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.
नानागुल्मलताच्छन्नं नानाद्रुमसमावृतम्। अरण्यं घोरसन्नादं शापग्रस्तः परिभ्रमन्
Covered with many thickets and creepers, filled with various trees, that forest, resounding with dreadful noises, he wandered, afflicted by the curse.
स कदाचित्क्षुधाविष्टो मृगयन्भक्ष्यमात्मनः। ददर्श सुपरिक्लिष्टः कस्मिंश्चिन्निर्जने वने
Once, afflicted by hunger, seeking food for himself, he, greatly distressed, saw something in a certain lonely forest.
ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणीं चैव मिथुनायोपसंगतौ। तौ तं वीक्ष्य सुवित्रस्तावकृतार्थौ प्रधावितौ
A brahmin and his wife approached together as a couple; seeing him, both became very frightened and, their purpose unfulfilled, fled in haste.
तयोः प्रद्रवतोर्विप्रं जग्राह नृपतिर्बलात्। दृष्ट्वा गृहीतं भर्तारमथ ब्राह्मण्यभाषत
As they fled, the king seized the brahmin by force; seeing her husband captured, the brahmin woman spoke.
शृणु राजन्मम वचो यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि सुव्रत। आदित्यवंशप्रभवस्त्वं हि लोके परिश्रुतः
Hear my words, O king, which I will speak to you, O steadfast one; you are renowned in the world as sprung from the solar dynasty.
अप्रमत्तः स्थि धर्मे गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः। शापोपहत दुर्धर्ष न पापं कर्तुमर्हसि
You are vigilant in righteousness, devoted to serving elders; afflicted by a curse, O difficult-to-overcome one, you should not commit sin.
ऋतुकाले तु संप्राप्ते भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिता। अकृतार्था ह्यहं भर्त्रा प्रसवार्थं समागता
Now, at the proper season, tormented by my husband's misfortune, I have come together with him for the purpose of conception, yet my desire remains unfulfilled.
प्रसीद नृपतिश्रेष्ठ भर्ताऽयं मे विसृज्यताम्। एवं विक्रोशमानायास्तस्यास्तु न नृशंसवत्
Have mercy, O best of kings, release my husband; though she cried out thus, he did not act compassionately.
भर्तारं भक्षयामास व्याघ्रो मृगमिवेप्सितम्। तस्याः क्रोधाभिभूताया यान्यश्रूण्यपतन्भुवि
The tiger devoured her husband as a tiger devours its chosen prey; overcome by anger, her tears fell to the ground.
सोऽग्निः समभवद्दीप्तस्तं च देशं व्यदीपयत्। ततः सा शोकसंतप्ता भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिता
Those tears became a blazing fire and illuminated that place; then, tormented by grief and her husband's misfortune,
कल्माषपादं राजर्षिमशपद्ब्राह्मणी रुषा। यस्मान्ममाकृतार्थायास्त्वया क्षुद्र नृशंसवत्
The brahmin woman, filled with wrath, cursed King Kalmashapada: 'Because, O wicked and cruel one, you have left me unfulfilled,
प्रेक्षन्त्या भक्षितो मेऽद्य प्रियो भर्ता महायशाः। तस्मात्त्वमपि दुर्बुद्धे मच्छापपरिविक्षतः
While I watched, my beloved and illustrious husband was devoured today; therefore, O evil-minded one, you too shall suffer the result of my curse.
पत्नीमृतावनुप्राप्य सद्यस्त्यक्ष्यसि जीवितम्। `तेन प्रसाद्यमाना सा प्रसादमकरोत्तदा।' यस्य चर्षेर्वसिष्ठस्य त्वया पुत्रा विनाशिताः
Upon the death of your wife, you will immediately lose your life; thus, though she pleaded, he did not show mercy. By you, the sons of the sage Vasishtha were destroyed.
तेन संगम्य ते भार्या तनयं जनयिष्यति। सते वंशकरः पुत्रो भविष्यति नृपाधम
With him, your wife will unite and bear a son; that son, O lowest of kings, will continue your lineage.
एवं शप्त्वा तु राजानं सा तमाङ्गिरसी शुभा। तस्यैव सन्निधौ दीप्तं प्रविवेश हुताशनम्
Having thus cursed the king, that noble woman of the Angirasa line entered the blazing fire in his very presence.
वसिष्ठश्च महाभागः सर्वमेतदवैक्षत। ज्ञानयोगेन महता तपसा च परन्तप
And the illustrious Vasishtha, by his great knowledge and ascetic power, witnessed all this, O subduer of foes.
मुक्तशापश्च राजर्षिः कालेन महता ततः। ऋतुकालेऽभिपतितो मदयन्त्या निवारितः
After a long time, the royal sage was freed from the curse; when he approached Madayanti at the proper season, he was restrained by her.
न हि सस्मार स नृपस्तं शापं काममोहितः। देव्याः सोऽथ वचः श्रुत्वा संभ्रान्तो नृपसत्तमः
The king, overcome by desire, did not remember the curse; but upon hearing the queen's words, the best of kings became agitated.
तं शापमनुसंस्मृत्य पर्यतप्यद्भृशं तदा। एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजा वसिष्ठं सन्ययोजयत्। स्वदारेषु नरश्रेष्ठ शापदोषसमन्वितः
Then, recalling the curse, he was greatly tormented; for this reason, O best of men, the king entrusted Vasishtha with his wives, afflicted by the fault of the curse.
अस्माकमनुरूपो वै यः स्याद्गन्धर्व वेदवित्। पुरोहितस्तमाचक्ष्व सर्वं हि विदितं तव
Tell us who among us would be suitable as a priest, one who knows the Gandharva Veda; for you know everything.