How Vasishtha Came to Be Called Maitravaruni

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.14.1)

जनमेजय उवाच । मैत्रावरुणिरित्युक्तं नाम तस्य मुनेः कथम् । वसिष्ठस्य महाभाग ब्रह्मणस्तनुजस्य ह

janamejaya uvāca | maitrāvaruṇirityuktaṁ nāma tasya muneḥ katham | vasiṣṭhasya mahābhāga brahmaṇastanujasya ha

Janamejaya said: O greatly fortunate one, how did that sage Vasishtha, son of Brahma, come to be called by the name Maitravaruni?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.14.2)

किमसौ कर्मतो नाम प्राप्तवान् गुणतस्तथा । ब्रूहि मे वदतांश्रेष्ठ कारणं तस्य नामजम्

kimasau karmato nāma prāptavān guṇatastathā | brūhi me vadatāṁśreṣṭha kāraṇaṁ tasya nāmajam

Did he obtain that name through some action, or through some quality? Tell me, O best of speakers, the reason behind that name of his.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.14.3)

व्यास उवाच । निबोध नृपतिश्रेष्ठ वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः । निमिशापात्तनुं त्यक्त्वा पुनर्जातो महाद्युतिः

vyāsa uvāca | nibodha nṛpatiśreṣṭha vasiṣṭho brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ | nimiśāpāttanuṁ tyaktvā punarjāto mahādyutiḥ

Vyasa said: Understand, O best of kings — Vasishtha, son of Brahma, having given up his body on account of Nimi's curse, was born again, of great splendor.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.14.4)

मित्रावरुणयोर्यस्मात्तस्मात्तन्नाम विश्रुतम् । मैत्रावरुणिरित्यस्मिँल्लोके सर्वत्र पार्थिव

mitrāvaruṇayoryasmāttasmāttannāma viśrutam | maitrāvaruṇirityasmi~lloke sarvatra pārthiva

Since he arose from Mitra and Varuna, therefore, O king, that name — Maitravaruni — became renowned everywhere in the world.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.14.5)

राजोवाच । कस्माच्छप्तः स धर्मात्मा राज्ञा ब्रह्मात्मजो मुनिः । चित्रमेतन्मुनिं लग्नो राज्ञः शापोऽतिदारुणः

rājovāca | kasmācchaptaḥ sa dharmātmā rājñā brahmātmajo muniḥ | citrametanmuniṁ lagno rājñaḥ śāpo'tidāruṇaḥ

The king said: For what reason was that righteous sage, son of Brahma, cursed by a king? It is strange that so terrible a curse from a king should fall upon a sage.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.14.6)

अनागसं मुनिं राजा किमसौ शप्तवान्मुने । कारणं वद धर्मज्ञ तस्य शापस्य मूलतः

anāgasaṁ muniṁ rājā kimasau śaptavānmune | kāraṇaṁ vada dharmajña tasya śāpasya mūlataḥ

Why did the king curse that faultless sage, O sage? Tell me, O knower of dharma, the root cause of that curse.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.14.7)

व्यास उवाच । कारणं तु मया प्रोक्तं तव पूर्वं विनिश्चितम् । संसारोऽयं त्रिभिर्व्याप्तो राजन्मायागुणैः किल

vyāsa uvāca | kāraṇaṁ tu mayā proktaṁ tava pūrvaṁ viniścitam | saṁsāro'yaṁ tribhirvyāpto rājanmāyāguṇaiḥ kila

Vyasa said: I have already told you this cause with certainty before. This world, O king, is indeed pervaded by the three qualities of maya.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.14.8)

धर्मं करोतु भूपालश्चरन्तु तापसास्तपः । सर्वेषां तु गुणैर्विद्धं नोज्ज्वलं तद्भवेदिह

dharmaṁ karotu bhūpālaścarantu tāpasāstapaḥ | sarveṣāṁ tu guṇairviddhaṁ nojjvalaṁ tadbhavediha

Let a king perform dharma, let ascetics practice austerity — all of it is pierced through by the gunas; it never becomes perfectly pure here.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.14.9)

