Shloka 1.55.2

कामधेनुसैन्यप्रादुर्भावः — Kamadhenu’s Forces, Visvamitra’s Austerities, and Vasishta’s Wrath

Devanagari script

तस्याहुम्भारवाज्जाता: काम्भोजा रविसन्निभा:।ऊधसस्त्वथ सञ्जाता: पप्लवाश्शस्त्रपाणय:।।1.55.2।।योनिदेशाच्च यवनाश्शकृद्देशाच्छका स्तथा।रोमकूपेषु च म्लेच्छा हारीतास्सकिरातका:।।1.55.3।।

Transliteration

prāpya cāstrāṇi rājarṣir viśvāmitro mahābalaḥ |

darbeṇa mahatā yukto darpapūrṇo ’bhavat tadā || 1.55.19 ||

Translation

Having obtained the weapons, the royal sage Viśvāmitra, mighty in strength, became filled with great pride, swollen with arrogance at that time.

Context

"From her lowing Kambhojas bright like the Sun, from the udder Paplavas, weapons in hand, from the vagina Yavanas, from the anus Sakas, from the roots of the hair Mlecchas along with Kiratas and Haritas were born.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• astrāṇi (divine weapons)

FAQs

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

Power without humility becomes adharma: acquiring great means (weapons) must be governed by self-restraint, otherwise pride leads to harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra has gained powerful astras and, intoxicated by that gain, becomes overconfident—setting up his attack on Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights the absence of humility (vinaya) and restraint; it implicitly upholds humility as the needed virtue alongside strength.