न हि तं वारयामास वसिष्ठो रक्षसां वधात्। द्वितीयामस्य मां भाङ्क्षं प्रतिज्ञामिति निश्चयात्
Vasishtha did not restrain him from the slaughter of the Rakshasas, being firmly resolved that he himself would bear the second share of the vow.
त्रयाणां पावकानां च सत्रे तस्मिन्महामुनिः। आसीत्पुरस्ताद्दीप्तानां चतुर्थ इव पावकः
In that sacrifice, the great sage appeared among the three blazing fires as if he were a fourth fire at the front.
तेन यज्ञेन शुभ्रेण हूयमानेन शक्तितः। तद्विदीपितमाकाशं सूर्येणेव घनात्यये
By that pure sacrifice, offered with power, the sky was illuminated as if by the sun after the clouds have cleared.
तं वसिष्ठादयः सर्वे मुनयस्तत्र मेनिरे। तेजसा दीप्यमानं वै द्वितीयमिव भास्करम्
There, all the sages led by Vasishtha regarded him, shining with energy, as a second sun.
ततः परमदुष्प्रापमन्यैर्ऋषिरुधारधीः। समापिपयिषुः सत्रं तमत्रिः समुपागमत्
Then, Atri, the sage of firm resolve, who was difficult for others to approach, came to complete that sacrifice.
तथा पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुश्चैव महाक्रतुः। तत्राजग्मुरमित्रघ्न रक्षसां जीवितेप्सया
Likewise, Pulastya, Pulaha, and the great Kratu came there, O destroyer of foes, desiring to preserve the lives of the Rakshasas.
पुलस्त्यस्तु वधात्तेषां रक्षसां भरतर्षभ। उवाचेदं वचः पार्थ पराशरमरिन्दमम्
Pulastya, O best of the Bharatas, spoke these words to Parashara, the subduer of enemies, regarding the slaughter of the Rakshasas.
कच्चित्तातापविघ्नं ते कच्चिन्नन्दसि पुत्रक। अजानतामदोषाणां सर्वेषां रक्षसां वधात्
"My child, does this destruction not cause you distress? Are you not troubled by the killing of all the Rakshasas, who are ignorant and without fault?"
प्रजोच्छेदमिमं मह्यं न हि कर्तु त्वमर्हसि। नैष तात द्विजातीनां धर्मो दृष्टस्तपस्विनाम्
"You should not bring about the destruction of my lineage; this is not the duty seen among ascetics of the twice-born, my son."
शम एव परो धर्मस्तमाचर पराशर। अधर्मिष्ठं वरिष्ठः सन्कुरुषे त्वं पराशर
"Restraint is the highest duty—practice that, O Parashara. You, the best among men, are acting in a most unrighteous way, Parashara."
शक्तिं चापि हि धर्मज्ञं नातिक्रान्तुमिहार्हसि। प्रजायाश्च ममोच्छेदं न चैवं कर्तुमर्हसि
"You should not overstep Shakti, who was righteous; nor should you bring about the destruction of my descendants in this way."
शापाद्धि शक्तेर्वासिष्ठ तदा तदुपपादितम्। आत्मजेन स दोषेण शक्तिर्नीत इतो दिवम्
"It was by Shakti's curse, O Vasishtha, that this came to pass; through his own fault, your son Shakti was taken to heaven from here."
न हि तं राक्षसः कश्चिच्छक्तो भक्षयितुं मुने। `वासिष्ठो भक्षितश्चासीत्कौशिकोत्सृष्टरक्षसा। शापं न कुर्वन्ति तदा न च त्राणपरायणाः
"No Rakshasa was able to devour him, O sage; Vasishtha's son was consumed by Rakshasas released by Kaushika. At that time, they did not utter a curse, nor were they intent on protection."
क्षमावन्तोऽदहन्देहं देहमन्यद्भवत्विति।' आत्मनैवात्मनस्तेन दृष्टो मृत्युस्तदाऽभवत्
"Those patient ones burned their own bodies, saying, 'Let another body be formed.' Thus, by their own act, death was seen at that time."
