01.173
Library: Cursed by Brahmin's wife Kalmashapada asks sage Vasishtha to procreate.
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
rājñā kalmāṣapādena gurau brahmavidāṃ vare। kāraṇaṃ kiṃ puraskṛtya bhāryā vai saṃniyojitā ॥1-173-1॥
For what reason did King Kalmashapada engage the wife with the teacher, the best among the knowers of Brahman?
jānatā ca paraṃ dharmaṃ lokyaṃ tena mahātmanā। agamyaāgamanaṃ kasmād vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā ॥ kṛtaṃ tena purā sarvaṃ vaktum arhasi pṛcchataḥ ॥1-173-2॥
Knowing the supreme dharma to be observed, why did the great-souled Vasiṣṭha approach the unapproachable? Please tell all that was done by him in the past to the one who asks.
gandharva uvāca॥
The gandharva said:
dhanañjaya nibodhedaṃ yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi। vasiṣṭhaṃ prati durdharṣaṃ tathāmitrasahaṃ nṛpam ॥1-173-3॥
O Dhananjaya, understand what you ask me: about Vasiṣṭha, the king who is unconquerable and able to withstand his enemies.
kathitaṃ te mayā pūrvaṃ yathā śaptaḥ sa pārthivaḥ। śaktinā bharataśreṣṭha vāsiṣṭhena mahātmanā ॥1-173-4॥
O best of the Bharatas, I have already told you how that king was cursed by Śakti, the great-souled son of Vasiṣṭha.
sa tu śāpavaśaṃ prāptaḥ krodhaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ। nirjagāma purādrājā sahadāraḥ parantapaḥ॥1-173-5॥
But he, under the influence of a curse and with eyes agitated by anger, the king, scorcher of foes, departed from the city with his wife.
araṇyaṃ nirjanaṃ gatvā sadāraḥ paricakrame. nānā-mṛga-gaṇa-ākīrṇaṃ nānā-sattva-samākulam ॥1-173-6॥
He went to the deserted forest with his wife and wandered there, where it was filled with many kinds of deer and crowded with various creatures.
nānā-gulma-latā-cchannaṃ nānā-druma-samāvṛtam। araṇyaṃ ghora-sannādaṃ śāpa-grastaḥ paribhraman ॥1-173-7॥
Wandering in a forest thickly covered with various bushes, creepers, and trees, resounding terribly, and afflicted by a curse.
sa kadācit-kṣudhāviṣṭo mṛgayan bhakṣam ātmanaḥ। dadarśa suparikliṣṭaḥ kasmiṃścid vana-nirjhare॥ brāhmaṇīṃ brāhmaṇaṃ caiva maithunāyopasaṅgatau॥
Once, overcome by hunger and searching for food, he, greatly distressed, saw at a certain forest waterfall a Brāhmaṇa and his wife engaged in union.
tau samīkṣya tu vitrastāv akṛtārthau pradhāvitau। tayoś ca dravator vipraṃ jagṛhe nṛpatir balāt॥1-173-9॥
But when the king saw that those two were frightened and unsuccessful and had run away, he forcibly seized the Brāhmaṇa while they were fleeing.
dṛṣṭvā gṛhītaṃ bhartāram atha brāhmaṇy abhāṣata। śṛṇu rājan vaco mahyaṃ yat tvāṃ vakṣyāmi suvrata ॥1-173-10॥
Seeing her husband seized, the Brāhmaṇa's wife then spoke: "Hear, O king, the words I shall say to you, O virtuous one."
ādityavaṃśaprabhavastvaṃ hi lokapariśrutaḥ। apramattaḥ sthito dharme guruśuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ ॥1-173-11॥
You are indeed descended from the lineage of Āditya, renowned throughout the world, ever-vigilant, steadfast in righteousness, and devoted to serving your teacher.
