गन्धर्व उवाच कल्माषपाद इत्येवं लोके राजा बभूव ह। इक्ष्वाकुवंशजः पार्थ तेजसा सदृशो भुवि॥
The Gandharva said : O Partha there was a king named Kalmashapada in this world. He belonged to the race of Ikshaku and he was matchless in prowess.
स कदाचिद् वनं राजा मृगयां निर्ययौ पुरात्। मृगान् विध्यन् वराहांश्च चचार रिपुमर्दनः॥
One day the king came out of his capital for the purpose of hunting. That chastiser of foes pierced (with his arrows) many deer and boars.
तस्मिन् वने महाघोरे खगांश्च बहुशोऽहनत्। हत्वा च सुचिरं श्रान्तो राजा निववृते ततः॥
He also killed in that greatly fearful forest many rhinoceroses. Thus killing (animals) for a long period, the king became tried and refrained from it.
अकामयत् तं याज्यार्थे विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान्। स तु राजा महात्मानं वासिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्॥ तृषार्तश्च क्षुधार्तश्च एकायनगतः पथि। अपश्यदजित: संख्ये मुनि प्रतिमुखागतम्॥ शक्तिं नाम महाभागं वसिष्ठकुलवर्धनम्। ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं पुत्रशताद् वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः॥
(One day) when the king, whom the greatly powerful Vishvamitra desired to make his spiritual disciple, was proceeding through the forest afflicted with hunger and thirst he met with that best of Rishis, the high-souled son of Vasishtha, the illustrious perpetuator of Vasishtha's race, the eldest of the one hundred sons of the illustrious Rishi Vasishtha, known by the name of Shakti, coming along the same path from an opposite direction.
अपगच्छ पथोऽस्माकमित्येवं पार्थिवोऽब्रवीत्। तथा ऋषिरुवाचैनं सान्त्वयश्लक्ष्णया गिरा॥
The king said, Stand out of our way." Thereupon the Rishi spoke thus in a conciliatory manner and in sweet words,
मम पन्था महाराज धर्म एष सनातनः। राज्ञा सर्वेषु धर्मेषु देयः पन्था द्विजातये॥
“O great king, this is my way. This is eternal religion. The king should yield the way to the Brahmanas according to all the precepts of religion.”
एवं परस्परं तौ तु पथोऽर्थं वाक्यमूचतुः। अपसर्पापसर्पति वागुत्तरमकुर्वताम्॥
Thus they addressed each other respected their right of way. "Stand aside,” “Stand aside,” were the words they said to each other.
ऋषिस्तु नापचक्राम तस्मिन् धर्मपथे स्थितः। नापि राजा मुनेर्मानात् क्रोधाच्चाथ जगाम ह॥
The Rishi, being in the right, did not yield; the king also did not yield out of anger and pride.
अमुञ्चन्तं तु पन्थानं तमृषि नृपसत्तमः। जघान कशया मोहात् तदा राक्षसवन्मुनिम्॥
Being enraged on seeing the Rishi decline to yield the way to him, that best of kings, acted like a Rakshasa and he struck him violently with his whips.
कशाप्रहाराभिहतस्ततः स मुनिसत्तमः। तं शशाप नृपश्रेष्ठं वासिष्ठं क्रोधमूर्च्छितः॥
That best of Rishis, the son of Vasishtha, being thus struck by the whip, was deprived of his (good) senses and out of anger, cursed that best of kings.
हंसि राक्षसवद् यस्माद् राजापसद तापसम्। तस्मात् त्वमद्यप्रभृति पुरुषादो भविष्यसि॥ मनुष्यपिशिते सक्तश्चरिष्यसि महीमिमाम्। गच्छ राजाधमेत्युक्तः शक्तिना वीर्यशक्तिना॥
The Rishi said: O worst of kings, as you injure an ascetic a Rakshasas, you shall from this day be a cannibal. O worst of kings, go hence. You shall wander over the world eating human flesh.
ततो याज्यनिमित्ते तु विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। वैरमासीत् तदा तं तु विश्वामित्रोऽन्वपद्यत॥
At this time Vishvamitra, with whom Vasishtha had a great quarrel on the matter of becoming the priest (of the king Kalmashapada), came to the place (where Vasishtha's son and the king were.)
तयोर्विवदतोरेवं समीपमुपचक्रमे। ऋषिरुग्रतपाः पार्थ विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान्॥
O Partha, the Rishi of severe ascetic penances, the powerful Vishvamitra, came there where they were both quarrelling.
ततः स बुबुधे पश्चात् तमृषि नृपसत्तमः। ऋषे पुत्रं वसिष्ठस्य वसिष्ठमिव तेजसा॥
Thereupon after the curse on the excellent king (had been uttered) he came to know that the Rishi was the son of Vasishtha as powerful as Vasishtha himself.
