न च प्राणैर्वियुज्यन्ते केचित्तत्रास्य सैनिकाः। विश्वामित्रस्य संक्रुद्धैर्वासिष्ठैर्भरतर्षभ
Yet none of Viśvāmitra's soldiers there lost their lives, O bull among the Bharatas, for they were restrained by the wrathful sons of Vasiṣṭha.
सा गौस्तत्सकलं सैन्यं कालयामास दूरतः। विश्वामित्रस्य तत्सैन्यं काल्यमानं त्रियोजनम्
That cow drove the entire army far away; Viśvāmitra's army, being driven off, was scattered for three yojanas.
क्रोशमानं भयोद्विग्नं त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छत। `विश्वामित्रस्ततो दृष्ट्वा क्रोधाविष्टः स रोदसी
Crying out in fear and distress, they found no protector; seeing this, Viśvāmitra became possessed by anger, filling both earth and sky.
ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वसिष्ठे मुनिसत्तमे। घोररूपांश्च नाराचान्क्षुरान्भल्लान्महामुनिः
The great sage, enraged, rained down showers of arrows upon the best of sages, Vasiṣṭha, and released terrifying arrows, razors, and broad-headed shafts.
विश्वामित्रप्रयुक्तांस्तान्वैणवेन व्यमोचयत्। वसिष्ठस्य तदा दृष्ट्वा कर्मकौशलमाहवे
Those weapons launched by Viśvāmitra were countered by Vaiṇava weapons; seeing Vasiṣṭha's skill in battle at that time,
विश्वामित्रोऽपि कोपेन भूयः शत्रुनिपातनः। दिव्यास्त्रवर्षं तस्मै स प्राहिणोन्मुनये रुषा
Viśvāmitra, furious and intent on destroying his enemy, again sent a divine shower of weapons at the sage out of wrath.
आग्नेयं वारुणं चैन्द्रं याम्यं वायव्यमेव च। विससर्ज महाभागे वसिष्ठे ब्रह्मणः सुते
He released the weapons of Agni, Varuṇa, Indra, Yama, and Vāyu against the illustrious Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahmā.
अस्त्राणि सर्वतो ज्वालां विसृजन्ति प्रपेदिरे। युगान्तसमये घोराः पतङ्गस्येव रश्मयः
The weapons, blazing on all sides, rushed forth, emitting flames like the fierce rays of the sun at the end of an age.
वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ब्रह्मशक्तिप्रयुक्तया। यष्ट्या निवारयामास सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि स स्मयन्
But Vasiṣṭha, of great brilliance, smiling, repelled all those weapons with his staff, empowered by the might of Brahman.
ततस्ते भस्मसाद्भूताः पतन्ति स्म महीतले। अपोह्य दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, all those divine weapons, reduced to ashes, fell to the earth; having dispelled the celestial weapons, Vasiṣṭha spoke these words:
निर्जितोऽसि महाराज दुरात्मन्गाधिनन्दन। यदि तेऽस्ति परं शौर्यं तद्दर्शय मयि स्थिते
You are defeated, O great king, O wicked one, son of Gādhi; if you have any further valor, show it now while I stand here.
विश्वामित्रस्तथा चोक्तो वसिष्ठेन नराधिपः। नोवाच किंचिद्व्रीडाढ्यो विद्रावितमहाबलः
Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, the lord of men, said nothing, overcome with shame and his great force routed.
दृष्ट्वा तन्महदाश्चर्यं ब्रह्मतेजोभवं तदा। विश्वामित्रः क्षत्रभावान्निर्विण्णो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। धिग्बलं क्षत्रियबलं ब्रह्मतेजोबलं बलम्
Having witnessed that great wonder, born of Brahmanic power, Viśvāmitra, disheartened by his Kṣatriya strength, spoke: 'Fie upon the power of Kṣatriyas; the power of Brahmanic energy is true power.'
स राज्यं स्फीतमुत्सृज्य तां च दीप्तां नृपश्रियम्
He abandoned his prosperous kingdom and that radiant royal splendor.
