कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दुर्वासा मुनि सत्तमः
Then, at a certain time, the eminent sage Durvāsas appeared.
अथोत्थाय नृपस्तूर्णं सम्मुखः प्रययौ मुदा
Rising quickly, the king joyfully went forward to meet him face to face.
ततः प्रणम्य तं भक्त्या प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ स्वयम्
Then, bowing to him with devotion, he himself washed the sage’s feet.
इदं राज्यममी पुत्रा इमा नार्य इदं धनम्
He said: 'This kingdom, these sons, these wives, and this wealth—'
गृहागताय विप्राय व्रतिनेऽस्मद्विधाय च
'—are for the brahmin guest who has come to my house, for the ascetic, and for one like myself.'
न मे किञ्चिद्धनैः कार्यं न राज्येन नृपोत्तम
The best of kings, I have no use for wealth or for the kingdom.
तस्माद्यत्किञ्चिदन्नं ते सिद्धमस्ति गृहे नृप ६.४९.
Therefore, whatever food is prepared in your house, O king—
अन्नं भोज्यकृते तस्मै प्रददौ स्वयमेव हि
He himself gave the food, prepared for eating, to him.
व्यञ्जनानि विचित्राणि पक्वान्नानि बहूनि च तथा मांसं विचित्रं च लवणाद्यैः सुसंस्कृतम्
There were various delicious dishes, many cooked foods, and also diverse meats, well-seasoned with salt and other spices.
अथासौ बुभुजे विप्रः क्षुत्क्षामस्त्वरयान्वितः
Then the brahmin, exhausted by hunger and filled with haste, ate.
अथ तृप्तेन मांसस्य ज्ञातस्तेन रसो द्विजाः
When he was satisfied, the taste of the meat was recognized by that twice-born one.
यस्मान्मांसं त्वया दत्त्वा व्रतभंगः कृतो मम
'Because you have given me meat, my vow has been broken.'
ततः स भूपतिर्भीतः प्रणम्य च मुनीश्वरम्
Then the frightened king bowed to the lordly sage.
तव क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठस्य मया भक्तिः कृता मुने
'Out of devotion, O sage, I served you, whose throat was parched with hunger.'
तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे भक्तस्य विनतस्य च
'Therefore, show favor to me, who am devoted and bowed before you.'
विशेषेण व्रतस्यांते चातुर्मास्योद्भवस्य च
Especially at the end of the vow and at the arising of the four-monthly rite—
उपवासपरो भूत्वा मांसमश्नाति यो द्विजः ६.४९.
If a twice-born, devoted to fasting, eats meat—
तस्माद्व्रतं प्रणष्टं मे चातुर्मास्यसमुद्भवम्
Therefore, my vow, arising from the Cāturmāsya rite, is destroyed.
भक्तियुक्तस्य दीनस्य निर्दोषस्य विशेषतः
Especially for one who is devoted, afflicted, and faultless—
दर्शयिष्यति ते मुक्तिस्तदा तूर्णं भविष्यति
Liberation will be shown to you, and it will come swiftly then.
एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेन्द्रो जगाम निजमाश्रमम्
Having spoken thus, that best of Brāhmaṇas went to his own hermitage.
नष्टस्मृतिस्ततस्तूर्णं दृष्ट्वा जंतून्पुरःस्थितान्
Then, having lost his memory, he quickly saw the creatures standing before him.
अथ ते मंत्रिणस्तस्य शापस्यातं महीपतेः
Then, the ministers of that king, understanding the effect of the curse—
इति श्रीस्कान्दे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे श्रीहाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये कलशेश्वराख्याने कलशनृपतेर्दुर्वाससः शापेन व्याघ्रत्वप्राप्तिवर्णनंनामैकोनपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of eighty-one thousand verses, in the sixth, the Nāgara Khaṇḍa, in the greatness of the Śrī Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, in the tale of Kalaśeśvara, is the fifty-ninth chapter named 'The Description of King Kalaśa's Attainment of Tigerhood by the Curse of Durvāsas.'
एवं तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य व्याघ्ररूपस्य कानने
Thus, that king, in the form of a tiger, dwelt in the forest.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तस्मिन्देशे द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, after some time, O best of twice-born, in that region—
तत्रास्ति नन्दिनीनाम धेनुः पीनपयोधरा
There is a cow named Nandinī, with full, swelling udders.
अथ सा निजयूथस्य सदाग्रे तृणवांछया
She, always at the front of her herd, desiring grass—
अपश्यत्तेजसा युक्तं स्वयमेव व्यवस्थितम्
There, she saw something endowed with radiance, standing by itself.
ततस्तस्योपरि स्थित्वा सुस्राव सुमहत्पयः
Then, standing over it, she poured forth a great quantity of milk.