कामक्रोधाभिभूताश्च राजानो मुनयस्तथा । लोभाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताश्चरन्ति दुश्चरं तपः

kāmakrodhābhibhūtāśca rājāno munayastathā | lobhāhaṅkārasaṁyuktāścaranti duścaraṁ tapaḥ

Kings, overcome by desire and anger, and sages likewise, joined with greed and egotism, practice austerities hard to perform yet inwardly impure.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.14.10)

यजन्ति क्षत्रिया राजन् रजोगुणसमावृताः । ब्राह्मणास्तु तथा राजन् न कोऽपि सत्त्वसंयुतः

yajanti kṣatriyā rājan rajoguṇasamāvṛtāḥ | brāhmaṇāstu tathā rājan na ko'pi sattvasaṁyutaḥ

Kshatriyas, O king, perform sacrifice enveloped in the quality of rajas; and among brahmins too, O king, hardly any is joined with pure sattva.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.14.11)

ऋषिणासौ निमिः शप्तस्तेन शप्तो मुनिः पुनः । दुःखाद्दुःखतरं प्राप्तावुभावपि विधेर्बलात्

ṛṣiṇāsau nimiḥ śaptastena śapto muniḥ punaḥ | duḥkhādduḥkhataraṁ prāptāvubhāvapi vidherbalāt

That sage cursed Nimi, and Nimi in turn cursed the sage; by the force of fate, both of them met with sorrow upon sorrow.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.14.12)

द्रव्यशुद्धिः क्रियाशुद्धिर्मनसः शुद्धिरुज्ज्वला । दुर्लभा प्राणिनां भूप संसारे त्रिगुणात्मके

dravyaśuddhiḥ kriyāśuddhirmanasaḥ śuddhirujjvalā | durlabhā prāṇināṁ bhūpa saṁsāre triguṇātmake

Purity of substance and purity of ritual action are attainable, but the radiant purity of mind, O king, is rare for beings in this world made of the three gunas.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.14.13)

पराशक्तिप्रभावोऽयं नोल्लङ्घ्यः केनचित्क्वचित् । यस्यानुगृहमिच्छेत्सा मोचयत्येव तं क्षणात्

parāśaktiprabhāvo'yaṁ nollaṅghyaḥ kenacitkvacit | yasyānugṛhamicchetsā mocayatyeva taṁ kṣaṇāt

This is the power of the Supreme Shakti, which no one can transgress anywhere; whomever she wishes to favor, she liberates instantly.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.14.14)

महान्तोऽपि न मुच्यन्ते हरिब्रह्महरादयः । पामरा अपि मुच्यन्ते यथा सत्यव्रतादयः

mahānto'pi na mucyante haribrahmaharādayaḥ | pāmarā api mucyante yathā satyavratādayaḥ

Even the great ones — Hari, Brahma, Hara, and the rest — are not liberated without her grace, while lowly ones, like Satyavrata, are indeed liberated.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.14.15)

तस्यास्तु हृदयं कोऽपि न वेत्ति भुवनत्रये । तथापि भक्तवश्येयं भवत्येव सुनिश्चितम्

tasyāstu hṛdayaṁ ko'pi na vetti bhuvanatraye | tathāpi bhaktavaśyeyaṁ bhavatyeva suniścitam

No one in the three worlds truly knows her heart; yet it is quite certain that she is ever governed by love for her devotees.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.14.16)

तस्मात्तद्भक्तिरास्थेया दोषनिर्भूलनाय च । रागदम्भादियुक्ता चेत्सा भक्तिर्नाशिनी भवेत्

tasmāttadbhaktirāstheyā doṣanirbhūlanāya ca | rāgadambhādiyuktā cetsā bhaktirnāśinī bhavet

Therefore her devotion must be maintained so as to root out one's faults; but if that devotion is mixed with attachment, hypocrisy, and the like, it becomes a devotion that destroys its own fruit.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.14.17)

इक्ष्याकुकुलसम्भूतो निमिर्नाम नराधिपः । रूपवान् गुणसम्पन्नो धर्मज्ञो लोकरञ्जकः

ikṣyākukulasambhūto nimirnāma narādhipaḥ | rūpavān guṇasampanno dharmajño lokarañjakaḥ

