मुनीनामन्त्रयामास सर्वज्ञान्वेदपारगान् । यज्ञविद्याप्रवीणांश्च तापसान्वेदवित्तमान्
He summoned sages who were masters of mantras, versed in all knowledge and the Vedas, skilled in sacrificial science, and ascetics rich in Vedic wisdom.
राजा सम्भृतसम्भारः सम्पूज्य गुरुमात्मनः । वसिष्ठं प्राह धर्मज्ञो विनयेन समन्वितः
The king, having gathered all the materials and duly honored his own guru, addressed Vasishta, who was learned in dharma, with humility.
यजेयं मुनिशार्दूल याजयस्व कृपानिधे । गुरुस्त्वं सर्ववेत्तासि कार्यं मे कुरु साम्प्रतम्
O tiger among sages, O ocean of compassion, I wish to perform a sacrifice; please officiate for me. You are my guru and knower of all; fulfill my purpose at this time.
यज्ञोपकरणं सर्वं समानीतं सुसंस्कृतम् । पञ्चवर्षसहस्रं तु दीक्षां कर्तुं मतिश्च मे
All the sacrificial implements have been brought and are well prepared; my intention is to undertake a consecration lasting five thousand years.
यस्मिन्यज्ञे समाराध्या देवी श्रीजगदम्बिका । तत्प्रीत्यर्थमहं यज्ञं करोमि विधिपूर्वकम्
In that sacrifice, the goddess Shri Jagadambika is to be worshipped; for her pleasure, I am performing this sacrifice according to proper rites.
तच्छ्रुत्वासौ निमेर्वाक्यं वसिष्ठः प्राह भूपतिम् । इन्द्रेणाहं वृतः पूर्वं यज्ञार्थं नृपसत्तम
Hearing this, Vasishta replied to Nimi: 'O best of kings, I have previously been engaged by Indra for a sacrifice.'
पराशक्तिमखं कर्तुमुद्युक्तः पाकशासनः । स दीक्षां गमितो देवः पञ्चवर्षशतात्मिकाम्
Indra, eager to perform a supreme sacrifice, had appointed me; thus, the god was consecrated for a period of five hundred years.
तस्मात्त्वमन्तरं तावत्प्रतिपालय पार्थिव । इन्द्रयज्ञे समाप्तेऽत्र कृत्वा कार्यं दिवस्पतेः
Therefore, O king, please wait for a while; after completing Indra's sacrifice here, I will carry out your task.
आगमिष्याम्यहं राजंस्तावत्त्वं प्रतिपालय । राजोवाच मया निमन्त्रिताश्चान्ये मुनयो यज्ञकारणात्
I will return, O king; meanwhile, please wait. The king said: 'I have already invited other sages for the purpose of the sacrifice.'
सम्भाराः सम्भृताः सर्वे पालयामि कथं गुरो । इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले ब्रह्मन्गुरुस्त्वं वेदवित्तमः
All the materials have been gathered; how should I preserve them, O guru? You are the foremost among the Ikshvaku lineage, O Brahmin, and the greatest knower of the Vedas.
कथं त्यक्त्वाद्य मे कार्यमुद्यतो गन्तुमाशु वै । न ते युक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठ यदुत्सृज्य मखं मम
How can I abandon my duty today, being ready to proceed? It is not proper for you, O best of twice-born, to leave my sacrifice unfinished.
गन्तासि धनलोभेन लोभाकुलितचेतनः । निवारितोऽपि राज्ञा स जगामेन्द्रमखं गुरुः
You are departing out of greed for wealth, your mind disturbed by desire; though restrained by the king, the guru went to Indra's sacrifice.
राजापि विमना भूत्वा गौतमं प्रत्यपूजयत् । इयाज हिमवत्पार्श्वे सागरस्य समीपतः
The king, disheartened, then honored Gautama and performed the sacrifice near the Himalayas, beside the ocean.
दक्षिणा बहुला दत्ता विप्रेभ्यो मखकर्मणि । निमिना पञ्चसाहस्री दीक्षा तत्र कृता नृप
Abundant gifts were given to the Brahmins in the sacrificial rites; by Nimi, a consecration of five thousand years was undertaken there, O king.
ऋत्विजः पूजिताः कामं धनैर्गोभिर्मुदा युताः । शक्रयज्ञसमाप्ते तु पञ्चवर्षशतात्मके
The officiating priests were honored as desired, with wealth and cattle, accompanied by joy; and after the completion of Indra's sacrifice, which lasted five hundred years,
आजगाम वसिष्ठस्तु राज्ञः सत्रदिदृक्षया । आगत्य संस्थितस्तत्र दर्शनार्थं नृपस्य च
Vasiṣṭha arrived, wishing to witness the royal sacrificial session; having come, he stood there for the sake of seeing the king.
