Markandeya Purana

तत्राप्सरा वपुर्नाम मुनिक्षोभणगर्विता । प्रत्युवाचाद्य यास्यामि यत्रासौ संस्थितो मुनिः॥१.

There, an Apsaras named Vapu, proud of her power to disturb sages, replied, 'Today I will go to where that sage is residing.'

अद्य तं देहयन्तारं प्रयुक्तेन्द्रियवाजिनम् । स्मरशस्त्रगलद्रश्मिं करिष्यामि कुसारथिम्॥१.

Today, with the help of the god of love, whose arrows drip with the essence of passion, I will make that sage, the subduer of the senses, yield.

ब्रह्मा जनार्दनो वापि यदि वा नीललोहितः । तमप्यद्य करिष्यामि कामबाणक्षतान्तरम्॥१.

Whether it be Brahma, Janardana, or even the blue-throated one, today I would make even them wounded by the arrows of desire.

इत्युक्त्वा प्रजगामाथ प्रालेयाद्रिं वपुस्तदा । मुनेस्तपः प्रभावेण प्रशान्तश्वापदाश्रमम्॥१.

Having said this, Vapu then went to the snowy mountain, to the hermitage of the sage, where, by the power of his austerity, even the wild beasts were at peace.

स पुंस्कोकिलमाधुर्या यत्रास्ते स महामुनिः । क्रोशमात्रं स्थिता तस्मादगायत वराप्सराः॥१.

Where that great sage dwelt, sweet as the song of the male cuckoo, the excellent Apsaras, standing a short distance away, began to sing.

तद्गीतध्वनिमाकर्ण्य मुनिर्विस्मितमानसः । जगाम तत्र यत्रास्ते सा बाला रुचिरानना॥१.

Hearing the sound of that song, the sage, his mind astonished, went to where that beautiful-faced maiden was.

तां दृष्ट्वा चारुसर्वाङ्गीं मुनिः संस्तभ्य मानसम् । क्षोभणायागतां ज्ञात्वा कोपामर्षसन्वितः॥१.

Seeing her, lovely in every limb, the sage, restraining his mind, knowing she had come to disturb him, was filled with anger and indignation.

उवाचेदं ततो वाक्यं महर्षिस्तां महातपाः॥१.

Then the great sage, possessed of great austerity, spoke these words to her.

यस्माद्दुः खार्जितस्येह तपसो विध्नकारणात् । आगतासि मदोन्मत्ते मम दुः खाय खेचरि॥१.

Because you have come here, O sky-roaming one, maddened by pride, to hinder my hard-won austerity, you have caused me suffering.

तस्मात् सुपर्णगोत्रे त्वं मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृता । जन्म प्राप्स्यसि दुष्प्रज्ञे यावद्वर्षाणि षोडश॥१.

Therefore, tainted by my wrath, you will be born in the race of birds, O foolish one, for sixteen years.

निजरूपं परित्यज्य पक्षिणीरूपधारिणी । चत्वारस्ते च तनया जनिष्यन्तेऽधमाप्सराः॥१.

Abandoning your own form, assuming the shape of a bird, you will have four sons, O lowest of Apsarases.

अप्राप्य तेषु च प्रीतिं शस्त्रपूता पुनर्दिवि । वासमाप्स्यसि वक्तव्यं नोत्तरं ते कथञ्चन॥१.

Without finding joy among them, purified by this ordeal, you will again attain residence in heaven; you must not speak a word in reply.

इति वचनमसह्यं कोपसंरक्तदृष्टिश् चलकलबलयां तां मानिनीं श्रावयित्वा । तरलतरतरङ्गां गां परित्यज्य विप्रः प्रथितगुणगणौघां संप्रयाताः खगङ्गाम्॥१.

Having pronounced this unbearable curse, his eyes red with anger, the sage departed, leaving the trembling, proud one, and she, her mind agitated like the waves of a restless river, took birth among the birds, famed for their many virtues.

; धर्मपक्षिण ऊचुः हरिश्चन्द्रेति राजर्षिरासीत् त्रेतायुगे पुरा । धर्मात्मा पृथिवीपालः प्रोल्लसत्कीर्तिरुत्तमः॥७.

There was once a royal sage named Harishchandra in the Treta age, a ruler of the earth whose noble fame shone forth, steadfast in righteousness.