There was a king named Nimi, born in the Ikshvaku dynasty — handsome, endowed with virtues, a knower of dharma, and beloved of his people.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.14.18)

सत्यवादी दानपरो याजको ज्ञानवाच्छुचिः । द्वादशस्तनयो धीमान्प्रजापालनतत्परः

satyavādī dānaparo yājako jñānavācchuciḥ | dvādaśastanayo dhīmānprajāpālanatatparaḥ

He was truthful, devoted to charity, a performer of sacrifices, pure through knowledge, wise, twelfth in his line, and intent on protecting his subjects.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.14.19)

पुरं निवेशयामास गौतमाश्रमसन्निधौ । जयन्तपुरसंज्ञं तु ब्राह्मणानां हिताय सः

puraṁ niveśayāmāsa gautamāśramasannidhau | jayantapurasaṁjñaṁ tu brāhmaṇānāṁ hitāya saḥ

He established a city named Jayantapura near the hermitage of Gautama, for the benefit of the brahmins.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.14.20)

बुद्धिस्तस्य समुत्पन्ना यजेयमिति राजसी । यज्ञेन बहुकालेन दक्षिणासंयुतेन च

buddhistasya samutpannā yajeyamiti rājasī | yajñena bahukālena dakṣiṇāsaṁyutena ca

The thought arose in him, tinged with rajas: 'I shall perform a sacrifice' — one of long duration, accompanied by ample sacrificial fees.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.14.21)

इस्वाकुं पितरं पृष्ट्वा यज्ञकार्याय पार्थिवः । कारयामास सम्भारं यथोद्दिष्टं महात्मभिः

isvākuṁ pitaraṁ pṛṣṭvā yajñakāryāya pārthivaḥ | kārayāmāsa sambhāraṁ yathoddiṣṭaṁ mahātmabhiḥ

Having asked his father Ikshvaku, the king had the materials prepared for the sacrifice, as prescribed by the great souls.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.14.22)

भृगुमङ्गिरसं चैव वामदेवं च गौतमम् । वसिष्ठं च पुलस्त्यं च ऋचीकं पुलहं क्रतुम्

bhṛgumaṅgirasaṁ caiva vāmadevaṁ ca gautamam | vasiṣṭhaṁ ca pulastyaṁ ca ṛcīkaṁ pulahaṁ kratum

Bhrigu, Angiras, Vamadeva, Gautama, Vasishtha, Pulastya, Richika, Pulaha, and Kratu —

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.14.23)

मुनीनामन्त्रयामास सर्वज्ञान्वेदपारगान् । यज्ञविद्याप्रवीणांश्च तापसान्वेदवित्तमान्

munīnāmantrayāmāsa sarvajñānvedapāragān | yajñavidyāpravīṇāṁśca tāpasānvedavittamān

these all-knowing sages, masters of the Vedas, skilled in the science of sacrifice, most learned in the Veda — these he invited.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.14.24)

राजा सम्भृतसम्भारः सम्पूज्य गुरुमात्मनः । वसिष्ठं प्राह धर्मज्ञो विनयेन समन्वितः

rājā sambhṛtasambhāraḥ sampūjya gurumātmanaḥ | vasiṣṭhaṁ prāha dharmajño vinayena samanvitaḥ

Having gathered the materials and honored his own guru, the king, a knower of dharma, spoke with humility to Vasishtha —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.14.25)

यजेयं मुनिशार्दूल याजयस्व कृपानिधे । गुरुस्त्वं सर्ववेत्तासि कार्यं मे कुरु साम्प्रतम्

yajeyaṁ muniśārdūla yājayasva kṛpānidhe | gurustvaṁ sarvavettāsi kāryaṁ me kuru sāmpratam

'O best of sages, I wish to perform a sacrifice; O treasury of compassion, be my officiant. You are my guru, all-knowing; now accomplish this task for me.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.14.26)

