Vishvamitra
Vishvamitra is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. Vishvamitra is one of the seven Brahmarshi. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mantra. The Puranas mention that only 24 rishis since antiquity have understood the whole meaning of —and thus wielded the whole power of — the Gayatri Mantra. Vishvamitra is supposed to have been the first, and Yajnavalkya the last.
Before renouncing his kingdom and royal status, Brahmarishi Vishvamitra was a king, and thus he retained the title of Rajarshi, or 'royal sage'.
Textual background
Historically, Viśvāmitra Gāthina was a Rigvedic rishi who was the chief author of Mandala 3 of the Rigveda. Viśvāmitra was taught by Jamadagni Bhārgava. He was the purohita of the Bharata tribal king Sudās, until he was replaced by Vasiṣṭha. He aided the Bharatas in crossing the Vipāśa and Śutudrī rivers. In later Hindu texts, Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣhṭha have a long-standing feud, and scholars have stated they historically had a feud regarding the position of the Bharata purohita. However, this view has been criticized due to lack of internal evidence and the projection of later views onto the Rigveda. In post-Rigvedic literature Viśvāmitra becomes a mythical sage.Most of the stories related to Vishvamitra's life is narrated in the Valmiki Ramayana. Vishvamitra was a king in ancient India, also called Kaushika and belonged to Amavasu Dynasty. Vishvamitra was originally the King of Kanyakubja. He was a valiant warrior and the great-grandson of a great king named Kushik. Valmiki Ramayana, prose 51 of Bala Kanda, starts with the story of Vishvamitra:
His story also appears in various Puranas; however, with variations from Ramayana. Vishnu Purana and Harivamsha chapter 27 of Mahabharata narrates the birth of Vishvamitra. According to Vishnu Purana, Kushanabha married a damsel of Purukutsa dynasty and had a son by name Gaadhi, who had a daughter named Satyavati.
Life and legends
Birth
Kusha and His LineageKusha, the son of Lord Brahma, had numerous children, including Kushanabha. Kushanabha had 100 daughters, all of whom were married to Brahmadatta. Despite this, he lamented the absence of a son. To address this, he performed the Putra Kameshti Yaga, a Vedic ritual seeking a male heir. In response, his father, King Kusha, granted him a boon, assuring him that he would have a son who would bring honor to the lineage. This son was Gadhi, who later became the father of Sage Vishwamitra.
Since Vishwamitra belonged to the bloodline of Kusha, he was also known as Kaushika. By birth, he was a Su-Kshatriya, signifying a noble lineage of emperors.
The Birth of Satyavathi and Her Marriage
Gadhi had only one daughter, Satyavathi, renowned for her exceptional virtues and known as Sugunala Rasi, meaning a woman of the highest qualities. Many kings sought her hand in marriage due to her reputation. Among them was Richikudu or Richika or Ruchika, the son of Sage Bhrigu, belonging to the Brahmin caste. However, as Gadhi was a Kshatriya, he adhered to the Vedic tradition, which allowed Brahmins to marry Kshatriya women but required a ritual gift, known as Kanyasulkam, for the bride's family.
Gadhi stipulated that the suitor must present 1,000 white horses, each glowing like moonlight, with a distinctive single black ear resembling a black lotus. Ruchika, relying on his ascetic power, approached Varuna, the deity of water, in Varuna Loka, a celestial realm described in the Mahabharata. Varuna, though not the regional ruler, possessed the ability to grant lineage and posterity. He agreed to assist Ruchika and instructed him to perform a ritual on the banks of the Ganges River in Kanya Kujya, where the horses would emerge from the waters. The location, known as Ashwa Theertham, serves as a testament to this event. Ruchika fulfilled Gadhi’s demand and married Satyavathi.
The Divine Bows and Ruchika's Legacy
During this period, two legendary bows were created—one was granted to Lord Shiva, later given to King Janaka, while the other was bestowed upon Ruchika by Lord Vishnu. The Vishnu bow, was unbendable by anyone, known as Nyasam.
Following his marriage, Ruchika entered the Grihastha Ashrama. Sage Bhrigu later visited his son’s household, where Satyavathi received him with utmost reverence, adhering to the Vedic tradition of treating her father-in-law with the same respect as her father. Impressed, Sage Bhrigu offered her a boon. She requested a son for herself and one for her father, Gadhi, ensuring the continuation of both family lineages.
The Birth of Vishwamitra and the Role of Sage Bhrigu
Sage Bhrigu prepared two sacred pots of rice infused with Vedic mantras. One was designated for Satyavathi and the other for her mother. The intention was that Satyavathi’s son would be a Brahmin, devoted to penance and spiritual pursuits, while Gadhi’s son would be a Kshatriya ruler. However, due to an inadvertent switch of the pots, the destinies of the unborn children were altered. Consequently, Vishwamitra was born to Gadhi’s wife, rather than to Satyavathi.
