क्रीडंति नकुलाः सर्पैरूलूका यत्र वायसैः। मूषकैर्वृषदंशाश्च द्वीपिनो विविधैर्मृगैः॥६.४.
There, mongooses play with snakes, owls with crows, rats with wild oxen, and leopards with various other animals.
अथापश्यन्नदीतीरे स तपस्विगणावृतम्। स्वाध्यायनिरतं दांतं विश्वामित्रं तपोनिधिनम्॥६.४.
Then, on the riverbank, he saw Viśvāmitra, the treasury of austerity, surrounded by groups of ascetics, engaged in study and self-restraint.
तेजसा तपसातीव दीप्यमानमिवानलम्। चीरवल्कलसंवीतं शालवृक्षं समाश्रितम्॥६.४.
He saw one blazing with the fire of asceticism, shining like a flame, clad in bark garments, taking shelter beneath a śāla tree.
अथ गत्वा स राजेन्द्रो दूरस्थोऽपि प्रणम्य तम्। अष्टांगेन प्रणामेन स्वनाम परिकीर्तयन्॥६.४.
Then that king approached, though still at a distance, bowed down to him with eightfold prostration, and announced his own name.
तथान्यानपि तच्छिष्यान्कृताञ्जलिपुटः स्थितः। यथाक्रमं यथाज्येष्ठं श्रद्धया परया युतः॥६.४.
Standing with hands joined in reverence, he likewise greeted the other disciples there, according to their order and seniority, filled with utmost respect.
धूलिधूसरितांगं तं ते तु दृष्ट्वा महीपतिम्। चंडाल इति मन्वानाश्चिह्नैर्गात्रसमुद्भवैः॥६.४.
But when they saw that king, his body covered in dust and dirt, they took him for a caṇḍāla, judging by the marks that appeared on his limbs.
भर्त्सयामासुरेवाथ वचनैः परुषाक्षरैः। धिक्छब्दैश्च तथैवान्ये याहियाहीति चासकृत्॥६.४.
At once, they rebuked him with harsh words, and others too cried out 'shame!' and repeatedly told him, 'Go away, go away!'
कस्त्वं पापेह संप्राप्तो मुनीनामाश्रमोत्तमे। वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णे साधूनामपि दुर्लभे॥६.४.
Who are you, sinner, who has come here to the most excellent hermitage of the sages, filled with the sound of the Vedas, a place even the virtuous rarely attain?
तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं यावन्न कश्चित्तापसस्तव। दत्त्वा शापं करोत्याशु प्राणानामपि संक्षयम्॥६.४.
Therefore, leave at once, before any ascetic here utters a curse upon you, which could swiftly bring about even the destruction of your life.
त्रिशंकुरुवाच। त्रिशंकुर्नाम भूपोऽहं सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः। शप्तो वसिष्ठपुत्रैश्च चंडालत्वे नियोजितः॥६.४.
Triśaṃku said: I am the king named Triśaṃku, born of the Solar dynasty, cursed by the sons of Vasiṣṭha and consigned to the state of a caṇḍāla.
सोऽहं शरणमापन्नः शापमुक्त्यै द्विजोत्तमाः। विश्वामित्रं जगन्मित्रं नान्या मेऽस्ति गतिः परा॥६.४.
Thus I have come seeking refuge, O best of twice-born, for release from the curse; Viśvāmitra, friend of the world, is my only remaining hope.
विश्वामित्र उवाच। वसिष्ठस्य भवान्याज्यस्तत्पुत्राणां विशेषतः। तत्कस्मादीदृशे पापे तैस्त्वमद्य नियोजितः॥६.४.
Viśvāmitra said: You are not inferior to Vasiṣṭha, and especially not to his sons; so why have you been condemned by them to such a sinful state?
कोऽपराधस्त्वया तेषां कृतः पार्थिवसत्तम। प्राणद्रोहः कृतः किं वा दारधर्षणसंभवः॥६.४.
What offense did you commit against them, O best of kings? Did you cause harm to life, or was it due to some violation regarding women?
त्रिशंकुरुवाच। अनेनैव शरीरेण स्वर्गाय गमनं प्रति। मया संप्रार्थितो यज्ञो वसिष्ठान्मुनिसत्तमात्॥६.४.
Triśaṃku said: With this very body, I requested the great sage Vasiṣṭha to perform a sacrifice for my ascent to heaven.
तेनोक्तं न स यज्ञोऽस्ति येन स्वर्गे प्रगम्यते। अनेनैव शरीरेण मुक्त्वा देहांतरं नृप॥६.४.