यज्ञोपकरणं सर्वं समानीतं सुसंस्कृतम् । पञ्चवर्षसहस्रं तु दीक्षां कर्तुं मतिश्च मे

yajñopakaraṇaṁ sarvaṁ samānītaṁ susaṁskṛtam | pañcavarṣasahasraṁ tu dīkṣāṁ kartuṁ matiśca me

'All the equipment for the sacrifice has been duly gathered and prepared; and it is my intention to undertake the consecration for five thousand years.'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.14.27)

यस्मिन्यज्ञे समाराध्या देवी श्रीजगदम्बिका । तत्प्रीत्यर्थमहं यज्ञं करोमि विधिपूर्वकम्

yasminyajñe samārādhyā devī śrījagadambikā | tatprītyarthamahaṁ yajñaṁ karomi vidhipūrvakam

'In this sacrifice the Goddess Shri Jagadamba is to be worshipped; it is for her pleasure that I am performing this sacrifice, duly according to rule.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.14.28)

तच्छ्रुत्वासौ निमेर्वाक्यं वसिष्ठः प्राह भूपतिम् । इन्द्रेणाहं वृतः पूर्वं यज्ञार्थं नृपसत्तम

tacchrutvāsau nimervākyaṁ vasiṣṭhaḥ prāha bhūpatim | indreṇāhaṁ vṛtaḥ pūrvaṁ yajñārthaṁ nṛpasattama

Hearing this word of Nimi, Vasishtha said to the king: 'O best of kings, I have already been engaged before by Indra for the sake of a sacrifice.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.14.29)

पराशक्तिमखं कर्तुमुद्युक्तः पाकशासनः । स दीक्षां गमितो देवः पञ्चवर्षशतात्मिकाम्

parāśaktimakhaṁ kartumudyuktaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ | sa dīkṣāṁ gamito devaḥ pañcavarṣaśatātmikām

'Indra, intent upon performing a sacrifice to the Supreme Shakti, that god has undertaken a consecration of five hundred years.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.14.30)

तस्मात्त्वमन्तरं तावत्प्रतिपालय पार्थिव । इन्द्रयज्ञे समाप्तेऽत्र कृत्वा कार्यं दिवस्पतेः

tasmāttvamantaraṁ tāvatpratipālaya pārthiva | indrayajñe samāpte'tra kṛtvā kāryaṁ divaspateḥ

'Therefore, O king, wait that long — until Indra's sacrifice is completed and the task for the lord of heaven is finished —'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.14.31)

आगमिष्याम्यहं राजंस्तावत्त्वं प्रतिपालय । राजोवाच । मया निमन्त्रिताश्चान्ये मुनयो यज्ञकारणात्

āgamiṣyāmyahaṁ rājaṁstāvattvaṁ pratipālaya | rājovāca | mayā nimantritāścānye munayo yajñakāraṇāt

'then I shall come, O king; wait till then.' The king said: 'I have already invited other sages too, for the sake of this sacrifice —'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.14.32)

सम्भाराः सम्भृताः सर्वे पालयामि कथं गुरो । इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले ब्रह्मन्गुरुस्त्वं वेदवित्तमः

sambhārāḥ sambhṛtāḥ sarve pālayāmi kathaṁ guro | ikṣvākūṇāṁ kule brahmangurustvaṁ vedavittamaḥ

'and all the materials have been gathered — how, O guru, shall I simply wait? O brahmin, in the Ikshvaku line you alone are the guru, most learned in the Veda.'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.14.33)

कथं त्यक्त्वाद्य मे कार्यमुद्यतो गन्तुमाशु वै । न ते युक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठ यदुत्सृज्य मखं मम

kathaṁ tyaktvādya me kāryamudyato gantumāśu vai | na te yuktaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha yadutsṛjya makhaṁ mama

'How is it fitting that, abandoning my task today, you are eager to leave at once? It does not become you, O best of the twice-born, to forsake my sacrifice thus.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.14.34)

गन्तासि धनलोभेन लोभाकुलितचेतनः । निवारितोऽपि राज्ञा स जगामेन्द्रमखं गुरुः

gantāsi dhanalobhena lobhākulitacetanaḥ | nivārito'pi rājñā sa jagāmendramakhaṁ guruḥ

