Vishwamitra: How a Kshatriya attained Brahminhood
This story of how Vishwamitra, being a Kshatriya, attained Brahminhood, appears in Dana-dharma Parva of Anushasana Parva.
Yudhishthira said,
“If, O prince, Brahmanahood be so difficult of attainment by the three classes (Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras), how then did the high souled Vishwamitra, O king, though a Kshatriya (by birth), attain to the status of a Brahmana? I desire to know this, O sire. Therefore, do you truly relate this matter to me. That powerful man, O sire, by virtue of his austerities, destroyed in a moment the hundred sons of the high-souled Vasishtha. While under the influence of anger, he created numerous evil spirits and Rakshasas of mighty vigour and resembling the great destroyer Kala himself. The great and learned race of Kushika, numbering hundreds of regenerate sages and belauded by the Brahmanas, was founded in this world of men by him. Sunashepha of austere penances, the son of Richika, having been sought to be slain as an animal in the great sacrifice of Ambarisha, obtained his deliverance through Vishwamitra. Harishchandra, having pleased the gods at a sacrifice, became a son of the wise Vishwamitra. For not having honoured their eldest brother Devarat, whom Vishwamitra got as a son from the gods, the other fifty brothers of his were cursed, and all of them became Chandalas. Trishanku, the son of Ikshwaku, through the curse of Vasistha became a Chandala, and when abandoned by his friends, and remaining suspended with his head downwards in the lower regions, was translated to heaven at the pleasure of Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra had a large river, by name Kausika, that was frequented by celestial Rishis. This sacred and auspicious stream was frequented by the gods and regenerate Rishis. For disturbing his devotions, the famous celestial nymph Rambha of fine bracelets, was cursed and metamorphosed into a rock. Through fear of Vishwamitra the glorious Vasishtha, in olden times, binding himself with creepers, threw himself down into a river and again rose released from his bonds. In consequence of this, that large and sacred river become thenceforth celebrated by the name of Vipasha. He prayed to the glorious and puissant Indra who was pleased with him and absolved him from a curse. Remaining on the northern side of the firmament, he sheds his lustre from a position in the midst of the seven regenerate Rishis, and Dhruva the son of Uttanapada. These are his achievements as well as many others. O descendant of Kuru, as they were performed by a Kshatriya, my curiosity has been roused in this matter. Therefore, O foremost one of Bharata's race, do you relate this matter to me truly. How without casting off his corporeal frame and taking another tenement of flesh could he become a Brahmana? Do you, O sire, truly relate this matter to me as you have related to me the story of Matanga. Matanga was born as a Chandala, and could not attain to Brahmanahood,(with all his austerities) but how could this man attain to the status of a Brahmana?"
Bhishma said,
“Listen truly in detail, O son of Pritha, how in olden times Vishwamitra attained to the status of a Brahmana Rishi.”
There was, in the race of Bharata, a king of the name of Ajamida, who performed many sacrifices and was the best of all virtuous men. His son was the great king named Jahnu. Ganga was the daughter of this high-minded prince. The far-famed and equally virtuous Sindhudwipa was the son of this prince. From Sindhudwipa sprung the great royal sage Balakashwa. His son was named Vallabha who was like a second Dharma in embodied form. His son again was Kushika who was refulgent with glory like unto the thousand-eyed Indra. Kushika's son was the illustrious King Gadhi who, being childless and desiring to have a son born unto him, repaired to the forest. Whilst living there, a daughter was born unto him. She was called Satyavati by name, and in beauty of appearance she had no equal on Earth. The illustrious son of Chyavana, celebrated by the name of Richika, of the race of Bhrigu, endued with austere penances, sought the hand of this lady. Gadhi, the destroyer of his enemies, thinking him to be poor, did not bestow her in marriage upon the high-souled Richika. But when the latter, thus dismissed, was going away, the excellent king, addressing him said,
“If you give me a marriage dower you shall have my daughter for your wife.”
Richika said,
“What dower, O king, shall I offer you for the hand of your daughter? Tell me truly, without feeling any hesitation in the matter.”
Gadhi said,
“O descendant of Bhrigu, do you give me a thousand horses fleet as the wind, and possessing the hue of moon-beams, and each having one ear black.”
Then that mighty son of Chyavana who was the foremost of Bhrigu's race, besought the deity Varuna, the son of Aditi, who was the lord of all the waters.
“O best of gods, I pray to you to give me a thousand horses, all endued with the speed of the wind and with complexion as effulgent as the moon's, but each having one ear black.”
The god Varuna, the son of Aditi, said to that excellent scion of Bhrigu's race,
“Be it so. Wheresoever you shall seek, the horses shall arise (in your presence).”
As soon as Richika thought of them, there arose from the waters of Ganga thousand high-mettled horses, as lustrous in complexion as the moon. Not far from Kanyakubja, the sacred bank of Ganga is still famous among men as Ashwatirtha in consequence of the appearance of those horses at that place. Then Richika, that best of ascetics, pleased in mind, gave those thousand excellent horses unto Gadhi as the marriage-dower. King Gadhi, filled with wonder and fearing to be cursed, gave his daughter, bedecked with jewels, unto that son of Bhrigu. That foremost of regenerate Rishis accepted her hand in marriage according to the prescribed rites. The princess too was well-pleased at finding herself the wife of that Brahmana. That foremost of regenerate Rishis was well pleased with her conduct and expressed a wish to grant her boon.
