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."
जपस्य च दशांशेन होमः कार्यो विधानतः । भवद्भिः कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं वेदविद्भिः कृपापरैः
"According to the injunction, a tenth part of the recitation should be offered in the fire. You, compassionate knowers of the Veda, should perform this for the accomplishment of my purpose."
सत्यव्रतोऽहं नृपतेः पुत्रो ब्रह्मविदांवराः । कार्यं मम विधातव्यं सर्वथा सुखहेतवे
"I am Satyavrata, son of the king, O foremost among knowers of Brahman. My work must be accomplished in every way for the sake of happiness."
तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणास्तत्र तमूचुर्नृपतेः सुतम् । शप्तस्त्वं गुरुणा प्राप्तं पिशाचत्वं त्वयाधुना
Hearing this, the brāhmaṇas there spoke to the king's son: "You have been cursed by your guru and have now attained the state of a piśāca."
न यागार्होऽसि तस्मात्त्वं वेदेष्वनधिकारतः । पिशाचत्वमनुप्राप्तं सर्वलोकेषु गर्हितम्
"Therefore, you are not eligible for sacrifice, as you have no right in the Vedas. You have attained the state of a piśāca, which is condemned in all worlds."
व्यास उवाच - तन्निशम्य वचस्तेषां राजा दुःखमवाप ह । धिग्जीवितमिदं मेऽद्य किं करोमि वने स्थितः
Vyāsa said: Hearing their words, the king was overcome with sorrow. "Fie on this life of mine today! What shall I do, dwelling in the forest?"
पित्रा चाहं परित्यक्तः शप्तश्च गुरुणा भृशम् । राज्याद्भ्रष्टः पिशाचत्वमनुप्राप्तः करोमि किम्
"Abandoned by my father and severely cursed by my guru, deprived of my kingdom and fallen into the state of a piśāca, what shall I do?"
तदा पृथुतरां कृत्वा चितां काष्ठैर्नृपात्मजः । सस्मार चण्डिकां देवीं प्रवेशमनुचिन्तयन्
Then, the prince built a large funeral pyre with wood, remembered the Goddess Caṇḍikā, and contemplated entering it.
स्मृता देवीं महामायां चितां प्रज्वलितां पुरः । कृत्वा स्नात्वा प्रवेशार्थं स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरग्रतः
Having remembered the great Māyā, the Goddess, and kindled the pyre before him, he bathed and stood with joined palms, ready to enter.
ज्ञात्वा भगवती तं तु मर्तुकामं महीपतिम् । आजगाम तदाऽऽकाशं प्रत्यक्षं तस्य चाग्रतः
Knowing that the king wished to die, the Blessed Goddess then appeared visibly before him in the sky.
दत्त्वाथ दर्शनं देवी तमुवाच नृपात्मजम् । सिंहारूढा महाराज मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
Having granted her vision, the Goddess, mounted on a lion, spoke to the prince with a voice deep as thunder, O king.