'You are going out of greed for wealth, your mind agitated by that very greed!' Even though forbidden by the king, that guru went off to Indra's sacrifice.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.14.35)

राजापि विमना भूत्वा गौतमं प्रत्यपूजयत् । इयाज हिमवत्पार्श्वे सागरस्य समीपतः

rājāpi vimanā bhūtvā gautamaṁ pratyapūjayat | iyāja himavatpārśve sāgarasya samīpataḥ

The king, becoming dejected, then honored Gautama instead, and performed the sacrifice on the slope of the Himalaya, near the ocean.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.14.36)

दक्षिणा बहुला दत्ता विप्रेभ्यो मखकर्मणि । निमिना पञ्चसाहस्री दीक्षा तत्र कृता नृप

dakṣiṇā bahulā dattā viprebhyo makhakarmaṇi | niminā pañcasāhasrī dīkṣā tatra kṛtā nṛpa

Abundant sacrificial fees were given to the brahmins in the course of the rite; and Nimi, O king, undertook there a consecration of five thousand years.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.14.37)

ऋत्विजः पूजिताः कामं धनैर्गोभिर्मुदा युताः । शक्रयज्ञसमाप्ते तु पञ्चवर्षशतात्मके

ṛtvijaḥ pūjitāḥ kāmaṁ dhanairgobhirmudā yutāḥ | śakrayajñasamāpte tu pañcavarṣaśatātmake

The priests were duly honored with wealth and cattle, gladly. Then, when Indra's sacrifice, lasting five hundred years, was completed —

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.14.38)

आजगाम वसिष्ठस्तु राज्ञः सत्रदिदृक्षया । आगत्य संस्थितस्तत्र दर्शनार्थं नृपस्य च

ājagāma vasiṣṭhastu rājñaḥ satradidṛkṣayā | āgatya saṁsthitastatra darśanārthaṁ nṛpasya ca

Vasishtha came, wishing to see the king's sacrificial session; having arrived, he waited there for the purpose of seeing the king.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.14.39)

तदा राजा प्रसुप्तस्तु निद्रयापहृतो भृशम् । नासौ प्रबोधितो भृत्यैर्नागतस्तु मुनिं नृपः

tadā rājā prasuptastu nidrayāpahṛto bhṛśam | nāsau prabodhito bhṛtyairnāgatastu muniṁ nṛpaḥ

But at that time the king was fast asleep, overtaken deeply by slumber; his servants did not wake him, and so the king did not come out to receive the sage.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.14.40)

वसिष्ठस्य ततो मन्युः प्रादुर्भूतोऽवमानतः । अदर्शनान्निमेस्तत्र चुकोप मुनिसत्तमः

vasiṣṭhasya tato manyuḥ prādurbhūto'vamānataḥ | adarśanānnimestatra cukopa munisattamaḥ

At this slight, anger arose in Vasishtha; not being received by Nimi, that best of sages grew exceedingly enraged.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.14.41)

शापं च दत्तवांस्तस्मै राज्ञे मन्युवशं गतः । यस्मात्त्वं मां गुरुं त्यक्त्वा कृत्वान्यं गुरुमात्मनः

śāpaṁ ca dattavāṁstasmai rājñe manyuvaśaṁ gataḥ | yasmāttvaṁ māṁ guruṁ tyaktvā kṛtvānyaṁ gurumātmanaḥ

Overcome by anger, he pronounced a curse upon that king: 'Since you have abandoned me, your guru, and made another your guru,'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.14.42)

दीक्षितोऽसि बलान्मन्द मामवज्ञाय पार्थिव । वारितोऽपि मया तस्माद्विदेहस्त्वं भविष्यसि

dīkṣito'si balānmanda māmavajñāya pārthiva | vārito'pi mayā tasmādvidehastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

'and, O foolish king, took up your consecration by force, disregarding me even though I forbade it — therefore you shall become bodiless (videha).'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.14.43)

पतत्विदं शरीरं ते विदेहो भव भूपते । व्यास उवाच । इति तद्व्याहृतं श्रुत्वा राज्ञस्तु परिचारकाः

patatvidaṁ śarīraṁ te videho bhava bhūpate | vyāsa uvāca | iti tadvyāhṛtaṁ śrutvā rājñastu paricārakāḥ

