01.168
Library: King Kalmashapada is released from the curse
वसिष्ठ उवाच॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
मा भैः पुत्रि न भेतव्यं रक्षसस्ते कथञ्चन। नैतद्रक्षो भयं यस्मात्पश्यसि त्वमुपस्थितम् ॥१-१६८-१॥
Do not be afraid, my daughter; you have nothing to fear from this demon in any way. What you see before you is not a danger from the demon.
राजा कल्माषपादोऽयं वीर्यवान्प्रथितो भुवि। स एषोऽस्मिन्वनोद्देशे निवसत्यतिभीषणः ॥१-१६८-२॥
This is King Kalmāṣapāda, powerful and renowned on earth; he, very terrifying, dwells in this forest region.
गन्धर्व उवाच॥
The gandharva said.
तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। वारयामास तेजस्वी हुङ्करेणैव भारत ॥१-१६८-३॥
O Bhārata, seeing him approaching, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, powerful as he was, restrained him by a mere roar.
मन्त्रपूतेन च पुनः स तमभ्युक्ष्य वारिणा। मोक्षयामास वै घोराद्राक्षसाद्राजसत्तमम् ॥१-१६८-४॥
Then, having sprinkled him again with water purified by mantra, he truly freed the best of kings from the dreadful demon.
स हि द्वादश वर्षाणि वसिष्ठस्यैव तेजसा। ग्रस्त आसीद्गृहेणेव पर्वकाले दिवाकरः ॥१-१६८-५॥
For twelve years, he was completely subdued by the brilliance of Vasiṣṭha, just as the sun is hidden by a house during a festival.
रक्षसा विप्रमुक्तोऽथ स नृपस्तद्वनं महत्। तेजसा रञ्जयामास सन्ध्याभ्रमिव भास्करः ॥१-१६८-६॥
Then, having been completely released from the demon, the king illuminated that great forest with his brilliance, just as the sun lights up the twilight clouds.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः सञ्ज्ञामभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः। उवाच नृपतिः काले वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम् ॥१-१६८-७॥
After receiving the message, the king, with joined palms, respectfully greeted and at the proper time spoke to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of sages.
सौदासोऽहं महाभाग याज्यस्ते द्विजसत्तम। अस्मिन्काले यदिष्टं ते ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते ॥१-१६८-८॥
I am Saudāsa, O greatly fortunate one, worthy of your sacrifice, O best of Brāhmaṇas. At this time, tell me whatever you desire—what shall I do for you?
वसिष्ठ उवाच॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
वृत्तमेतद्यथाकालं गच्छ राज्यं प्रशाधि तत्। ब्राह्मणांश्च मनुष्येन्द्र मावमंस्थाः कदाचन ॥१-१६८-९॥
O king of men, proceed with this event at the proper time, govern the kingdom, and never despise the Brāhmaṇas at any time.
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
नावमंस्याम्यहं ब्रह्मन्कदाचिद्ब्राह्मणर्षभान्। त्वन्निदेशे स्थितः शश्वत्पुजयिष्याम्यहं द्विजान् ॥१-१६८-१०॥
O Brahman, I will never disrespect the foremost among Brāhmaṇas; always, remaining under your command, I will honor the twice-born.
इक्ष्वाकूणां तु येनाहमनृणः स्यां द्विजोत्तम। तत्त्वत्तः प्राप्तुमिच्छामि वरं वेदविदां वर ॥१-१६८-११॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, I wish to obtain from you that boon by which I may be free from debt to the Ikṣvāku-s, O foremost among the knowers of the Veda.
अपत्यायेप्सितां मह्यं महिषीं गन्तुमर्हसि। शीलरूपगुणोपेतामिक्ष्वाकुकुलवृद्धये ॥१-१६८-१२॥
You are worthy to become my desired queen for the sake of progeny, endowed with character, beauty, and virtues, for the growth of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
गन्धर्व उवाच॥
The gandharva said.