अन्तर्धाय तदाऽऽत्मानं विश्वामित्रोऽपि भारत। तावुभावतिचक्रांम चिर्कीपन्नात्मनः प्रियम्॥
O descendant of Bharata, being desirous of benefiting himself, Vishvamitra remained there concealed from the sight of both by making himself invisible.
स तु शप्तस्तदा तेन शक्तिना वै नृपोत्तमः। जगाम शरणं शक्तिं प्रसादयितुमर्हयन्॥
Then that best of kings, (Kalmashapada), having been thus cursed by Shakti, asked the protection of Shakti by humbly beseeching him.
तस्य भावं विदित्वा स नृपतेः कुरुसत्तम। विश्वामित्रस्ततो रक्ष आदिदेश नृपं प्रति॥
O best of the Kuru race, knowing the disposition of the king, Vishvamitra ordered a Rakshasas to enter the king's body.
शापात् तस्य तु विप्रपेर्विश्वामित्रस्य चाज्ञया। राक्षस: किंकरो नाम विवेश नृपतिं तदा॥
Obedient to Shakti's curse and Vishvamitra's order, a Rakshasas, named Kinkara, then entered the king body.
रक्षसा तं गृहीतं तु विदित्वा मुनिसत्तमः। विश्वामित्रोऽप्यपाक्रामत् तस्माद् देशादरिंदम॥
O chastiser of foes, knowing that the Rakshasas had entered the body of the king, that best of Rishis, Vishvamitra, left the place and went away.
ततः स नृपतिस्तेन रक्षसान्तर्गतेन वै। बलवत् पीडितः पार्थ नान्वबुध्यत किंचन॥
O Partha, then the king, being thus possessed by the Rakshasas and terribly afflicted by him, lost all his senses.
ददर्शाथ द्विजः कश्चिद् राजानं प्रस्थितं वनम्। अयाचत क्षुधापन्नः समांसं भोजनं तदा॥
A certain Brahmana saw the king roaming in the forest. being hungry, he begged of the king some food with meat.
तमुवाचाथ राजर्षिर्द्विजं मित्रसहस्तदा। आस्स्व ब्रह्मंस्त्वमत्रैव मुहूर्त प्रतिपालयन्॥
The royal sage (Kalmashapada) with his friends said to the Brahmana, “O Brahmana, Stay here for a moment,
निवृत्तः प्रतिदास्यामि भोजनं ते यथेप्सितम्। इत्युक्तवा प्रययौ राजा तस्थौ च द्विजसत्तमः॥
On my return I shall give you whatever food you desire to have." Having said this, the king went away, but that excellent Brahmana remained there.
ततो राजा परिक्रम्य यथाकामं यथासुखम्। निवृत्तौऽन्तःपुरं पार्थ प्रविवेश महात्मनाः॥
O Partha, that high-minded king, after roaming at pleasure and at will (for sometime), returned (to his palace) and entered the innerapartment.
ततोऽर्धरात्र उत्थाय सूदमानाय्य सत्वरम्। उवाच राजा संस्मृत्य ब्राह्मणस्य प्रतिश्रुतम्॥
Waking at midnight and remembering his promise to the Brahmana, the king soon summoned his cook and spoke to him thus. The King said:
गच्छामुष्मिन् वनोद्देशे ब्राह्मणो मां प्रतीक्षते। अन्नार्थी तं त्वमन्नेन समांसेनोपपादय॥
Go at once to the forest where a Brahmana is waiting for me in the hope of getting food. Go and entertain him with food and meat.
गन्धर्व उवाच एवमुक्तस्तत: सूदः सोऽनासाद्यामिषं क्वचित्। निवेदयामास तदा तस्मै राज्ञे व्यथान्वितः॥
The Gandharva said : Having been thus addressed, the cook (went away in search of meat), but having failed to procure any meat, he sorrowfully informed the king (of his failure).
राजा तु रक्षसाऽऽविष्टः सूदमाद गतव्यथः। अप्येनं नरमांसेन भोजयेति पुनः पुनः॥
The king, possessed as he was by the Rakshasas, again said to the cook without any scruple, “Feed him with human flesh."
तथेत्युक्त्वा तत: सूदः संस्थानं वध्यघातिनाम्। गत्वाऽऽजहार त्वरितो नरमांसमपेतभीः॥
Saying "Be it so," the cook went to the place where the executioners were and he soon took from them human flesh.
एतत् संस्कृत्य विधिवदन्नोपहितमाशु वै। तस्मै प्रादाद् ब्राह्मणाय क्षुधिताय तपस्विने॥
He washed it and then properly cooked it and then covering it with boiled rice, he gave it to the hungry ascetic Brahmana.
