Driven by thirst, the righteous King Sudāsaja approached the sacred river Reva, seeking relief. After sharing a meal with his ministers, he spent the night by its tranquil banks. The next day, accompanied by his trusted minister, the king wandered through the forests along the Narmada, his senses alert to the wilderness around him. With bow drawn and arrow poised to his ear, Sudāsaja pursued a black antelope, intent on the hunt. During his pursuit, he came upon a cave where two tigers were engaged in union. The king, a master of archery, readied his bow and confronted the formidable beasts. Suddenly, the tigress, immense in size—stretching thirty-six yojanas—leapt forth from the cave. Witnessing his beloved tigress struck down, the tiger-demon, now Sudāsaja’s enemy, was consumed by rage. Alarmed by this turn of events, the king gathered his army within the forest, his heart troubled by suspicions of the demon’s malice. Fearing the demon’s deeds, Sudāsaja became ever more apprehensive. As time passed, the king sought to restore balance and performed the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice. There, he offered oblations to Brahmā and the other gods, following the sacred rites. Yet, angered by past events, the tiger-demon appeared before the king, demanding recompense. Approaching Sudāsaja, the demon declared, “I wish to eat meat.” At that moment, the king stood holding the offering vessel meant for Hari, awaiting the arrival of his guru. When the guru, Vasiṣṭha, arrived, Sudāsaja respectfully presented the vessel to him. Vasiṣṭha, astonished, wondered at this unusual offering: “Why is this so?” He lamented, “Alas, this king has acted wickedly—he has given me what is unfit to eat. O lord of the earth, you have given me impure food to harm me. You have given me human flesh, which is food only for demons.” As Vasiṣṭha pronounced his curse, Sudāsaja, overcome by fear, stood trembling. Vasiṣṭha, not prompted by Sudāsaja, began to reflect deeply on the situation. The king, too, prepared to curse Vasiṣṭha, taking up water to invoke the curse. But his virtuous wife, Madayantī, intervened, addressing him as he was about to act: “Whatever deed you are destined to experience, that will certainly come to pass—there is no doubt. In a waterless wilderness, you will become a dreadful rākṣasa. It is established in the scriptures that such ones go to the abode of Brahmā.” Conflicted about where to pour the water, Sudāsaja finally poured it at his own feet. From that moment, he became widely known as Kalmāṣapāda. Greatly frightened, he bowed to his teacher’s feet and pleaded, “Forgive everything, O venerable one; I have committed no offense.” He reproached himself, lamenting his lack of discernment. “One without discernment in this world is truly like a beast—there is no doubt. Because I am ignorant and lack discernment, I have committed this sin. Who, having no discernment, attains happiness—who indeed, or who finds no distress?” Vasiṣṭha assured him, “This will not be an endless condition; it will last for twelve years. You will regain your former state and enjoy this earth.” During his suffering, even the king took on the form of a demoness. With a terrifying appearance, dark as night, she wandered alone in the desolate forest, bearing the weight of the curse and awaiting the restoration of her former self.