न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं नृणाम् । नाधर्मरुचयः पौरास्तस्मिन् शासति पार्थिवे॥७.

During his reign, there was neither famine nor disease, nor untimely death among people, nor were the citizens inclined toward unrighteousness.

बभूवुर्न तथोन्मत्ता धन-वीर्य-तपोमदैः । नाजायन्त स्त्रियश्चैव काश्चिदप्राप्तयौवनाः॥७.

Nor were there those intoxicated by wealth, strength, or asceticism; and no women were born who had not attained youth.

स कदाचिन्महाबाहुररण्येऽनुसरन् मृगम् । शुश्राव शब्दमसकृत् त्रायस्वेति च योषिताम्॥७.

Once, that mighty-armed king, while pursuing a deer in the forest, repeatedly heard the cries of women calling, 'Save us!'

स विहाय मृगं राजा मा भैषीरित्यभाषत । मयि शासति दुर्मेधाः कोऽयमन्यायवृत्तिमान्॥७.

Abandoning the deer, the king spoke, 'Do not fear!' Who, while I rule, would act with such wickedness and injustice?

तत्क्रन्दितानुसारी च सर्वारम्भविघातकृत् । एकस्मिन्नन्तरे रौद्रो विघ्नराट् समचिन्तयत्॥७.

Following the sound of their cries, he encountered the cause of all obstacles—a fierce being—who began to ponder.

विश्वामित्रोऽयमतुलं तप आस्थाय वीर्यवान् । प्रागसिद्धाभवादीनां विद्याः साध्यति व्रती॥७.

This is Vishvamitra, possessing unmatched ascetic power and strength, who, through his vows, is accomplishing the knowledge once attained by the gods.

साध्यमानाः क्षमामौनचित्तसंयमिनामुना । ता वै भयार्ताः क्रन्दन्ति कथं कार्यमिदं मया॥७.

As he strives for them with patience, silence, and control of mind, those (women), terrified, cry out—what should I do about this?

तेजस्वी कौशिकश्वेष्ठो वयमस्य सुदुर्बलाः । क्रोशन्त्येतास्तथा भीता दुष्पारं प्रतिभाति मे॥७.

The powerful Kauśika is protected by horses, while we are exceedingly weak; these frightened ones cry out, and it seems impossible for me to cross.

अथवायं नृपः प्राप्तो मा भैरिति वदन् मुहुः । इममेव प्रविश्याशु साधयिष्ये यथेप्सितम्॥७.

Or perhaps this king has arrived, repeatedly saying 'Do not fear'; I will quickly enter him and accomplish whatever I desire.

इति संचिन्त्य रौद्रेण विघ्नराजेन वै ततः । तेनाविष्टो नृपः कोपादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥७.

Thinking thus, the fierce lord of obstacles possessed the king, and out of anger, the king spoke these words.

कोऽयं बघ्नाति वस्त्रान्ते पावकं पापकृन्नरः । बलोष्णतेजसा दीप्ते मयि पत्यावुपस्थिते॥७.

Who is this wicked man, burning fire at the edge of his garment, blazing with strength and energy, while I, the master, am present?

सोऽद्य मत्कार्मुकाक्षेप-विदीपितदिगन्तरैः । शरैर्विभिन्नसर्वाङ्गो दीर्घनिद्रां प्रवेक्ष्यति॥७.

Today, pierced by arrows from my bow, which illuminate all directions, he will enter a long sleep, his body shattered.

विश्वामित्रस्ततः क्रुद्धः श्रुत्वा तन्नृपतेर्वचः । क्रुद्धे चर्षिवरे तस्मिन् नेशुर्विद्याः क्षणेन ताः॥७.

Upon hearing these words of the king, Vishvamitra became angry; and as the sage grew wrathful, the knowledge vanished in an instant.

स चापि राजा तं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रं तपोनिधिम् । भीतः प्रावेपतात्यर्थं सहसाश्वत्थपर्णवत्॥७.

And the king, seeing Vishvamitra, the treasure of asceticism, became greatly afraid and trembled suddenly like the leaves of an ashvattha tree.

स दुरात्मन्निति यदा मुनिस्तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् । ततः स राजा विनयात् प्रणिपत्याभ्यभाषत॥७.

When the sage said, 'You are wicked,' and stood there, the king, out of humility, bowed and spoke.