ज्ञात्वा दत्तं वृथा शापं तस्य भूमिपतेस्तदा
Realizing that the curse given to the king was in vain—
उवाच व्यर्थः शापोऽयं तव दत्तो मया नृप
He said, 'O king, this curse I have given you is ineffective.'
तस्मात्त्वं राक्षसो भूत्वा कञ्चित्कालं नृपो त्तम ६.५३.
Therefore, O best of kings, you will become a Rākṣasa for a certain period.
यदा त्वं क्रूरबुद्धिं तं राक्षसं निहनिष्यसि
When you slay that Rākṣasa of cruel intent—
ऊर्ध्वकेशो महाकायः कृष्णदन्तो भया नकः
With hair standing upright, massive in form, with black teeth, terrifying in appearance—
ततो जघान विप्रेन्द्रान्राक्षसं भावमाश्रितः
Then, assuming the nature of a Rākṣasa, he killed the foremost of Brāhmins.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य क्रूर बुद्धिः स राक्षसः
But after some time, that Rākṣasa, with cruel intent—
भ्रातुर्वधकृतं वैरं स्मरमाणस्ततः परम्
Remembering the enmity caused by the killing of his brother—
ततस्तं वेष्टयित्वापि समंताद्राक्षसो नृपम्
Then the Rākṣasa surrounded the king on all sides, binding him.
त्वया यो निहतोऽस्माकं ज्येष्ठो भ्राता सुदुर्मते
'You, of evil mind, have slain our eldest brother,' he said.
शारदस्येव मेघस्य गर्जितं तव निष्फलम्
Your roar is as fruitless as the thunder of an autumn cloud.
एवमुक्त्वा समादाय ततो वृक्षं स पार्थिवः
Having spoken thus, the king then seized a tree.
सोऽपि वृक्षं समुत्पाट्य क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ६.५३.
He too, his eyes reddened with anger, uprooted a tree.
एवं द्वावपि तौ शूरौ वृक्षयुद्धं महाबलौ
Thus, both those mighty heroes engaged in a battle with trees.
कृतवन्तौ वने तत्र बहुवृक्षक्षयावहम्
There in the forest, they fought, causing the destruction of many trees.
अथ तं श्रांतमालोक्य कूरबुद्धिं महीपतिः
Then, seeing him exhausted and his mind wavering, the king—
ततश्चास्फोटयामास भूमौ कोपसमन्वितः
Thereupon, filled with anger, he struck the ground.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते शूरे राक्षसे स महीपतिः
When that heroic Rākṣasa was slain, the king—
ततस्ते राक्षसाः शेषाः समंतात्तं महीपतिम्
Then the remaining Rākṣasas surrounded the king on all sides.
ततस्तानपि भूपालो जघान प्रहसन्निव
The king then slew them as well, as if laughing.
ततश्च स्वपुरं प्राप्तः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः
After that, he returned to his own city, his body bristling with joy.
ततस्तं तेजसा हीनं दुर्गंधेन समावृतम्
Then, seeing him deprived of brilliance and covered with a foul odor—
दृष्ट्वा ते मंत्रिणस्तस्य पुत्र पौत्रास्तथा परे
His ministers, sons, grandsons, and others saw him—
ऊचुश्च पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ न त्वमर्हसि संगमम् ६.५३.
And they said, 'O best of kings, you should not mingle (with us).'
तस्माद्वसिष्ठमाहूय प्रायश्चित्तं समाचर
Therefore, summon Vasiṣṭha and perform atonement.
ततः स पार्थिवस्तूर्णं वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्
Then that king quickly approached Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage.
तव प्रसादतो विप्र स हतो राक्षसो मया
'By your grace, O Brāhmaṇa, that Rākṣasa was slain by me.'
मम गात्रात्सुदुर्गंधः समुद्गच्छति सर्वतः
'A terrible stench is emanating from my body on all sides.'
तत्किमेतद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ तेजो हानिरतीव मे
'What is this, O best of twice-born? My brilliance is greatly diminished.'
ब्राह्मणा बहवो ध्वस्तास्तथा विध्वंसिता मखाः
'Many Brāhmaṇas have been destroyed, and sacrifices ruined as well.'