01.166
Library: Vishwamitra displays forgiveness even when his sons are killed.
गन्धर्व उवाच॥
The gandharva said.
कल्माषपाद इत्यस्मिँल्लोके राजा बभूव ह। इक्ष्वाकुवंशजः पार्थ तेजसासदृशो भुवि ॥१-१६६-१॥
O Pārtha, there was a king named Kalmāṣapāda in this world, a descendant of Ikṣvāku, who was equal in splendor on earth.
स कदाचिद्वनं राजा मृगयां निर्ययौ पुरात्। मृगान्विध्यन्वराहांश्च चचार रिपुमर्दनः ॥१-१६६-२॥
Once, the king, the destroyer of enemies, set out from the city to the forest for hunting; he roamed about, shooting deer and boars.
स तु राजा महात्मानं वासिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्। तृषार्तश्च क्षुधार्तश्च एकायनगतः पथि ॥१-१६६-३॥
But the king, the great-souled descendant of Vasiṣṭha, best among sages, afflicted by thirst and hunger, proceeded along a single path.
अपश्यदजितः सङ्ख्ये मुनिं प्रतिमुखागतम्। शक्तिं नाम महाभागं वसिष्ठकुलनन्दनम् ॥ ज्येष्ठं पुत्रशतात्पुत्रं वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः ॥१-१६६-४॥
Ajita saw in the battle the sage Śakti, who had come before him, most fortunate and the delight of the Vasiṣṭha lineage, the eldest among the hundred sons of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha.
अपगच्छ पथोऽस्माकमित्येवं पार्थिवोऽब्रवीत्। तथा ऋषिरुवाचैनं सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥१-१६६-५॥
"Go away from our path," said the king. Then the sage addressed him, soothing him with gentle words.
ऋषिस्तु नापचक्राम तस्मिन्धर्मपथे स्थितः। नापि राजा मुनेर्मानात्क्रोधाच्चापि जगाम ह ॥१-१६६-६॥
But the sage remained steadfast on the path of dharma. Nor did the king, out of pride or anger towards the sage, depart from it.
अमुञ्चन्तं तु पन्थानं तमृषिं नृपसत्तमः। जघान कशया मोहात्तदा राक्षसवन्मुनिम् ॥१-१६६-७॥
But when the sage did not give way, the best of kings, deluded, struck him with a whip like a demon.
कशाप्रहाराभिहतस्ततः स मुनिसत्तमः। तं शशाप नृपश्रेष्ठं वासिष्ठः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥१-१६६-८॥
Then, struck by the blow of the whip, the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha, overcome with anger, cursed the foremost of kings.
हंसि राक्षसवद्यस्माद्राजापसद तापसम्। तस्मात्त्वमद्य प्रभृति पुरुषादो भविष्यसि ॥१-१६६-९॥
Because you, an outcast among kings, have killed an ascetic like a demon, therefore from this day forward, you shall become a man-eater.
मनुष्यपिशिते सक्तश्चरिष्यसि महीमिमाम्। गच्छ राजाधमेत्युक्तः शक्तिना वीर्यशक्तिना ॥१-१६६-१०॥
You will wander this earth, attached to human flesh. Having been told, "Go, lowest of kings," by Śakti with the power of heroism.
ततो याज्यनिमित्तं तु विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। वैरमासीत्तदा तं तु विश्वामित्रोऽन्वपद्यत ॥१-१६६-११॥
Then, for the sake of the sacrifice, enmity arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha; at that time, Viśvāmitra pursued him.
तयोर्विवदतोरेवं समीपमुपचक्रमे। ऋषिरुग्रतपाः पार्थ विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् ॥१-१६६-१२॥
O son of Pritha, as those two were disputing in this way, the powerful sage Viśvāmitra, who had performed severe penance, approached them.
ततः स बुबुधे पश्चात्तमृषिं नृपसत्तमः। ऋषेः पुत्रं वसिष्ठस्य वसिष्ठमिव तेजसा ॥१-१६६-१३॥
Then the noble king realized that the sage before him was the son of Vasiṣṭha, possessing brilliance like Vasiṣṭha himself.
अन्तर्धाय तदात्मानं विश्वामित्रोऽपि भारत। तावुभावुपचक्राम चिकीर्षन्नात्मनः प्रियम् ॥१-१६६-१४॥
O Bhārata, after Viśvāmitra had disappeared his form, both of them approached, wishing to do what was pleasing to themselves.
स तु शप्तस्तदा तेन शक्तिना वै नृपोत्तमः। जगाम शरणं शक्तिं प्रसादयितुमर्हयन् ॥१-१६६-१५॥
But he, the best among kings, having been cursed by Śakti at that time, went to Śakti seeking refuge, desiring to propitiate him.