निमित्तभूतस्तत्रासीद्विश्वामित्रः पराशर। राजा कल्माषपादश्च दिवमारुह्य मोदते
Viśvāmitra became the cause there, O Parāśara, and King Kalmāṣapāda, having ascended to heaven, rejoices.
ये च शक्त्यवराः पुत्रा वसिष्ठस्य महामुने। ते च सर्वे मुदा युक्ता मोदन्ते सहिताः सुरैः
And the sons of Vasiṣṭha, who were inferior to Śakti, all those, together with the gods, rejoice, filled with happiness.
सर्वमेतद्वसिष्ठस्य विदितं वै महामुने। रक्षसां च समुच्छेद एष तात तपस्विनाम्
All this is known to the great sage Vasiṣṭha; this is the destruction of the Rākṣasas, O dear one, by the ascetics.
निमित्तभूतस्त्वं चात्र क्रतौ वासिष्ठनन्दन। तत्सत्रं मुञ्च भद्रं ते समाप्तमिदमस्तु ते
You too have become the cause here in this sacrifice, O son of Vasiṣṭha; therefore, release this sacrifice—may good be yours, may this be completed for you.
एवमुक्तः पुलस्त्येन वसिष्ठेन च धीमता। तदा समापयामास सत्रं शाक्तो महामुनिः
Thus addressed by Pulastya and by the wise Vasiṣṭha, the great ascetic, son of Śakti, then brought the sacrifice to completion.
सर्वराक्षससत्राय संभृतं पावकं तदा। उत्तरे हिमवत्पार्श्वे उत्ससर्ज महावने
That fire, gathered for the destruction of all the Rākṣasas, he released on the northern side of the Himavat, in a great forest.
स तत्राद्यापि रक्षांसि वृक्षानश्मन एव च। भक्षयन्दृश्यते वह्निः सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि
There, even today, that fire is seen, always consuming Rākṣasas, trees, and stones, at every festival time.
पुनश्चैव महातेजा विश्वामित्रजिघांसया। अग्निं संभृतवान्घोरं शाक्तेयः सुमहातपाः
Again, with great energy, the son of Śakti, desiring to destroy Viśvāmitra, gathered a terrible fire, endowed with immense austerity.
वासिष्ठसंभृतश्चाग्निर्विश्वामित्रहितैषिणा। तेजसा वह्नितुल्येन ग्रस्तः स्कन्देन धीमता
And the fire gathered by Vasiṣṭha, wishing for Viśvāmitra's welfare, was consumed by the wise Skanda, whose brilliance was like fire.
राज्ञा कल्माषपादेन गुरौ ब्रह्मविदां वरे। कारणं किं पुरस्कृत्य भार्या वै सन्नियोजिता
By what reason did King Kalmāṣapāda, best among knowers of Brahman, assign his wife to his guru?
जानता वै परं धर्मं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। अगम्यागमनं कस्मात्कृतं तेन महर्षिणा
Knowing the highest dharma, why did the great-souled Vasiṣṭha commit the act of approaching one who should not be approached?
अधर्मिष्ठं वसिष्ठेन कृतं चापि पुरा सखे। एतन्मे संशयं सर्वं छेत्तुमर्हसि पृच्छतः
Vasiṣṭha once did a most unrighteous deed, O friend; you ought to dispel all this doubt of mine as I ask.
धनञ्जय निबोधेयं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। वसिष्ठं प्रति दुर्धर्ष तथा मित्रसहं नृपम्
Dhanañjaya, listen to what you have asked me, regarding Vasiṣṭha, who is difficult to overcome, and King Mitrasaha.
कथितं ते मया सर्वं यथा शप्तः स पार्थिवः। शक्तिना भरतश्रेष्ठ वासिष्ठेन महात्मना
I have told you everything, how that king was cursed by Śakti, the great-souled son of Vasiṣṭha, O best of the Bharatas.
स तु शापवशं प्राप्तः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः। निर्जगाम पुराद्राजा सहदारः परन्तपः
He, overcome by the force of the curse, his eyes agitated with anger, the king departed from the city with his wife, O subduer of enemies.
अरण्यं निर्जनं गत्वा सदारः परिचक्रमे। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं नानासत्वसमाकुलम्
Going to a deserted forest with his wife, he wandered about, filled with many kinds of beasts and crowded with various creatures.