ददानीत्येव तं तत्र राजानं प्रत्युवाच ह। वसिष्ठः परमेष्वासं सत्यसन्धो द्विजोत्तमः ॥१-१६८-१३॥
Vasiṣṭha, the supreme archer, truthful and best among the twice-born, replied to the king there, saying, "I shall give."
ततः प्रतिययौ काले वसिष्ठसहितोऽनघ। ख्यातं पुरवरं लोकेष्वयोध्यां मनुजेश्वरः ॥१-१६८-१४॥
Then, O sinless one, the lord of men, accompanied by Vasiṣṭha, set out at the appointed time for Ayodhyā, the renowned and excellent city among all the worlds.
तं प्रजाः प्रतिमोदन्त्यः सर्वाः प्रत्युद्ययुस्तदा। विपाप्मानं महात्मानं दिवौकस इवेश्वरम् ॥१-१६८-१५॥
All the subjects, rejoicing, then approached him—the sinless, great-souled one—like the dwellers of heaven approach their lord.
अचिरात्स मनुष्येन्द्रो नगरीं पुण्यकर्मणाम्। विवेश सहितस्तेन वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ॥१-१६८-१६॥
Soon after, the king entered the city of the virtuous, accompanied by the great sage Vasiṣṭha.
ददृशुस्तं ततो राजन्नयोध्यावासिनो जनाः। पुष्येण सहितं काले दिवाकरमिवोदितम् ॥१-१६८-१७॥
O king, then the people of Ayodhya saw him, who had appeared at the auspicious time with Puṣya, like the rising sun.
स हि तां पूरयामास लक्ष्म्या लक्ष्मीवतां वरः। अयोध्यां व्योम शीतांशुः शरत्काल इवोदितः ॥१-१६८-१८॥
He, the best among the prosperous, filled Ayodhya with prosperity, just as the cool-rayed moon rises in the sky during the autumn season.
संसिक्तमृष्टपन्थानं पताकोच्छ्रयभूषितम्। मनः प्रह्लादयामासा तस्य तत्पुरमुत्तमम् ॥१-१६८-१९॥
The path, which was sprinkled and cleaned and adorned with raised flags, delighted his mind; that excellent city brought him joy.
तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा सा पुरी कुरुनन्दन। अशोभत तदा तेन शक्रेणेवामरावती ॥१-१६८-२०॥
O Kurunandana, that city, crowded with contented and prosperous people, at that time shone by him just as Amaravati shines by Indra.
ततः प्रविष्टे राजेन्द्रे तस्मिन्राजनि तां पुरीम्। तस्य राज्ञोऽऽज्ञया देवी वसिष्ठमुपचक्रमे ॥१-१६८-२१॥
Then, after the king had entered that city, by the command of the king, the queen approached Vasiṣṭha.
ऋतावथ महर्षिः स सम्बभूव तया सह। देव्या दिव्येन विधिना वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठभागृषिः ॥१-१६८-२२॥
In due season, the great sage Vasiṣṭha was born together with her, by the goddess and by a divine method, as the sage of the highest share.
अथ तस्यां समुत्पन्ने गर्भे स मुनिसत्तमः। राज्ञाभिवादितस्तेन जगाम पुनराश्रमम् ॥१-१६८-२३॥
Then, after the embryo had arisen in her, the best of sages, having been respectfully greeted by the king, returned again to his hermitage.
दीर्घकालधृतं गर्भं सुषाव न तु तं यदा। साथ देव्यश्मना कुक्षिं निर्बिभेद तदा स्वकम् ॥१-१६८-२४॥
When she could not deliver the long-carried embryo, the queen then split open her own abdomen with a stone.
द्वादशेऽथ ततो वर्षे स जज्ञे मनुजर्षभ। अश्मको नाम राजर्षिः पोतनं यो न्यवेशयत् ॥१-१६८-२५॥
Then, in the twelfth year, that bull among men, the royal sage named Aśmaka, was born; he established the city called Potana.