तस्य भावं विदित्वा स नृपतेः कुरुनन्दन। विश्वामित्रस्ततो रक्ष आदिदेश नृपं प्रति ॥१-१६६-१६॥
O descendant of Kuru, having understood his state, Viśvāmitra then instructed protection for the king.
स शापात्तस्य विप्रर्षेर्विश्वामित्रस्य चाज्ञया। राक्षसः किङ्करो नाम विवेश नृपतिं तदा ॥१-१६६-१७॥
By the curse of that Brāhmaṇa sage and by the command of Viśvāmitra, the demon named Kiṅkara then entered the king.
रक्षसा तु गृहीतं तं विदित्वा स मुनिस्तदा। विश्वामित्रोऽप्यपक्रामत्तस्माद्देशादरिंदम ॥१-१६६-१८॥
O subduer of foes, knowing that he had been seized by the demon, the sage Viśvāmitra also left that region.
ततः स नृपतिर्विद्वान्रक्षन्नात्मानमात्मना। बलवत्पीड्यमानोऽपि रक्षसान्तर्गतेन ह ॥१-१६६-१९॥
Then that wise king, even while being strongly tormented by the demon who had entered within him, protected himself by his own effort.
ददर्श तं द्विजः कश्चिद्राजानं प्रस्थितं पुनः। ययाचे क्षुधितश्चैनं समांसं भोजनं तदा ॥१-१६६-२०॥
A certain brāhmaṇa saw the king departing again; being hungry, he then requested him for a meal with meat.
तमुवाचाथ राजर्षिर्द्विजं मित्रसहस्तदा। आस्स्व ब्रह्मंस्त्वमत्रैव मुहूर्तमिति सान्त्वयन् ॥१-१६६-२१॥
Then the royal sage Mitrasaha said to the twice-born: "Rest here for a moment, O Brāhmaṇa," soothing him.
निवृत्तः प्रतिदास्यामि भोजनं ते यथेप्सितम्। इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ राजा तस्थौ च द्विजसत्तमः ॥१-१६६-२२॥
Having ceased, the king said, "I will give you food as you desire." Thus speaking, the king departed, and the best of the twice-born remained standing.
अन्तर्गतं तु तद्राज्ञस्तदा ब्राह्मणभाषितम्। सोऽन्तःपुरं प्रविश्याथ संविवेश नराधिपः ॥१-१६६-२३॥
But the king, having entered the inner apartments, sat down, reflecting on what the brāhmaṇa had spoken.
ततोऽर्धरात्र उत्थाय सूदमानाय्य सत्वरम्। उवाच राजा संस्मृत्य ब्राह्मणस्य प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥१-१६६-२४॥
Then, at midnight, the king quickly arose, remembered the promise made to the Brāhmaṇa, and spoke to Sūdamānā.
गच्छामुष्मिन्नसौ देशे ब्राह्मणो मां प्रतीक्षते। अन्नार्थी त्वं तमन्नेन समांसेनोपपादय ॥१-१६६-२५॥
Go to that place; there, a brāhmaṇa is waiting for me. He is in need of food; you should provide him with food and an equal share.
एवमुक्तस्तदा सूदः सोऽनासाद्यामिषं क्वचित्। निवेदयामास तदा तस्मै राज्ञे व्यथान्वितः ॥१-१६६-२६॥
Thus, when addressed, the cook, unable to find any meat anywhere, then informed the king, being afflicted with distress.
राजा तु रक्षसाविष्टः सूदमाह गतव्यथः। अप्येनं नरमांसेन भोजयेति पुनः पुनः ॥१-१६६-२७॥
But the king, possessed by a demon and having lost all sense of pain, repeatedly told the cook, "Feed him with human flesh."
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः सूदः संस्थानं वध्यघातिनाम्। गत्वा जहार त्वरितो नरमांसमपेतभीः ॥१-१६६-२८॥
After saying this, the cook then went to the place of the condemned and, without fear, quickly took the human flesh.
स तत्संस्कृत्य विधिवदन्नोपहितमाशु वै। तस्मै प्रादाद्ब्राह्मणाय क्षुधिताय तपस्विने ॥१-१६६-२९॥
He prepared the food according to the proper rules and quickly gave it to the brāhmaṇa, who was hungry and an ascetic.
स सिद्धचक्षुषा दृष्ट्वा तदन्नं द्विजसत्तमः। अभोज्यमिदमित्याह क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः ॥१-१६६-३०॥
With his perfected vision, the foremost of the twice-born saw that food and, his eyes filled with anger, declared, "This is unfit to be eaten."
