यं प्राप्य विजितात्मानं महात्मानं नराधिपाः। इक्ष्वाकवो महीपाला लेभिरे पृथिवीमिमाम्
Having obtained him, self-controlled and great-souled, the kings of the Ikṣvāku line gained this earth.
पुरोहितमिमं प्राप्य वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्। ईजिरे क्रतुभिश्चैव नृपास्ते कुरुनन्दन
Having this Vasiṣṭha, the best of seers, as their priest, those kings, O descendant of Kuru, performed sacrifices.
स हि तान्याजयामास सर्वान्नृपतिसत्तमान्। ब्रह्मर्षिः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ बृहस्पतिरिवामरान्
Indeed, he caused all those foremost kings to perform sacrifices, O best of the Pāṇḍavas, just as Bṛhaspati does for the gods.
तस्माद्धर्मप्रधानात्मा वेदधर्मविदीप्सितः। ब्राह्मणो गुणवान्कश्चित्पुरोधाः प्रतिदृश्यताम्
Therefore, let a virtuous brāhmaṇa, devoted to dharma and learned in Vedic law, be sought as priest.
क्षत्रियेणाभिजातेन पृथिवीं जेतुमिच्छता। पूर्वं पुरोहितः कार्यः पार्थ राज्याभिवृद्धये
A kṣatriya of noble birth, wishing to conquer the earth, must first appoint a priest, O Pārtha, for the growth of his kingdom.
महीं जिगीषता राज्ञा ब्रह्म कार्यं पुरःस्कृतम्। तस्मात्पुरोहितः कश्चिद्गुणवान्विजितेन्द्रियः। विद्वान्भवतु वो विप्रो धर्मकामार्थतत्त्ववित्
A king desiring to conquer the earth must first honor Brahman; therefore, let a virtuous, self-controlled, and learned brāhmaṇa, who knows the truths of dharma, desire, and wealth, be your priest.
किंनिमित्तमभूद्वैरं विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। वसतोराश्रमे दिव्ये शंस नः सर्वमेव तत्
For what reason did enmity arise between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha while they dwelt in the divine hermitage? Tell us all of that.
इदं वासिष्ठमाख्यानं पुराणं परिचक्षते। पार्थ सर्वेषु लोकेषु यथावत्तन्निबोध मे
This ancient story of Vasiṣṭha is well known, O Pārtha, in all the worlds; listen to it from me as it truly happened.
कान्यकुब्जे महानासीत्पार्थिवो भरतर्षभ। गाधीति विश्रुतो लोके कुशिकस्यात्मसंभवः
In Kānyakubja there was a great king, O bull of the Bharatas, known in the world as Gādhi, born of Kuśika.
तस्य धर्मात्मनः पुत्रः समृद्धबलवाहनः। विश्वामित्र इति ख्यतो बभूव रिपुमर्दनः
His son, righteous and possessing a mighty army, became famous as Viśvāmitra, destroyer of foes.
स चचार सहामात्यो मृगयां गहने वने। मृगान्विध्यन्वराहांश्च रम्येषु मरुधन्वसु
He, along with his ministers, went hunting in the dense forest, shooting deer and boars in the delightful wilderness.
व्यायामकर्शितः सोऽथ मृगलिप्सुः पिपासितः। आजगाम नरश्रेष्ठ वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं प्रति
Exhausted from exertion, desiring game and thirsty, he, O best of men, came to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठभागृषिः। विश्वामित्रं नरश्रेष्ठं प्रतिजग्राह पूजया
Seeing him arrive, Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of great sages, received Viśvāmitra, best among men, with honor.
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीचैस्तं स्वागतेन च भारत। तथैव परिजग्राह वन्येन हविषा तदा
He welcomed him, O Bhārata, with water for washing the feet, offerings, and water for sipping, and likewise received him with forest produce as sacrificial food.
तस्याथ कामधुग्धेनुर्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। उक्ता कामान्प्रयच्छेति सा कामान्दुदुहे ततः
Then, Vasiṣṭha, the great-souled one, instructed his wish-fulfilling cow to grant desires, and she produced whatever was wished for.
