किं करोमि पितः प्राप्यं कष्टं कायप्रपातजम् । अन्यदेहसमुत्पत्तौ जनकं वद साम्प्रतम्
'Father, what shall I do, having received this hardship of bodily fall? Tell me now, at the arising of another body, who will be my father.'
तथा मे देहसंयोगः पूर्ववत्समपद्यताम् । यादृशं ज्ञानमेतस्मिन्देहे तत्रास्तु तत्पितः
'Let my union with the body be as before; and whatever knowledge is in this body, let it be there, O father.'
समर्थोऽसि महाराज प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि । वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच तं सुतम्
O great king, you are capable; you ought to show your favor. Hearing the words of Vasiṣṭha, Brahmā spoke to his son:
मित्रावरुणयोस्तेजस्त्वं प्रविश्य स्थिरो भव । तस्मादयोनिजः काले भविता त्वं न संशयः
Enter into the energy of Mitra and Varuṇa and become steadfast. Therefore, in due time, you will be born without a womb—of this there is no doubt.
पुनर्देहं समासाद्य धर्मयुक्तो भविष्यसि । भूतात्मा वेदवित्कामं सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजितः
Having obtained a body again, you will be righteous, possessed of the essence of beings, a knower of the Veda, fulfilling desires, all-knowing, and honored by all.
एवमुक्तस्तदा पित्रा प्रययौ वरुणालयम् । कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं प्रीत्या प्रणम्य च पितामहम्
Thus addressed by his father, he then went to the abode of Varuṇa, having joyfully circumambulated and bowed to the Grandfather.
विवेश स तयोर्देहे मित्रावरुणयोः किल । जीवांशेन वसिष्ठोऽथ त्यक्त्वा देहमनुत्तमम्
He entered, it is said, into the bodies of Mitra and Varuṇa; then Vasiṣṭha, with a portion of his life, abandoned his excellent body.
कदाचित्तूर्वशी राजन्नागता वरुणालयम् । यदृच्छया वरारोहा सखीगणसमावृता
Once, O king, Urvaśī, of excellent form, happened to come to the abode of Varuṇa, surrounded by her group of companions.
दृष्ट्वा तामप्सरां दिव्यां रूपयौवनसंयुताम् । जातौ कामातुरौ देवौ तदा तामूचतुर्नृप
Seeing that divine apsaras, endowed with beauty and youth, the two gods became overcome with desire and then spoke to her, O king.
विवशौ चारुसर्वाङ्गीं देवकन्यां मनोरमाम् । आवां त्वमनवद्याङ्गि वरयस्व समाकुलौ
Helpless, the two addressed the lovely, charming daughter of the gods: 'O faultless one, choose us both, for we are agitated because of you.'
विहरस्व यथाकामं स्थानेऽस्मिन्वरवर्णिनि । तथोक्ता सा ततो देवी ताभ्यां तत्र स्थितावशा
'Enjoy as you wish in this place, O one of excellent complexion.' Thus addressed, the goddess then remained there, compelled by them.
कृत्वा भावं स्थिरं देवी मित्रावरुणयोर्गृहे । सा गृहीत्वा तयोर्भावं संस्थिता चारुदर्शना
The goddess, having fixed her mind in the house of Mitra and Varuṇa, accepted their intention and remained, beautiful to behold.
तयोस्तु पतितं वीर्यं कुम्भे दैवादनावृते । तस्माज्जातौ मुनी राजन्द्वावेवातिमनोहरौ
By divine will, the semen of the two fell into an uncovered jar; from that, O king, two exceedingly charming sages were born.
अगस्तिः प्रथमस्तत्र वसिष्ठश्चापरस्तथा । मित्रावरुणयोर्वीर्यात्तापसावृषिसत्तमौ
Agastya was the first there, and Vasiṣṭha the other; from the energy of Mitra and Varuṇa, these two ascetics became the best of sages.
प्रथमस्तु वनं प्राप्तो बाल एव महातपाः । इक्ष्वाकुस्तु वसिष्ठं तं बालं वव्रे पुरोहितम्
The first, though still a child, went to the forest, a great ascetic; Ikṣvāku chose that child Vasiṣṭha as his priest.
