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—
पन्था देयो नृपैस्तेषामन्यैस्तैस्तस्य भूपतेः।' राज्ञा सर्वेषा धर्मेषु देयः पन्था द्विजातये
—the path must be yielded by others, O king; and above all, the path should always be given to a twice-born by all kings, according to righteousness.’
एवं परस्परं तौ तु पथोऽर्थं वाक्यमूचतुः। अपसर्पापसर्पेति वागुत्तरमकुर्वताम्
Thus, the two exchanged words about the right of way, each saying, ‘Step aside, step aside,’ and gave no ground.
ऋषिस्तु नापचक्राम तस्मिन्धर्मपथे स्थितः। `अपि राजा मुनेर्मार्गात्क्रोधान्नापजगाम ह
The sage did not move aside, steadfast in the path of righteousness; nor did the king, out of anger, yield the sage’s path.
अमुञ्चन्तं तु पन्थानं तमृषिं नृपसत्तमः। जगाम कशया मोहात्तदा राक्षसन्मुनिम्
But when the sage would not yield the path, the foremost of kings, deluded, struck the sage with his whip, at that moment possessed by a Rākṣasa.
कशाप्रहाराभिहतस्ततः स मुनिसत्तमः। तं शशाप नृपश्रेष्ठं वासिष्ठः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
Then, struck by the lash, that eminent sage, Vasiṣṭha, overwhelmed with anger, cursed that foremost king.
हंसि राक्षसवद्यस्माद्राजापशद तापसम्। तस्मात्त्वमद्यप्रभृति पुरुषादो भविष्यसि
Because you have slain a sage as one would slay a demon, O king, you shall henceforth become a cannibal.
मनुष्यपिशिते सक्तश्चरिष्यसि महीमिमाम्। गच्छ राजाधमेत्युक्तः शक्तिना वीर्यशक्तिना
Attached to human flesh, you shall roam this earth; go, O wicked king, thus spoken by Śakti, endowed with great power.
ततो याज्यनिमित्तं तु विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। वैरमासीत्तदा तं तु विश्वामित्रोऽन्वपद्यत
From that time, a rivalry arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha over the matter of sacrifices; Viśvāmitra pursued him.
तयोर्विवदतोरेवं समीपमुपचक्रमे। ऋषिरुग्रतपाः पार्थ विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान्
As the two were quarreling thus, the mighty ascetic, Viśvāmitra, approached them, O Pārtha, radiant in his austerity.
ततः स बुबुधे पश्चात्तमृषिं नृपसत्तमः। ऋषेः पुत्रं वसिष्ठस्य वसिष्ठमिव तेजसा
Then, afterwards, that distinguished king realized the sage was the son of Vasiṣṭha, equal to Vasiṣṭha in brilliance.