vedayuktaśca siddhaścāpyṛṣisattamaḥ |
tatra tīrthe varān prādāt trīneva sumahātapāḥ || 6 ||
Acquiring great learning and a mastery of the Vedas, that best of Rishis became highly successful in that tirtha. He then conferred three boons on that place.
अस्मिंस्तीर्थे महानद्या अद्यप्रभृति मानवः ।
आप्लुतो वाजिमेधस्य फलं प्राप्स्यति पुष्कलम् ॥७॥
asmiṃstīrthe mahānadyā adyaprabhṛti mānavaḥ |
āpluto vājimedhasya phalaṃ prāpsyati puṣkalam ||7||
He said - "From this day onward, any human who bathes in this sacred tīrtha of the great river will obtain the abundant merits of performing an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
अद्यप्रभृति नैवात्र भयं व्यालाद् भविष्यति ।
अपि चाल्पेन कालेन फलं प्राप्स्यति पुष्कलम् ॥ ८ ॥
adyaprabhṛti naivātra bhayaṃ vyālād bhaviṣyati |
api cālpena kālena phalaṃ prāpsyati puṣkalam || 8 ||
From this day there will be no fear in this tirtha from serpents and wild beasts. By the slightest of endeavors one shall reap great results here.”
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा जगाम त्रिदिवं मुनिः ।
एवं सिद्धः स भगवानार्ष्टिषेणः प्रतापवान् ॥ ९ ॥
evamuktvā mahātejā jagāma tridivaṃ muniḥ |
evaṃ siddhaḥ sa bhagavānārṣṭiṣeṇaḥ pratāpavān || 9 ||
Having said these words, that energetic Rishi proceeded to heaven. Thus the worshipful Arṣṭiṣeṇa became successful.
तस्मिन्नेव तदा तीर्थे सिन्धुद्वीपः प्रतापवान् ।
देवापिश्च महाराज ब्राह्मण्यं प्रापतुर्मह ॥ १० ॥
tasminneva tadā tīrthe sindhudvīpaḥ pratāpavān |
devāpiśca mahārāja brāhmaṇyaṃ prāpaturmaha || 10 ||
In that very tirtha, in the Krita age the greatly energetic Sindhudvīpa and Devāpi also had acquired the dignity of Brahman-hood.
तथा च कौशिकस्तान तपोनित्यो जितेन्द्रियः ।
तपसा वै सुतप्तेन ब्राह्मणत्वमवाप्तवान्॥ ११॥
tathā ca kauśikastāna taponityo jitendriyaḥ |
tapasā vai sutaptena brāhmaṇatvamavāptavān|| 11||
Similarly, Kauśika, who was constantly engaged in austerities and had conquered his senses, indeed, through well-performed penance, attained the state of being a Brāhmaṇa.
गाधिर्नाम महानासीत् क्षत्रियः प्रथितो भुवि ।
तस्य पुत्रोऽभवद् राजन् विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ १२ ॥
gādhirnāma mahānāsīt kṣatriyaḥ prathito bhuvi |
tasya putro’bhavad rājan viśvāmitraḥ pratāpavān || 12 ||
There was a great Kshatriya, celebrated over the world, by the name of Gādhi. His son was the mighty and powerful king, Viśvāmitra.
स राजा कौशिकस्तात महायोग्यभवत् किल ।
स पुत्रमभिषिच्याथ विश्वामित्रं महातपाः ॥ १३॥
देहन्यासे मनश्चक्रे तमूचुः प्रणताः प्रजाः ।
न गन्तव्यं महाप्राज्ञ त्राहि चास्मान् महाभयात् ॥ १४ ॥
sa rājā kauśikastāta mahāyogyabhavat kila |
sa putramabhiṣicyātha viśvāmitraṃ mahātapāḥ || 13||
dehanyāse manaścakre tamūcuḥ praṇatāḥ prajāḥ |
na gantavyaṃ mahāprājña trāhi cāsmān mahābhayāt || 14 ||
That King, O dear one, was known as Kauśika, and he became highly proficient in great yoga. then, having anointed his son Viśvāmitra, the great ascetic, as king, he set his mind on renouncing his body.
His subjects, bowing before him, pleaded: "O great sage, do not depart! Protect us from great danger!"
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच ततो गाधिः प्रजास्ततः ।
विश्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता भविष्यति सुतो मम ॥ १५ ॥
evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca tato gādhiḥ prajāstataḥ |
viśvasya jagato goptā bhaviṣyati suto mama || 15 ||
Thus addressed, Gadhi replied to his subjects, saying - "My son will be the protector of the entire world.