'Let this body of yours fall away, O king — become bodiless!' Vyasa said: Hearing this pronouncement, the king's attendants —

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.14.44)

सद्यः प्रबोधयामासुर्मुनिमाहुः प्रकोपितम् । कुपितं तं समागत्य राजा विगतकल्मषः

sadyaḥ prabodhayāmāsurmunimāhuḥ prakopitam | kupitaṁ taṁ samāgatya rājā vigatakalmaṣaḥ

at once woke the king and told him what the enraged sage had said. The king, with a clear conscience, went to the angry sage and —

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.14.45)

उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं हेतुगर्भं च युक्तिमत् । । मम दोषो न धर्मज्ञ गतस्त्वं तृष्णयाऽऽकुलः

uvāca vacanaṁ ślakṣṇaṁ hetugarbhaṁ ca yuktimat | | mama doṣo na dharmajña gatastvaṁ tṛṣṇayā''kulaḥ

spoke gentle words, carrying explanation and reasoned argument: 'It is not my fault, O knower of dharma — you left, agitated by greed —'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.14.46)

हित्वा मां यजमानं वै प्रार्थितोऽपि मया भृशम् । न लज्जसे द्विजश्रेष्ठ कृत्वा कर्म जुगुप्सितम्

hitvā māṁ yajamānaṁ vai prārthito'pi mayā bhṛśam | na lajjase dvijaśreṣṭha kṛtvā karma jugupsitam

'abandoning me, your sacrificer, even though I entreated you again and again. You feel no shame, O best of the twice-born, having done such a reprehensible act!'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.14.47)

सन्तोषे ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ जानन्धर्मस्य निश्चयम् । पुत्रोऽसि ब्रह्मणः साक्षाद्वेदवेदाङ्गवित्तमः

santoṣe brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha jānandharmasya niścayam | putro'si brahmaṇaḥ sākṣādvedavedāṅgavittamaḥ

'O best of brahmins, you should have been content, knowing the certainty of dharma. You are the very son of Brahma, foremost in the Veda and Vedangas —'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.14.48)

न वेत्सि विप्रधर्मस्य गतिं सूक्ष्मां दुरत्ययाम् । आत्मदोषं मयि ज्ञात्वा मृषा मां शस्तुमिच्छसि

na vetsi vipradharmasya gatiṁ sūkṣmāṁ duratyayām | ātmadoṣaṁ mayi jñātvā mṛṣā māṁ śastumicchasi

'yet you do not understand the subtle and inescapable course of a brahmin's own duty. Knowing the fault to be yours, you now wish to curse me falsely.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.14.49)

त्याज्यस्तु सुजनैः क्रोधश्चण्डालादधिको यतः । वृथा क्रोधपरीतेन मयि शापः प्रपातितः

tyājyastu sujanaiḥ krodhaścaṇḍālādadhiko yataḥ | vṛthā krodhaparītena mayi śāpaḥ prapātitaḥ

'Good people ought to abandon anger, since it is worse even than a chandala; vainly, overcome by anger, you have hurled this curse upon me.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.14.50)

तवापि च पतत्वद्य देहोऽयं क्रोधसंयुतः । एवं शप्तो मुनी राज्ञा राजा च मुनिना तथा

tavāpi ca patatvadya deho'yaṁ krodhasaṁyutaḥ | evaṁ śapto munī rājñā rājā ca muninā tathā

'Let this body of yours, together with your anger, also fall away today!' Thus the sage was cursed by the king, and the king likewise by the sage —

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.14.51)

परस्परं प्राप्य शापं दुःखितौ तौ बभूवतुः । वसिष्ठस्त्वतिचिन्तार्तो ब्रह्माणं शरणं गतः

parasparaṁ prāpya śāpaṁ duḥkhitau tau babhūvatuḥ | vasiṣṭhastvaticintārto brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

having received curses from one another, both became sorrowful. Vasishtha, greatly distressed with anxiety, went for refuge to Brahma,

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.14.52)