तदा राजा प्रसुप्तस्तु निद्रयापहृतो ्भृशम् । नासौ प्रबोधितो भृत्यैर्नागतस्तु मुनिं नृपः
At that time, the king was deeply taken by sleep and carried away by slumber; he was not awakened by his attendants, nor did the king come to meet the sage.
वसिष्ठस्य ततो मन्युः प्रादुर्भूतोऽवमानतः । अदर्शनान्निमेस्तत्र चुकोप मुनिसत्तमः
Then, anger arose in Vasiṣṭha due to disrespect; because he was not seen there, the eminent sage became enraged.
शापं च दत्तवांस्तस्मै राज्ञे मन्युवशं गतः । यस्मात्त्वं मां गुरुं त्यक्त्वा कृत्वान्यं गुरुमात्मनः
Overcome by anger, he pronounced a curse upon the king: 'Since you have abandoned me, your guru, and made another your guru,
दीक्षितोऽसि बलान्मन्द मामवज्ञाय पार्थिव । वारितोऽपि मया तस्माद्विदेहस्त्वं भविष्यसि
'You have been initiated forcibly, O dull-witted king, disregarding me; though I forbade you, therefore you shall become bodiless.'
पतत्विदं शरीरं ते विदेहो भव भूपते । व्यास उवाच इति तद्व्याहृतं श्रुत्वा राज्ञस्तु परिचारकाः
'Let this body of yours fall, O king; become bodiless.' Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the king's attendants
सद्यः प्रबोधयामासुर्मुनिमाहुः प्रकोपितम् । कुपितं तं समागत्य राजा विगतकल्मषः
Immediately awakened him and informed him that the sage was enraged; coming together to the angry sage, the king, freed from impurity,
उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं हेतुगर्भं च युक्तिमत् । . मम दोषो न धर्मज्ञ गतस्त्वं तृष्णयाऽऽकुलः
Spoke gentle words, filled with reason and appropriateness: 'The fault is not mine, O knower of dharma; you were overcome by thirst and agitation.'
हित्वा मां यजमानं वै प्रार्थितोऽपि मया भृशम् । न लज्जसे द्विजश्रेष्ठ कृत्वा कर्म जुगुप्सितम्
'You abandoned me, the sacrificer, though I earnestly requested you; you feel no shame, O best of twice-born, having performed a blameworthy act.'
सन्तोषे ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ जानन्धर्मस्य निश्चयम् । पुत्रोऽसि ब्रह्मणः साक्षाद्वेदवेदाङ्गवित्तमः
'In contentment, O best of Brāhmaṇas, knowing the certainty of dharma, you are the son of Brahmā himself, most learned in the Vedas and their branches.'
न वेत्सि विप्रधर्मस्य गतिं सूक्ष्मां दुरत्ययाम् । आत्मदोषं मयि ज्ञात्वा मृषा मां शस्तुमिच्छसि
'You do not know the subtle, difficult path of a Brāhmaṇa's dharma; recognizing your own fault in me, you wish to reproach me falsely.'
त्याज्यस्तु सुजनैः क्रोधश्चण्डालादधिको यतः । वृथा क्रोधपरीतेन मयि शापः प्रपातितः
'Anger should be abandoned by good people, for it is worse than a caṇḍāla; in vain, under the sway of anger, you have cast a curse upon me.'
तवापि च पतत्वद्य देहोऽयं क्रोधसंयुतः । एवं शप्तो मुनी राज्ञा राजा च मुनिना तथा
'Your body too shall fall today, filled with anger; thus the sage was cursed by the king, and the king likewise by the sage.'
परस्परं प्राप्य शापं दुःखितौ तौ बभूवतुः । वसिष्ठस्त्वतिचिन्तार्तो ब्रह्माणं शरणं गतः
Having received curses from each other, both became distressed; Vasiṣṭha, overwhelmed by anxiety, sought refuge in Brahmā.
निवेदयामास तथा शापं भूपकृतं महत् । वसिष्ट उवाच राज्ञा शप्तोऽस्मि देहोऽयं पतत्वद्य तवेति वै
He reported the great curse inflicted by the king in this way: Vasiṣṭha said, 'I have been cursed by the king: "Let your body fall today."'