हृदयं कठिनं कृत्वा संचिंत्य मनसा सती
Having hardened her heart, the faithful wife, after considering in her mind,
मुनिपत्नी गले बद्ध्वा मध्यमं पुत्रमौरसम्
the sage's wife tied a rope around the neck of her own middle son.
दृष्टा सत्यव्रतेनाऽऽर्ता तापसी शोकसंयुता
She, the suffering ascetic woman, was seen by Satyavrata, filled with sorrow.
रुदंतं बालकं कंठे बद्ध्वा नयसि काऽधुना
"Where are you taking this crying boy, tied by the neck, O lady?"
ऋषिपत्न्युवाच विक्रेतुमौरसं कामं गमिष्ये विषमेऽ सुतम्
The sage's wife said: "I am going to sell my own son, as I wish, in this hardship."
अन्नं नास्ति पतिर्मुक्त्वा गतस्तप्तं नृप क्वचित्
"There is no food, and my husband, having left, has gone somewhere to perform austerities, O king."
राजोवाच तावदेव पतिस्तेऽत्र वनाच्चैवाऽऽगमिष्यति
The king said: Your husband will return here from the forest very soon.
वृक्षे तवाऽऽश्रमाभ्याशे भक्ष्यं किंचिन्निरंतरम् 7.10.
There is always some food on the tree near your hermitage.
इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन राज्ञा कौशिककामिनी
Thus addressed by the king at that time, the woman who desired Kauśika—
सोऽभवद्गालवो नाम गलबंधान्महातपाः
He became known as Gālava, the great ascetic bound at the neck.
सत्यव्रतस्तु भक्त्या च कृपया च परिप्लुतः
Satyavrata, filled with devotion and compassion,
वने स्थितान्मृगान्हत्वा वराहान्महिषांस्तथा
Killed deer, boars, and buffaloes dwelling in the forest,
ऋषिपत्नी गृहीत्वा तन्मांसं पुत्रानदा त्ततः
The sage's wife took that meat and then gave it to her sons.
अयोध्यां चैव राज्यं च तथैवांतः पुरं मुनिः
The sage also protected Ayodhyā, the kingdom, and the inner city.
सत्यव्रतोऽपि धर्मात्मा ह्यतिष्ठन्नगराद्बहिः
But Satyavrata, righteous in soul, remained outside the city.
सत्यव्रतो ह्यकस्माच्च कस्यचित्कारणान्नृपः
Satyavrata, for some reason and without warning, O king,
त्याज्यमानं वने पित्रा धर्मिष्ठं च प्रियं सुतम्
Was cast out into the forest by his father, though he was a virtuous and beloved son.
पाणिग्रहणमंत्राणां निष्ठा स्यात्सप्तमे पदे 7.10.
The completion of the marriage vows is at the seventh step.
कस्मिंश्चिद्दिवसेऽरण्ये मृगाभावं महीपतिः
On a certain day in the forest, the king found there were no more deer.
तां जघान क्षुधार्तस्य क्रोधान्मोहाच्च दस्युवत्
Driven by hunger, anger, and confusion, he killed her like a robber.
ऋषिषत्नी सुतान्सर्वान्भोजयामास तत्तदा
Then the sage's wife fed all her sons with that.
वसिष्ठस्तु हतां दोग्ध्रीं ज्ञात्वा कुद्धस्तमब्रवीत्
But Vasiṣṭha, knowing that the milch cow had been killed, angrily said to him—
एवं ते शंकवः क्रूरा पतंतु त्वरितास्त्रयः
Thus, may three cruel iron spikes fall upon you swiftly.
त्रिशंकुरिति नाम्ना वै भुवि ख्यातो भविष्यसि
You will be known on earth by the name Triśaṅku.
व्यास उवाच चचार च तपस्तीव्रं तस्मिन्नेवाऽऽश्रमे थितः
Vyāsa said: Remaining in that very hermitage, he undertook severe austerities.
कस्माच्चिन्मुनिपुत्रात्तु प्राप्य मंत्रमनुत्तमम्
Having received an excellent mantra from the son of a sage for some reason,
सत्यव्रताय राजनीत्युपदेशवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच - वसिष्ठेन च शप्तोऽसौ त्रिशङ्कुर्नृपतेः सुतः । कथं शापाद्विनिर्मुक्तस्तन्मे ब्रूहि महामते
The instruction on righteous conduct for Satyavrata is described here. Janamejaya said: O wise one, Triśaṅku, the son of the king, was cursed by Vasiṣṭha. How was he freed from that curse? Please tell me, O great-minded one.
व्यास उवाच - सत्यव्रतस्तथा शप्तः पिशाचत्वमवाप्तवान् । तस्मिन्नेवाश्रमे तस्थौ देवीभक्तिपरायणः
Vyāsa said: Thus cursed, Satyavrata attained the state of a piśāca (spirit). He remained in that very hermitage, devoted to the worship of the Goddess.
कदाचिन्नृपतिस्तत्र जप्त्वा मन्त्रं नवाक्षरम् । होमार्थं ब्राह्मणान्गत्वा प्रणम्योवाच भक्तितः
Once, the king there, having recited the nine-syllable mantra, approached the brāhmaṇas for the purpose of a sacrifice, bowed to them, and spoke with devotion.
भूमिदेवाः शृणुध्वं वै वचनं प्रणतस्य मे । ऋत्विजो मम सर्वेऽत्र भवन्तः प्रभवन्तु ह
"O gods on earth, please hear the words of one who bows before you. May all of you here become the officiating priests for my sacrifice."