निवेदयामास तथा शापं भूपकृतं महत् । वसिष्ट उवाच । राज्ञा शप्तोऽस्मि देहोऽयं पतत्वद्य तवेति वै

nivedayāmāsa tathā śāpaṁ bhūpakṛtaṁ mahat | vasiṣṭa uvāca | rājñā śapto'smi deho'yaṁ patatvadya taveti vai

and reported to him the great curse laid upon him by the king. Vasishtha said: 'I have been cursed by the king — "let this body of yours fall away today" —'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.14.53)

किं करोमि पितः प्राप्यं कष्टं कायप्रपातजम् । अन्यदेहसमुत्पत्तौ जनकं वद साम्प्रतम्

kiṁ karomi pitaḥ prāpyaṁ kaṣṭaṁ kāyaprapātajam | anyadehasamutpattau janakaṁ vada sāmpratam

'What shall I do, O father? This hardship born of the fall of my body has come upon me. Now tell me who shall be my father for the arising of another body.'

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.14.54)

तथा मे देहसंयोगः पूर्ववत्समपद्यताम् । यादृशं ज्ञानमेतस्मिन्देहे तत्रास्तु तत्पितः

tathā me dehasaṁyogaḥ pūrvavatsamapadyatām | yādṛśaṁ jñānametasmindehe tatrāstu tatpitaḥ

'And let my union with a body come about just as before; whatever knowledge is in this body, let that same knowledge remain in that one too, O father.'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.6.14.55)

समर्थोऽसि महाराज प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि । वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच तं सुतम्

samartho'si mahārāja prasādaṁ kartumarhasi | vasiṣṭhasya vacaḥ śrutvā brahmā provāca taṁ sutam

'O great one, you are capable of this; it is fitting that you grant me this favor.' Hearing Vasishtha's words, Brahma spoke to his son —

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.6.14.56)

मित्रावरुणयोस्तेजस्त्वं प्रविश्य स्थिरो भव । तस्मादयोनिजः काले भविता त्वं न संशयः

mitrāvaruṇayostejastvaṁ praviśya sthiro bhava | tasmādayonijaḥ kāle bhavitā tvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

'Enter into the vital energy of Mitra and Varuna and remain steady there. Then, in due time, you shall be born without a womb — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.6.14.57)

पुनर्देहं समासाद्य धर्मयुक्तो भविष्यसि । भूतात्मा वेदवित्कामं सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजितः

punardehaṁ samāsādya dharmayukto bhaviṣyasi | bhūtātmā vedavitkāmaṁ sarvajñaḥ sarvapūjitaḥ

'Obtaining a body again, you shall be endowed with dharma — of true soul, learned in the Veda, all-knowing, and honored by all.'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.6.14.58)

एवमुक्तस्तदा पित्रा प्रययौ वरुणालयम् । कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं प्रीत्या प्रणम्य च पितामहम्

evamuktastadā pitrā prayayau varuṇālayam | kṛtvā pradakṣiṇaṁ prītyā praṇamya ca pitāmaham

Thus addressed by his father, Vasishtha went to the abode of Varuna, having lovingly circumambulated and bowed to the Grandsire.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.6.14.59)

विवेश स तयोर्देहे मित्रावरुणयोः किल । जीवांशेन वसिष्ठोऽथ त्यक्त्वा देहमनुत्तमम्

viveśa sa tayordehe mitrāvaruṇayoḥ kila | jīvāṁśena vasiṣṭho'tha tyaktvā dehamanuttamam

Having given up his peerless former body, Vasishtha, with a portion of his life-force, entered into the bodies of both Mitra and Varuna.

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.6.14.60)

कदाचित्तूर्वशी राजन्नागता वरुणालयम् । यदृच्छया वरारोहा सखीगणसमावृता

kadācittūrvaśī rājannāgatā varuṇālayam | yadṛcchayā varārohā sakhīgaṇasamāvṛtā

Once, O king, Urvashi, of lovely form, surrounded by her companions, chanced to come to the abode of Varuna.

