01.173
Library: Cursed by Brahmin's wife Kalmashapada asks sage Vasishtha to procreate.
Arjuna said.
For what reason did King Kalmashapada engage the wife with the teacher, the best among the knowers of Brahman?
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.
The gandharva said:
O Dhananjaya, understand what you ask me: about Vasiṣṭha, the king who is unconquerable and able to withstand his enemies.
O best of the Bharatas, I have already told you how that king was cursed by Śakti, the great-souled son of Vasiṣṭha.
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.
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.
Wandering in a forest thickly covered with various bushes, creepers, and trees, resounding terribly, and afflicted by a curse.
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.
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.
Seeing her husband seized, the Brāhmaṇa's wife then spoke: "Hear, O king, the words I shall say to you, O virtuous one."
You are indeed descended from the lineage of Āditya, renowned throughout the world, ever-vigilant, steadfast in righteousness, and devoted to serving your teacher.
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.
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.
Thus, as she cried out, the tiger, in a most cruel act, devoured her husband as if he were its desired prey.
As she was overcome by anger, the tear that fell from her onto the ground became a blazing fire and illuminated that region.
Then, overwhelmed by grief and her husband's misfortune, the Brahmin lady angrily cursed Kalmashapada, the royal sage.
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.
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.
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.
Thus, after cursing the king, that auspicious Angirasi, in his presence, entered the blazing fire.
Vasiṣṭha, the greatly fortunate sage, perceived all this through the power of knowledge and great austerity, O scorcher of foes.
The royal sage, released from his curse by the passage of great time, then approached Madayanti in her season, but was prevented by her.
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.
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.