He replied, 'There is no such sacrifice by which one may go to heaven in this very body, without first abandoning it for another form, O king.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा स मया प्रोक्तो यदि मां न नयिष्यति। स्वर्गं चानेन कायेन सद्यो यज्ञप्रभावतः॥६.४.
Hearing this, I said, 'If you will not take me to heaven in this body by the power of sacrifice, then I will seek another teacher today—there is no doubt.'
तदन्यं गुरुमेवाद्य कर्ताहं नास्ति संशयः। एतज्ज्ञात्वा मुनिः प्राह यत्क्षेमं तत्समाचर॥६.४.
Knowing this, the sage said, 'Do what is best for you.'
ततोऽहं तेन संत्यक्तस्तत्पुत्रान्प्राप्य निष्ठुरान्। प्रोक्तवानथ तत्सर्वं यद्वसिष्ठस्य कीर्तितम्॥६.४.
Then, rejected by him, I approached his harsh sons and told them everything that Vasiṣṭha had said.
ततस्तैः शोकसंतप्तैः शप्तोस्मि मुनिसत्तम। नीतश्चेमां दशां पापां चंडालत्वे नियोजितः॥६.४.
Thereupon, tormented by grief, those sons of the sage cursed me, O best of sages, and consigned me to this wretched state of a caṇḍāla.
सोऽहं त्वां मनसा ध्यात्वा सुदूरादिहरागतः(?)। आशां गरीयसीं कृत्वा कुरुक्षेत्रे मुनीश्वर॥६.४.
So, meditating upon you in my heart, I have come here from afar, placing my highest hope in you, O lord of sages, here in Kurukṣetra.
नासाध्यं विद्यते किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु ते मुने। तस्मात्कुरु प्रतीकारं दुःखितस्य ममाधुना॥६.४.
O sage, nothing is impossible for you in the three worlds. Therefore, please make some remedy for my sorrow now.
सूत उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो मुनीश्वरः। वसिष्ठस्पर्धयोवाच मुनिमध्ये व्यवस्थितः॥६.४.
Sūta said: Hearing those words, the great sage Viśvāmitra, standing among the sages and rival to Vasiṣṭha, spoke.
अहं त्वां याजयिष्यामि तेन यज्ञेन पार्थिव। गच्छसि त्रिदिवं येन इष्टमात्रेण तत्क्षणात्॥६.४.
I will perform a sacrifice for you, O king, by which you will go to heaven instantly, with only the desired offering.
त्वमेवं विहितो भूप वासिष्ठैरंत्यजस्तु तैः। मया भूयोऽपि भूपालः कर्तव्यो नात्र संशयः॥६.४.
You have been rejected by the Vasiṣṭhas in this way, O king, but I will make you king again; there is no doubt about this.
तस्मादागच्छ भूपाल तीर्थयात्रां मया सह। कुरु तीर्थप्रभावेण येन त्वं स्याः शुचिः पुनः॥६.४.
Therefore, come, O king, undertake a pilgrimage with me; by the power of the holy places, you will become pure again.
तथा यज्ञक्रियार्हश्च चंडालत्वविवर्जितः। नास्ति तत्पातकं यच्च तीर्थस्नानान्न नश्यति॥६.४.
Thus you will be fit for sacrificial rites and free from the state of a caṇḍāla; there is no sin that does not perish by bathing in holy places.
सूत उवाच। एवं स निश्चयं कृत्वा गाधिपुत्रो मुनीश्वरः। त्रिशंकुं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तीर्थयात्रामथाव्रजत्॥६.४.
Sūta said: Having resolved thus, the great sage, son of Gādhi, set out on pilgrimage, taking Triśaṃku behind him.
कुरुक्षेत्रं सरस्वत्यां प्रभासे कुरुजांगले। पृथूदके गयाशीर्षे नैमिषे पुष्करत्रये॥६.४.
They went to Kurukṣetra, Sarasvatī, Prabhāsa, Kurujāṅgala, Pṛthūdaka, Gayāśīrṣa, Naimiṣa, and the three Puṣkaras.
वाराणस्यां प्रयागे च केदारे श्रवणे नदे। चित्रकूटे च गोकर्णे शालिग्रामेऽचलेश्वरे॥६.४.
To Vārāṇasī, Prayāga, Kedāra, Śravaṇa river, Citrakūṭa, Gokarṇa, Śāligrāma, and Acaleśvara.
शुक्लतीर्थे सुराज्याख्ये दृषद्वति नदे शुभे। अथान्येषु सुपुण्येषु तीर्थेष्वायतनेषु च॥६.४.
To Śuklatīrtha, called Surājya, the auspicious Dṛṣadvati river, and other supremely holy places and shrines.