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.6.14.61)

दृष्ट्वा तामप्सरां दिव्यां रूपयौवनसंयुताम् । जातौ कामातुरौ देवौ तदा तामूचतुर्नृप

dṛṣṭvā tāmapsarāṁ divyāṁ rūpayauvanasaṁyutām | jātau kāmāturau devau tadā tāmūcaturnṛpa

Seeing that divine apsaras, endowed with beauty and youth, the two gods became overcome with desire, and, O king, spoke to her —

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.6.14.62)

विवशौ चारुसर्वाङ्गीं देवकन्यां मनोरमाम् । आवां त्वमनवद्याङ्गि वरयस्व समाकुलौ

vivaśau cārusarvāṅgīṁ devakanyāṁ manoramām | āvāṁ tvamanavadyāṅgi varayasva samākulau

overwhelmed, to that lovely-limbed, charming daughter of the gods: 'O flawless one, both of us are overcome — choose one of us.'

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.6.14.63)

विहरस्व यथाकामं स्थानेऽस्मिन्वरवर्णिनि । तथोक्ता सा ततो देवी ताभ्यां तत्र स्थितावशा

viharasva yathākāmaṁ sthāne'sminvaravarṇini | tathoktā sā tato devī tābhyāṁ tatra sthitāvaśā

'O fair one, sport as you desire in this place.' Thus addressed, that goddess then remained there, complaisant to the two of them.

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.6.14.64)

कृत्वा भावं स्थिरं देवी मित्रावरुणयोर्गृहे । सा गृहीत्वा तयोर्भावं संस्थिता चारुदर्शना

kṛtvā bhāvaṁ sthiraṁ devī mitrāvaruṇayorgṛhe | sā gṛhītvā tayorbhāvaṁ saṁsthitā cārudarśanā

Having formed a steady attachment in the household of Mitra and Varuna, that beautiful goddess remained there, sharing the feeling of both.

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.6.14.65)

तयोस्तु पतितं वीर्यं कुम्भे दैवादनावृते । तस्माज्जातौ मुनी राजन्द्वावेवातिमनोहरौ

tayostu patitaṁ vīryaṁ kumbhe daivādanāvṛte | tasmājjātau munī rājandvāvevātimanoharau

Their seed fell, by providence, into an uncovered jar; from it, O king, two exceedingly charming sages were born.

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.6.14.66)

अगस्तिः प्रथमस्तत्र वसिष्ठश्चापरस्तथा । मित्रावरुणयोर्वीर्यात्तापसावृषिसत्तमौ

agastiḥ prathamastatra vasiṣṭhaścāparastathā | mitrāvaruṇayorvīryāttāpasāvṛṣisattamau

Agastya was the first born there, and Vasishtha the other — from the seed of Mitra and Varuna, two ascetics, foremost among sages.

Verse 67 (devibhagavatam.6.14.67)

प्रथमस्तु वनं प्राप्तो बाल एव महातपाः । इक्ष्वाकुस्तु वसिष्ठं तं बालं वव्रे पुरोहितम्

prathamastu vanaṁ prāpto bāla eva mahātapāḥ | ikṣvākustu vasiṣṭhaṁ taṁ bālaṁ vavre purohitam

The first, Agastya, even as a boy became a great ascetic and went off to the forest; and Ikshvaku chose that boy Vasishtha as his family priest.

Verse 68 (devibhagavatam.6.14.68)

वंशस्यास्य सुखार्थं ते पालयामास पार्थिव । विशेषेण मुनिं ज्ञात्वा प्रीत्या युक्तो बभूव ह

vaṁśasyāsya sukhārthaṁ te pālayāmāsa pārthiva | viśeṣeṇa muniṁ jñātvā prītyā yukto babhūva ha

For the happiness of his own line, O king, he cherished him, and, having recognized in him a true sage, became bound to him with affection.

Verse 69 (devibhagavatam.6.14.69)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वसिष्ठस्य च कारणम् । शापाद्देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्मित्रावरुणयोः कुले

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ vasiṣṭhasya ca kāraṇam | śāpāddehāntaraprāptirmitrāvaruṇayoḥ kule

All this has been told to you — the story behind Vasishtha, and how, through a curse, he came to obtain another body in the line born of Mitra and Varuna.