स सिद्धचक्षुषा दृष्ट्वा तदन्नं द्विजसत्तमः। अभोज्यमिदमित्याह क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः॥
That excellent Brahmana, seeing by his ascetic eye that the food was unworthy of being eaten, thus spoke with his eyes red in anger.
ब्राह्मण उवाच यस्मादभोज्यमन्ने मे ददाति स नृपाधमः। तस्मात् तस्यैव मूढस्य भविष्यत्यत्र लोलुपा॥
The Brahmana said : Because that worst of kings offers me unworthy food, therefore that fool himself will be fond of such food.
सक्तो मानुषभांसेषु यथोक्तः शक्तिना तथा। उद्वेजनीयो भूतानां चरिष्यति महीमिमाम्॥
Becoming fond of human flesh as cursed by Shakti before, he shall wander over the earth, persecuting all creatures.
द्विरनुव्याहृते राज्ञः स शापो बलवानभूत्। रक्षोवलसमाविष्टो विसंज्ञश्चाभवन्नृपः॥
The Gandharva said : The curse on the king, thus repeated for the second time, became very strong. And the king being possessed of the Rakshasas disposition, soon lost all his senses.
ततः स नृपतिश्रेष्ठो रक्षसापहतेन्द्रियः। उवाच शक्तिं तं दृष्ट्वा न चिरादिव भारत॥
Thereupon, O descendant of Bharata, that best of kings, having been deprived of all his senses by the Rakshasas within him and having seen before him Shakti who had cursed him, said,
यस्मादसदृशः शापः प्रयुक्तोऽयं मयि त्वया। तस्मात् त्वत्तः प्रवर्तिष्ये खादितुं पुरुषानहम्॥
"Because you have inflicted upon me this extraordinary curse, therefore, shall commence my life of cannibalism by eating you.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः सद्यस्तं प्राणैर्विप्रयुज्य च। शक्तिनं भक्षयामास व्याघ्रः पशुमिवेप्सितम्॥
Having said this, the king immediately killed Shakti and ate him up as a tiger eats up the animal it is fond of.
शक्तिनं तु मृतं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रः पुनः पुनः। वसिष्ठस्यैव पुत्रेषु तद् रक्षः संदिदेश ह॥
Having seen Shakti thus killed. Vishvamitra again urged that Rakshasas (within the king) to kill the other sons of Vasishtha.
स ताञ्छक्त्यवरान् पुत्रान् वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। भक्षयामास संक्रुद्धः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव॥
He (the Rakshasas) devoured in anger all the sons of the illustrious Vasishtha, the younger brothers of Shakti as a lion devours smali animals.
वसिष्ठो घातिताञ्छ्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रेण तान् सुतान्। धारयामास तं शोकं महाद्रिरिव मेदिनीम्॥
Having learnt that his sons had been caused to be killed by Vishvamitra, Vasishtha patiently bore his grief, as the great mountain bears the earth.
चक्रे चात्मविनाशाय बुद्धि स मुनिसत्तमः। न त्वेव कौशिकोच्छेदं मेने मतिमतां वरः॥
That best of Rishis, that foremost of all intelligent men (Vasishtha), resolved rather to sacrifice his own life than to exterminate the race of the Kushikas.
स मेरुकूटादात्मानं मुमोच भगवानृपिः। गिरेस्तस्य शिलायां तु तूलराशविवापतत्॥
The illustrious Rishi threw himself down from the summit of the Meru mountain, but he descended on the stony ground as if it was a heap of cotton.
न ममार च पातेन स यदा तेन पाण्डव। तदाग्निमिद्धं भगवान् संविवेश महावने॥
O son of Pandu, when the illustrious (Rishi) found that he was not killed by that fall, he made a huge fire in that great forest and entered it.
तं तदा सुसमिद्धोऽपि न ददाह हुताशनः । दीप्यमानोऽप्यमित्रघ्न शीतोऽग्निरभवत् ततः॥
The fire, through blazing fearfully, did not consume him. O chastiser of foes, that blazing fire seemed to him cool.
स समुद्रमभिप्रेक्ष्य शोकविष्टो महामुनिः। बद्धवा कण्द्दे शिलां गुरु निपपात तदाम्भसि॥
Then seeing the sea (before him), the great Rishi, affected with grief, tied a heavy stone to his neck and threw himself into its waters.
स समुद्रोर्मिवेगेन स्थले न्यस्तो महामुनिः। न ममार यदा विप्रः कथंचित् संशितव्रतः। जगाम स ततः खिन्नः पुनरेवाश्रमं प्रति॥
The great Rishi was with great force brought by the waves to the shore. He then returned to his hermitage with a sorrowful heart.