IMPORT OF PENANCE
Rama and Lakshmana get a chance to listen to a description of VISHWAMITRA'S life in the sage's presence through sadananda , when they reach mithila. Viswamitra is a great kshatriya king who attained spiritual powers by performing severe penance. so he is held in great awe by all as the most powerful among rishis.
After a brush with Vasistha, he realises that all the kshatriya might is of no avail against the power of a BRAHMA RISHI wields. His goal then is directed towards attaining the status of a brahma rishi through severe penance. but whatever austerities one practises , it is mastery over ones self when the senses are subjugated and there is total renunciation of kama and krodha that finally make one eligible to reap the fruits of penance , pointed out sri B. DAMODHARA DIKSHITAR IN A DISCOURSE .
Vishwamitra easily loses all his hard earned penance on several occasions on various counts. when the sage under takes an impossible vow ,that he would send Trisanku in his chandala body to swarga loka , he expends all his power of penance to this end . again he risks it in his effort to protect one sunaschepa.
more austere penance follows and indra fearing the consequences , sends menaka first and then RAMBHA to foil this . in first case the sage yields to desire and in the second case he succumbs to anger. anger is more harmful than desire ,say the wise.
finally he clears the test posed by the indra . indra and brahma pronounce him as brahma rishi. but he satisfied only when the great vasishta who had inspired him towards this goal , acknowledges him as a BRAHMA RISHI.
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