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.
द्विरनुव्याहृते राज्ञः स शापो बलवानभूत्। रक्षोबलसमाविष्टो विसंज्ञश्चाभवन्नृपः
When the curse was uttered twice against the king, it became powerful; the king, seized by the strength of the demon, lost consciousness.
ततः स नृपतिश्रेष्ठो रक्षसापहृतेन्द्रियः। उवाच शख्तिं तं दृष्ट्वा न चिरादिव भारत
Then that foremost of kings, his senses overpowered by the demon, saw Shakti and spoke, as if after a long time, O Bharata.
यस्मादसदृशः शापः प्रयुक्तोऽयं मयि त्वया। तस्मात्त्वत्तः प्रवर्तिष्ये खादितुं पुरुषानहम्
Because you have pronounced this improper curse upon me, I shall begin to devour men, starting with you.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः सद्यस्तं प्राणैर्विप्रयोज्य च। शक्तिं तं भक्षयामास व्याघ्रः पशुमिवेप्सितम्
Having spoken thus, he immediately deprived Shakti of his life and devoured him like a tiger its chosen prey.
शक्तिनं तु मृतं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रः पुनःपुनः। वसिष्ठस्यैव पुत्रेषु तद्रक्षः संदिदेश ह
Seeing Shakti dead, Viśvāmitra again and again directed that demon against the sons of Vasiṣṭha.
स ताञ्शक्त्यवरान्पुत्रान्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। भक्षयामास संक्रुद्धः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव
That enraged lion-like being devoured those remaining sons of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, as a lion devours small animals.
वसिष्ठो घातिताञ्श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रेण तान्सुतान्। धारयामास तं शोकं महाद्रिरिव मेदिनीम्
When Vasiṣṭha heard that his sons had been slain by Viśvāmitra, he bore that grief as the great mountain bears the earth.
चक्रे चात्मविनाशाय बुद्धिं स मुनिसत्तमः। न त्वेव कौशिकोच्छेदं मेने मतिमतां वरः
That best of sages resolved to destroy himself, yet, wise among the wise, he did not consider the destruction of Kauśika.
स मेरुकूटादात्मानं मुमोच भगवानृषिः। गिरेस्तस्य शिलायां तु तूलराशाविवापतत्
The blessed sage cast himself down from the summit of Meru; but upon the mountain's rock he fell as lightly as a heap of cotton.
न ममार च पातेन स यदा तेन पाण्डव। तदाग्निमिद्धं भगवान्संविवेश महावने
And, O Pāṇḍava, he did not die from the fall; then the blessed one entered a blazing fire in the great forest.