Realizing the error, Satyavathi sought to rectify it. Sage Bhrigu granted her a boon ensuring that her son would be born as a grandson instead. As a result, Sage Jamadagni was born as Satyavathi’s son. In turn, Jamadagni’s son was Lord Parashurama, an incarnation of Vishnu.
References
The events described originate from texts such as the Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, and Brahmanda Purana.
Conflicts with Vasishtha
Emperor Vishwamitra, the ruler of Bhu Mandala, governed his vast empire for centuries by adhering to Dharma, ensuring peace and prosperity among his people. His reign was marked by righteousness, and under his rule, the land flourished.One day, while returning from an expedition with an Akshauhini army —comprising warriors, chariots, horses, and elephants—Vishwamitra happened upon the hermitage of Sage Vasistha Maharishi. Out of reverence for the great sage, he halted his journey and decided to visit the ashram.
Upon his arrival, Sage Vasistha welcomed Vishwamitra with traditional Athidhi Satkara. He offered Padyamu, Arghyamu, and Asanam. The two men exchanged pleasantries and discussed the well-being of their people and the balance of Dharma.
As the afternoon approached, Vishwamitra expressed his intent to leave, stating that his soldiers remained outside the ashram and had not accompanied him inside. However, Vasistha insisted, “O Vishwamitra, you have come all the way here. Please accept my Athidhyam.”
Vishwamitra humbly declined, saying, “You have already given me the highest respect, offering water, fruits, and your kind words. Your love and regard are enough for me. I seek nothing more.”
But Vasistha persisted, stating, “You are an emperor, and my guest. You have visited my ashram at the time of meals. An Athidhi is considered equal to Sriman Narayana, the Supreme Divine. It is my duty to ensure that no guest leaves my home without receiving Athidhi Satkaryam. Therefore, I shall provide food not only for you but also for your entire Parivaram—your soldiers, attendants, and animals, including your horses and elephants. Please accept my offering and leave after satisfying your hunger.”
Vishwamitra, moved by the sage’s insistence, replied, “O revered sage, you are a Brahmarshi, a seer of great wisdom. There is no need for you to take such trouble. Your blessings alone are enough for us. Please allow me to leave.”
Yet, Vasistha remained firm in his hospitality, and Vishwamitra, intrigued, finally relented. He decided to witness how the sage would arrange a feast for thousands of men and animals.
At that moment, Vasistha summoned his divine cow, Sabhala, also known as Kamadhenu—the celestial wish-fulfilling cow. With a mere command from the sage, Sabhala manifested a lavish feast, preparing food suited to the desires and preferences of each individual present. Every soldier, servant, and animal was nourished, their hunger completely satisfied.
Vishwamitra watched in astonishment, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. He thought to himself, “What a miraculous being this Kamadhenu is! Despite being an emperor, I do not possess such a treasure, yet this sage owns it.”
Driven by curiosity and desire, Vishwamitra turned to Vasistha and said, “O great sage, grant me this sacred cow. Such a divine gift belongs in the hands of a king, for with Kamadhenu’s powers, I can provide for my entire kingdom.”
However, Vasistha refused, replying, “O Vishwamitra, Kamadhenu is not an object to be given away. She is an integral part of my ashram, and she sustains my way of life. Through her, I perform Swaha Karam, Havyam, and Kavyam. She enables my Prana Yatra, Bhuta Bali, and my Vedic studies. She is the essence of my hermitage—without her, my existence here is incomplete. She is my mother, and parting from her is impossible.”
Determined to possess Kamadhenu, Vishwamitra made an extraordinary offer, saying,
“O Vasistha, in exchange for Sabhala, I will grant you riches beyond imagination:
- 400 golden chariots, each drawn by 4 pure white, spotless horses, adorned in gold and jewels.
- 14,000 mighty elephants, adorned in gold and jewels.
- 11,000 of the finest breed of horses, the best in my kingdom.
- One crore cows, to sustain your ashram for eternity.
- Gold and gemstones in limitless quantities.
Yet, Vasistha remained unmoved. “O Emperor, no wealth or power can replace Kamadhenu. She is not a mere possession; she is the lifeblood of my dharma. No matter what you offer, I shall not part with her.”
Vishwamitra’s face darkened as he heard these words. A seed of Raga-Dvesha had been sown in his heart. A thought took root—“Why can I not have this? Why is it beyond my reach?”—and with that thought, desire gave way to anger.
This moment marked the beginning of a great transformation in Vishwamitra’s journey—a turning point that would shape the destiny of both the sage and the king.