उक्तवाक्यं तु राजानं कृपया कुशिकात्मजः। अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं साक्षाच्चण्डालतां गतम्॥
When the king had spoken thus, Kausika's son, moved with pity, said these sweet words to the king who had undergone Candāla-hood.
इक्ष्वाको स्वागतं वत्स जानामि त्वां सुधार्मिकम्। शरणं ते प्रदास्यामि मा भैषीपपुङ्गव॥
O descendant of Ikşvāku, have you had a pleasant journey? I know you well, O highly virtuous one. Refuge will I grant you, so fear not, O best of monarchs.
अहमामन्त्रये सर्वान् महर्षीन् पुण्यकर्मणः। यज्ञसाह्यकरान् राजंस्ततो यक्ष्यसि निर्वृतः॥ गुरुशापकृतं रूपं यदिदं त्वयि वर्तते। अनेन सह रूपेण सशरीरो गमिष्यसि॥ हस्तप्राप्तमहं मन्ये स्वर्ग तव नराधिप। यस्त्वं कौशिकमागम्य शरण्यं शरणागतः॥
I shall summon all the pious Maharsis, who shall assist at the sacrifice. O king, and then you will be able to accomplish your purpose easily. And should the guise you have come by in virtue of your preceptor's curse, cling to you yet, you will bodily repair to heaven in this form. And since appearing before Kuśika's son, you have taken his refuge, I consider heaven, O lord of men, as if within they grasp.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः : पुत्रान् परमधार्मिकान्। व्यादिदेश महाप्राज्ञान् यज्ञसम्भारकारणात्॥
Having said this, that exceedingly energetic one ordered his highly virtuous and profoundly wise sons to provide the sacrificial necessaries.
सर्वाशिष्यान् समाहूय वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह। सर्वानृषीन् सवासिष्ठानानयध्वं ममाज्ञया॥ सशिष्यान् सुहृदश्चैव सर्विजः सुबहुश्रुतान्।
Summoning his disciples, he said, 'Do you by my command bring hither all the saints together with Vasistha's sons; and our friends and their disciples an the family priests variously versed in lore.'
यदन्यो वचनं ब्रूयान्मद्वाक्यबलचोदितः॥ तत् सर्वमखिलेनोक्तं ममाख्येयमनादृतम्।
Should any summoned by my mandate, say aught, 'do you fully represent to me the expression of slight.'
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा दिशो जग्मुस्तदाज्ञया॥ आजग्मुरथ देशेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो ब्रह्मवादिनः। ते च शिष्याः समागम्य मुनि ज्वलिततेजसम्॥ ऊचुश्च ते वचनं सर्वे सर्वेषां ब्रह्मवादिनाम्।
Hearing his speech, they set out in different directions; and Brahmavādis* began to pour in from various countries. And the disciples (of Viśvāmitra) returning, fully communicated to that ascetic of flaming energy the words of the Brahmavadis, saying. can * A Brahmavādi is one who maintains that all things are Spirit.
श्रुत्वा ते वचनं सर्वे समायान्ति द्विजातयः॥ सर्वदेशेषु चागच्छन् वर्जयित्वा महोदयम्।
Hearing your message, the regenerate ones resident in every part will come here, and some have already arrived, all save Mahodaya and the hundred sons of Vasiştha.
वासिष्ठं यच्छतं सर्वं क्रोधपर्याकुलाक्षरम्॥ यथाह वचनं सर्वं शृणु त्वं मुनिपुङ्गव।
Do you, O foremost of ascetics, listen to the words that they said with accents tremulous with emotion.
क्षत्रियो याजको यस्य चण्डालस्य विशेषतः॥ कथं सदसि भोक्तारो हविस्तस्य सुरर्षयः। ब्रह्मणा वा महात्मानो भुक्त्वा चाण्डालभोजनम्॥ कथं स्वर्गं गमियन्ति विश्वामित्रेण पालिताः।
How can celestials and saints partake of offerings in the court of him that in addition to being a Chandala, has for this priest a Kşatriya? And how high-souled Brahmanas, patronised by Visvāmitra, attain to heaven, having partaken of a Candāla's fare?
एतद् वचननैष्ठुर्यमूचुः संरक्तलोचनाः॥ वासिष्ठा मुनिशार्दूल सर्वे सहमहोदयाः।
These cruel words, O powerful ascetic, did Vasiştha's sons together with Mahodaya, utter with reddened eyes.'
तेषां तद् श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां मुनिपुङ्गवः॥ क्रोधसंरक्तनयनः सरोषमिदमब्रवीत्।
Hearing those words of theirs, that foremost of ascetics, with eyes reddened in anger, wrathfully cried.
यद् दूषयन्त्यदुष्टं मां तप उग्रं समास्थितम्॥ भस्मीभूता दुरात्मानो भविष्यन्ति न संशयः।
Since blameless , as I am, those wicked-minded ones censure me practising fierce austerities, they shall, without doubt, be reduced to ashes.
अद्य ते कालपाशे नीता वैवस्वतक्षयम्॥ सप्तजातिशतान्येव मृतपाः सम्भवन्तु ते। श्वमांसनियताहारा मुष्टिका नाम निघृणाः॥ वचनं विकृताश्च विरूपाश्च लोकाननुचरन्त्विमान्। महोदयश्च दुर्बुद्धिर्मामदूष्यं ह्यदूषयत्॥ दूषितः सर्वलोकेषु निषादत्वं गमिष्यति।
And this very day bound by the noose of Kala, meeting with destruction at the hands of Vivaśvata's son, (Yama) they shall for seven hundred firths range these worlds, wearing dead men's clothes, always feeding on dogs' flesh, going by the name of Mahodaya also has blamed me, although undeserving of blame; therefore, reproved of all, he shall undergo Nişadahood. And becoming cruel, and engaged in taking life, he shall through my ire fare wretchedly for a long lapse of time.'
प्राणातिपातनिरतो निरनुक्रोशतां गतः॥ दीर्घकालं मम क्रोधाद् दुर्गतिं वर्तयिष्यति। एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं विश्वामित्रो महातपाः। विरराम महातेजा ऋषिमध्ये महामुनिः॥
Having uttered this in the assembly of saints, that mighty ascetic, the highly powerful Viśvāmitra of fierce asceticism, paused.