वंशस्यास्य सुखार्थं ते पालयामास पार्थिव । विशेषेण मुनिं ज्ञात्वा प्रीत्या युक्तो बभूव ह
For the happiness of his lineage, the king cared for him; recognizing him especially as a sage, he became devoted with affection.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वसिष्ठस्य च कारणम् । शापाद्देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्मित्रावरुणयोः कुले
All this has been told to you, including the reason for Vasiṣṭha's birth in another body due to the curse, in the family of Mitra and Varuṇa.
देवीमहिम्नि नानाभाववर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच देहप्राप्तिर्वसिष्ठस्य कथिता भवता किल । निमिः कथं पुनर्देहं प्राप्तवानिति मे वद
On the greatness of the goddess: various manifestations described. Janamejaya said: The attainment of a body by Vasiṣṭha has been told by you; tell me how Nimi again obtained a body.
व्यास उवाच वसिष्ठेन च सम्प्राप्तः पुनर्देहो नराधिप । निमिना न तथा प्राप्तो देहः शापादनन्तरम्
Vyāsa said: Vasiṣṭha indeed obtained another body, O king, but Nimi did not obtain a body in the same way after the curse.
यदा शप्तो वसिष्ठेन तदा ते ब्राह्मणाः क्रतौ ऋत्विजो ये वृता राज्ञा ते सर्वे समचिन्तयन्
When he was cursed by Vasiṣṭha, then those brāhmaṇas who had been appointed as priests by the king all deliberated together.
किं कर्तव्यमहोऽस्माभिः शापदग्धो महीपतिः । अस्मिन्यज्ञे त्वसम्पूर्णे दीक्षायुक्तश्च धार्मिकः
What should we do now? The king has been burned by a curse; in this sacrifice, which remains incomplete, he is still under vow and righteous.
किं कर्तव्यं कार्यमेतद्विपरीतमभूत्किल । अवश्यम्भाविभावत्वादशक्ताः स्म निवारणे
What should be done? This event has turned out contrary to expectation; since it was destined to happen, we were powerless to prevent it.
मन्त्रैर्बहुविधैर्देहं तदा तस्य महात्मनः । रक्षितं धारयामासुः किञ्चिच्छ्वसनसंयुतम्
With many kinds of mantras, we preserved the body of that great soul, maintaining it with a trace of breath.
गन्धैर्माल्यैश्च विविधैः पूज्यमानं मुहुर्मुहुः । मन्त्रशक्त्या प्रतिष्टभ्य निर्विकारं सुपूजितम्
Honoring him again and again with various scents and garlands, we upheld him by the power of mantras, worshipping him perfectly, unmoved.
समाप्ते च क्रतौ तत्र देवाः सर्वे समागताः । ऋत्विग्भिस्तु स्तुताः सर्वे सुप्रीताश्चाभवन्नृप
And when the sacrifice was completed there, all the gods assembled; praised by the officiating priests, they were all greatly pleased, O king.
विज्ञप्ता मुनिभिः स्तोत्रैर्निर्विण्णात्मानमब्रुवन् । प्रसन्नाः स्म महीपाल वरं वरय सुव्रत
Addressed by the sages with hymns, they spoke to him, whose heart was despondent: 'We are pleased, O protector of the earth; choose a boon, O virtuous one.'
यज्ञेनानेन राजर्षे वरं जन्म विधीयते । देवदेहं नृदेहं वा यत्ते मनसि वाञ्छितम्
By this sacrifice, O royal sage, a boon of birth is granted—whether as a god or a human, whatever you desire in your heart.
दृप्तः कामं पुरोधास्ते मृत्युलोके यथासुखम् । एवमुक्तो निमेरात्मा सन्तुष्टस्तानुवाच ह
Your priest, proud as he was, may enjoy himself as he wishes in the world of mortals. Thus addressed, Nimi's spirit, satisfied, replied to them.
न देहे मम वाञ्छास्ति सर्वदैव विनश्वरे । वासो मे सर्वसत्त्वानां दृष्टावस्तु सुरोत्तमाः
I have no desire for a body, which is always perishable; O best of gods, let my dwelling be in the eyes of all beings, as is seen.
नेत्रेषु सर्वभूतानां वायुभूतश्चराम्यहम् । एवमुक्ताः सुरास्तत्र निमेरात्मानमब्रुवन्
I shall move as air in the eyes of all creatures. Thus spoken, the gods there addressed Nimi's spirit.