Shloka 1.55.7

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

Devanagari script

ते साश्वरथपादाता वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।भस्मीकृता मुहूर्तेन विश्वामित्रसुता स्तदा।।1.55.7।।

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā vināśitān putrān balaṃ ca sumahāyaśāḥ |

savrīḍaś cintayāviṣṭo viśvāmitro 'bhavat tadā || 1.55.8 ||

Translation

Seeing his sons and his army destroyed, the highly renowned Viśvāmitra was filled with shame and sank into anxious reflection.

Context

Then one hundred sons of Viswamitra together with their horses, chariots and foot- soldiers were reduced to ashes in a moment by the powerful Vasishta.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma includes the capacity to recognize one’s error. Shame here functions as moral feedback, pushing Viśvāmitra from pride toward introspection and eventual spiritual striving.

What is the narrative situation?

After catastrophic defeat and the loss of his sons, Viśvāmitra’s emotional state shifts from aggression to stunned self-questioning.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The emerging virtue is self-reflection: the ability to pause, reconsider, and redirect one’s path—an early step toward Viśvāmitra’s later ascetic attainment.