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.
तं तदा सुसमिद्धोऽपि न ददाह हुताशनः। दीप्यमानोऽप्यमित्रघ्न शीतोऽग्निरभवत्ततः
Then, though the fire blazed brightly, it did not burn him; O destroyer of foes, though kindled, the fire became cool.
स समुद्रमभिप्रेक्ष्य शोकाविष्टो महामुनिः। बद्ध्वा कण्ठे शिलां गुर्वीं निपपात तदाम्भसि
The great sage, overwhelmed by grief, looked toward the ocean, tied a heavy stone to his neck, and plunged into those waters.
स समुद्रोर्मिवेगेन स्थले न्यस्तो महामुनिः। न ममार यदा विप्रः कथंचित्संशितव्रतः। जगाम स ततः खिन्नः पुनरेवाश्रमं प्रति
By the force of the ocean's waves, the great sage was cast onto the shore; though his vow was firm, the Brahmin did not die, and so, distressed, he returned again to his hermitage.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Vasiṣṭha said:
ततो दृष्ट्वाश्रमपदं रहितं तैः सुतैर्मुनिः। निर्जगाम सुदुःखार्तः पुनरप्याश्रमात्ततः
Then, seeing his hermitage empty of his sons, the sage, tormented by deep sorrow, left the hermitage once more.
सोऽपश्यत्सरितं पूर्णां प्रावृट्काले नवाम्भसा। वृक्षान्बहुविधान्पार्थ हरन्तीं तीरजान्बहून्
He saw a river, full with fresh rainwater of the monsoon season, carrying away many kinds of trees and numerous plants from its banks, O Pārtha.
अथ चिन्तां समापेदे पुनः कौरवनन्दन। अम्भस्यस्या निमज्जेयमिति दुःखसमन्वितः
Then, O joy of the Kurus, overwhelmed by sorrow, he thought again, 'I will drown myself in these waters.'
ततः पाशैस्तदात्मानं गाढं बद्ध्वा महामुनिः। तस्या जले महानद्या निममज्ज सुदुःखितः
Thereupon, the great sage, deeply distressed, tightly bound himself with cords and plunged into the water of that great river.
अथ च्छित्त्वा नदी पाशांस्तस्यारिबलसूदन। स्थलस्थं तमृषिं कृत्वा विपाशं समवासृजत्
But the river, breaking those cords, set the sage upon dry land and flowed on, O slayer of hostile forces, thus earning the name Vipāśā.
उत्ततार ततः पाशैर्विमुक्तः स महानृषिः। विपाशेति च नामास्या नद्याश्चक्रे महानृषिः
Freed from the cords, the great sage rose up from the water, and he gave that river the name Vipāśā.