अयं कुक्षौ समुत्पन्नः शक्तेर्गर्भः सुतस्य ते। समा द्वादश तस्येह वेदानभ्यस्यतो मुने
This child, conceived in the womb, is the son of Śakti, your son; for twelve years here, he has been practicing the Vedas, O sage.
एवमुक्तस्तया हृष्टो वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठभागृषिः। अस्ति सन्तानमित्युक्त्वा मृत्योः पार्थ न्यवर्तत
Thus addressed by her, the illustrious sage Vasiṣṭha rejoiced; saying, 'There is progeny,' he turned back from death, O Pārtha.
ततः प्रतिनिवृत्तः स तया वध्वा सहानघ। कल्माषपादमासीनं ददर्श विजने वने
Then, having turned back with his wife, O sinless one, he saw Kalmāṣapāda seated in a lonely forest.
स तु दृष्ट्वैव तं राजा क्रुद्ध उत्थाय भारत। आविष्टो रक्षसोग्रेण इयेषात्तुं तदा मुनिम्
But when the king saw him, O Bhārata, he rose in anger, possessed by a fierce demon, and sought to devour the sage.
अदृश्यन्ती तु तं दृष्ट्वा क्रूरकर्माणमग्रतः। भयसंविग्नया वाचा वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्
Seeing him, cruel in his deeds, approaching in front, she, invisible, spoke to Vasiṣṭha with a voice trembling in fear.
असौ मृत्युरिवोग्रेण दण्डेन भगवन्नितः। प्रगृहीतेन काष्ठेन राक्षसोऽभ्येति दारुणः
O blessed one, like Death himself with a terrible staff, this dreadful demon approaches here, brandishing a piece of wood.
तं निवारयितुं शक्तो नान्योऽस्ति भुवि कश्चन। स्वदृतेऽद्य महाभाग सर्ववेदविदां वर
No one on earth but you, O blessed one, best of those who know all the Vedas, is able today to restrain him.
पाहि मां भगवन्पापादस्माद्दारुणदर्शनात्। राक्षसोऽयमिहात्तुं वै नूनमावां समीहते
Protect me, O blessed one, from this sinful, dreadful-looking being; this demon surely intends to devour us here.
माभैः पुत्रि न भेतव्यं राक्षसात्तु कथंचन। नैतद्रक्षो भयं यस्मात्पश्यसि त्वमुपस्थितम्
Do not fear, daughter; you need not be afraid of the demon in any way. This is not a demon from whom you see danger approaching.
राजा कल्माषपादोऽयं वीर्यवान्प्रथितो भुवि। स एषोऽस्मिन्वनोद्देशे निवसत्यतिभीषणः
This is King Kalmāṣapāda, renowned for his might on earth; he dwells in this part of the forest, exceedingly terrifying.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। वारयामास तेजस्वी हुङ्कारेणैव भारत
Seeing him rushing forward, the illustrious sage Vasiṣṭha checked him, O Bhārata, with a mere utterance of 'hum.'
मन्त्रपूतेन च पुनः स तमभ्युक्ष्य वारिणा। मोक्षयामास वै शापात्तस्माद्योगान्नराधिपम्
Then, sprinkling him again with water purified by mantra, he released the king from the curse by his yogic power.
स हि द्वादश वर्षाणि वासिष्ठस्यैव तेजसा। ग्रस्त आसीद्ग्रहेणेव पर्वकाले दिवाकरः
For twelve years, by the power of Vasiṣṭha alone, he had been seized, like the sun eclipsed by a planet at its conjunction.
रक्षसा विप्रमुक्तोऽथ स नृपस्तद्वनं महत्। तेजसा रञ्जयामास न्ध्याभ्रमिव भास्करः
Freed from the demon, the king then illumined that great forest with his radiance, like the sun coloring the evening clouds.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञामभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः। उवाच नृपतिः काले वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्
Regaining consciousness, he respectfully greeted with joined palms and, at the proper time, addressed the best of sages, Vasiṣṭha.