śāpaṃ prāpto'si durdharṣa na pāpaṃ kartum arhasi। ṛtukāle tu samprāpte bhartrā'smy adya samāgatā ॥1-173-12॥
O Durdharṣa, you are under a curse and must not commit any sin. However, now that the proper season has arrived, today I am united with my husband.
akṛtārthā hyahaṃ bhartrā prasavārthaśca me mahān। prasīda nṛpatiśreṣṭha bhartā me'yaṃ visṛjyatām ॥1-173-13॥
I have not yet fulfilled my purpose with my husband, and the desire for progeny is great for me. Please, O best of kings, let my husband be released.
evaṃ vikrośamānāyās tasyāḥ sa sunṛśaṃsakṛt। bhartāraṃ bhakṣayāmāsa vyāghro mṛgam ivepsitam ॥1-173-14॥
Thus, as she cried out, the tiger, in a most cruel act, devoured her husband as if he were its desired prey.
tasyāḥ krodhābhibhūtāyā yadaśru nyapatad bhuvi। so'gnis samabhavad dīptas taṃ ca deśaṃ vyadīpayat ॥1-173-15॥
As she was overcome by anger, the tear that fell from her onto the ground became a blazing fire and illuminated that region.
tataḥ sā śokasantaptā bhartṛvyasanaduḥkhitā। kalmāṣapādaṃ rājarṣimaśapadbrāhmaṇī ruṣā ॥1-173-16॥
Then, overwhelmed by grief and her husband's misfortune, the Brahmin lady angrily cursed Kalmashapada, the royal sage.
yasmān-mamākṛtārthāyās tvayā kṣudra nṛśaṁsavat। prekṣantyā bhakṣito me'dya prabhur bhartā mahāyaśāḥ॥1-173-17॥
Because of you, O mean and cruel one, while I watched helplessly, my greatly renowned lord and husband has been devoured today, leaving my purpose unfulfilled.
tasmāttvamapi durbuddhe macchāpaparivikṣataḥ। patnīṃṛtāvanuprāpya sadyastyakṣyasi jīvitam ॥1-173-18॥
Therefore, O wicked-minded one, as you are afflicted by my curse, you too, upon uniting with your wife in her season, will instantly lose your life.
yasya carṣer vasiṣṭhasya tvayā putrā vināśitāḥ। tena saṅgamya te bhāryā tanayaṃ janayiṣyati॥ sa te vaṃśakaraḥ putro bhaviṣyati nṛpādhama॥1-173-19॥
The sons of the sage Vasiṣṭha, whom you destroyed, will be replaced: your wife, after uniting with him, will bear a son. That son will continue your lineage, O lowest of kings.
evaṃ śaptvā tu rājānaṃ sā tamāṅgirasī śubhā। tasyaiva sannidhau dīptaṃ praviveśa hutāśanam ॥1-173-20॥
Thus, after cursing the king, that auspicious Angirasi, in his presence, entered the blazing fire.
vasiṣṭhaś ca mahābhāgaḥ sarvam etad apaśyata. jñānayogena mahatā tapasā ca parantapa ॥1-173-21॥
Vasiṣṭha, the greatly fortunate sage, perceived all this through the power of knowledge and great austerity, O scorcher of foes.
muktaśāpaś ca rājarṣiḥ kālena mahatā tataḥ। ṛtukāle'bhipatito madayantyā nivāritaḥ॥1-173-22॥
The royal sage, released from his curse by the passage of great time, then approached Madayanti in her season, but was prevented by her.
na hi sasmāra nṛpatistaṃ śāpaṃ śāpamohitaḥ। devyāḥ so'tha vacaḥ śrutvā sa tasyā nṛpasattamaḥ॥ taṃ ca śāpamanusmṛtya paryatapyadbhṛśaṃ tadā॥1-173-23॥
The king, under the delusion of the curse, did not remember it. But when he heard the queen's words, the best of kings recalled the curse and was deeply tormented at that moment.
etasmātkāraṇādrājā vasiṣṭhaṃ saṃnyayojayat। svadāre bharataśreṣṭha śāpadoṣasamanvitaḥ ॥1-173-24॥
For this reason, the king appointed Vasiṣṭha. O best of the Bharatas, he was afflicted by the fault of a curse involving his own wife.