यस्मादभोज्यमन्नं मे ददाति स नराधिपः। तस्मात्तस्यैव मूढस्य भविष्यत्यत्र लोलुपा ॥१-१६६-३१॥
The king who gives me food that is not fit to be eaten, therefore, only that deluded one will have greed here.
सक्तो मानुषमांसेषु यथोक्तः शक्तिना पुरा। उद्वेजनीयो भूतानां चरिष्यति महीमिमाम् ॥१-१६६-३२॥
He, who was formerly attached to human flesh as stated and empowered, will now roam this earth causing agitation among beings.
द्विरनुव्याहृते राज्ञः स शापो बलवानभूत्। रक्षोबलसमाविष्टो विसञ्ज्ञश्चाभवत्तदा ॥१-१६६-३३॥
When the king uttered it twice, the curse became powerful. He was possessed by the strength of the demon and then became unconscious.
ततः स नृपतिश्रेष्ठो राक्षसोपहतेन्द्रियः। उवाच शक्तिं तं दृष्ट्वा नचिरादिव भारत ॥१-१६६-३४॥
Then, O Bhārata, the best of kings, whose senses had been afflicted by the demon, saw Śakti and spoke to him, as if not much time had passed.
यस्मादसदृशः शापः प्रयुक्तोऽयं त्वया मयि। तस्मात्त्वत्तः प्रवर्तिष्ये खादितुं मानुषानहम् ॥१-१६६-३५॥
Because you have inflicted this improper curse upon me, therefore, I shall henceforth proceed from you to eat humans.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः सद्यस्तं प्राणैर्विप्रयुज्य सः। शक्तिनं भक्षयामास व्याघ्रः पशुमिवेप्सितम् ॥१-१६६-३६॥
Having said this, the tiger immediately killed Śaktin and devoured him as he would a desired animal.
शक्तिनं तु हतं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रस्ततः पुनः। वसिष्ठस्यैव पुत्रेषु तद्रक्षः संदिदेश ह ॥१-१६६-३७॥
But when Viśvāmitra saw Śakti slain, he again commanded that rākṣasa to attack the sons of Vasiṣṭha.
स ताञ्शतावरान्पुत्रान्वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। भक्षयामास सङ्क्रुद्धः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव ॥१-१६६-३८॥
Enraged, the lion devoured those hundred sons of the great sage Vasiṣṭha as if they were mere small animals.
वसिष्ठो घातिताञ्श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रेण तान्सुतान्। धारयामास तं शोकं महाद्रिरिव मेदिनीम् ॥१-१६६-३९॥
When Vasiṣṭha heard that his sons had been slain by Viśvāmitra, he endured that grief as the earth endures a great mountain.
चक्रे चात्मविनाशाय बुद्धिं स मुनिसत्तमः। न त्वेव कुशिकोच्छेदं मेने मतिमतां वरः ॥१-१६६-४०॥
He, the foremost among sages, resolved upon self-destruction, but did not at all contemplate the destruction of the Kuśika lineage, being the best among the wise.
स मेरुकूटादात्मानं मुमोच भगवानृषिः। शिरस्तस्य शिलायां च तूलराशाविवापतत् ॥१-१६६-४१॥
The venerable sage released his life from the summit of Meru; his head fell on the rock as if into a heap of cotton.
न ममार च पातेन स यदा तेन पाण्डव। तदाग्निमिद्ध्वा भगवान्संविवेश महावने ॥१-१६६-४२॥
He did not die from the fall, O Pāṇḍava; then, having kindled the fire, the venerable one entered the great forest.
तं तदा सुसमिद्धोऽपि न ददाह हुताशनः। दीप्यमानोऽप्यमित्रघ्न शीतोऽग्निरभवत्ततः ॥१-१६६-४३॥
Then, O destroyer of enemies, although the fire was well-kindled and blazing, it did not burn him; instead, the fire became cool thereafter.
स समुद्रमभिप्रेत्य शोकाविष्टो महामुनिः। बद्ध्वा कण्ठे शिलां गुर्वीं निपपात तदम्भसि ॥१-१६६-४४॥
The great sage, overwhelmed with grief, went to the ocean, tied a heavy stone around his neck, and plunged into the water.
स समुद्रोर्मिवेगेन स्थले न्यस्तो महामुनिः। जगाम स ततः खिन्नः पुनरेवाश्रमं प्रति ॥१-१६६-४५॥
The great sage, having been cast onto the ground by the force of the ocean's waves, then, distressed, went again towards the hermitage.
