Shloka 1.51.28

शतानन्दोपदेशः — Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मलोकमिवापरम्।ददर्श जयतां श्रेष्ठो विश्वामित्रो महाबल:।।।।

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhasyāśramapadaṁ brahmalokam ivāparam |

dadarśa jayatāṁ śreṣṭho viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Then the mighty Viśvāmitra—foremost among conquerors—beheld Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage, like a second Brahmaloka.

Context

Highly powerful Viswamitra, foremost among the conquerors, (thus) saw the hermitage of Vasishta which looked like another Brahmaloka.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkapañcāśassarga:.Thus ends the fiftyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• āśrama
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse implies that true greatness is not only conquest by force but recognition of spiritual merit: a dhārmic life creates a ‘Brahmaloka-like’ realm on earth through tapas, truth, and right conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After traveling, Viśvāmitra arrives and visually apprehends the grandeur and sanctity of Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage, setting the stage for the coming interaction/conflict around Vasiṣṭha’s powers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent discernment: even a powerful warrior-sage like Viśvāmitra acknowledges the supremacy of spiritual radiance and sacred order.