इत्युक्त्वा तु ततो गाधिर्विश्वामित्रं निवेश्य च ।
जगाम त्रिदिवं राजनं विश्वामित्रोऽभवनृपः ॥ १६ ॥
न स शक्नोति पृथिवीं यत्नवानपि रक्षितुम् ।
ityuktvā tu tato gādhirviśvāmitraṃ niveśya ca |
jagāma tridivaṃ rājanaṃ viśvāmitro’bhavanṛpaḥ || 16 ||
na sa śaknoti pṛthivīṃ yatnavānapi rakṣitum |
Having said this, Gādhi entrusted Viśvāmitra with the kingdom and ascended to heaven, O King. Viśvāmitra then became the ruler. However, despite his efforts, he was unable to protect the earth.
ततः शुश्राव राजा स राक्षसेभ्यो महाभयम् ॥ १७॥
निर्ययौ नगराच्चापि चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः ।
tataḥ śuśrāva rājā sa rākṣasebhyo mahābhayam || 17||
niryayau nagarāccāpi caturaṅgabalānvitaḥ |
Then, the king heard of a great danger from the Rākṣasas. So, he set out from the city with his fourfold army (infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants).
स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं वसिष्ठाश्रममभ्ययात्॥ १८॥
तस्य ते सैनिका राजंश्चक्रुस्तत्रानयान् बहून् ।
sa gatvā dūramadhvānaṃ vasiṣṭhāśramamabhyayāt|| 18||
tasya te sainikā rājaṃścakrustatrānayān bahūn |
He traveled a long distance and arrived at the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha. There, his soldiers caused many disturbances, O King.
ततस्तु भगवान् विप्रो वसिष्ठोऽऽश्रममभ्ययात्॥ १९ ॥
ददृशोऽथ ततः सर्वं भज्यमानं महावनम् ।
tatastu bhagavān vipro vasiṣṭho’’śramamabhyayāt|| 19 ||
dadṛśo’tha tataḥ sarvaṃ bhajyamānaṃ mahāvanam |
The worshipful Brahman Vashishtha, when he came to his hermitage, saw the vast forest devastated.
तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः ॥ २० ॥
सृजस्व शबरान् घोरानिति स्वां गामुवाच ह ।
tasya kruddho mahārāja vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ || 20 ||
sṛjasva śabarān ghorāniti svāṃ gāmuvāca ha |
Greatly angered, O King, the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha commanded his divine cow, saying: "Create fierce Śabaras (wild hunters)!".
तथोक्ता साऽसृजद् धेनुः पुरुषान् घोरदर्शनान्॥ २१॥
ते तु तद्बलमासाद्य बभञ्जुः सर्वतोदिशम् ।
tathoktā sā’sṛjad dhenuḥ puruṣān ghoradarśanān|| 21||
te tu tadbalamāsādya babhañjuḥ sarvatodiśam |
Thus commanded, the divine cow created men of fearsome appearance. They attacked the army from all directions and utterly crushed it.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विद्रुतं सैन्यं विश्वामित्रस्तु गाधिजः ॥ २२ ॥
तपः परं मन्यमानस्तपस्येव मनो दधे ।
tacchrutvā vidrutaṃ sainyaṃ viśvāmitrastu gādhijaḥ || 22 ||
tapaḥ paraṃ manyamānastapasyeva mano dadhe |
Having heard of his army being scattered, Viśvāmitra, the son of Gādhi, considering austerity to be the supreme power, fixed his mind on penance.
सोऽस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे राजन् सरस्वत्याः समाहितः ।। २३ ।।
नियमैश्चोपवासैश्च कर्षयन् देहमात्मनः ।
so’smiṃstīrthavare rājan sarasvatyāḥ samāhitaḥ || 23 ||
niyamaiścopavāsaiśca karṣayan dehamātmanaḥ |
He, O King, being fully absorbed in meditation at this excellent tīrtha of Sarasvatī, weakened his body through strict vows and fasting.
जलाहारो वायुभक्षः पर्णाहारश्च सोऽभवत् ॥ २४ ॥
तथा स्थाण्डिलशायी च ये चान्ये नियमाः पृथक् ।
jalāhāro vāyubhakṣaḥ parṇāhāraśca so’bhavat || 24 ||
tathā sthāṇḍilaśāyī ca ye cānye niyamāḥ pṛthak |
He lived on water, air, and the fallen leaves of trees. He slept on the naked earth and practiced other vows of the ascetics.
असकृत्तस्य देवास्तु व्रतविघ्नं प्रचक्रिरे ॥ २५ ॥
न चास्य नियमाद् बुद्धिरपयाति महात्मनः ।
asakṛttasya devāstu vratavighnaṃ pracakrire || 25 ||
na cāsya niyamād buddhirapayāti mahātmanaḥ |
The celestials repeatedly attempted to obstruct the observance of his vows. He, however, did not waver from his vows.