भोगांश्च पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तपस्येव मनो दधे। स गत्वा तपसा सिद्धिं लोकान्विष्टभ्य तेजसा
Turning his back on pleasures, he set his mind on asceticism; by austerity he attained perfection, upholding the worlds with his energy.
तताप सर्वान्दीप्तौजा ब्राह्मणत्वमवाप्तवान्। अपिबच्च ततः सोममिन्द्रेण सह कौशिकः
He performed austerities with blazing energy, attained the state of a Brāhmaṇa, and thereafter, Kauśika drank soma together with Indra.
एवंवीर्यस्तु राजर्षिर्विप्रर्षिः संबभूव ह
Thus, that royal sage became a seer among Brahmins, endowed with such prowess.
ऋष्योस्तु यत्कृते वैरं विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। बभूव गन्धर्वपते शंस तत्सर्वमेव मे
Tell me in full, O lord of the Gandharvas, for what reason enmity arose between the sages Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha.
माहात्म्यं च वसिष्ठस्य ब्राह्मण्यं ब्रह्मतेजसः। विश्वामित्रस्य च तथा क्षत्रस्य च महात्मनः
And also the greatness of Vasiṣṭha, his Brahminhood and spiritual power, as well as the greatness of Viśvāmitra and his royal might.
न शृण्वानस्त्वहं तृप्तिमुपगच्छामि खेचर। आख्याहि गन्धर्वपते शंस तत्सर्वमेव मे
I do not find satisfaction, O sky-roaming one, without hearing this; declare it all to me, O lord of the Gandharvas.
माहात्म्यं च वसिष्ठस्य विश्वामित्रस्य भाषते
He speaks of the greatness of both Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra.
इदं वासिष्ठमाख्यानं पुराणं पुण्यमुत्तमम्। पार्थ सर्वेषु लोकेषु विश्रुतं तन्निबोध मे
This ancient, supremely holy tale of Vasiṣṭha is renowned in all the worlds, O Pārtha; listen to it from me.
कल्माषपाद इत्येवं लोके राजा बभूव ह। इक्ष्वाकुवंशजः पार्थ तेजसाऽसदृशो भुवि
A king named Kalmāṣapāda was born in the world, O Pārtha, descended from the Ikṣvāku lineage, unmatched in brilliance on earth.
स कदाचिद्वनं राजा मृगयां निर्ययौ पुरात्। मृगान्विध्यन्वराहांश्च चचार रिपुमर्दनः
Once, that king set out from his city into the forest for hunting; the destroyer of foes roamed about, striking down deer and boars.
तस्मिन्वने महाघोरे खङ्गांश्च बहुशोऽहनत्। हत्वा च सुचिरं श्रान्तो राजा निववृते ततः
In that dreadful forest, he slew many tigers, and after killing for a long time, the king became weary and turned back.
अकामयत्तं याज्यार्थे विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान्। स तु राजा महात्मानं वासिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्
At that time, the mighty Viśvāmitra, intent on a sacrifice, did not desire it; but the king encountered the great-souled, foremost sage Vasiṣṭha.
तृषार्तश्च क्षुधार्तश्च एकायनगतः पथि। अपश्यदजितः सङ्ख्ये मुनिं प्रतिमुखागतम्
Parched with thirst and tormented by hunger, the unconquered king, traveling alone on the path, saw the sage approaching him face to face.
शक्तिं नाम महाभागं वसिष्ठकुलवर्धनम्। ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं पुत्रशताद्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः
He saw Śakti by name, greatly fortunate, the enhancer of the Vasiṣṭha lineage, the eldest among the hundred sons of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha.
अपगच्छ पथोऽस्माकमित्येवं पार्थिवोऽब्रवीत्। तथा ऋषिरुवाचैनं सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
‘Step aside from our path,’ said the king; but the sage gently replied to him, soothing with kind words.
मम पन्था महाराज धर्म एष सनातनः। `वृद्धभीरुनृपस्नातस्त्रीरोगिवरचक्रिणाम्
‘This is my path, O great king; such is the eternal law: for the aged, the fearful, the king, the bather, women, the sick, and those bearing burdens—