सौदासोऽहं महाभाग याज्यस्ते मुनिसत्तम। अस्मिन्काले यदिष्टं ते ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
O illustrious one, I am Saudāsa, whom you have caused to be sacrificed, O best of sages; at this time, if you wish anything, tell me—what shall I do for you?
वृत्तमेतद्यथाकालं गच्छ राज्यं प्रशाधि वै। ब्राह्मणं तु मनुष्येन्द्र माऽवमंस्थाः कदाचन
Conduct yourself according to proper custom and rule the kingdom well; but, O king, never look down upon a Brahmin.
नावमंस्ये महाभाग कदाचिद्ब्राह्मणर्षभान्। त्वन्निदेशे स्थितः सम्यक् पूजयिष्याम्यहं द्विजान्
O most fortunate one, I will never disregard the foremost of Brahmins; remaining under your instruction, I will duly honor the twice-born.
इक्ष्वाकूणां च येनाहमनृणः स्यां द्विजोत्तम। तत्त्वत्तः प्राप्तुमिच्छामि सर्ववेदविदां वर
O best knower of all the Vedas, I wish to obtain from you that by which I may be free of debt to the Ikshvaku lineage, O excellent Brahmin.
अपत्यायेप्सिताय त्वं महिषीं गन्तुमर्हसि। शीलरूपगुणोपेतामिक्ष्वाकुकुलवृद्धये
For the sake of offspring, you should approach the queen, endowed with good conduct, beauty, and virtues, for the increase of the Ikshvaku line.
ददानीत्येव तं तत्र राजानं प्रत्युवाच ह। वसिष्ठः परमेष्वासं सत्यसन्धो द्विजोत्तमः
Then Vasistha, the foremost of twice-born, steadfast in truth and supreme among archers, replied to the king there, saying, 'I will give.'
ततः प्रतिययौ काले वसिष्ठः सह तेन वै। ख्यातां पुरीमिमां लोकेष्वयोध्यां मनुजेश्वर
Thereafter, at the proper time, Vasistha went together with him, O lord of men, to this renowned city in the world, Ayodhya.
तं प्रजाः प्रतिमोदन्त्यः सर्वाः प्रत्युद्गतास्तदा। विपाप्मानं महात्मानं दिवौकस इवेश्वरम्
Then all the people, delighted, came out to meet him—free from sin, great-souled, like the gods welcoming their lord.
सुचिराय मनुष्येन्द्रो नगरीं पुण्यलक्षणाम्। विवेश सहितस्तेन वसिष्ठेन महर्षिणा
After a long time, the king entered that city of auspicious marks, together with the great sage Vasistha.
ददृशुस्तं महीपालमयोध्यावासिनो जनाः। पुरोहितेन सहितं दिवाकरमिवोदितम्
The people of Ayodhya beheld that king, accompanied by his priest, as if the sun had risen.
स च तां पूरयामास लक्ष्म्या लक्ष्मीवतां वरः। अयोध्यां व्योम शीतांशुः शरत्काल इवोदितः
That best among the prosperous filled Ayodhya with splendor, like the autumn moon rising in the sky.
संसक्तिमृष्टपन्थानं पताकाध्वजशोभितम्। मनः प्रह्लादयामास तस्य तत्पुरमुत्तमम्
That excellent city, with its clean, well-trodden roads and adorned with banners and flags, delighted his mind.
तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा सा पुरी कुरुनन्दन। अशोभत तदा तेन शक्रेणेवामरावती
That city, filled with contented and prosperous people, shone at that time by him, O joy of the Kurus, as Amaravati does by Indra.
ततः प्रविष्टे राजर्षौ तस्मिंस्तत्पुरमुत्तमम्। राज्ञस्तस्याज्ञया देवी वसिष्ठमुपचक्रमे
Then, when that royal sage had entered that excellent city, by the king's command, the queen approached Vasistha.
ऋतावथ महर्षिस्तु संबभूव तया सह। देव्या दिव्येन विधिना वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठभागृषिः
Then, in due season, the great sage Vasistha, best among seers, united with the queen according to divine ordinance.