ततः परेण यत्नेन तप्त्वा बहुविधं तपः ॥ २६ ॥
तेजसा भास्कराकारो गाधिजः समपद्यत ।
tataḥ pareṇa yatnena taptvā bahuvidhaṃ tapaḥ || 26 ||
tejasā bhāskarākāro gādhijaḥ samapadyata |
Then having practised various austerities with great devotion, the son of Gadhi became effulgent like the Sun himself.
तपसा तु तथा युक्तं विश्वामित्रं पितामहः ॥ २७॥
अमन्यत महातेजा वरदो वरमस्य तत् ।
tapasā tu tathā yuktaṃ viśvāmitraṃ pitāmahaḥ || 27||
amanyata mahātejā varado varamasya tat |
Seeing Viśvāmitra so deeply engaged in penance, the greatly radiant grandsire Brahmā, who grants boons, considered bestowing a boon upon him.
स तु वव्रे वरं राजन् स्यामहं ब्राह्मणास्त्विति ॥ २८ ॥
तथेति चाब्रवीद् ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः ।
sa tu vavre varaṃ rājan syāmahaṃ brāhmaṇāstviti || 28 ||
tatheti cābravīd brahmā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ |
Viśvāmitra then requested a boon, saying, 'O King, may I become a Brāhmaṇa.' In response, Brahmā, the grandsire of all worlds, said, 'So be it.'
स लब्ध्वा तपसोग्रेण ब्राह्मणत्वं महायशाः ॥ २९ ॥
विचचार महीं कृत्स्नां कृतकामः सुरोपमः ।
sa labdhvā tapasogreṇa brāhmaṇatvaṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 29 ||
vicacāra mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ kṛtakāmaḥ suropamaḥ |
Having attained Brahminhood through intense penance, the highly renowned Viśvāmitra, now fulfilled in his desires and resembling the gods, wandered across the entire earth.
अथ वस्त्राण्यलङ्कारं भक्ष्यं पेयं च शोभनम् ॥ ३१ ॥
अददन्मुदितो राजन् पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान्।
तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे रामः प्रदाय विविधं वसु ॥ ३० ॥
atha vastrāṇyalaṅkāraṃ bhakṣyaṃ peyaṃ ca śobhanam || 31 ||
adadanmudito rājan pūjayitvā dvijottamān|
tasmiṃstīrthavare rāmaḥ pradāya vividhaṃ vasu || 30 ||
Then, in that sacred and excellent tīrtha, Rāma (Baladeva), after offering various kinds of wealth, joyfully gave garments, ornaments, delightful food, and beverages, and honored the foremost Brāhmaṇas, O King.
पयस्विनीस्तथा धेनूर्यानानि शयनानि च ।
यौ राजंस्ततो रामो बकस्याश्रममन्तिकात्।
यत्र तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दाल्भ्यो बक इति श्रुतिः ॥ ३२ ॥
payasvinīstathā dhenūryānāni śayanāni ca |
yau rājaṃstato rāmo bakasyāśramamantikāt|
yatra tepe tapastīvraṃ dālbhyo baka iti śrutiḥ || 32 ||
Rāma Baladeva also gave milch cows, vehicles, and beds, O King. Then, from that place, he proceeded near the hermitage of Baka, where the great sage Dālbhya, known as Baka in the scriptures, had performed intense penance.
In this account, Vaishampayana narrates the stories of Arshtishena, Sindhudvipa, Devapi, and Vishvamitra, illustrating their transformation into Brahmanas through penance and devotion.
Arshtishena's Penances and Boons
Arshtishena, a great ascetic in the Krita age, initially failed to master the Vedas despite prolonged study under his preceptor. Disappointed, he undertook severe penances and eventually gained mastery over the Vedas. To commemorate his success, he conferred three boons upon the tirtha (sacred site) of the Sarasvati River:
Sindhudvipa and Devapi
In the same tirtha, Sindhudvipa and Devapi, through their rigorous austerities, attained the status of Brahmanas, transcending their original Kshatriya status.
Vishvamitra’s Transformation
Vishvamitra, born as a Kshatriya and the son of King Gadhi, initially succeeded his father on the throne. However, his inability to effectively protect his kingdom and a devastating encounter with the sage Vashishtha's mystical powers led him to renounce his kingly duties. Inspired by the efficacy of ascetic practices, Vishvamitra embarked on severe penances. Despite celestial attempts to distract him, his unwavering resolve earned him Brahma’s blessing, elevating him to the status of a Brahmana. With his newfound divinity, Vishvamitra traversed the earth like a god.
Rama’s Generosity
The narrative concludes with Rama’s visit to the same tirtha, where he performed acts of charity, distributing wealth, cows, and gifts to Brahmanas. Rama then proceeded to the hermitage of Dalvya-Vaka, known for its association with intense penances.
The story emphasizes themes of perseverance, self-transformation, and the sanctity of the Sarasvati River as a site for spiritual growth and divine blessings.