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.
अन्तर्धाय ततोऽत्मानं विश्वामित्रोऽपि भारत। तावुभावतिचक्राम चिकीर्षन्नात्मनः प्रियम्
Viśvāmitra, O Bhārata, concealed himself, and both departed, each seeking what was pleasing to themselves.
स तु शप्तस्तदा तेन शक्तिना वै नृपोत्तमः। जगाम शरणं शक्तिं प्रसादयितुमर्हयन्
Then, cursed by Śakti, that eminent king sought refuge with Śakti, desiring to appease him.
तस्य भावं विदित्वा स नृपतेः कुरुसत्तम। विश्वामित्रस्ततो रक्ष आदिदेश नृपं प्रति
Knowing the king's intention, Viśvāmitra then commanded a demon to attack the king, O best of the Kurus.
शापात्तस्य तु विप्रर्षेर्विश्वामित्रस्य चाज्ञया। राक्षसः किङ्करो नाम विवेश नृपतिं तदा
By the curse of the sage and at Viśvāmitra's command, a demon named Kiṅkara entered the king at that time.
रक्षसा तं गृहीतं तु विदित्वा मुनिसत्तमः। विश्वामित्रोऽप्यपाक्रामत्तस्माद्देशादरिन्दम
When the eminent sage realized the king had been seized by the demon, Viśvāmitra withdrew from that place, O destroyer of foes.
ततः स नृपतिर्विद्वान्रक्षन्नात्मानमात्मना। बलवत्पीड्यमानोऽपि रक्षसान्तर्गतेन ह
Then the wise king, protecting himself by his own strength, though greatly afflicted by the demon within, endured.
ददर्शाथ द्विजः कश्चिद्राजानं प्रस्थितं वनम्। अयाचत क्षुधापन्नः समांसं भोजनं तदा
Then a certain Brahmin saw the king heading into the forest and, afflicted by hunger, requested meat for food.
तमुवाचाथ राजर्षिर्द्विजं मित्रसहस्तदा। आस्स्व ब्रह्मंस्त्वमत्रैव मुहूर्तं प्रतिपालयन्
Then the royal sage Mitrasaha spoke to the Brahmin: 'Remain here, O Brahmin, for a moment, waiting.'
निवृत्तः प्रतिदास्यामि भोजनं ते यथेप्सितम्। इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ राजा तस्थौ च द्विजसत्तमः
'Once I return, I will give you the food you desire.' Having said this, the king departed, and the eminent Brahmin waited.
ततो राजा परिक्रम्य यथाकामं यथासुखम्। निवृत्तोऽन्तःपुरं पार्थ प्रविवेश महामनाः
Then the king, after wandering as he wished and as he pleased, returned and entered his inner chambers, his mind elevated.
अन्तर्गतस्तदा राजा श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणभाषितम्। सोऽन्तःपुरं प्रविश्याथ न सस्मार नराधिपः
At that time, the king, having entered, heard the Brahmin's words; but upon entering the inner chambers, the ruler of men did not remember.
ततोऽर्धरात्र उत्थाय सूदमानाय्य सत्वरम्। उवाच राजा संस्मृत्य ब्राह्मणस्य प्रतिश्रुतम्
Then, rising at midnight, he quickly summoned the cook and, recalling his promise to the Brahmin, spoke.
गच्छामुष्मिन्वनोद्देशे ब्राह्मणो मां प्रतीक्षते। अन्नार्थी तं त्वमन्नेन समांसेनोपपादय
Let us go to that part of the forest—a Brahmin awaits me there, desiring food. Please provide him with food, in equal measure, as he requests.
एवमुक्तस्ततः सूदः सोऽनासाद्यामिषं क्वचित्। निवेदयामास तदा तस्मै राज्ञे व्यथान्वितः
Thus addressed, the cook, unable to find any meat anywhere, reported this distressfully to the king.
राजा तु रक्षसाविष्टः सूदमाह गतव्यथः। अप्येनं नरमांसेन भोजयेति पुनः पुनः
But the king, possessed by a demon and now free from anxiety, repeatedly told the cook, 'Feed him with human flesh.'
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः सूदः संस्थानं वध्यघातिनाम्। गत्वाऽऽजहार त्वरितो नरमांसमपेतभीः
Saying, 'So be it,' the cook, without fear, quickly went to the place of execution and brought human flesh.
एतत्संस्कृत्य विधिवदन्नोपहितमाशु वै। तस्मै प्रादाद्ब्राह्मणाय क्षुधिताय तपस्विने
Having properly prepared that food according to the rites, he swiftly served it to the hungry and austere Brahmin.
स सिद्धचक्षुषा दृष्ट्वा तदन्नं द्विजसत्तमः। अभोज्यमिदमित्याह क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः
Seeing that food with his perfected vision, the best of Brahmins said, his eyes blazing with anger, 'This is unfit to be eaten.'
यस्मादभोज्यमन्नं मे ददाति स नृपाधमः
Because that lowest of kings gives me food that is unfit to eat—
सक्तो मानुषमांसेषु यथोक्तः शक्तिना पुरा। उद्वेजनीयो भूतानां चरिष्यति महीमिमाम्
—attached as he is to human flesh, as was foretold by Shakti before, he will roam this earth, a terror to all beings.