गन्धर्व उवाच
तपसा निर्जितौ शश्वद् अजेयाव् अमरैर् अपि ॥
कामक्रोधाव् उभौ यस्य चरणौ संववाहतुः ॥
यस् तु नोच्छेदनं चक्रे कुशिकानाम् उदारधीः ॥
विश्वामित्रापराधेन धारयन् मन्युम् उत्तमम् ॥
gandharva uvāca
tapasā nirjitau śaśvad ajeyāv amarair api ||
kāmakrodhāv ubhau yasya caraṇau saṃvavāhatuḥ ||
yas tu nocchedanaṃ cakre kuśikānām udāradhīḥ ||
viśvāmitrāparādhena dhārayan manyum uttamam ||
The gandharva said: "He is the one in whom, by austerity, desire and anger were forever conquered, unconquerable even by the immortals -- both, like servants, massaged his feet. Who, noble of mind, did not bring about the destruction of the Kushika line, though through Vishvamitra's offense he harbored the utmost wrath."
89c9e0501298 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:29:43 PM UTC
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Here the supreme victory is proclaimed -- victory over desire and anger. It is a wondrous statement that desire and anger, unconquerable even by the gods, are so subdued in Vasishtha that they "massage his feet" like servants; one who has conquered himself stands above the conqueror of worlds. Here it is revealed that true might lies not in overcoming outer enemies but in mastering the inner ones: desire and anger are the worst of foes, and whoever has conquered them is truly great. Thus the scripture shows the greatness of Vasishtha in self-mastery; and this inner victory is the root of all his further virtues.