The princess related this to her mother. The mother addressed the daughter that stood before her with down-cast eyes, saving,
“It behoves you, O my daughter, to secure a favour for me also from your husband. That sage of austere penances is capable of granting a boon to me, the boon, viz. of the birth of a son to me.”
Then, returning quickly to her husband Richika, the princess related to him all that had been desired by her mother. Richika said,
“By my favour, O blessed one, she will soon give birth to a son possessed of every virtue. May your request be fulfilled. Of you too shall be born a mighty and glorious son who, endued with virtue, shall perpetuate my race. Truly do I say this unto you! When you two shall bathe in your season, she shall embrace a peepul tree, and you, O excellent lady, shall likewise embrace a fig tree, and by so doing shall you attain the object of your desire. O sweetly-smiling lady, both she and you shall have to partake of these two sacrificial offerings (charu) rated with hymns, and then shall you obtain sons (as desired).”
At this, Satyavati, delighted at heart, told her mother all that had been said by Richika as also of the two balls of charu. Then the mother, addressing her daughter Satyavati, said:
“O daughter, as I am deserving of greater consideration from you than your husband, do you obey my words. The charu, duly consecrated with hymns, which your husband has given to you, do you give unto me and yourself take the one that has been prescribed for me. O sweetly-smiling one of blameless character, if you have any respect for my word, let us change the trees respectively designed for us. Every one desires to possess an excellent and stainless being for his own son. The glorious Richika too must have acted from a similar motive in this matter, as will appear in the end. For this reason, O beautiful girl, my heart inclines towards your charu, and your tree, and you too should consider how to secure an excellent brother for yourself.”
The mother and the daughter Satyavati having acted in this way, they both became big with child. And that great Rishi, the excellent descendant of Bhrigu, finding his wife quick with child, was pleased at heart, and addressing her, said,
“O excellent lady, you have not done well in exchanging the charu as will soon become apparent. It is also clear that you have changed the trees. I had placed the entire accumulated energy of Brahma in your charu and Kshatriya energy in the charu of your mother. I had so ordered that you would give birth to a Brahmana whose virtues would be famous throughout the three worlds, and that she (your mother) would give birth to an excellent Kshatriya. But now, O excellent lady, that you have reversed the order (of the charu) so, your mother will give birth to an excellent Brahmana and you too, O excellent lady, will give birth to a Kshatriya terrible in action. You have not done will, O lady, by acting thus out of affection for your mother.”
Hearing this, the excellent lady Satyavati, struck with sorrow, fell upon the ground like a beautiful creeper cut in twain. Regaining her senses and bowing unto her lord with head (bent), the daughter of Gadhi said to her husband, that foremost one of Bhrigu's race,
“O regenerate Rishi, O you that are foremost amongst those versed in Brahma, do you take pity on me, your wife, who is thus appeasing you and so order that a Kshatriya son may not be born unto me. Let my grandson be such a one as will be famous for his terrible achievements, if it be your desire, but not my son, O Brahmana. Do you confer this favour on me.”
“Be it so,” said that man of austere penances to his wife and then, she gave birth to a blessed son named Jamadagni. The celebrated wife of Gadhi too gave birth to the regenerate Rishi Vishwamitra versed in the knowledge of Brahma, by favour of that Rishi. The highly devout Vishwamitra, though a Kshatriya, attained to the state of a Brahmana and became the founder of a race of Brahmanas. His sons became high-souled progenitors of many races of Brahmanas who were devoted to austere penances, learned in the Vedas, and founders, of many clans. The adorable Madhuchcchanda and the mighty Devrat, Akshina, Shakunta, Babhru, Kalapatha, the celebrated Yajnavalkya, Sthula of high vows, Uluka, Mudgala, and the sage Saindhavayana, the illustrious Valgujangha and the great Rishi Galava, Ruchi, the celebrated Vajra, as also Shalankayana, Liladhya and Narada, the one known as Kurchamuka, and Bahuli, Mushala, as also Vakshogriva, Anghrika, Naikadrik, Shilayupa, Shita, Shuchi, Chakraka, Marrutantavya, Vataghna, Ashwalayana, and Syamayana, Gargya, and Jabali, as also Sushruta, Karishi, Sangshrutya, and Para Paurava, and Tantu, the great sage Kapila, Tarakayana, Upagahana, Asurayani, Margama, Hiranyksha, Janghari, Bhavravayani, and Suti, Bibhuti, Suta, Surakrit, Arani, Nachika, Champeya, Ujjayana, Navatantu, Vakanakha, Sayanya, Yati, Ambhoruha, Amatsyasin, Shrishin, Gardhavi Urjjayoni, Rudapekahin, and the great Rishi Naradin, these Munis were all sons of Vishwamitra and were versed in the knowledge of Brahma. The highly austere and devout Vishwamitra, although a Kshatriya (by descent), became a Brahmana for Richika having placed the energy of supreme Brahma (in the charu).
Bhishma continued:
“I have now related to you, with all details, the story of the birth of Vishwamitra who was possessed of energy of the sun, the moon, and the fire-god. O best of kings, if you have any doubt with regard to any other matter, do you let me know it, so that I may remove it.”