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.'
येन निर्मुक्तपापोऽहं राज्यं प्राप्नोमि चात्मनः
By whom I am freed from sin and attain my own kingdom.
निर्ममो निरहंकारस्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि
Free from possessiveness and ego, then you will attain perfection.
ततः स पार्थिवश्रेष्ठः संयतात्मा जितेंद्रियः
Then that best of kings, self-controlled and with senses subdued,
न नश्यति स दुर्गंधो न च तेजः प्रवर्धते ६.५३.
He does not perish, nor does foul odor remain, nor does his radiance diminish.
ततः संभ्रममाणश्च कदाचि द्द्विजसत्तमाः
Then, being anxious at times, O best of twice-born,
सुश्रांतः क्षुत्पिपासार्तो निशीथे तमसावृते
Exhausted, afflicted by hunger and thirst, in the midnight shrouded in darkness,
कृच्छ्रात्ततो विनिष्क्रांतस्तीर्थात्तस्मान्महीपतिः
With great difficulty, the king emerged from that holy place.
दुर्गंधेन परित्यक्तं सोद्यमं लघुतां गतम्
Abandoned because of its foul odor, with effort, it had become light.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke aloud:
विमुक्तोऽसि महाराज सांप्रतं पूर्वपातकैः
You are freed now, O great king, from former sins.