बाष्पाढ्यस्योदनस्यैव राशयः पर्वतोपमाः। निष्ठानानि च सूपांश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च
Heaps of fragrant rice, resembling mountains, various dishes, and curd preparations were produced.
कूपांश्च घृतसंपूर्णान्गौड्यान्नानि सहस्रशः। इक्षून्मधूनि लाजांश्च मैरेयांश्च वरासवान्
Wells filled with ghee, thousands of sweet rice dishes, sugarcanes, honey, parched grains, and excellent wines appeared.
ग्राम्यारण्याश्चौषधीश्च दुदुहे पय एव च। षड्रसं चामृतनिभं रसायनमनुत्तमम्
She yielded village and forest herbs, milk, and also the six tastes, nectar-like, and unsurpassed elixirs.
भोजनीयानि पेयानि भक्ष्याणि विविधानि च। लेह्यान्यमृतकल्पानि चोष्याणि च तथार्जुना
Foods to eat, drinks, various delicacies, lickables like ambrosia, and suckables, O Arjuna, were produced.
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि वासांसि विविधानि च। तैः कामैः सर्वसंपूर्णैः पूजितश्च महिपतिः
Precious jewels of great value and various garments also appeared; with all these fulfilled desires, the king was honored.
सामात्यः सबलश्चैव तुतोष स भृशं तदा। षडुन्नतां सुपार्श्वोरुं पृथुपञ्चसमावृताम्
With his ministers and army, the king was greatly satisfied then; he beheld her, tall, broad-flanked, and surrounded by five attendants.
मण्डूकनेत्रां स्वाकारां पीनोधसमनिन्दिताम्। सुवालघिं शङ्कुकर्णां चारुशृङ्गां मनोरमाम्
With frog-like eyes, her own form, plump body, faultless, with fine hair, conch-shaped ears, lovely horns, and charming appearance.
पुष्टायतशिरोग्रीवां विस्मितः सोऽभिवीक्ष्यताम्। अभिनन्द्य स तां राजा नन्दिनीं गाधिनन्दनः
Well-nourished, with broad head and neck, he gazed at her in wonder; the king, son of Gādhi, joyfully greeted Nandinī.
अब्रवीच्च भृशं तुष्टः स राजा तमृषिं तदा। अर्बुदेन गवां ब्रह्मन्मम राज्येन वा पुनः
Then, greatly pleased, the king said to the sage: 'O Brāhman, give me Nandinī, either for a crore of cows or for my kingdom.'
नन्दिनीं संप्रयच्छस्व भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं महामुने
O great sage, give me Nandinī and enjoy the kingdom.
रत्नं हि भगवन्नेतद्रत्नहारी च पार्थिवः।' क्षत्रियोऽहं भवान्विप्रस्तपःस्वाध्यायसाधनः
For, O venerable one, that is a jewel, and the king is the taker of jewels; I am a Kṣatriya, you are a Brāhman, devoted to austerity and study.
ब्राह्णेषु कुतो वीर्यं प्रशान्तेषु धृतात्मसु। अर्बुदेन गवां यस्त्वं न ददासि ममेप्सितम्
How can there be strength in Brāhmans, who are peaceful and self-controlled? Though I offer you a crore of cows, you do not give me what I desire.
स्वधर्मं न प्रहास्यामि नेष्यामि च बलेन गाम्
I will not abandon my own duty, nor will I seize the cow by force.
यथेच्छसि तथा क्षिप्रं कुरु मा त्वं विचारय
Do as you wish, quickly; do not hesitate.
हंसचन्द्रप्रतीकाशां नन्दिनीं तां जहार गाम्। `सा तदा ह्रियमाणा च विश्वामित्रबलैर्बलात्।' कशादण्डप्रणुदिता काल्यमाना इतस्ततः
He seized that cow Nandinī, shining like the moon and a swan, by force with Viśvāmitra's men; she, being dragged away, was beaten with whips and sticks, driven here and there.